NEW MEXICO WRESTLER WINS NATIONAL TITLE
New Mexico has a national champion. V. Sue Cleveland High School wrestler Roman Luttrell won his weight division at the 2025 USA Wrestling Junior and 16U National Championships earlier this month in Fargo, North Dakota. Luttrell finished first in the 120-pound weight class of the men’s Greco-Roman division.
“It feels really good,” Luttrell said. “I don’t think I’ve ever worked this hard leading up to a tournament.”
“It’s the biggest high school wrestling tournament, in maybe, the world,” said Scott Owen, NMAA Associate Director. Over 8,500 wrestlers competed in the 2025 event.
This is the 4th time Luttrell competed in this event, but the first time he’s won it. Luttrell defeated Joel Friederichs of Minnesota in the championship match of his division by a score of 8-7. “I took third two years ago, and I took third last year,” Luttrell said. “It felt really good. Having all the guys in the stands cheer me on, I could hear my mom and my dad, it was really overwhelming. I was just having fun more than anything.”
According to USA Wrestling’s website, Luttrell’s Junior Greco title at 120 pounds was just New Mexico’s second ever and the first since Anthony Romero was the 154-pound winner in 1983. Luttrell was joined on the Junior podium by Damian Trujillo, who finished eighth at 106 pounds. It’s the second time in as many years New Mexico has multiple Junior Greco All-Americans and just the third time ever. The first came back in 1983.
Luttrell is already a 4-time state champion in New Mexico, winning a title every year since his eighth-grade season in 2022. He finished his junior year with a 42-2 record overall. The senior will attempt to become the tenth 5-time champ in the state of New Mexico.
St. Pius X standout wrestler Valentine Popadiuc placed 8th in the 138-pound freestyle bracket in Fargo. Popadiuc won the Class A-4A 152-pound title at the New Mexico State Wrestling Championships last season. He finished his junior year with a 45-3 overall record.
*photos courtesy XL Sports Photography
