Marcus Blaze

Last updated

Marcus Blaze
Personal information
Full nameMarcus Glenn Blaze
Born (2006-11-23) November 23, 2006 (age 18)
Clinton, Michigan, U.S.
Home town Perrysburg, Ohio, U.S.
Weight61 kg (134 lb)
Sport
CountryUnited States
Sport Wrestling
Event(s) Freestyle and Folkstyle
ClubPerrysburg Wrestling Club
Coached byScott Burnett
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing the Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
US National Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg2025 Las Vegas61 kg
World U20 Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2025 Samokov 61 kg
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2024 Pontevedra 61 kg
U17 World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2023 Istanbul 55 kg

Marcus Glenn Blaze (born November 23, 2006) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at 61 kilograms. [1] In freestyle, he is a US National Team member, and was a U20 World medalist in 2024 and the U17 World champion in 2023. [2] Blaze is committed to wrestle for the Penn State Nittany Lions. [3]

Contents

Career

High school

2022–2023

Originally from Michigan, Blaze started wrestling at an early age alongside his brother Joey before moving to Perrysburg, Ohio. [4] A four-time OHSAA state champion out of Perrysburg High School, Blaze is one of the top-ranked high school wrestlers in his weight class. [5]

In 2023, he defeated top-ranked in NCAA Division I Matt Ramos during a college open while a high school junior. [6] In the U17 freestyle age group, Blaze claimed a U.S. national championship and a world championship at 55 kilograms in 2023. [7]

2024

Making his senior level debut, Blaze competed at the US Olympic Team Trials at 57 kilograms in April 2024, as a high school junior. [8] After a first-round loss to two-time NCAA champion Nick Suriano, he came back to defeat NCAA champion Nico Megaludis and U20 World finalist Luke Lilledahl before receiving a forfeit to make the third-place match, where he defeated U17 World finalist Jax Forrest to make the US National team. [9]

Back to the age group, now in his first year of U20, Blaze made the US World Team at 61 kilograms in August and earned a bronze medal from the U20 World Championships in September, only losing to eventual 2024 world champion Masanosuke Ono from Japan. [10] [11]

A week after his bronze-medal performance, Blaze went back to the senior level to compete at the US World Team Trials. Storming to the finals, he took out 2018 NCAA champion Seth Gross, 2016 NCAA champion Nahshon Garrett, and 2021 world silver medalist Daton Fix to make the best-of-three. [12] In the finals, he was defeated back to back by reigning world champion Vito Arujau, earning second. [13]

2025

In April, Blaze placed third at the US Open National Championships, notably defeating NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello and three-time All-American Michael McGee, though falling to NCAA champion Seth Gross. [14]

In May, Blaze bumped up to 65 kilograms to compete at the US World Team Trials, where he was victorious in four out of five matches, notably defeating U17 World champion Bo Bassett and falling to two-time NCAA champion Jesse Mendez. [15] In June, he defeated Brock Hardy in a true-third match at Final X to earn a spot on the US National Team. [16]

Freestyle record

Senior Freestyle Matches
Res.RecordOpponentScoreDateEventLocation
2025 US World Team Trials Bronze medal icon.svg at 65 kg
Win17–5 Flag of the United States.svg Brock Hardy8–2June 14, 20252025 Final X

Flag of the United States.svg Newark, New Jersey

Win16–5 Flag of the United States.svg Carter Young4–0May 16–17, 20252025 US World Team Trials Challenge

Flag of the United States.svg Louisville, Kentucky

Win15–5 Flag of the United States.svg Bo Bassett5–1
Win14–5 Flag of the United States.svg Aden Valencia2–1
Loss13–5 Flag of the United States.svg Jesse Mendez 1–4
Win13–4 Flag of the United States.svg Carter Young9–4
2025 US Open Bronze medal icon.svg at 61 kg
Win12–4 Flag of the United States.svg Ben Davino7–0April 25–26, 20252025 US Open National Championships

Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, Nevada

Win11–4 Flag of the United States.svg Michael McGeeTF 10–0
Loss10–4 Flag of the United States.svg Seth GrossFall
Win10–3 Flag of the United States.svg Nathan Tomasello 2–1
Win9–3 Flag of the United States.svg Fernando BarretoTF 11–1
Win8–3 Flag of the United States.svg Juan DiazTF 10–0
2024 US World Team Trials Silver medal icon.svg at 61 kg
Loss7–3 Flag of the United States.svg Vito Arujau 1–3September 14–15, 20242024 US World Team Trials

Flag of the United States.svg Omaha, Nebraska

Loss7–2 Flag of the United States.svg Vito Arujau 1–2
Win7–1 Flag of the United States.svg Daton Fix 2—2
Win6–1 Flag of the United States.svg Nahshon Garrett 5–0
Win5–1 Flag of the United States.svg Seth Gross7–5
Win4–1 Flag of the United States.svg Kyle Burwick6–2
2024 US Olympic Team Trials Bronze medal icon.svg at 57 kg
Win3–1 Flag of the United States.svg Jax Forrest8–1April 19–20, 2024 2024 US Olympic Team Trials

Flag of the United States.svg State College, Pennsylvania

Win Flag of the United States.svg Daton Fix FF
Win2–1 Flag of the United States.svg Luke Lilledahl 5–1
Win1–1 Flag of the United States.svg Nico Megaludis2–2
Loss0–1 Flag of the United States.svg Nick Suriano 2–4

References

  1. ↑ "Despite team's bus being showered with bullets, Greeley Central's Andrew Alirez unflappable, winning Pan Am wrestling title in Brazil". Greeley Tribune. September 1, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Forrest, Joseph highlight men's freestyle champions at Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier". www.themat.com. April 7, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  3. ↑ Kozak, Jon (November 13, 2024). "Marcus Blaze Announces Commitment To Penn State". FloWrestling. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Local sports: Carlson cheer ready to defend state title". Monroe News. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  5. ↑ Buckheit, Billy (February 23, 2024). "National top 25 high school wrestling rankings for every weight class (2/23/2024)". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  6. ↑ Kozak, Jon (November 5, 2023). "High School Junior Marcus Blaze Upsets #1 Matt Ramos At The Clarion Open". FloWrestling. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Perrysburg's Blaze wins world championship in Istanbul". Sent-trib. August 6, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Perrysburg junior wrestler Marcus Blaze set to compete in Olympic Trials". The Blade. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Blaze makes name for himself with 3rd-place finish at Olympic wrestling trials". The Blade. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Lilledahl, Blaze lead experienced men's freestyle team at U20 World Championships". www.themat.com. August 28, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Lockett, Barr, Kueter earn silver, Blaze gets bronze, U.S. wins men's freestyle team title at U20 World Championships". www.themat.com. September 8, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Wrestling World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Results". Cornell University Athletics. September 15, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Burroughs, Taylor, Arujau, Green make U.S. Senior World Team in men's freestyle". www.themat.com. September 15, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Thomas, Davino among unexpected semifinalists in men's freestyle at CLAW U.S. Open". www.themat.com. April 25, 2025. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Penn State Wrestling Commit Marcus Blaze Beats Iowa Commit Bo Bassett at Team Trials". Penn State Nittany Lions On SI. May 17, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Marcus Blaze wins at Final X to make national wrestling team". The Blade. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
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