{{Short description|American wrestler (born 2006)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox sportsperson | headercolor = lightsteelblue | name = Marcus Blaze | image = File:MarcusBlaze.jpg | image_size = | caption = Blaze in 2021 | nationality = | fullname = Marcus Glenn Blaze | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2006|11|23}} | birth_place = Clinton, Michigan, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | hometown = Perrysburg, Ohio, U.S. | height = | weight = {{convert|61|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | country = {{USA}} | sport = Wrestling | event = Freestyle and Folkstyle | collegeteam = | club = Perrysburg Wrestling Club | rank = | coach = Scott Burnett | pb = | medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport | Men's freestyle wrestling}} {{Medal|Country| the {{USA}}}} {{MedalCompetition| US National Championships }} {{Medal|Gold| 2026 Las Vegas | 61 kg }} {{Medal|Bronze| 2025 Las Vegas | 61 kg }} {{MedalCompetition|U20 World Championships}} {{MedalGold|2025 Samokov|61 kg}} {{MedalBronze|2024 Pontevedra|61 kg}} {{MedalCompetition| U17 World Championships }} {{Medal|Gold| 2023 Istanbul | 55 kg }} {{Medal|Sport | Men's collegiate wrestling }} {{Medal|Country | the}} Penn State Nittany Lions {{Medal|Competition| Big Ten Championships }} {{Medal|Silver | 2026 State College | 133 lb }} | show-medals = yes }}
'''Marcus Glenn Blaze '''(born November 23, 2006) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at 61 kilograms and 133 pounds.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-09-01 |title=Despite team’s bus being showered with bullets, Greeley Central’s Andrew Alirez unflappable, winning Pan Am wrestling title in Brazil |url=https://www.greeleytribune.com/2018/09/01/despite-teams-bus-being-showered-with-bullet-holes-culture-being-foreign-greeley-centrals-andrew-alirez-once-again-unflappable-while-winning-pan-american-wrestling-title-in-brazil/ |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=Greeley Tribune }}</ref> In freestyle, he was the 2025 U20 World champion, upgrading a bronze medal from the 2024 edition, the US National champion in 2026 and the U17 World champion in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-07 |title=Forrest, Joseph highlight men’s freestyle champions at Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier |url=https://www.themat.com/news/2024/april/07/forrest-joseph-highlight-men-s-freestyle-champions-at-last-chance-olympic-team-trials-qualifier |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=www.themat.com }}</ref> Blaze was an NCAA Division I All-American for the Penn State Nittany Lions in 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the 2026 DI men's wrestling All-Americans {{!}} NCAA.com |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling-men/article/2026-03-21/meet-2026-di-mens-wrestling-all-americans |access-date=2026-03-25 |website=www.ncaa.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Career ==
=== High school ===
==== 2022–2023 ==== Originally from Michigan, Blaze started wrestling at an early age alongside his brother Joey before moving to Perrysburg, Ohio.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local sports: Carlson cheer ready to defend state title |url=https://www.monroenews.com/story/sports/high-school/2013/02/24/local-sports-carlson-cheer-ready/32675557007/ |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=Monroe News }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buckheit |first=Billy |date=2024-02-23 |title=National top 25 high school wrestling rankings for every weight class (2/23/2024) |url=https://highschool.si.com/wrestling/2024/02/23/national-top-25-high-school-wrestling-rankings-for-every-weight-class-2-23-2024 |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=Sports Illustrated }}</ref>
In 2023, he defeated top-ranked in NCAA Division I Matt Ramos during a college open while a high school junior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kozak |first=Jon |date=2023-11-05 |title=High School Junior Marcus Blaze Upsets #1 Matt Ramos At The Clarion Open |url=https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/11407995-high-school-junior-marcus-blaze-upsets-1-matt-ramos-at-the-clarion-open |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=FloWrestling |language=en}}</ref> In the U17 freestyle age group, Blaze claimed a U.S. national championship and a world championship at 55 kilograms in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-06 |title=Perrysburg’s Blaze wins world championship in Istanbul |url=https://www.sent-trib.com/2023/08/05/perrysburgs-blaze-wins-world-championship-in-istanbul/ |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=Sent-trib }}</ref>
==== 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Perrysburg junior wrestler Marcus Blaze set to compete in Olympic Trials |url=https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/high-school/2024/04/12/perrysburg-junior-wrestler-marcus-blaze-set-to-compete-in-olympic-trials/stories/20240412073 |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=The Blade }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blaze makes name for himself with 3rd-place finish at Olympic wrestling trials |url=https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/high-school/2024/04/20/marcus-blaze-perrysburg-3rd-olympic-wrestling-trials-national-freestyle-team/stories/20240419103 |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=The Blade }}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-28 |title=Lilledahl, Blaze lead experienced men’s freestyle team at U20 World Championships |url=https://www.themat.com/news/2024/august/28/lilledahl-blaze-lead-experienced-men-s-freestyle-team-at-u20-world-championships |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=www.themat.com }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-08 |title=Lockett, Barr, Kueter earn silver, Blaze gets bronze, U.S. wins men’s freestyle team title at U20 World Championships |url=https://www.themat.com/news/2024/september/08/lockett-barr-kueter-earn-silver-blaze-gets-bronze-u-s-wins-men-s-freestyle-team-title-at-u20-world-championships |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=www.themat.com }}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-15 |title=Wrestling World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Results |url=https://cornellbigred.com/news/2024/9/14/wrestling-world-team-trials-challenge-tournament-results.aspx |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Cornell University Athletics }}</ref> In the finals, he was defeated back to back by reigning world champion Vito Arujau, earning second.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-15 |title=Burroughs, Taylor, Arujau, Green make U.S. Senior World Team in men’s freestyle |url=https://www.themat.com/news/2024/september/15/burroughs-taylor-arujau-green-make-u-s-senior-world-team-in-men-s-freestyle |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=www.themat.com }}</ref>
==== 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-25 |title=Thomas, Davino among unexpected semifinalists in men’s freestyle at CLAW U.S. Open |url=https://www.themat.com/news/2025/april/25/thomas-davino-among-unexpected-semifinalists-in-men-s-freestyle-at-claw-u-s-open |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.themat.com |language=en}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-17 |title=Penn State Wrestling Commit Marcus Blaze Beats Iowa Commit Bo Bassett at Team Trials |url=https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/penn-state-wrestling-commit-marcus-blaze-beats-iowa-commit-bo-bassett-at-team-trials |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=Penn State Nittany Lions On SI |language=en-US}}</ref> In June, he defeated Brock Hardy in a true-third match at Final X to earn a spot on the US National Team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marcus Blaze wins at Final X to make national wrestling team |url=https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/amateur/2025/06/14/marcus-blaze-wins-final-x-national-wrestling-team-perrysburg/stories/20250614114 |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=The Blade |language=en}}</ref>
==== 2026 ====
Blaze won the 2026 US Open at 61 kilograms, qualifying him for Final X in June.<ref name="k662">{{cite web | last=Ellis | first=R. R. | title=US Open Wrestling Finals Results 2026. Here's Every Champion | website=FloWrestling | date=April 25, 2026 | url=https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/15822592-us-open-wrestling-finals-results-2026-heres-every-champion | access-date=April 26, 2026}}</ref>
== Freestyle record == {{s-start}} ! colspan="7"| Senior Freestyle Matches |- ! Res. ! Record ! Opponent ! Score ! Date ! Event ! Location |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 |{{small| 2026 US Open {{gold1}} at 61 kg}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |21–6 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Ben Davino |style="font-size:88%"|4–1 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|April 24–25, 2026 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2026 US Open National Championships |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4| {{flagicon|USA}} Las Vegas, Nevada |- |{{yes2}}Win |20–6 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Seth Gross |style="font-size:88%"|6–1 |- |{{yes2}}Win |19–6 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Michael McGee |style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0 |- |{{yes2}}Win |18–6 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Quade Smith |style="font-size:88%"|TF 11–0 |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 |{{small| 2025 U23 World Championships 17th at 65 kg}} |- |{{no2}}Loss |17–6 |align=left|{{flagicon|KGZ}} Bilol Sharip Uulu |style="font-size:88%"|2–4 |style="font-size:88%"|October 26, 2025 |style="font-size:88%"1|2025 U23 World Championships |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;"| {{flagicon|SRB}} Novi Sad, Serbia |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 |{{small| 2025 US World Team Trials {{bronze3}} at 65 kg}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |17–5 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Brock Hardy |style="font-size:88%"|8–2 |style="font-size:88%"|June 14, 2025 |style="font-size:88%"|2025 Final X |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;"| {{flagicon|USA}} Newark, New Jersey |- |{{yes2}}Win |16–5 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Carter Young |style="font-size:88%"|4–0 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|May 16–17, 2025 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|2025 US World Team Trials Challenge |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=5| {{flagicon|USA}} Louisville, Kentucky |- |{{yes2}}Win |15–5 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Bo Bassett |style="font-size:88%"|5–1 |- |{{yes2}}Win |14–5 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Aden Valencia |style="font-size:88%"|2–1 |- |{{no2}}Loss |13–5 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Jesse Mendez |style="font-size:88%"|1–4 |- |{{yes2}}Win |13–4 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Carter Young |style="font-size:88%"|9–4 |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 |{{small| 2025 US Open {{bronze3}} at 61 kg}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |12–4 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Ben Davino |style="font-size:88%"|7–0 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6|April 25–26, 2025 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6|2025 US Open National Championships |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=6| {{flagicon|USA}} Las Vegas, Nevada |- |{{yes2}}Win |11–4 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Michael McGee |style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0 |- |{{no2}}Loss |10–4 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Seth Gross |style="font-size:88%"|Fall |- |{{yes2}}Win |10–3 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Nathan Tomasello |style="font-size:88%"|2–1 |- |{{yes2}}Win |9–3 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Fernando Barreto |style="font-size:88%"|TF 11–1 |- |{{yes2}}Win |8–3 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Juan Diaz |style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0 |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 |{{small| 2024 US World Team Trials {{silver2}} at 61 kg}} |- |{{no2}}Loss |7–3 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Vito Arujau |style="font-size:88%"|1–3 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6|September 14–15, 2024 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6|2024 US World Team Trials |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=6| {{flagicon|USA}} Omaha, Nebraska |- |{{no2}}Loss |7–2 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Vito Arujau |style="font-size:88%"|1–2 |- |{{yes2}}Win |7–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Daton Fix |style="font-size:88%"|'''2'''—2 |- |{{yes2}}Win |6–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Nahshon Garrett |style="font-size:88%"|5–0 |- |{{yes2}}Win |5–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Seth Gross |style="font-size:88%"|7–5 |- |{{yes2}}Win |4–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Kyle Burwick |style="font-size:88%"|6–2 |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 |{{small| 2024 US Olympic Team Trials {{bronze3}} at 57 kg}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |3–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Jax Forrest |style="font-size:88%"|8–1 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|April 19–20, 2024 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|2024 US Olympic Team Trials |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=5| {{flagicon|USA}} State College, Pennsylvania |- |{{yes2}}Win | |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Daton Fix |style="font-size:88%"|FF |- |{{yes2}}Win |2–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Luke Lilledahl |style="font-size:88%"|5–1 |- |{{yes2}}Win |1–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Nico Megaludis |style="font-size:88%"|'''2'''–2 |- |{{no2}}Loss |0–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Nick Suriano |style="font-size:88%"|2–4 |- {{end}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons}} * {{UWW|blaze-marcus-glenn|Marcus Glenn Blaze}} * {{sports links}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blaze, Marcus}} Category:2006 births Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:Amateur wrestlers Category:American male sport wrestlers Category:Living people Category:Penn State Nittany Lions wrestlers Category:People from Perrysburg, Ohio Category:Sportspeople from Wood County, Ohio