In one of the most highly anticipated matches of the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament finals, Carter Starocci nearly upended multiple time World champ and Olympic medalist Kyle Dake in the 86 kg. 

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• 2025 World Team Trials Men's Freestyle Preview & Predictions
  
• FloWrestling's Domestic Freestyle Rankings 2025

Penn State's five time NCAA champ trailed Dake 3-3 on criteria, but held secured a 5-3 after an exchange in the center of the mat was called a takedown as time expired. The call on the mat awarded Starocci a takedown, but after it was reviewed, the call was overturned. 

In the closing seconds of the 86kg final, Carter Starocci nearly secured a takedown on Kyle Dake, but after a review, it was ruled no takedown. Thoughts?!? pic.twitter.com/SoGTXKF4i8

— Saturday Night Lights (@WrestlingSNL) May 17, 2025

Starocci and Dake's matchup was bound to be one of the most entertaining of the week, as Starocci is the only five-time national champion in NCAA Division 1 history. Dake, on the other hand, has won it four times for Cornell University but now trains at Penn State alongside Starocci as part of the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club.  

Dake will carry his 2025 Senior World Team Trials champion title to Final X on June 14 for a chance to compete for a spot on the USA Wrestling team. He's set to face Zahid Valencia in a US Open finals rematch.

To keep up with incoming results for the 2025 Senior World Team Trials, find everything to know about today's events here on FloWrestling. 

World Team Trials Wrestling Brackets 2025

Here are the men's freestyle finals, which will begin Saturday, May 17 at 1:30 p.m. ET. The winners of these matches will head to Final X. 

• 65kg: Real Woods (CKWC/TMWC) vs. Brock Hardy (NRTC/TMWC)
• 70kg: Bryce Andonian (SERTC/TMWC) vs. PJ Duke (TMWC)
• 74kg: David Carr (CRT/TMWC) vs. Jarrett Jacques (TSWC)
• 79kg: Levi Haines (TMWC/NLWC) vs. Dean Hamiti Jr. (Cowboy RTC/TMWC)
• 86kg: Kyle Dake (NLWC/TMWC) vs. Carter Starocci (NLWC/TMWC)
• 92kg: Josh Barr (NLWC/TMWC) vs. Aeoden Sinclair (TSWC)
• 97kg: Hayden Zillmer (GWC) vs. Jay Aiello (PRTC/TMWC)
• 125kg: Demetrius Thomas (NYAC) vs. Trent Hillger (GWC)

World Team Trials Wrestling Schedule 2025

Saturday, May 17th

• 12:00 p.m. ET – 1:30 p.m. ET: Senior Women’s Finals & 3rd Place
• 1:30 p.m. ET - 3:00 p.m. ET: Senior Men’s Finals & 3rd Place

How To Watch World Team Trials Wrestling 2025