LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Making his career debut at the 2025 USA Wrestling Senior World Team Trials, sophomore Joey Blaze responded from an early loss to win four straight matches and take third place (74 kg) on Saturday afternoon at Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center.
Blaze's third-place finish guarantees him a spot in the USA Wrestling Final X competition on Saturday, June 14 in Newark, N.J., where the USA World Team members will be decided.
Since Blaze didn't face the first- or second-place finishers in his division at World Team Trials, he will square off with Jarrett Jacques in a wrestle-off to determine a true 74 kg third place, and the No. 3 spot on the USA national team at that weight.
Blaze represented Purdue in the senior level 74 kg division, which features some of the best wrestlers in the country at any age. At just 19 years old, Blaze was the youngest wrestler in his division by a significant margin. Most of his competition came against veterans who are multiple years removed from collegiate wrestling.
The 2025 NCAA runner-up Blaze, seeded No. 7, rebounded from a close 3-1 loss to No. 2 Quincy Monday by winning his next three on Friday night by a combined score of 35-13.
Abiding by freestyle rules, Blaze recorded a 17-6 technical fall at the 3:44 mark over Elroy Perkin and a 12-4 decision over No. 6 Peyton Hall.
Blaze then upset No. 5-seeded Terrell Barraclough in a 6-3 decision in the consolation semifinals.
The three wins in consolation put Blaze in a rematch with Monday in the third-place match on Saturday.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first period, Blaze executed a takedown sequence and turned the three-time All-American to suddenly go up 6-2, effectively sealing his win in a 7-2 decision.
No. 1 seed David Carr won first place at 74 kg and therefore will wrestle Mitchell Mesenbrink at Final X alongside the Blaze-Jacques match.
Blaze will likely begin the 2025-26 season with a high national ranking after becoming Purdue's youngest NCAA finalist of the past 75 years in March. He leads a veteran Purdue team that's expected to return nine of its 10 starters from last season.
Matt Ramos, the only graduating senior, will be back as a full-time assistant coach.
Blaze represented Ramos, his fellow 2025 All-American, in the World Team Trials by wearing his red USA singlet. He also donned teammate James Rowley's blue singlet in the consolation semifinals.
Quarterfinal: vs. #2 Quincy Monday – L, 3-1 decision
Cons. Round 2: vs. Elroy Perkin – W, 17-6 (3:44) tech. fall
Cons. Quarterfinal: vs. #6 Peyton Hall – W, 12-4 decision
Cons. Semifinal: vs. #5 Terrell Barraclough – W, 6-3 decision
3rd Place Match: vs. #2 Quincy Monday – W, 7-2 decision
Blaze's third-place finish guarantees him a spot in the USA Wrestling Final X competition on Saturday, June 14 in Newark, N.J., where the USA World Team members will be decided.
Since Blaze didn't face the first- or second-place finishers in his division at World Team Trials, he will square off with Jarrett Jacques in a wrestle-off to determine a true 74 kg third place, and the No. 3 spot on the USA national team at that weight.
The legend continues. 🔥
— Purdue Wrestling (@PurdueWrestling) May 17, 2025
At age 19, Joey Blaze takes 3rd Place at Senior World Team Trials and advances to Final X on June 14.
He's one win away from earning the final spot on the @USAWrestling World Team! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ofJPgIdYbW
Blaze represented Purdue in the senior level 74 kg division, which features some of the best wrestlers in the country at any age. At just 19 years old, Blaze was the youngest wrestler in his division by a significant margin. Most of his competition came against veterans who are multiple years removed from collegiate wrestling.
The 2025 NCAA runner-up Blaze, seeded No. 7, rebounded from a close 3-1 loss to No. 2 Quincy Monday by winning his next three on Friday night by a combined score of 35-13.
Abiding by freestyle rules, Blaze recorded a 17-6 technical fall at the 3:44 mark over Elroy Perkin and a 12-4 decision over No. 6 Peyton Hall.
Rolled 'em like a gator. 🐊🐊🐊@joeyblaze18 picks up 6 points in the blink of an eye to secure his first W!
— Purdue Wrestling (@PurdueWrestling) May 16, 2025
📺 FloWrestling pic.twitter.com/2gpQiaaLKF
Blaze then upset No. 5-seeded Terrell Barraclough in a 6-3 decision in the consolation semifinals.
The three wins in consolation put Blaze in a rematch with Monday in the third-place match on Saturday.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first period, Blaze executed a takedown sequence and turned the three-time All-American to suddenly go up 6-2, effectively sealing his win in a 7-2 decision.
Spin cycle 🔁🔁🔁@joeyblaze18's sequence to beat 3x All-American Quincy Monday (Princeton) for 3rd Place! #WTT2025
— Purdue Wrestling (@PurdueWrestling) May 17, 2025
📺 FloWrestling pic.twitter.com/BWTkHLqitH
No. 1 seed David Carr won first place at 74 kg and therefore will wrestle Mitchell Mesenbrink at Final X alongside the Blaze-Jacques match.
Blaze will likely begin the 2025-26 season with a high national ranking after becoming Purdue's youngest NCAA finalist of the past 75 years in March. He leads a veteran Purdue team that's expected to return nine of its 10 starters from last season.
Matt Ramos, the only graduating senior, will be back as a full-time assistant coach.
Blaze represented Ramos, his fellow 2025 All-American, in the World Team Trials by wearing his red USA singlet. He also donned teammate James Rowley's blue singlet in the consolation semifinals.
View this post on InstagramRESULTS 74 kg | #7 Joey Blaze – 4-1 – 3RD PLACE
Quarterfinal: vs. #2 Quincy Monday – L, 3-1 decision
Cons. Round 2: vs. Elroy Perkin – W, 17-6 (3:44) tech. fall
Cons. Quarterfinal: vs. #6 Peyton Hall – W, 12-4 decision
Cons. Semifinal: vs. #5 Terrell Barraclough – W, 6-3 decision
3rd Place Match: vs. #2 Quincy Monday – W, 7-2 decision