Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy RTC Claims Three Senior Titles at U.S. Open
April 26, 2025 | Cowboy Wrestling
LAS VEGAS – Cowboy RTC wrestlers Wyatt Hendrickson, Zahid Valencia and Joey McKenna all won senior titles at the CLAW U.S. Open Championships on Saturday night to punch their tickets to this June's Final X.
With their victories, the trio now just needs to win the best-of-three series at Final X to become the U.S. representative at the 2025 Senior World Championships.
A month after winning both the NCAA championship and Hodge Trophy, Hendrickson ran through the 125-kilogram bracket to put him on the verge of Team USA membership. Three of Hendrickson's four matches resulted in a technical fall, and his total margin of victory on the weekend was 45-7.
Perhaps the biggest upset of the tournament came from Valencia, who completed his run with an 8-4 win over four-time World champion Kyle Dake in the championship match. At 65 kilograms, McKenna's undefeated showing was highlighted by a semifinal victory in which he scored a takedown in the match's final seconds to upend Aden Valencia. He then downed back-to-back NCAA champion Jesse Mendez in the finals by a score of 3-2.
Fellow NCAA titlist Dean Hamiti Jr. nearly made it four champions from Cowboy RTC but suffered his only defeat of the weekend to Evan Wick in the 79-kilogram championship.
The Cowboys also received strong performances from Dustin Plott, Carter Young and Brayden Thompson, who all battled through consolations to become placewinners. Plott was the highest placer of the bunch thanks to a 4-2 weekend that resulted in a fifth-place finish at 92 kilograms. Young was just behind him in sixth at 65 kilograms, while Thompson's eighth-place outing at 86 kilograms included a criteria victory over teammate Jersey Robb deep in the consolation bracket.
Aiming for his third career World Team, Daton Fix reached the 61-kilogram quarterfinals but then suffered an injury and was forced to forfeit out of the tournament. Like Fix, Robb (86 kg), Benjamin Mower (86 kg) and Gary Traub (97 kg) each came up just one win shy of placewinner status.
The U.S. Open concludes Sunday afternoon with the final session of the U20 division at noon CT. Fans can follow along with streaming options on FloWrestling.org, results on usabracketing.com and live updates from @CowboyWrestling on the X app.
Senior Freestyle Division
Daton Fix, 61 kg
Round of 32: Daton Fix VSU Bennie Fielding, 10-0, 0:50
Round of 16: Daton Fix VSU Ethan Oakley, 10-0, 5:44
Quarterfinals: Ben Davino VIN Daton Fix, 0:33
Consolation Round of 8 #2: Fernando Barreto VFO Daton Fix
Joey McKenna, 65 kg (First)
Round of 16: Joey McKenna VSU1 Ruben Calderon, 13-2, 2:29
Quarterfinals: Joey McKenna VSU Tom Crook, 10-0, 1:59
Semifinals: Joey McKenna VPO1 Aden Valencia, 9-6
Finals: Joey McKenna VPO1 Jesse Mendez, 3-2
Carter Young, 65 kg (Sixth)
Round of 32: Carter Young VSU1 Luke Schroeder, 12-2, 0:49
Round of 16: Carter Young VSU Bryce Kresho, 10-0, 0:25
Quarterfinals: Beau Bartlett VPO1 Carter Young, 5-3
Consolation Round of 8 #2: Carter Young VSU Connor Thorpe, 11-0, 1:51
Consolation Round of 4: Carter Young VPO1 Vince Cornella, 8-5
Consolation Semifinals: Aden Valencia VSU1 Carter Young, 14-4, 5:36
Fifth Place Match: Beau Bartlett VPO1 Carter Young 7-1
Cutter Sheets, 70 kg
Round of 32: Cutter Sheets VSU1 Ethan Basile, 15-5, 5:26
Round of 16: Will Lewan VSU Cutter Sheets, 10-0, 2:09
Consolation Round of 16 #2: Lucas Kapusta VPO1 Cutter Sheets, 10-3
Dean Hamiti Jr., 79 kg (Second)
Round of 32: Dean Hamiti Jr. VSU William Hunter, 10-0, 0:54
Round of 16: Dean Hamiti Jr. VSU Kevin Reynolds, 10-0, 2:12
Quarterfinals: Dean Hamiti Jr. VFA Dajun Johnson, 2:05
Semifinals: Dean Hamiti Jr. VSU1 Kennedy Monday, 14-4, 5:32
Finals: Evan Wick VPO1 Dean Hamiti Jr., 9-1
Benjamin Mower, 86 kg
Round of 32: Benjamin Mower VFA Marcus Curry, 0:24
Round of 16: Rocco Welsh VSU1 Benjamin Mower, 17-4, 3:36
Consolation Round of 16 #2: Benjamin Mower VSU Jacob Taylor, 10-0, 1:00
Consolation Round of 8 #1: Benjamin Mower VSU1 Daniel Williams, 15-5, 1:26
Consolation Round of 8 #2: Marcus Coleman VSU Benjamin Mower, 10-0, 2:35
Jersey Robb, 86 kg
Round of 32: Jersey Robb VSU Joshua Cortez, 10-0, 1:51
Round of 16: Jersey Robb VPO1 Chris Moore, 6-1
Quarterfinals: Kyle Dake VSU1 Jersey Robb, 12-1, 3:56
Consolation Round of 8 #2: Brayden Thompson VPO1 Jersey Robb, 3-3
Brayden Thompson, 86 kg (Eighth)
Round of 32: Brayden Thompson VSU Daniel Hernandez, 10-0, 0:28
Round of 16: Reece Heller VPO1 Brayden Thompson, 5-4
Consolation Round of 16 #2: Brayden Thompson VPO1 Devan Hendricks, 10-1
Consolation Round of 8 #1: Brayden Thompson VPO1 Jaden Bullock, 2-2
Consolation Round of 8 #2: Brayden Thompson VPO1 Jersey Robb, 3-3
Consolation Round of 4: Rocco Welsh VPO Brayden Thompson, 5-0
Seventh Place Match: Chris Moore VPO1 Brayden Thompson, 9-2
Zahid Valencia, 86 kg (First)
Round of 32: Zahid Valencia VSU Adrian Chavez-Morales, 10-0, 0:37
Round of 16: Zahid Valencia VSU Jaden Bullock, 10-0, 0:59
Quarterfinals: Zahid Valencia VSU Reece Heller, 11-0, 1:07
Semifinals: Zahid Valencia VPO1 Chance Marstellar, 4-2
Finals: Zahid Valencia VPO1 Kyle Dake, 8-4
Dustin Plott, 92 kg (Fifth)
Round of 16: Dustin Plott VSU Patrick Brophy, 10-0, 1:01
Quarterfinals: Eric Schultz VPO1 Dustin Plott, 11-9
Consolation Round of 8 #2: Dustin Plott VSU Gavin Nelson, 10-0, 1:16
Consolation Round of 4: Dustin Plott VPO1 Jack Davis, 10-2
Consolation Semifinals: Michael Macchiavello VSU Dustin Plott, 11-0, 4:10
Fifth Place Match: Dustin Plott VPO Hayden Walters, 8-0
Gary Traub, 97 kg
Round of 16: Gary Traub VSU Eric Mittlestead, 11-0, 4:20
Quarterfinals: Gavin Hoffman VPO1 Gary Traub, 5-1
Consolation Round of 8 #2: Christian Knop VSU Gary Traub, 10-0, 0:51
Wyatt Hendrickson, 125 kg (First)
Round of 16: Wyatt Hendrickson VSU Devon Dawson, 10-0, 0:55
Quarterfinals: Wyatt Hendrickson VSU Lucas Stoddard, 11-0, 0:26
Semifinals: Wyatt Hendrickson VPO1 Trent Hillger, 10-4
Finals: Wyatt Hendrickson VSU1 Demetrius Thomas, 14-3, 3:51
With their victories, the trio now just needs to win the best-of-three series at Final X to become the U.S. representative at the 2025 Senior World Championships.
A month after winning both the NCAA championship and Hodge Trophy, Hendrickson ran through the 125-kilogram bracket to put him on the verge of Team USA membership. Three of Hendrickson's four matches resulted in a technical fall, and his total margin of victory on the weekend was 45-7.
Perhaps the biggest upset of the tournament came from Valencia, who completed his run with an 8-4 win over four-time World champion Kyle Dake in the championship match. At 65 kilograms, McKenna's undefeated showing was highlighted by a semifinal victory in which he scored a takedown in the match's final seconds to upend Aden Valencia. He then downed back-to-back NCAA champion Jesse Mendez in the finals by a score of 3-2.
Fellow NCAA titlist Dean Hamiti Jr. nearly made it four champions from Cowboy RTC but suffered his only defeat of the weekend to Evan Wick in the 79-kilogram championship.
The Cowboys also received strong performances from Dustin Plott, Carter Young and Brayden Thompson, who all battled through consolations to become placewinners. Plott was the highest placer of the bunch thanks to a 4-2 weekend that resulted in a fifth-place finish at 92 kilograms. Young was just behind him in sixth at 65 kilograms, while Thompson's eighth-place outing at 86 kilograms included a criteria victory over teammate Jersey Robb deep in the consolation bracket.
Aiming for his third career World Team, Daton Fix reached the 61-kilogram quarterfinals but then suffered an injury and was forced to forfeit out of the tournament. Like Fix, Robb (86 kg), Benjamin Mower (86 kg) and Gary Traub (97 kg) each came up just one win shy of placewinner status.
The U.S. Open concludes Sunday afternoon with the final session of the U20 division at noon CT. Fans can follow along with streaming options on FloWrestling.org, results on usabracketing.com and live updates from @CowboyWrestling on the X app.
Senior Freestyle Division
Daton Fix, 61 kg
Round of 32: Daton Fix VSU Bennie Fielding, 10-0, 0:50
Round of 16: Daton Fix VSU Ethan Oakley, 10-0, 5:44
Quarterfinals: Ben Davino VIN Daton Fix, 0:33
Consolation Round of 8 #2: Fernando Barreto VFO Daton Fix
Joey McKenna, 65 kg (First)
Round of 16: Joey McKenna VSU1 Ruben Calderon, 13-2, 2:29
Quarterfinals: Joey McKenna VSU Tom Crook, 10-0, 1:59
Semifinals: Joey McKenna VPO1 Aden Valencia, 9-6
Finals: Joey McKenna VPO1 Jesse Mendez, 3-2
Carter Young, 65 kg (Sixth)
Round of 32: Carter Young VSU1 Luke Schroeder, 12-2, 0:49
Round of 16: Carter Young VSU Bryce Kresho, 10-0, 0:25
Quarterfinals: Beau Bartlett VPO1 Carter Young, 5-3
Consolation Round of 8 #2: Carter Young VSU Connor Thorpe, 11-0, 1:51
Consolation Round of 4: Carter Young VPO1 Vince Cornella, 8-5
Consolation Semifinals: Aden Valencia VSU1 Carter Young, 14-4, 5:36
Fifth Place Match: Beau Bartlett VPO1 Carter Young 7-1
Cutter Sheets, 70 kg
Round of 32: Cutter Sheets VSU1 Ethan Basile, 15-5, 5:26
Round of 16: Will Lewan VSU Cutter Sheets, 10-0, 2:09
Consolation Round of 16 #2: Lucas Kapusta VPO1 Cutter Sheets, 10-3
Dean Hamiti Jr., 79 kg (Second)
Round of 32: Dean Hamiti Jr. VSU William Hunter, 10-0, 0:54
Round of 16: Dean Hamiti Jr. VSU Kevin Reynolds, 10-0, 2:12
Quarterfinals: Dean Hamiti Jr. VFA Dajun Johnson, 2:05
Semifinals: Dean Hamiti Jr. VSU1 Kennedy Monday, 14-4, 5:32
Finals: Evan Wick VPO1 Dean Hamiti Jr., 9-1
Benjamin Mower, 86 kg
Round of 32: Benjamin Mower VFA Marcus Curry, 0:24
Round of 16: Rocco Welsh VSU1 Benjamin Mower, 17-4, 3:36
Consolation Round of 16 #2: Benjamin Mower VSU Jacob Taylor, 10-0, 1:00
Consolation Round of 8 #1: Benjamin Mower VSU1 Daniel Williams, 15-5, 1:26
Consolation Round of 8 #2: Marcus Coleman VSU Benjamin Mower, 10-0, 2:35
Jersey Robb, 86 kg
Round of 32: Jersey Robb VSU Joshua Cortez, 10-0, 1:51
Round of 16: Jersey Robb VPO1 Chris Moore, 6-1
Quarterfinals: Kyle Dake VSU1 Jersey Robb, 12-1, 3:56
Consolation Round of 8 #2: Brayden Thompson VPO1 Jersey Robb, 3-3
Brayden Thompson, 86 kg (Eighth)
Round of 32: Brayden Thompson VSU Daniel Hernandez, 10-0, 0:28
Round of 16: Reece Heller VPO1 Brayden Thompson, 5-4
Consolation Round of 16 #2: Brayden Thompson VPO1 Devan Hendricks, 10-1
Consolation Round of 8 #1: Brayden Thompson VPO1 Jaden Bullock, 2-2
Consolation Round of 8 #2: Brayden Thompson VPO1 Jersey Robb, 3-3
Consolation Round of 4: Rocco Welsh VPO Brayden Thompson, 5-0
Seventh Place Match: Chris Moore VPO1 Brayden Thompson, 9-2
Zahid Valencia, 86 kg (First)
Round of 32: Zahid Valencia VSU Adrian Chavez-Morales, 10-0, 0:37
Round of 16: Zahid Valencia VSU Jaden Bullock, 10-0, 0:59
Quarterfinals: Zahid Valencia VSU Reece Heller, 11-0, 1:07
Semifinals: Zahid Valencia VPO1 Chance Marstellar, 4-2
Finals: Zahid Valencia VPO1 Kyle Dake, 8-4
Dustin Plott, 92 kg (Fifth)
Round of 16: Dustin Plott VSU Patrick Brophy, 10-0, 1:01
Quarterfinals: Eric Schultz VPO1 Dustin Plott, 11-9
Consolation Round of 8 #2: Dustin Plott VSU Gavin Nelson, 10-0, 1:16
Consolation Round of 4: Dustin Plott VPO1 Jack Davis, 10-2
Consolation Semifinals: Michael Macchiavello VSU Dustin Plott, 11-0, 4:10
Fifth Place Match: Dustin Plott VPO Hayden Walters, 8-0
Gary Traub, 97 kg
Round of 16: Gary Traub VSU Eric Mittlestead, 11-0, 4:20
Quarterfinals: Gavin Hoffman VPO1 Gary Traub, 5-1
Consolation Round of 8 #2: Christian Knop VSU Gary Traub, 10-0, 0:51
Wyatt Hendrickson, 125 kg (First)
Round of 16: Wyatt Hendrickson VSU Devon Dawson, 10-0, 0:55
Quarterfinals: Wyatt Hendrickson VSU Lucas Stoddard, 11-0, 0:26
Semifinals: Wyatt Hendrickson VPO1 Trent Hillger, 10-4
Finals: Wyatt Hendrickson VSU1 Demetrius Thomas, 14-3, 3:51
Players Mentioned
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/ Cowboy Wrestling
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/ Cowboy Wrestling
/ Cowboy Wrestling
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