Air Force RTC Shines at 2026 U.S. Open with Senior National Team Berth, Multiple All-Americans
4/26/2026 6:37:00 PM | Wrestling
LAS VEGAS – The Air Force RTC sent a strong contingent of wrestlers to compete at the 2026 U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nevada, over the weekend. USAFA wrestlers under the AFRTC banner earned four All-America honors.
C3C Carter Nogle and C2C Soren Herzog started off competition in the Senior Greco-Roman division. Nogle went 4-1 at 63kg to secure 3rd place. With his finish, Nogle earned a spot on the Senior Greco-Roman National Team. He's the first cadet to earn a spot on the Senior National Team since Alex Mossing in 2019, who finished 2nd at Final X, and just the second cadet-athlete in program history to earn USA National Team honors. Herzog won his first two matches at 97kg before falling in his next two to finish 2-2.
Fourth classmen Chance Mathews, Gus Maughan and Cy Fowler competed in the U20 Greco-Roman division. Mathews finished 2-2 while Maughan went 3-2, both wrestling at 67kg. Fowler had an outstanding tournament, going 6-2 to finish 4th and earn All-American status at 82kg.
C2C Gavin Caprella, coach Elroy Perkin and C2C Josh Cordio took the mat next in the Senior Freestyle division. Caprella went 3-2 at 61kg, falling in the blood round to Nathan Tomasello. Perkin finished 3-2 at 74kg and Cordio went 1-2 at 86kg.
Lastly, eight wrestlers competed in the U20 Freestyle division. C4C Karson Tompkins at 92kg and C4C Rylan Kuhn at 125kg highlighted the group by earning All-American status. Tompkins started with three straight victories before falling in the semifinals to Jimmy Mastny. Overall, Tompkins finished with a 3-3 record to end in 6th place. Kuhn won his first two matches before falling in the quarterfinals to Michael Mocco. Kuhn bounced back with a win in the blood round before ultimately finishing in 8th place with a 3-3 record. Both Tompkins and Kuhn qualified for the U20 World Team Trials taking place May 29-31 at Spire Academy in Geneva, OH.
Other U20 Freestyle results with record and weight:
57kg: Brayden Bohnsack finished 0-2
65kg: Chance Mathews finished 4-2
70kg: Jesse Vanorden finished 3-2
70kg: Gus Maughan finished 0-2
79kg: Cy Fowler finished 3-2
79kg: Sebastian Martinez finished 2-2
C3C Carter Nogle and C2C Soren Herzog started off competition in the Senior Greco-Roman division. Nogle went 4-1 at 63kg to secure 3rd place. With his finish, Nogle earned a spot on the Senior Greco-Roman National Team. He's the first cadet to earn a spot on the Senior National Team since Alex Mossing in 2019, who finished 2nd at Final X, and just the second cadet-athlete in program history to earn USA National Team honors. Herzog won his first two matches at 97kg before falling in his next two to finish 2-2.
Fourth classmen Chance Mathews, Gus Maughan and Cy Fowler competed in the U20 Greco-Roman division. Mathews finished 2-2 while Maughan went 3-2, both wrestling at 67kg. Fowler had an outstanding tournament, going 6-2 to finish 4th and earn All-American status at 82kg.
C2C Gavin Caprella, coach Elroy Perkin and C2C Josh Cordio took the mat next in the Senior Freestyle division. Caprella went 3-2 at 61kg, falling in the blood round to Nathan Tomasello. Perkin finished 3-2 at 74kg and Cordio went 1-2 at 86kg.
Lastly, eight wrestlers competed in the U20 Freestyle division. C4C Karson Tompkins at 92kg and C4C Rylan Kuhn at 125kg highlighted the group by earning All-American status. Tompkins started with three straight victories before falling in the semifinals to Jimmy Mastny. Overall, Tompkins finished with a 3-3 record to end in 6th place. Kuhn won his first two matches before falling in the quarterfinals to Michael Mocco. Kuhn bounced back with a win in the blood round before ultimately finishing in 8th place with a 3-3 record. Both Tompkins and Kuhn qualified for the U20 World Team Trials taking place May 29-31 at Spire Academy in Geneva, OH.
Other U20 Freestyle results with record and weight:
57kg: Brayden Bohnsack finished 0-2
65kg: Chance Mathews finished 4-2
70kg: Jesse Vanorden finished 3-2
70kg: Gus Maughan finished 0-2
79kg: Cy Fowler finished 3-2
79kg: Sebastian Martinez finished 2-2
Players Mentioned
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