U.S. wrestling’s biggest weekend charges forward today, April 26, as the 2025 USA Wrestling US Open returns to Las Vegas, Nev., for another day of wrestling, spotlighted by the Senior Men’s Freestyle division.

America’s finest Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers have been battling fiercely at The Expo at World Market Center, putting on electrifying matches as they fight for a ticket to Final X or a coveted spot on the U.S. World Team.

Day 4 is one of the best, kicking off matches in the U20 and U17 Freestyle divisions, where many high school state champions will begin their pursuit of another championship.

Later this evening, we’ll also witness the culmination of the stacked Senior Mens Freestyle division, with finals raging onward beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

With the energy reaching new highs in Vegas, check here for ongoing coverage, results and live updates from the 2025 USA Wrestling US Open.

US Open Wrestling Schedule Saturday, April 26

All times Eastern

Session 7

• 1:00 pm – 3:15 pm: Senior Greco-Roman Group B** – Championship Finals Round 1 (Best 2/3), Consolation & Medal Matches (3rd, 5th, 7th place matches)
• 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Senior Men Freestyle – Consolation, Consolation Semifinals & Medal Matches (3rd, 5th, 7th place matches)
• 1:00 pm – 5:15 pm: U20 Freestyle – Preliminaries & Consolation
• 1:00 pm – 5:15 pm: U17 Freestyle – Preliminaries & Consolation

Session 8

• 7:00 pm – 11:30 pm: U17 Freestyle – Championship Rounds & Consolation
• 7:00 pm – 11:15 pm: U20 Freestyle – Championship Rounds & Consolation
• 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm: Senior Men Freestyle – Championship Finals
• 9:00 pm – 9:45 pm: Senior Greco-Roman Group B** – Championship Finals Round 2 (Best 2/3) & Round 3 (if necessary)

**Senior Greco-Roman – Group B: (82 kg, 87 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg)

Competition Is Winding Down, But Still More Wrestling To Come

The final few matches for this evening are playing out right now, but there’s still more to come tomorrow, April 27, as the 2025 USA Wrestling US Open wraps up competition.

Here’s the schedule:

US Open Wrestling Schedule Sunday, April 27

All times Eastern

Session 9

• 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm: U17 Freestyle – Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolation & Consolation Semifinals
• 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm: U20 Freestyle – Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolation & Consolation Semifinals
• 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm: UWW Futures Freestyle – Preliminaries to Conclusion (All Matches)
• 1:00 pm – 7:30 pm: U17 Freestyle – Championship Finals Round 1, Round 2 (Best 2/3), Round 3 (if necessary) & Medal Matches (3rd, 5th, 7th place matches)
• 1:00 pm – 7:30 pm: U20 Freestyle – Championship Finals & Medal Matches (3rd, 5th, 7th, place matches)

125-kg Championship – Demetrius Thomas Over Wyatt Hendrickson (TF 14-3 (3:51))

Last matchup of the Senior Men Freestyle finals is up next. It’s Thomas vs. Hendrickson to round out the competition.

Kicking off the last match now.

Thomas gets the passive, but is able to get a push out to get on the board first.

Hendrickson strikes back with a takedown to get two and go up 2-1.

Another takedown for Hendrickson will add two.

Hendrickson gets a takedown then rolls twice for two exposures as time in the first period expires. Hendrickson is up 10-1.

Thomas fights back to open the second period with a takedown.

Hendrickson grabs a takedown and finishes the match with the exposure, defeating Thomas 14-3.

97-kg Championship – Kyle Snyder Over Jonathan Aiello (TF 11-0 (3:19))

Another big matchup is up on the chopping block now.

We’re getting started here.

Aiello gets a passive early.

Snyder gets the push out for one to get on the board first.

He’ll follow up with a takedown to add two, now up 3-0.

Snyder tacks on another takedown for two.

And then another takedown, Snyder is now leading 7-0.

No slowing here, Snyder has his fourth takedown, ahead 9-0 leading into the break.

Right out of the break and Snyder seals this with a final takedown. An 11-0 masterclass win for Snyder.

92-kg Championship – Trent Hidlay Over Aeoden Sinclair (Dec 7-1)

We’re nearing the end of the Senior Mens Freestyle finals with only three matches left. Up next, Hidlay vs. Sinclair.

Clock is ticking.

Hidlay gets the early takedown and exposure to go up four.

Now he gets the push out, Hidlay leads 5-0 early.

Good defense on both sides runs the time to the break, 5-0 Hidlay.

Hidlay gets the push out after some time in the second period to extend to 6-0.

Sinclair gets his own push out to get on the board.

And Hidlay is back with another push out on his end.

Time will expire, and it’s Hidlay’s win this time, 7-1 over Sinclair.

86-kg Championship – Zahid Valencia Over Kyle Dake (Dec 8-4)

Guess what? More wrestling. Dake takes on Valencia next to decide the 86-kg champion.

Hitting the mats now.

Dake gets the passive, no scores yet.

All locked up here with no points across the board, but Dake gets another passive and will go on the shot clock.

Soon after and Valencia has got a takedown, the exposure and secures the clock point. It’s 5-0 Valencia.

Dake gets a push out at the end of the period to get on the board. 5-1 going into the break.

Valnecia gets a push out coming back from the break to extend to 6-1.

We’re trading pushes now. Dake gets another to add one point, 6-2.

Valencia gets a caution to give Dake one and one. It’s now 6-4 Valencia.

Valencia finds some extra energy to get a takedown as time runs out, taking the championship 8-4 over Dake.

79-kg Championship – Evan Wick Over Dean Hamiti Jr. (Dec 9-1)

More weight classes, more wrestling, more championships. Get ready for what’s next.

Match is underway.

Some action but no scores yet.

Wick will get the passive, followed by Hamiti getting a passive soon after.

Another passive given to Wick will put him on the shot clock.

Hamiti gets the point, going into the break up 1-0.

Back from the break and it’s Hamiti’s turn on the shot clock.

Wick gets the point, then gets rolling for a takedown and some exposures. He gets a total of nine points here, now up 9-1.

Time will run out and Wick will get the win 9-1.

74-kg Championship – Mitchell Mesenbrink Over David Carr (TF 16-6 (5:32))

Another massive battle lies ahead soon. Who will take the win?

Let’s get this started.

Carr starts off hot with a takedown and exposer to get four, now up 4-0.

A quick medical break to clean a small cut.

Carr is still rolling, pushing Mesenbrink out for one more. 5-0 Carr, but we’ll get a quick challenge.

A massive reversal here, Mesenbrink wins the challenge, putting it to 4-1 Carr.

Mesenbrink is heating up now, getting himself four on a quick attack on Carr. Mesenbrink now up 5-4.

Hitting break time, Mesenbrink has the lead 5-4.

Mesenbrink hits a massive shot against Carr for four more points to extend the score to 9-4.

Carr gets some action now as he secures a takedown for two, Mesenbrink up 9-6.

Now a takedown for Mesenbrink to match Carr’s, 11-6.

Add two for Mesenbrink for another takedown to put him up 13-6.

A challenge gives Mesenbrink one more point 14-6.

Mesenbrink secures the win with one more takedown, beating Carr 16-6.

Can we talk about how good Mitchell Mesenbrink is? He TECHS David Carr to punch his ticket to FINAL X pic.twitter.com/EuMOQbKTvl

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 27, 2025

60-kg Championship – Yianni Diakomihalis Over James Green (Dec 8-2)

Up next, the 60-kg championships between Green and Diakomihalis.

We’re underway.

Lots of action but no scoring yet, Green gets a passive.

Diakomihalis gets the step out, putting him up 1-0.

Another passive for Green puts him on the shot clock.

Diakomihalis gets the point leading into the break, up 2-0.

Second period starts with a takedown from Green to tie it up 2-2.

Diakomihalis will get four after getting a single leg and head wheel on Green, up 6-2.

Diakomihalis adds two more with another takedown into the last few seconds, securing the 8-2 win.

Yianni Diakomihalis wins the US Open with this CRAZY finish on James Green pic.twitter.com/fiOypxXu6U

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 27, 2025

65-kg Championship – Joseph McKenna Over Jesse Mendez (Dec 3-2)

No slowing down here in Las Vegas, another championship is up.

Match start.

A passive on McKenna, but still scoreless in the first period.

A much more controlled and slow match compared to what we’ve seen so far.

Double passives, and we’ll go into a shot clock

One point for Mendez, but McKenna is able to defend any other points leading into the break.

McKenna gets a takedown to get on the board. It’s now 2-1 McKenna.

Another passive and Mendez will go on the shot clock.

McKenna gets the point, extending his lead to 3-1.

Mendez gets a push out in the last seconds for one point, but leaves just 1 second on the clock.

McKenna will get the win, 3-2.

Joey McKenna gets it done 3-2 over Jesse Mendez to secure his spot in FINAL X where he will take on the winner of the 2025 World Team Trials pic.twitter.com/hOIMMvKP3z

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 27, 2025

61-kg Championship – Jax Forrest Over Seth Gross (TF 19-8 (5:35))

Another battle coming up next. NCAA Champion Gross vs. No. 2-ranked high school prospect Jax Forrest.

Here we go.

Forrest gives up two early with a pass. 2-0 Gross.

Forrest initiates contact into a takedown, but we’ve got a review to figure out if Gross defended.

We’ve got confirmation from officials, Gross gets four and Forrest two. Score now 6-2 Gross.

Forrest gets an amazing combo of a takedown and exposure. Now tied 6-6.

Another takedown and exposure from Forrest, quickly taking the lead 10-6.

Forrest rips another takedown in the first period to go up two more points.

12-6 Forrest at the break.

Back from the break, a quick 2-2 exchange, making the score 14-8 Forrest.

A quick and nicely placed step out give Forrest one more, 15-8.

Takedown Forrest, he’s one away now, 17-8.

The final takedown comes, and Forrest gets the tech win over Gross, 19-8.

Jax Forrest and Seth Gross lit up the scoreboard in their U.S. Open finals match but Jax Forrest gets the tech-fall and a spot in FINAL X where he will take on Vito Arujau for a World team spot pic.twitter.com/vFfs4QpnRa

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 27, 2025

57-kg Championship – Luke Lillidahl Over Liam Cronin (TF 10-0 (2:45))

First match, here we go.

We’re locked in early, but it’ll be Lillidahl to get going first with a takedown. Lillidahl up 2-0.

Another takedown, now up 4-0 with 1 minute, 30 seconds to go.

Another takedown for Lillidahl, now 6-0. All Luke so far.

Leg up, Lillidahl sends Cronin into a step out. 7-0

Another step out, 8-0.

And there it is, Lillidahl completes the run with the tech fall, 10-0.

Luke Lilledahl put on an incredible performance in the 2025 U.S. Open finals to punch his ticket to FINAL X Where he will take on Spencer Lee for a World team spot pic.twitter.com/dCj1xFKpPj

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 27, 2025

Senior Mens Freestyle Finals Start NOW At The US Open

Finals are coming this way right now, so be sure to tune in LIVE on FloWrestling.

As matches progress and champions are crowned, follow along below for updates.

US Open Wrestling Senior Mens Freestyle Finals Champions

57-kg Matchups

• Luke Lilledahl, NLTM over Liam Cronin, NRTM (TF 10-0 (2:45))

61-kg Matchups

• Jax Forrest, CRTM over Seth Gross, MWC (TF 19-8 (5:35))

65-kg Matchups

• Joseph McKenna, CRTM over Jesse Mendez, ORTM (Dec 3-2)

70-kg Matchups

• Yianni Diakomihalis, SCRT over James Green, NRTM (Dec 8-2)

74-kg Matchups

• Mitchell Mesenbrink, NLTM over David Carr, CRTM (TF 16-6 (5:32))

79-kg Matchups

• Evan Wick, SRTM over Dean Hamiti Jr, CRTM (Dec 9-1)

86-kg Matchup

• Zahid Valencia, CRTM over Kyle Dake, NTMW (Dec 8-4)

92-kg Matchup

• Trent Hidlay, WWTM over Aeoden Sinclair, TSWC (Dec 7-1)

97-kg Matchup

• Kyle Snyder, NTMW over Jonathan Aiello, PRTM (TF 11-0 (3:19))

125-kg Matchup

• Wyatt Hendrickson, CRW over Demetrius Thomas, NYAC (TF 14-3 (3:51))

Senior Greco-Roman Group B Finishes Finals, Sets World Team Roster

The 2025 Greco-Roman world team is set! pic.twitter.com/8hkbdCP7DG

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 27, 2025

And We’re Back In Vegas. Session 8 NOW

Time for some more U17 and U20 Freestyle action, plus the Senior Mens Freestyle and Greco-Roman Group B finals later tonight.

Session 7 Wrapping Up, Senior Mens Freestyle Finals Tonight

We’ve reached the final few matches of Session 7 this afternoon, which means it’s just about break time.

The action will resume at 7 p.m. ET with Session 8, with the Senior Mens Freestyle finals kicking off at 9 p.m. ET.

Luke Stanich Is Rising Through The Ranks At The US Open

Luke Stanich has been straight up scrappin’ in the U20 65kg division at the 2025 U.S. Open pic.twitter.com/brK4Ly2vwl

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 27, 2025

Check Out Some Of These Pics From The Senior Mens Consolations

Quick post of some (unprocessed) Senior Men’s Consis. Great matches! #USOpen25 @USAWrestling @FloWrestling https://t.co/6uL13zexrv pic.twitter.com/mR2su4y9h6

— Tony Rotundo (@Tony_Rotundo) April 26, 2025

Marcus Blaze Rips Through Consolations To Claim Third Place At US Open

Marcus Blaze stormed back for 3rd at the US Open, beating Ben Davino 7-0 in the consolation finals. pic.twitter.com/WC7S7zjN5M

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 26, 2025

Brock Montanona Uses An Ankle Pick In His US Open Start

Brock Mantanona with a clean ankle pick to start up his US Open! pic.twitter.com/pCpKLXPmLT

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 26, 2025

PJ Duke Starts Off Hot At USA Wrestling US Open

PJ Duke with a tech to kick off his US Open! pic.twitter.com/vlzMj9P6mt

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 26, 2025

Jordan Chapman With The Double Scoop And Slam

Rutgers commit Jordan Chapman’s first match at U20s was a 22 second masterpiece pic.twitter.com/wHUxG9O3YK

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 26, 2025

Bryce Andonian Is A Throwing Machine At The US Open

Check out another classic “all 4 feet off the ground” throw from Bryce Andonian at the US Open! #usopen pic.twitter.com/rkGlkwYsN6

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 26, 2025

Daniel Zepeda Secures A Cradle Win At US Wrestling Open

Daniel “Sauce” Zepeda is literally on a roll so far at the 2025 U.S. Open pic.twitter.com/LKoWPHMCpd

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 26, 2025

Check Out Bo Bassett’s Match Earlier Today At The US Open

U20 65kg is so TOUGH that Bo Bassett almost got taken down in his first match Bassett quickly turns the tables and secures the fall at the 2025 U.S. Open pic.twitter.com/f1wc7P87Tm

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 26, 2025

Follow The Senior Greco-Roman Group B Finals Happening Today

Be sure to check out the finals for the second group of the Senior Greco-Roman division, going on now!

Group B includes the 82-kg, 87-kg, 97-kg and 130-kg weight classes.

The finals winners will secure a spot on the U.S. Senior World Team, meaning the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Senior Greco-Roman World Team Trials Group B – Round 1 Results pic.twitter.com/wskqn7y7el

— USA Wrestling (@USAWrestling) April 26, 2025

US Open Wrestling U20 Freestyle Day 1: Get To Know The Wrestlers

With one of the most stacked and deep divisions of competition getting a start today, be sure to take a look at FloWrestling’s U20 Freestyle preview and predictions.

There are dozens and dozens of top high school wrestling recruits ready to take on the brackets at the US Open, so be sure to familiarize yourself with who might take the crown at each weight class.

No. 4-Ranked Bo Bassett Wins First US Open Match With Sub-Minute Fall

No worries for Bassett here at the Open in his first match on the mats, able to secure a fall against Thomas Thongseng in 57 seconds.

Be sure to follow Bassett’s journey at the 2025 USA Wrestling US Open here.

Bo Bassett Up Next At US Open Wrestling Tournament

Another high school wrestling phenom is starting his journey at the US Open, as Bo Bassett, FloWrestling’s No. 4-ranked high school wrestler in the nation, hits the mats.

Bassett is a multiple-time PIAA State Champion, and has created a large following on social media through his hard work, dedication and eccentric personality.

Make sure to catch the future Iowa Hawkeye’s match LIVE on Mat 12.

U20 freestyle today

@USAWrestling pic.twitter.com/u1Of6Ltr18

— Ross Bartachek (@rossbchek) April 26, 2025

Time To Wrestle! The US Open Is Back!

It’s time to watch some U17 and U20 Freestyle action get underway for the first time this week!

Also on the block will be the second group of the Senior Greco-Roman division, as well as some Senior Mens Freestyle consolations.

US Open Wrestling Action Kicks Off Soon At 1 P.M. ET!

Just a handful of minutes before wrestling action opens the day in Las Vegas. Be sure to keep out an eye here for the best highlights and results from today’s events.

Tune in to FloWrestling’s live coverage of the US Open here.

The US Open is bringing more HEAT this Saturday, including the Senior Men’s Freestyle Finals at 9:00 PM Eastern Time! pic.twitter.com/q0pUYhaUgv

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 26, 2025

US Open Wrestling Results By Age Group

Want to see the full results of each match in different age groups? Check out these FloWrestling articles:

US Open Wrestling Results, Champions By Bracket

Check out the results and Champions from the 2025 US Open as they come in on USA Bracketing here. For a specific weight class, check out the following list:

US Open Wrestling Freestyle Results & Champions

Senior Men Freestyle Results

U20 Freestyle Results

U17 Freestyle Results

U15 Freestyle Results & Champions

Senior Women Freestyle Results & Champions

High School Girls Showcase Freestyle Results & Champions

Masters A Freestyle Results & Champions

Masters B Freestyle Results & Champions

Masters C Freestyle Results & Champions

Masters D Freestyle Results & Champions

Masters E Freestyle Results & Champions

Masters F Freestyle Results & Champions

US Open Wrestling Greco-Roman Results & Champions

Senior Greco-Roman WTT Results & Champions

U20 Greco-Roman Results & Champions

U17 Greco-Roman Results & Champions

U15 Greco-Roman Results & Champions

UWW Futures Greco-Roman Results & Champions

Masters A Greco-Roman Results & Champions

Masters B Greco-Roman Results & Champions

Masters C Greco-Roman Results & Champions

Masters D Greco-Roman Results & Champions

Masters E Greco-Roman Results & Champions

Masters F Greco-Roman Results & Champions

Lake Forest College, located just north of Chicago, invites applications for the full-time position of Assistant Men’s Hockey Coach/Assistant Rink Operations. This role offers an excellent opportunity for individuals seeking experience in a Division III collegiate coaching environment and will offer the chosen candidate the opportunity to assist the head coach with all aspects of administering an established and successful collegiate hockey program. The selected candidate will assist the head coach with a variety of duties to achieve the overall goals and objectives of the Men’s Hockey program. The position requires a significant commitment to evening and weekend work. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively within the Forester athletic department, supporting the mission, goals, and procedures of both the department and the College.

Responsibilities:
Primary duties may include but are not limited to both on-ice coaching, recruitment of prospective student-athletes, scouting, and alumni relations. The successful candidate will foster a positive team environment and motivate student-athletes. Secondary duties include serving as the Assistant for Rink Operations for Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse. This role requires out of season contest management, student-worker supervision and training, ice rink rental oversight, general athletic facility oversight.

Qualifications:
Qualifications for this position include a bachelor’s degree (required), with collegiate playing and/or coaching experience preferred. Candidates must possess strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work in a team environment.

Salary Range and Benefits:

$35,000-40,000.

Employee Benefits | Lake Forest College

Review of applications begins immediately. Interested candidates should e-mail a cover letter, resume, and references to forestersearches@lakeforest.edu. 

Lake Forest College is a highly selective liberal arts college located on Chicago’s North Shore with a current enrollment of approximately 1,750 students from over 40 states and more than 100 countries. It is one of the most diverse small colleges in the Midwest with nearly 40% of our student body comprised of domestic minority and international students and consistently ranked as one of America’s top liberal arts colleges. Learn more about Lake Forest College’s recognition as a top-tier college. 

The College sponsors 25 intercollegiate varsity sport programs with approximately 500 student-athletes competing annually. Lake Forest is a member of NCAA Division III, the Midwest Conference (MWC), the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA), and the United States Handball Association (USHA). The College is an affiliate member of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) for men’s and women’s golf and the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) for men’s and women’s lacrosse. Learn more about Forester Athletics. 

Lake Forest College embraces diversity and encourages applications from women, members of historically underrepresented groups, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. For more information about Lake Forest College, visit www.lakeforest.edu. 

KALAMAZOO, MI –– He’s won junior hockey gold medals, helped Western Michigan win its first national championship and been a roadblock in net.

Now, he’ll help man the net for Team USA.

Hampton Slukynsky has been selected to the U.S. Men’s National Team for the upcoming IIHL Men’s World Championships, becoming the only college player on the initial roster, which was announced on Thursday afternoon.

Slukynsky will join a team Team USA roster that features 18 players, four of which have made an NHL All-Star team: goalie Jeremy Swayman and forwards Matty Beniers (2022 Olympian), Clayton Keller and Tage Thompson.

Slukynsky, a fourth-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, will hit the ice with Team USA in Stockholm, Sweden and Herning, Denmark from May 9-25. Team USA finished fifth at the IIHL Men’s World Championships in 2024.

The freshman phenom has a long track record of winning –– he not only helped WMU win its first national championship earlier this month, but he also helped USA hockey win big games at the junior level.

The 6-foot-2 goaltender shielded the net for USA’s gold medal-winning U-18 Men’s World Championship team, and most recently helped propel the 2025 U.S. National Junior team to a gold medal in January.

Slukynsky holds a 7-2-0 record with a 1.90 goals against average and a .933 save percentage for Team USA.

He’s made 156 total saves, too.

A Warroad, Minnesota native, Slukynsky enjoyed a stellar 2024-25 season at Western Michigan, powering the Broncos to historic new heights thanks to a 19-5-1 record, an NCHC-leading 1.90 GAA and a .922 save percentage.

Slukynsky took over full-time goaltending duties when the lights were the brightest –– and shined, accordingly. The 19-year-old stopped 28 of 29 shots in both of WMU’s games at the Fargo regional in the NCAA Tournament, winning each 2-1 to lead the Broncos to their first-ever Frozen Four appearance.

He then combined for 44 saves against two of the nation’s top offenses –– Denver and Boston University –– to propel WMU to ultimate glory with the program’s first national championship at the Frozen Four.

Before his time at WMU, Slukynsky helped the Fargo Force win the Clark Cup in the USHL, and was named the Dave Peterson USA Hockey Goaltender of the Year for the 2023-24 season, along with earning the USHL’s Goaltender of the Year award.

Slukynsky has a first team all-USHL selection that season, posting a 28-3-0 record to go along with a 1.86 GAA and a .923 save percentage.

Nicknamed “hammer”, Slukynsky has an older brother, Grant, who is a sophomore forward for the Broncos.

MORE WMU HOCKEY:

NCAA title rekindles memories for 84-year-old WMU hockey alum: ‘I was crying like a kid’

Thousands celebrate national hockey title at WMU: ‘We took that town over’

WMU hockey’s 6 goals was most in a NCAA title game since 2014 –– watch all 6

Watch fans go crazy as Western Michigan wins NCAA hockey national championship

‘This is home’: How Pat Ferschweiler has built No. 1 WMU hockey into a college power

‘It’s like a dream’: WMU hockey pops champagne with fans upon return to Kalamazoo

WMU hockey champs honored with key to the city of KalamazooApr. 21, 2025, 9:24 p.m.

Couches go up in flames as WMU fans celebrate hockey national championship

WMU hockey fans show up, show out –– and help deliver program’s first national title

‘He’s a warrior’: On the big stage, Northville’s Owen Michaels becomes WMU legend

Thor C. Griffith ’24 has always been an athlete. As a kid, he was a stellar ice hockey player and a great heavyweight wrestler.

When Harvard Football’s legendary Head Coach, Tim Murphy, saw videos of Griffith playing hockey, he knew he needed him on his football team.

“The drills were elite to the point I said to Thor, ‘That can’t be you,’” Coach Murphy explained. “To which he said, ‘Coach, that is me!! I was a top 100 hockey player in the U.S. when I was 12 years old.’”

Griffith declared for the 2025 NFL Draft this past January, hoping, alongside former Crimson teammates Tyler Neville and Matthew Hudson, to join the few Harvard Football alumni in the National Football League.

The 320-pound, six-foot-two defensive tackle looks like a strong prospect in the upcoming draft, having proved that he can compete at a high collegiate level in both the Ivy League and ACC.

Griffith kick-started his football career in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he excelled in the Portsmouth Clippers jersey. By his junior year of high school, Griffith was sending out highlight reels and workout videos to a variety of college coaches in an attempt to get recruited.

Portsmouth, a small town in New England, is not known for having a particularly strong football program or for sending athletes to play at the competitive Division 1 level.

Thankfully for Harvard’s football team, Coach Murphy was one of the few collegiate coaches to respond to Griffith’s messages.

“Thor was an interesting kid in that people now assume he was a highly recruited major college athlete out of high school. That wasn’t the case,” said Coach Murphy. “He came to our Summer Camp after his junior year in high school as a defensive lineman from New Hampshire. After camp was over, we sat down and talked about the top student-athletes who had come to campus and which kids had the three things we believe in to have success at Harvard and in the Ivy League.”

During the recruiting process, Coach Murphy and his Harvard coaching staff looked for players who were very strong students, with great personal character, all while having true Division 1 athletic potential.

At the beginning of Griffith’s recruiting period, Coach Murphy said that his coaching staff didn’t believe Thor was a good enough player, which caused them to “move on to other recruits for his position.”

In addition to his success on the ice, Griffith’s heavyweight wrestling videos, in which he tosses around a 280-pound opponent “like a rag doll,” also helped convey his natural strength and competitiveness.

Murphy explained that these clips, showcasing Griffith’s inherent athleticism, were the deciding factor in offering him a position on the Harvard team.

“He was clearly an elite athlete, albeit a huge one who did not have much football coaching or history,” Murphy said. “I told our staff, ‘We are taking this kid based on his potential,’ and the rest is history, as he is one of the top Defensive Linemen in Harvard Football history.”

“That’s kind of where it all started,” said Griffith while reflecting on his official commitment to the Crimson program.

Despite the initial excitement of committing to Harvard, Griffith’s first fall at Harvard in 2020 was unconventional due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Ivy League, notoriously strict in imposing regulations to stop the spread of the virus, completely cancelled the 2020 football season.

Although he lost a year of competition in the Crimson jersey, Griffith had an extremely momentous career at Harvard. He played in every single game for his remaining three seasons, notching an impressive 132 tackles. Among his many achievements, Griffith also claimed the title of All-Ivy League First Team, AFCA All-America Second Team, and FCS Football Central All-America Second Team.

Off the field, Griffith lived in Eliot House and pursued a concentration in economics with a secondary in Celtic Languages and Literature.

He credits his niche passion for Celtic culture to Harvard’s renowned Professor Gregory Nagy.

“My junior year, a couple of guys on the team and I took one of Professor Nagy’s classes in Celtic Languages and Literature,” Griffith said. “I thought it was super interesting. During my last semester, I only had to take two more classes to get the secondary. I was like, ‘Why not?’”

Although Harvard and the other Ancient Eight schools are not known for churning out NFL players, Griffith does not regret the time he spent in Cambridge. He also cites the rigorous Ivy League education for helping him mentally prepare to compete at a higher level and train for the NFL Draft.

“I really enjoyed my time at Harvard,” Griffith explained. “I feel like I wouldn’t have had such a great experience anywhere else, especially with all the people I’ve met, all my teammates, and all the friends I’ve made.”

When Griffith ran out of eligibility at Harvard, he decided to take his 5th year to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL. As he entered the portal, he received significant attention from serious football programs. Eventually, he selected the University of Louisville.

Griffith attributes his decision largely to the coaching program at Louisville, particularly crediting the defensive line coach Mark Hagen.

“I went on an official visit there, and just being there for the weekend, seeing the city, seeing the fans, seeing the facilities, I just fell in love with the area and the program and bought into what Coach Hagen was saying,” he said.

Griffith committed to the Cardinals that weekend, officially bringing his athletic skill to the Power Four. Despite making the jump from the Football Championship Subdivision, which the Ivy League competes in, to the more intense Football Bowl Subdivision, Griffith felt prepared.

“I did notice guys being a little more hesitant, thinking like hey, this guy is from the Ivy League,” Griffith said. “Is he really that good at football? Can he really compete at this level?”

Although fans and opponents initially doubted his ability to perform at a higher level, Griffith played a crucial role in all 13 of Louisville’s games this past fall. He completed 14 solo tackles and 21 total tackles in addition to three sacks for an overall loss of 16 yards.

Immediately after the conclusion of his season with the Cardinals, Griffith set his sights on the NFL Draft. He prepared for the combine and his Pro Day, when the professional teams send scouts to the major football programs to watch all of their draft candidates compete.

Griffith trained in Florida at Bommarito Performance Systems, a high-intensity training facility run by Pete Bommarito. Bommarito specializes in preparing collegiate football players for the NFL Combine, so Griffith worked out there from January until his Louisville Pro Day in March.

During these showcases, athletes are not just asked to play football, but are also observed sprinting, benching, doing the five-ten-five test, among other activities.

“When I was training for my Pro Day, it was like I wasn’t training for football anymore,” Griffith explained. “It’s more about gearing your training towards technique and muscle endurance. It was nothing that I did or that any of the other guys I was training with had done before.”

Thanks to the months spent in grueling training, Griffith excelled in his Pro Day. He ran a 4.9-second 40-yard dash and showed off his strength by completing 42 bench press reps at 225 pounds.

The time spent in Florida, though, was “mentally and physically taxing, since you’re trying to push yourself to your maximum limit during training every day,” said Griffith.

He attributes Harvard to helping him get through the challenging past few months.

“Not only did I have to prepare for games week in and week out, but also spend so many hours practicing, watching film, lifting, while at the same time balancing Harvard academics,” explained Griffith. “I learned how to balance that and handle super stressful situations.”

“I felt like Harvard really did prepare me to handle this process in a mental capacity, as I am used to the continuous work, work, work, work, every day mentality,” he added.

Now, after years of training, Griffith will wait for his phone to ring come draft night.

“It’s exciting but stressful at the same time,” Griffith said. “It’s one of the first times in my life where football is no longer a guarantee.”

Harvard, Louisville, and Portsmouth fans alike will keep a close eye on the later rounds of the draft in hopes that Griffith will, in fact, get that phone call and secure a contract from a professional team.

Throughout his career, Griffith has risen to the top of each team that he has been on. He has proved that he is a gritty and determined athlete. He is ready, both physically and mentally, to take his talents to the NFL.

“I believe he will get an NFL contract, and I believe he can play in the NFL,” Coach Murphy shared. “Thor’s a great kid, and I believe he will make it.”

– Staff Writer Isabel C. Smail can be reached at isabel.smail@thecrimson.com