# Marcus Blaze > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Marcus_Blaze > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Marcus_Blaze.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Blaze > Source revision: 1353904555 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Clinton%2C_Lenawee_County%2C_Michigan), U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | hometown = [Perrysburg, Ohio](/source/Perrysburg%2C_Ohio), U.S. | height = | weight = {{convert|61|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | country = {{USA}} | sport = [Wrestling](/source/Wrestling) | event = [Freestyle](/source/Freestyle_wrestling) and [Folkstyle](/source/Collegiate_wrestling) | collegeteam = | club = Perrysburg Wrestling Club | rank = | coach = Scott Burnett | pb = | medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport | Men's [freestyle wrestling](/source/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](/source/U20_World_Wrestling_Championships)}} {{MedalGold|[2025 Samokov](/source/2025_U20_World_Wrestling_Championships)|[61 kg](/source/2025_U20_World_Wrestling_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_freestyle)}} {{MedalBronze|[2024 Pontevedra](/source/2024_U20_World_Wrestling_Championships)|[61 kg](/source/2024_U20_World_Wrestling_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_freestyle)}} {{MedalCompetition| [U17 World Championships](/source/U17_World_Wrestling_Championships) }} {{Medal|Gold| [2023 Istanbul](/source/2023_World_Cadet_Wrestling_Championships) | 55 kg }} {{Medal|Sport | Men's [collegiate wrestling](/source/collegiate_wrestling) }} {{Medal|Country | the}} [Penn State Nittany Lions](/source/Penn_State_Nittany_Lions_wrestling) {{Medal|Competition| [Big Ten Championships](/source/Big_Ten_Conference) }} {{Medal|Silver | 2026 State College | 133 lb }} | show-medals = yes }} '''Marcus Glenn Blaze '''(born November 23, 2006) is an American [freestyle](/source/Freestyle_wrestling) and [folkstyle wrestler](/source/Collegiate_wrestling) who competes at [61 kilograms](/source/Wrestling_weight_classes) and 133 pounds.{{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 }} In freestyle, he was the [2025 U20 World champion](/source/2025_U20_World_Wrestling_Championships), upgrading a bronze medal from the [2024](/source/2024_U20_World_Wrestling_Championships) edition, the US National champion in 2026 and the [U17 World champion](/source/2023_World_Cadet_Wrestling_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_freestyle) in 2023.{{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 }} Blaze was an [NCAA Division I](/source/NCAA_Division_I_Men's_Wrestling_Championships) All-American for the [Penn State Nittany Lions](/source/Penn_State_Nittany_Lions_wrestling) in 2026.{{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}} == Career == === High school === ==== 2022–2023 ==== Originally from [Michigan](/source/Michigan), Blaze started [wrestling](/source/wrestling) at an early age alongside his brother Joey before moving to [Perrysburg, Ohio](/source/Perrysburg%2C_Ohio).{{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 }} A four-time [OHSAA](/source/Ohio_High_School_Athletic_Association) state champion out of [Perrysburg High School](/source/Perrysburg_High_School), Blaze is one of the top-ranked high school wrestlers in his weight class.{{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 }} In 2023, he defeated top-ranked in [NCAA Division I](/source/NCAA_Division_I) Matt Ramos during a college open while a high school junior.{{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}} In the U17 freestyle age group, Blaze claimed a U.S. national championship and a [world championship](/source/2023_World_Cadet_Wrestling_Championships) at 55 kilograms in 2023.{{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 }} ==== 2024 ==== Making his senior level debut, Blaze competed at the [US Olympic Team Trials](/source/2024_United_States_Olympic_trials_(wrestling)) at 57 kilograms in April 2024, as a high school [junior](/source/Junior_(education_year)).{{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 }} After a first-round loss to two-time [NCAA champion](/source/NCAA_Division_I_Wrestling_Championships) [Nick Suriano](/source/Nick_Suriano), he came back to defeat NCAA champion Nico Megaludis and [U20 World finalist](/source/2023_World_Junior_Wrestling_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_freestyle) [Luke Lilledahl](/source/Luke_Lilledahl) before receiving a forfeit to make the third-place match, where he defeated [U17 World](/source/2023_World_Cadet_Wrestling_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_freestyle) finalist [Jax Forrest](/source/Jax_Forrest) to make the US National team.{{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 }} 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](/source/2024_U20_World_Wrestling_Championships) in September, only losing to eventual [2024 world champion](/source/2024_World_Wrestling_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_freestyle_61_kg) [Masanosuke Ono](/source/Masanosuke_Ono) from Japan.{{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 }}{{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 }} 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](/source/2018_NCAA_Division_I_Wrestling_Championships) Seth Gross, [2016 NCAA champion](/source/2016_NCAA_Division_I_Wrestling_Championships) [Nahshon Garrett](/source/Nahshon_Garrett), and [2021 world silver medalist](/source/2021_World_Wrestling_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_freestyle_61_kg) [Daton Fix](/source/Daton_Fix) to make the best-of-three.{{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 }} In the finals, he was defeated back to back by [reigning world champion](/source/2023_World_Wrestling_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_freestyle_61_kg) [Vito Arujau](/source/Vito_Arujau), earning second.{{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 }} ==== 2025 ==== In April, Blaze placed third at the US Open National Championships, notably defeating NCAA champion [Nathan Tomasello](/source/Nathan_Tomasello) and three-time All-American Michael McGee, though falling to NCAA champion Seth Gross.{{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}} 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](/source/Bo_Bassett) and falling to [two-time NCAA champion](/source/NCAA_Division_I_Men's_Wrestling_Championships) [Jesse Mendez](/source/Jesse_Mendez).{{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}} In June, he defeated Brock Hardy in a true-third match at Final X to earn a spot on the US National Team.{{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}} ==== 2026 ==== Blaze won the 2026 US Open at 61 kilograms, qualifying him for [Final X](/source/Final_X_(2026)) in June.{{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}} == 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](/source/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](/source/Las_Vegas%2C_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](/source/2025_U23_World_Wrestling_Championships) 17th at [65 kg](/source/2025_U23_World_Wrestling_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_freestyle_65_kg)}} |- |{{no2}}Loss |17–6 |align=left|{{flagicon|KGZ}} [Bilol Sharip Uulu](/source/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](/source/2025_U23_World_Wrestling_Championships) |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;"| {{flagicon|SRB}} [Novi Sad, Serbia](/source/Novi_Sad%2C_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](/source/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](/source/Newark%2C_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](/source/Louisville%2C_Kentucky) |- |{{yes2}}Win |15–5 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [Bo Bassett](/source/Bo_Bassett) |style="font-size:88%"|5–1 |- |{{yes2}}Win |14–5 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [Aden Valencia](/source/Aden_Valencia) |style="font-size:88%"|2–1 |- |{{no2}}Loss |13–5 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [Jesse Mendez](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Las_Vegas%2C_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](/source/Seth_Gross) |style="font-size:88%"|Fall |- |{{yes2}}Win |10–3 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [Nathan Tomasello](/source/Nathan_Tomasello) |style="font-size:88%"|2–1 |- |{{yes2}}Win |9–3 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [Fernando Barreto](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Omaha%2C_Nebraska) |- |{{no2}}Loss |7–2 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [Vito Arujau](/source/Vito_Arujau) |style="font-size:88%"|1–2 |- |{{yes2}}Win |7–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [Daton Fix](/source/Daton_Fix) |style="font-size:88%"|'''2'''—2 |- |{{yes2}}Win |6–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [Nahshon Garrett](/source/Nahshon_Garrett) |style="font-size:88%"|5–0 |- |{{yes2}}Win |5–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [Seth Gross](/source/Seth_Gross) |style="font-size:88%"|7–5 |- |{{yes2}}Win |4–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [Kyle Burwick](/source/Kyle_Burwick) |style="font-size:88%"|6–2 |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 |{{small| [2024 US Olympic Team Trials](/source/2024_US_Olympic_Team_Trials_(wrestling)) {{bronze3}} at [57 kg](/source/2024_US_Olympic_Team_Trials_(wrestling))}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |3–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [Jax Forrest](/source/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](/source/2024_US_Olympic_Team_Trials_(wrestling)) |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=5| {{flagicon|USA}} [State College, Pennsylvania](/source/State_College%2C_Pennsylvania) |- |{{yes2}}Win | |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [Daton Fix](/source/Daton_Fix) |style="font-size:88%"|FF |- |{{yes2}}Win |2–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [Luke Lilledahl](/source/Luke_Lilledahl) |style="font-size:88%"|5–1 |- |{{yes2}}Win |1–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [Nico Megaludis](/source/Nico_Megaludis) |style="font-size:88%"|'''2'''–2 |- |{{no2}}Loss |0–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [Nick Suriano](/source/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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Marcus Blaze](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Blaze) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Blaze?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.