Super 32 Challenge Championship Field Takes Shape After Action-Packed Semifinals

GREENSBORO, N.C. — October 25, 2026 — The road to a Super 32 championship has narrowed to its final stage, as 28 wrestlers advanced through Sunday's semifinal round at the 2026 Defense Soap Super 32 Challenge in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Known for attracting some of the nation's top high school wrestling talent, Super 32 once again delivered a demanding slate of matchups, with wrestlers battling through close decisions, overtime finishes, major decisions and technical falls to earn a spot in the championship finals.

Across 14 weight classes, the semifinal round produced several standout performances and notable upsets. Top seeds Luke Loren, Kooper Deputy, Dean Anderson and Mac Crosson advanced, while wrestlers such as Nelson Villafane III, Miklo Hernandez, Arseni Kikiniou and Maximus Fortier secured their places in the finals after defeating higher-seeded opponents.

At 106 pounds, top-seeded Luke Loren earned a 3-1 decision over Max Lindquist to advance to the championship match. Loren will face No. 18 Nelson Villafane III, who delivered one of the most dominant performances of the semifinal round with a 21-5 technical fall over Derik Kiefer in just 2 minutes, 42 seconds.

Villafane brings international experience into the final. Representing Puerto Rico, he won the 45-kilogram men's freestyle title at the 2026 U17 World Championships, according to USA Wrestling. His international accomplishments add another dimension to a matchup against Loren, who will look to cap his tournament with a championship performance.

At 113 pounds, No. 11 Caleb Elvin Noble advanced with a 19-3 technical fall over No. 12 Connor Maddox in 5:22. Noble will meet No. 2 Kooper Deputy, who survived a tight 4-3 decision against Jax Vang. Deputy's narrow semifinal victory sets up a final against an opponent who showed considerable offensive firepower in advancing.

The 120-pound championship will feature No. 3 Cameron Sontz against No. 4 Anthony Garza. Sontz controlled his semifinal against No. 5 Chase Karenbauer, earning a 7-2 decision, while Garza edged No. 16 Aiden Garcia, 10-8, in a more offensive contest. Sontz enters the final with experience on major championship stages. Delbarton Athletics reported in March that he was advancing to his third New Jersey state championship final, adding to his credentials as he pursues another significant title in Greensboro.

At 126 pounds, No. 10 Mateo Gallegos advanced by fall over No. 8 Justin Farnsworth in 5:59, after building a 4-1 lead. Gallegos will face No. 15 Miklo Hernandez, who defeated No. 3 Hayden Schwab by an 8-5 decision. Hernandez's semifinal victory stands out as another example of the unpredictable nature of the tournament, as he overcame a higher-seeded opponent to reach the championship round.

The 132-pound final will feature No. 7 Paul Ruiz and No. 4 Israel Borge. Ruiz defeated No. 19 Alex Marchetti, 11-4, while Borge held off Reef Dillard, 4-3. Ruiz advanced with a convincing performance, while Borge demonstrated the ability to execute under pressure in a one-point match.

At 138 pounds, No. 2 Dean Anderson earned an 11-5 decision over No. 7 Austin Ellis. Anderson will face No. 3 Dawson Youngblut, who defeated No. 2 Dale Corbin, 2-1, in a double-overtime tiebreaker. Youngblut's victory was among the tightest contests of the round, and his ability to win in a pressure-packed situation could prove important in the final.

The 144-pound championship will feature No. 4 Jovani Solis against No. 3 Matthew Oneill. Solis edged No. 5 Braylon Reynolds, 8-7, in a match decided by a single point. Oneill advanced with a 4-2 decision over No. 14 Jensen Boyd. Both wrestlers came through competitive semifinals, setting up a final that could be decided by small positional advantages and late-match execution.

At 150 pounds, No. 7 Peyton Hornsby defeated No. 10 Greyson Music, 7-5, to secure his place in the final. Hornsby will face No. 5 Arseni Kikiniou, who defeated top-seeded Jason Dube, 3-2, in a double-overtime tiebreaker. Kikiniou's victory was one of the round's most significant seed upsets and gives the championship matchup an added layer of intrigue.

The 157-pound final will pit No. 2 Camryn Howard against top-seeded Mac Crosson. Howard earned a 4-1 decision over No. 18 Chris Arreola, while Crosson defeated No. 6 Aiden Arnett, 6-1, in a tiebreaker. Both wrestlers advanced through challenging matchups, setting up a meeting between two highly seeded contenders.

At 165 pounds, No. 5 Matthew Staples secured his place in the championship final with an 8-5 decision over No. 17 Harrison Murdock. Staples will face top-seeded Melvin Miller, who recorded a 19-9 major decision over Landen McDowell. Miller's high-scoring semifinal demonstrated his ability to create separation on the scoreboard, while Staples showed the composure necessary to navigate a competitive match.

At 175 pounds, No. 12 Maximus Fortier defeated No. 5 Justus Heeg, 8-6, to advance to the final. Fortier will meet No. 6 Lucas Boe, who defeated No. 15 Kobe Cunanan, 4-1. Fortier's victory over a higher-seeded opponent highlights the competitive depth of the bracket, while Boe advanced with a controlled performance.

The 190-pound championship will feature No. 5 Tanner Hodgins and No. 6 Mario Hutcherson. Hodgins defeated No. 7 Mason Savidan, 7-3, while Hutcherson knocked off No. 4 Ryder Schulte, 7-2. Both wrestlers earned decisive victories over seeded opponents, setting up a final between competitors who have demonstrated the ability to manage demanding matchups.

At 215 pounds, No. 5 Maximus Konopka recorded an 11-0 major decision over No. 9 Decker Bechtold. Konopka will face No. 4 Ladd Holman, who also earned a major decision by defeating No. 7 Peter Mocco, 10-1. Both finalists advanced with commanding performances, making the weight class one of the most intriguing championship matchups of the tournament.

The heavyweight final at 285 pounds will feature No. 9 Satoshi Davis against No. 6 Kendahl Hoare. Davis defeated No. 11 Matthew Cooley, 5-2, while Hoare earned a 7-2 decision over No. 7 Carter Brown. Both wrestlers relied on control and consistency to advance, setting up a heavyweight championship bout in which positioning and execution could determine the winner.

The semifinal results have created a championship lineup that blends established credentials with breakthrough performances. Several top seeds survived, but others fell short, opening the door for wrestlers such as Villafane, Hernandez, Kikiniou and Fortier to pursue a major tournament title after defeating higher-seeded opponents.

For the finalists, the challenge now shifts from surviving the bracket to delivering one final performance against an opponent who has navigated the same demanding tournament. Every championship match presents a different test, whether it involves maintaining control in a low-scoring bout, creating offense against a defensive opponent or managing the pressure of a close contest.

From the 106-pound matchup between Loren and Villafane to the heavyweight showdown between Davis and Hoare, the 2026 Super 32 Challenge has assembled 14 championship finals that will help define the weekend in Greensboro.

The finalists have earned their place on the championship stage. Now, with titles on the line, the final matches will determine who leaves Greensboro as a Super 32 champion.