University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Brad Rempel
McEnelly Wins U.S. Open; Four Gophers Total Reach Podium
4/28/2025 12:22:00 PM | Wrestling
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota's Max McEnelly won the U20 freestyle 86 kg championship and three others reached the podium to highlight current and future Gophers at this past weekend's 2025 CLAW U.S. Open Championships in Las Vegas.
McEnelly, who finished third at the NCAA Championships this past year for his first career All-America honors, went 6-0 and outscored opponents, 62-7, yielding points in only two of the six matches. He prevailed in his first five matches all by tech fall. In the finals, McEnelly faced Aeoden Sinclair of Tiger Style Wrestling Club. The score was tied at 3-3 in the closing seconds with Sinclair ahead on criteria when McEnelly recorded the winning takedown to capture the title.
As a result of his performance, McEnelly was named CLAW's Most Exciting Wrestler at the tournament.
For the second year in a row, true freshman Koy Hopke finished in third place at 125 kg in U20 freestyle. He won his first two matches, including a pin in 28 seconds in his opener, before dropping his quarterfinals match. Hopke bounced back with two wins, including another pin, in the consolations to reach the third-place match. There, he pinned Rocco Dellagatta (NYAC) at the 2:07 mark to get the win.
In the Senior Freestyle competition, redshirt freshman Ethan Riddle claimed seventh place at 79 kg. After a pair of tech fall wins, Riddle fell in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Evan Wick (SoCalRTC/Titan Mercury). Riddle's first match in the consolations pitted him against teammate Clayton Whiting with Riddle prevailing, 9-3, to guarantee a podium spot. A loss in the consolation semis bumped Riddle to the seventh-place match where he posted a 14-4 tech fall over Dajun Johnson (RWC).
Also in U20, true freshman Blake Beissel placed eighth at 57 kg. Beissel started 3-0, including a 20-second fall in his opening match, before dropping his Round of 16 match to eventual champion Anthony Knox (SCRT). Beissel got a pin in his first consolation match to secure a podium spot before losing in the consolation quarterfinals and seventh-place match.
Other Gophers competing on the weekend in senior freestyle were redshirt sophomore Clayton Whiting (3-2 at 79 kg), redshirt freshman Gavin Nelson (3-2 at 92 kg), redshirt senior Theo Cha (2-2 at 65 kg) and redshirt junior Drew Roberts (2-2 at 70 kg).
On the U20 side, Gophers in action were redshirt freshman Rhett Koenig (4-2 at 65 kg), true freshmen Wyatt Duchateau and Dawson Johnson (both 4-2 at 65kg), Charlie Millard (3-2 at 74 kg; both losses by medical forfeit), Jack Nelson (2-2 at 70 kg), Jed Wester (2-2 at 79 kg) and Silas Dailey (1-2 at 86 kg) and Minnesota signee Brett Swenson (2-2 at 61 kg).
McEnelly, who finished third at the NCAA Championships this past year for his first career All-America honors, went 6-0 and outscored opponents, 62-7, yielding points in only two of the six matches. He prevailed in his first five matches all by tech fall. In the finals, McEnelly faced Aeoden Sinclair of Tiger Style Wrestling Club. The score was tied at 3-3 in the closing seconds with Sinclair ahead on criteria when McEnelly recorded the winning takedown to capture the title.
As a result of his performance, McEnelly was named CLAW's Most Exciting Wrestler at the tournament.
ICE IN HIS VEINS!
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 27, 2025
Max McEnelly gets a takedown with 8 seconds left to earn the 86kg U20 US Open title. pic.twitter.com/fIpEDEiHb7
For the second year in a row, true freshman Koy Hopke finished in third place at 125 kg in U20 freestyle. He won his first two matches, including a pin in 28 seconds in his opener, before dropping his quarterfinals match. Hopke bounced back with two wins, including another pin, in the consolations to reach the third-place match. There, he pinned Rocco Dellagatta (NYAC) at the 2:07 mark to get the win.
In the Senior Freestyle competition, redshirt freshman Ethan Riddle claimed seventh place at 79 kg. After a pair of tech fall wins, Riddle fell in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Evan Wick (SoCalRTC/Titan Mercury). Riddle's first match in the consolations pitted him against teammate Clayton Whiting with Riddle prevailing, 9-3, to guarantee a podium spot. A loss in the consolation semis bumped Riddle to the seventh-place match where he posted a 14-4 tech fall over Dajun Johnson (RWC).
Also in U20, true freshman Blake Beissel placed eighth at 57 kg. Beissel started 3-0, including a 20-second fall in his opening match, before dropping his Round of 16 match to eventual champion Anthony Knox (SCRT). Beissel got a pin in his first consolation match to secure a podium spot before losing in the consolation quarterfinals and seventh-place match.
Other Gophers competing on the weekend in senior freestyle were redshirt sophomore Clayton Whiting (3-2 at 79 kg), redshirt freshman Gavin Nelson (3-2 at 92 kg), redshirt senior Theo Cha (2-2 at 65 kg) and redshirt junior Drew Roberts (2-2 at 70 kg).
On the U20 side, Gophers in action were redshirt freshman Rhett Koenig (4-2 at 65 kg), true freshmen Wyatt Duchateau and Dawson Johnson (both 4-2 at 65kg), Charlie Millard (3-2 at 74 kg; both losses by medical forfeit), Jack Nelson (2-2 at 70 kg), Jed Wester (2-2 at 79 kg) and Silas Dailey (1-2 at 86 kg) and Minnesota signee Brett Swenson (2-2 at 61 kg).