Elite 8 Marylanders Led by Gabrielson

Maryland Wrestling Legend, Jason Gabrielson, got his club – Diamond Fish – accepted into the prestigious Elite 8 Duals in Atlanta, Georgia. In order to be competitive at this thing: you gotta hire ringers. It’s just that simple.

“In all it was a great experience,” Gabrielson reflected. “I hope we get invited back again next year. I think I've proven I can put a team together that can compete on that level. Diamon Fish was originally made with hopes of taking Maryland kids to events like this. But that tournament isn't for above average wrestlers. It's for Elite kids and if you want a top four spot you better have elite at every weight.”

Take a look at the rosters of the two teams that reached the finals - Carnage and Thunder. Carnage beat Thunder with a roster comprised of kids from Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

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Thunder was also all over the map with representatives from California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, and West Virginia.

THE ROSTER CONSTRUCTION

The man who also leads the SMWC Wolfpack, handpicked three current Maryland high schoolers to build around, Jason’s son, Eli (126 pounds), Tyler Verceles (120), and Ethan Vayro (175). A weird Elite 8 quirk allows recently graduated athletes to compete, and Evan Gavin took advantage of that and stepped in at 215 pounds.

“I asked a bunch of Maryland guys,” offered Gabrieslon. “Some never replied back. Brooklyn (Pickett) said yes then said he was hurt. Noah Tucker was on the team until he said he was hurt about two weeks out, maybe a little more. Salah Tsarni was in and then dropped out because he had surgery and was asked to do Who’s No. 1.”

From there, it was time to build this squad into a national powerhouse. Gabrielson pegged some youngsters from all around the country, including Alaska (Zane Gerlach of South Anchorage), who is ranked 14th in the nation at 175 pounds by High School on SI. Gerlach manned the 165-pound slot for the Diamond Fish.

The rest came from Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. All the wrestlers added are nationally ranked except Jersey’s heavyweight Matthew Morris and the littlest guy on the team, Pennsylvania’s Crew Musselman (100 pounds).

“Being in this sport for 42 years and traveling all over the country you tend to meet people and establish relationships,” said Gabrielson. “So, I started reaching out next to DMV and surrounding states that I have ties to. My buddy Mark Samples helped me get the WV guys, Natalie Radecki helped me get Grayson Davis, Mr. Deputy helped me get Crew, Also, Cliff (Fretwell) put together a Gunslingers for hire web site that put me in touch with a few of the kids.”

The biggest gun recruited by Gabrielson was 2026 U17 World Bronze Medalist, No. 8 Jovani Solis (South Dade, FL) to fill his 144-pound slot. More serious talent filled out 150 and 157 – No. 18 Grayson Davis (Cape Henlopen) and No. 20 Dominic Way (Parkersburg, WV), respectively.

Way’s teammate, No. 28 Stephen Myers, was brought into handle 138 pounds. Tennessee’s No. 24 Jha’kai Roller (Cleveland) was at 113. The 106-pound weight was taken by Georgia’s No. 28 Derik Kiefer (West Forsyth).

Two from High School on SI’s honorable mention section were also secured for duty, Andover, Kansas’ Dresden Beard (190 pounds) and Virginia’s Graydon Martin (Staunton River, 132).

“Oh, I also had Lucas Forman, originally, but he moved to Colorado to train Freestyle only,” recalled Garbrielson. “He (Forman) helped me get numbers for a few other guys. Brooklyn also gave me a few contacts. "

“But I asked kids from all over the country if they wanted to wrestle. My lineup probably changed 12 times from when I was originally asked to do a team. Three of those guys were added last minute because I had two Mat Assassin kids drop out on me the week of the event.”

THE RESULT = ELITE 8 ACHIEVED

The wrestling started on Saturday morning with two pools of six teams. Four rounds of action whittled it down to the “Elite 8”. The best of the best and top four from each pool. A 2-2 record left Diamond Fish in the unenviable position of having to face the eventual runners-up, Thunder, in their quarterfinal.

Saturday’s first match in Pool B was against the team that would end in third place, Cormier Trained, and the DF Boys took a tumble by the count of 37-16.

Stellar Trained, coached by Chance Marstellar, was second on the docket for Gabrielson’s Gang, and they disposed of the foe from the North, 34-20. Black Mambas were up next and were sent packing with a 38-21 score.

CT Whales’ strength proved too much in the final pool match as the Diamond Fish succumbed to the Whales 38-26.

SUNDAY SUCCESS

While Diamond Fish dropped their quarterfinal to Thunder, 43-13, they would shake that off and ring up two straight wins to finish with an overall record of 4-3.

“Sunday was a cool experience,” Gabrielson said. “I wish we could have wrestled CT Whales again because I think we could have won that dual. There were several very questionable calls in that first dual that all went the other way and completely took the momentum out of the dual early. Then they ended up replacing the ref after the tournament director and head ref sat and watched the middle of the dual, but the lead was just too big to come back from.

“The Sunday Bracket is an eight man bracket single elimination. Once you lose Cliff tries to pair you with teams that you haven't wrestled already so after our loss to Thunder, he paired us with Minions and NJ Commission because they were in the other pool.”

Gabrielson led his team into two final battles with Minion Legends and NJ Commission. Both were dispersed with losses as the Legends kept it a bit close at 37-28, but the Jersey boys were not treated as well, taking it on the chin, 46-22.

“Diamond Fish hasn't wrestled Minions in a while so that was cool,” said Gabrielson. “Cooper Flynn and Joe Bakewell were helping coach Minions so that was a fun dual because we got to see those guys.”

MARYLAND STARS WERE UP AGAINST IT

Loyola-Blakefield’s Verceles was a Double Junior All-American at Fargo and was holding the number 19 ranking at 120 pounds at Elite 8. Verceles was 3-4 with all his losses coming to nationally ranked competitors (a common theme here).

You don’t go to Elite 8 expecting it to be easy but seeing nationally ranked guys falling left and right is still jarring.

Verceles found the sledding difficult against No. 7 Anthony Garza (CA)(Cormier Trained), No. 11 Brandon Bickerton (OH)(Thunder), No. 31 Shiloh Joyce (NJ)(NJ Commission), and No. 15 at 126 pounds, Izayiah Chavez (TX)(Black Mambas). Verceles beat Garza 8-4 at Fargo but dropped an 8-5 decision here.

“My view on this tournament is that it’s the top preseason dual tournament in the country and the competition is the elite of the elite,” stated Verceles. “With that being said, I trained to wrestle the best and compete against the best.

“I thought I wrestled well and got to my offense in most of my matches, but I know I need to improve my bottom and top ride. I also made a couple of mistakes that I can learn from to improve for Super 32. The results weren’t necessarily what I was hoping for, however it was a great learning opportunity.”

Archbishop Spalding’s No. 24 Eli Gabrielson went 1-5 and had to climb mountains in some of his matches, especially those versus 2026 U17 World Champion, Jovanni Tovar (FL)(Thunder), No. 7 Jorge Rios (CA)(Cormier), and No. 11 Cody Clarke (GA)(Minions).

The senior’s other losses came to two dangerous Pennsylvanian’s, who were being held down in the rankings by some past losses, No. 33 Justin Farnsworth and No. 35 Arturo Reyes.

“It was a good tournament to go and see how I can compete against those top kids and use it as a way to figure out what I need to work on,” said Eli.

Lackey’s Vayro was 1-6 with all his losses to wrestlers in the national rankings. Gavin, who starred at St. Mary’s Ryken, also fell to nothing but nationally recognized names and picked up a win over Greens Farms Academy’s by way of North Carolina, No. 28 Jack Harty.

“The Maryland kids that decided to challenge themselves did great,” Gabrielson said. “Some people are just built different than others. I don't think the Maryland guys performed as good as we would have liked but that's the toughest tournament in the country. I saw Fargo champs go 0-4 on the first day and top 5 kids finish with losing records on the weekend.

“Some people try and stay away from events like that because they want to protect their ranking or don't want to grind out seven elite level matches. Everyone that went and did that tournament left it better. Maybe not as healthy as they entered but they grew. Most got some sort of weakness exposed that they can work on moving towards the season but much respect to anyone that goes and does that event.”

HOW DID THOSE HIRED HANDS DO?

Three of them went unscathed at 7-0 – Solis, Davis, and Way. Solis had a big upset of No. 3 Braylon Reynolds (IN) (Cormier), 8-4. Davis had two unexpected wins over No. 5 Arseni Kikiniou (CA)(Thunder) and No. 13 Xavier Chavez (AZ).

Way outdid them all, though, by taking down three higher ranked opponents – No. 10 Greyson Music (PA)(Stellar), No. 11 Colin Rutlin (MO)(Black Mambas), and No. 16 Jaimon Mogard (IA)(Minions).

The Alaskan finished his tour with a 6-1 tally that included wins over No. 7 Luke Knox (PA)(Stellar) and No. 12 Mason Horwat (PA)(CT Whale). Gerlach’s loss came to No. 1 Rocco Cassioppi (IL)(Cormier).

“I was fortunate to have a murder’s row with the middle weights that really helped our energy and kept the team engaged during the duals,” Gabrielson remarked. “Jovani Solis, Grayson Davis, Dominic Way, and Zane Gerlach beat a lot of hammers throughout that tournament and turned a lot of heads. I don't know if another group of four straight kids had a better record than those four, (27-1) I think they finished combined.”

Kiefer claimed victories no one saw coming when he downed No. 15 Amir Newman Winfrey (IA)(Black M) and No. 20 Pete Velardi (NJ)(NJ C). Roller, an incoming freshman, beat his soon to be high school teammate at Cleveland, No. 21 Hudson Chittum.

Kiefer, Roller, Myers, and Morris were 3-4. Martin was 4-3 at 132 pounds. Martin is in what would be the number 34 spot of the rankings and dropped the hammer on No. 14 Owen Marshall (WA)(Cormier) and No. 18 at 126, Brock Rothermel (PA)(Stellar).

Beard was 2-5. Musselman ended with a 1-6 count.

“Lastly, I don’t know what other's opinions are but for me, we 100% had the best-looking gear in the whole tournament,” boasted Gabrielson. I know kids like the gear stuff.”

Pool B - Diamond Fish

Match #1 Round 1

Cormier Trained defeated Diamond Fish 37-16

100 - Aviyahn Mills (Cormier Trained) over Crew Musselman (Diamond Fish) Dec 10-6

106 - Ausome Guillermo (Cormier Trained) over Derik Kiefer (Diamond Fish) Dec 13-7

113 - Jha`kai Roller (Diamond Fish) over Eli Mendoza (Cormier Trained) Dec 6-4

120 - Anthony Garza (Cormier Trained) over Tyler Verceles (Diamond Fish) Dec 8-5

126 - Jorge Rios (Cormier Trained) over Eli Gabrielson (Diamond Fish) Dec 9-7

132 - Graydon Martin (Diamond Fish) over Owen Marshall (Cormier Trained) Dec 10-3

138 - Isreal Borge (Cormier Trained) over Stephen Myers (Diamond Fish) Maj 17-4

144 - Jovani Solis (Diamond Fish) over Braylon Reynolds (Cormier Trained) Dec 8-4

150 - Grayson Davis (Diamond Fish) over Carlo Contino (Cormier Trained) Maj 10-2

157 - Dominic Way (Diamond Fish) over Wyatt Lewis (Cormier Trained) Dec 4-1

165 - Rocco Cassioppi (Cormier Trained) over Zane Gerlach (Diamond Fish) TF 17-2

175 - Bruno Cassioppi (Cormier Trained) over Ethan Vayro (Diamond Fish) TF 19-3

190 - Mason Savidan (Cormier Trained) over Dresden Beard (Diamond Fish) Maj 10-2

215 - Brian Haran (Cormier Trained) over Evan Gavin (Diamond Fish) Maj 21-8

285 - Matthew Cooley (Cormier Trained) over Matthew Morris (Diamond Fish) Dec 4-0

Match #2 Round 2

Diamond Fish defeated Steller Trained 34-20

100 - Walker Hoffman (Steller Trained) over Crew Musselman (Diamond Fish) Dec 1-0

106 - Derik Kiefer (Diamond Fish) over Steve Bagocius (Steller Trained) Dec 5-0

113 - Jha`kai Roller (Diamond Fish) over Shaeffer Hoffman (Steller Trained) Dec 7-2

120 - Tyler Verceles (Diamond Fish) over Cael Muller (Steller Trained) Maj 10-1

126 - Justin Farnsworth (Steller Trained) over Eli Gabrielson (Diamond Fish) Dec 4-1

132 - Graydon Martin (Diamond Fish) over Brock Rothermel (Steller Trained) Dec 4-2

138 - Stephen Myers (Diamond Fish) over Jack Cole (Steller Trained) Fall 1:26

144 - Jovani Solis (Diamond Fish) over Declan Obyrne (Steller Trained) Dec 11-7

150 - Grayson Davis (Diamond Fish) over Ray Fitzgerald (Steller Trained) Dec 3-1

157 - Dominic Way (Diamond Fish) over Greyson Music (Steller Trained) Dec 7-2

165 - Zane Gerlach (Diamond Fish) over Luke Knox (Steller Trained) Dec 4-3

175 - Nate Replogle (Steller Trained) over Ethan Vayro (Diamond Fish) TF 19-3

190 - A.J. Corp (Steller Trained) over Dresden Beard (Diamond Fish) Maj 12-3

215 - Mason Chamberlain (Steller Trained) over Jax Smith (Diamond Fish) TF 18-3

285 - Matthew Morris (Diamond Fish) over Noah Knorp (Steller Trained) Dec 5-2

Match #3 Round 3

Diamond Fish defeated Black Mambas 38-21

100 - Rocco Palillian (Black Mambas) over Crew Musselman (Diamond Fish) Dec 5-0

106 - Derik Kiefer (Diamond Fish) over Amir Newnan Winfrey (Black Mambas) Dec 5-3

113 - Cason Craft (Black Mambas) over Jha`kai Roller (Diamond Fish) Dec 4-0

120 - Isaiah Chavez (Black Mambas) over Tyler Verceles (Diamond Fish) Dec 9-3

126 - Eli Gabrielson (Diamond Fish) over Patrick Pina (Black Mambas) Dec 2-0

132 - Graydon Martin (Diamond Fish) over Jacob Saunders (Black Mambas) Maj 13-5

138 - Stephen Myers (Diamond Fish) over Jack Simpson (Black Mambas) Dec 4-2

144 - Jovani Solis (Diamond Fish) over Gavin Green (Black Mambas) Dec 10-3

150 - Grayson Davis (Diamond Fish) over Xavier Chavez (Black Mambas) TF 19-4

157 - Dominic Way (Diamond Fish) over Colin Rutlin (Black Mambas) Maj 12-4

165 - Zane Gerlach (Diamond Fish) over Thunder Page (Black Mambas) SV-1 11-5

175 - Justus Heeg (Black Mambas) over Ethan Vayro (Diamond Fish) Fall 0:56

190 - Braeden Simoneaux (Black Mambas) over Dresden Beard (Diamond Fish) Fall 1:06

215 - Evan Gavin (Diamond Fish) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

285 - Matthew Morris (Diamond Fish) over Gabriel Fimbres (Black Mambas) Maj 8-0

Match #4 Round 4

CT Whale defeated Diamond Fish 38-26

100 - Nelson Villifane (CT Whale) over Crew Musselman (Diamond Fish) Fall 1:06

106 - Marc Mannello (CT Whale) over Derik Kiefer (Diamond Fish) Fall 6:00

113 - Evan Restivo (CT Whale) over Jha`kai Roller (Diamond Fish) SV-1 7-4

120 - Tyler Verceles (Diamond Fish) over Nathan Schuman (CT Whale) Dec 6-1

126 - Arturo Reyes (CT Whale) over Eli Gabrielson (Diamond Fish) Dec 6-2

132 - Alex Marchetti (CT Whale) over Graydon Martin (Diamond Fish) Dec 8-3

138 - CJ Caines (CT Whale) over Stephen Myers (Diamond Fish) Dec 17-15

144 - Jovani Solis (Diamond Fish) over Max Mooney (CT Whale) Dec 9-2

150 - Grayson Davis (Diamond Fish) over Riker O`Hearon (CT Whale) Fall 3:48

157 - Dominic Way (Diamond Fish) over Colby Houle (CT Whale) Fall 3:41

165 - Zane Gerlach (Diamond Fish) over Mason Howart (CT Whale) Maj 10-2

175 - Tommy Schecterly (CT Whale) over Ethan Vayro (Diamond Fish) Fall 1:25

190 - Caige Horak (CT Whale) over Dresden Beard (Diamond Fish) Dec 1-0

215 - Evan Gavin (Diamond Fish) over Jack Harty (CT Whale) Maj 16-5

285 - Ryan Schneider (CT Whale) over Matthew Morris (Diamond Fish) TF 17-1

Day 2 -Bracket - Diamond Fish

Match #1 Quarterfinal

Team Thunder defeated Diamond Fish 43-13

100 - Chase Miller-Smith (Team Thunder) over Crew Musselman (Diamond Fish) Dec 4-1

106 - Cameron Bartlow (Team Thunder) over Derik Kiefer (Diamond Fish) Maj 12-1

113 - Killian Coluccio (Team Thunder) over Jha`kai Roller (Diamond Fish) Dec 1-0

120 - Brandon Bickerton (Team Thunder) over Tyler Verceles (Diamond Fish) Dec 7-4

126 - Jovanni Tovar (Team Thunder) over Eli Gabrielson (Diamond Fish) Maj 10-2

132 - Bobby Ruscitti (Team Thunder) over Graydon Martin (Diamond Fish) Dec 4-1

138 - Matthew Orbeta (Team Thunder) over Stephen Myers (Diamond Fish) Dec 12-8

144 - Jovani Solis (Diamond Fish) over Adante Washington (Team Thunder) Dec 6-1

150 - Grayson Davis (Diamond Fish) over Arseni Kikiniou (Team Thunder) TB-1 2-1

157 - Dominic Way (Diamond Fish) over Jake Hughes (Team Thunder) Maj 11-2

165 - Zane Gerlach (Diamond Fish) over Ryan Garvish (Team Thunder) Dec 6-1

175 - Maximus Fortier (Team Thunder) over Ethan Vayro (Diamond Fish) Fall 1:44

190 - Mario Carini (Team Thunder) over Dresden Beard (Diamond Fish) TF 18-0

215 - Maximus Konopka (Team Thunder) over Evan Gavin (Diamond Fish) Maj 11-3

285 - Satoshi Davis (Team Thunder) over Matthew Morris (Diamond Fish) TF 22-6

Day 2 Quarter Loser 1 - Diamond Fish

Diamond Fish defeated Minion Legends 37-28

100 - Chase Smith (Minion Legends) over Crew Musselman (Diamond Fish) Maj 13-3

106 - Wyatt Womack (Minion Legends) over Derik Kiefer (Diamond Fish) Dec 13-9

113 - Jha`kai Roller (Diamond Fish) over Hudson Chittum (Minion Legends) Dec 4-2

120 - Tyler Verceles (Diamond Fish) over Riley Alcantar (Minion Legends) Maj 10-1

126 - Cody Clarke (Minion Legends) over Eli Gabrielson (Diamond Fish) Maj 15-4

132 - Connor Whitley (Minion Legends) over Graydon Martin (Diamond Fish) UTB 3-2

138 - Stephen Myers (Diamond Fish) over Tristan Collier (Minion Legends) Inj 1:47

144 - Jovani Solis (Diamond Fish) over Stetson Gabel (Minion Legends) Dec 16-12

150 - Grayson Davis (Diamond Fish) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

157 - Dominic Way (Diamond Fish) over Jaimon Mogard (Minion Legends) Dec 6-3

165 - Zane Gerlach (Diamond Fish) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

175 - Gavin Campoli (Minion Legends) over Ethan Vayro (Diamond Fish) Fall 1:17

190 - Dresden Beard (Diamond Fish) over Rock Shurette (Minion Legends) Fall 1:12

215 - Kendahl Hoare (Minion Legends) over Evan Gavin (Diamond Fish) Maj 13-3

285 - William Glessing (Minion Legends) over Matthew Morris (Diamond Fish) Maj 9-0

Day 2-EXHB 3 - Diamond Fish

Diamond Fish defeated NJ Comission 46-22

100 - Crew Musselman (Diamond Fish) over Ryan Smedley (NJ Comission) Maj 10-1

106 - Derik Kiefer (Diamond Fish) over Pete Velardi (NJ Comission) Dec 7-1

113 - Patrick Burger (NJ Comission) over Jha`kai Roller (Diamond Fish) Dec 4-2

120 - Shilo Joyce (NJ Comission) over Tyler Verceles (Diamond Fish) Maj 10-2

126 - Tommy Marchetti (NJ Comission) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

132 - Graydon Martin (Diamond Fish) over Joseph Pellici (NJ Comission) Dec 9-3

138 - PJ Terranova (NJ Comission) over Stephen Myers (Diamond Fish) Dec 4-2

144 - Jovani Solis (Diamond Fish) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

150 - Grayson Davis (Diamond Fish) over Ryan DeGeorge (NJ Comission) Dec 8-3

157 - Dominic Way (Diamond Fish) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

165 - Zane Gerlach (Diamond Fish) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

175 - Ethan Vayro (Diamond Fish) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

190 - Dresden Beard (Diamond Fish) over Adam Sepulveda (NJ Comission) Inj 5:02

215 - Adan Castillo (NJ Comission) over Evan Gavin (Diamond Fish) Fall 2:21

285 - Matthew Morris (Diamond Fish) over August Moser (NJ Comission) Dec 3-0