# Mason Parris

Mason Mark Parris (/ˈpærɪs/ PARR-iss; born October 1, 1999) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at 125 kilograms. Parris is a 2019 U20 World champion, and a 2023 Pan American Games gold medalist. He represented the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
In folkstyle, he was the 2023 NCAA Division I national champion and Big Ten Conference champion at 285 pounds for the Michigan Wolverines, and the Dan Hodge Trophy winner.

## High school career

Parris attended Lawrenceburg High School in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where he was a three-sport athlete, participating in wrestling, football, and track and field. In wrestling, he won three Indiana state titles at 220 pounds in 2016, 2017, and 2018. He set an Indiana state record with 11 career pins at the state tournament. He finished his career with an overall record of 206–1, including a 152–0 recorded over his final three seasons. He also won the Junior Schalles Award for best high school pinner in 2018.
In football, he was a three-time First Team All-State as a linebacker, and a three-time TriState Football Indiana Defensive Player of the Year. He finished his career with 612 total tackles (302 solo), 17.0 sacks, 61.5 tackles for losses, 10 forced fumbles, five interceptions, and 16 fumble recoveries.

## College career

As a freshman at Michigan, Parris compiled a 32–9 record. He led the Wolverines with 32 wins and 13 falls. As a sophomore, he compiled a 28–1 record. He led the team with 28 wins and 11 falls. At the Big Ten tournament, he finished as runner-up to Gable Steveson, losing 8–6. He was then scheduled to compete at the NCAA championships as the second-seed, however, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After the season ended, he was named a first team NCAA Division I All-American due to his performance through the season.
As a junior he compiled a 12–2 record, after he missed half of the season due to a herniated disc in his neck that he suffered at the U.S. World Team Trials semi-finals in September 2021. At the Big Ten tournament, he finished as runner-up to Steveson. During the 2021 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, he faced Steveson in a rematch of the Big Ten championships, and finished as runner-up, losing in the final 8–4. Parris only lost three matches over the last two seasons, all to Steveson. After the season ended, he was again named an All-American. In December 2021, he signed a NIL (Next In Line) deal with the WWE.
As a senior he compiled a 19–6 record. He finished in fourth place at the Big Ten Championships and in fifth place at the 2022 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. After the season ended, he was again named an All-American.
As a fifth-year senior he compiled an undefeated 33–0 record, with 21 bonus wins, 11 pins, three technical falls and seven major decisions. He Earned 17 wins over nationally ranked opponents and posted a combined 10–0 record over the 2023 NCAA heavyweights All-Americans. At the 2023 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, he won the heavyweight championship, defeating Greg Kerkvliet 5–3 in overtime of the final. He became the first Michigan wrestler to win a Big Ten heavyweight championship since Airron Richardson in 1998. At the 2023 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships he posted a perfect 5–0 record at the NCAA Championships as the top-seed, and outscored his opponents 49–6. During the final he again defeated Kerkvliet, 5–1, to win the NCAA heavyweight championship. He became the first Michigan heavyweight champion since Kirk Trost in 1986. Following an outstanding season he was named an All-American and awarded the Dan Hodge Trophy, as the best collegiate wrestler. He was also named the University of Michigan's Athlete of the Year.

## International career

During the 2019 World Junior Wrestling Championships, he posted a perfect 4–0 record and defeated his opponents 36–3. During the gold medal match, he pinned future Olympic medalist Amir Hossein Zare in the first-period.
He represented the United States at the 2023 World Wrestling Championships where he won a bronze medal in the men's freestyle 125 kg. He then represented the United States at the 2023 Pan American Games and won a gold medal in the men's 125 kg, defeating two-time Olympian and three-time Pan American Games medalist José Daniel Díaz.
He represented the United States at the 2024 Pan American Wrestling Championships where he won a gold medal in the men's freestyle 125 kg event. He started the tournament with a 10–0 victory over Richard DesChatelets. His semifinal and finals opponents defaulted due to injury, as a result his lone victory was enough for the gold.
By winning the bronze medal at the world championships, Parris earned an automatic berth into the best-of-three 125 kg championship series at the 2024 Olympic trials. During the Olympic trials he won both matches against Hayden Zillmer with 7–0 decisions to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics. During the Olympics, he lost to Mönkhtöriin Lkhagvagerel in the round of 16.

## Freestyle record

Senior Freestyle Matches :
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Score | Date | Event | Location |
| 2025 Grand Prix Zagreb Open at 125 kg |||||||
| Loss | 48–11 | Amir Reza Masoumi | TF 0–11 | February 6, 2025 | 2025 Grand Prix Zagreb Open | Zagreb, Croatia |
| Win | 48–10 | Hayden Zillmer | 4–2 | February 6, 2025 | 2025 Grand Prix Zagreb Open | Zagreb, Croatia |
| Win | 47–10 | Trent Hillger | TF 13–2 | February 6, 2025 | 2025 Grand Prix Zagreb Open | Zagreb, Croatia |
| 2025 Dan Kolov & Nikola Petrov at 125 kg |||||||
| Win | 46–10 | Georgi Ivanov | TF 13–2 | January 23–26, 2025 | 2025 Dan Kolov & Nikola Petrov Tournament | Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Win | 45–10 | Yurii Idzinskyi | TF 10–0 | January 23–26, 2025 | 2025 Dan Kolov & Nikola Petrov Tournament | Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Win | 44–10 | Dian Manev | TF 10–0 | January 23–26, 2025 | 2025 Dan Kolov & Nikola Petrov Tournament | Sofia, Bulgaria |
| 2024 Summer Olympics 10th at 125 kg |||||||
| Loss | 43–10 | Mönkhtöriin Lkhagvagerel | 5–10 | August 9, 2024 | 2024 Summer Olympics | Paris, France |
| 2024 Polyák Imre & Varga János Ranking Series at 125 kg |||||||
| Win | 43–9 | Yusup Batirmurzaev | Fall | June 6, 2024 | 2024 Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial Tournament | Budapest, Hungary |
| Win | 42–9 | Jonovan Smith | TF 10–0 | June 6, 2024 | 2024 Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial Tournament | Budapest, Hungary |
| Win | 41–9 | Givi Matcharashvili | 9–2 | June 6, 2024 | 2024 Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial Tournament | Budapest, Hungary |
| 2024 US Olympic Team Trials at 125 kg |||||||
| Win | 40–9 | Hayden Zillmer | 7–0 | April 20, 2024 | 2024 US Olympic Team Trials | State College, Pennsylvania |
| Win | 39–9 | Hayden Zillmer | 7–0 | April 20, 2024 | 2024 US Olympic Team Trials | State College, Pennsylvania |
| 2024 Pan American Championships at 125 kg |||||||
| Win | 38–9 | Jonovan Smith | FF | February 24, 2024 | 2024 Pan American Continental Championships | Acapulco, Mexico |
| Win | 37–9 | José Daniel Díaz | FF | February 24, 2024 | 2024 Pan American Continental Championships | Acapulco, Mexico |
| Win | 36–9 | Richard DesChatelets | TF 10–0 | February 24, 2024 | 2024 Pan American Continental Championships | Acapulco, Mexico |
| 2024 Grand Prix Zagreb Open at 125 kg |||||||
| Win | 35–9 | Giorgi Meshvildishvili | 5–2 | January 11, 2024 | 2024 Grand Prix Zagreb Open | Zagreb, Croatia |
| Loss | 34–9 | Amir Reza Masoumi | 6–11 | January 11, 2024 | 2024 Grand Prix Zagreb Open | Zagreb, Croatia |
| Win | 34–8 | Amar Dhesi | TF 11–0 | January 11, 2024 | 2024 Grand Prix Zagreb Open | Zagreb, Croatia |
| Win | 33–8 | Vakhit Galayev | TF 15–4 | January 11, 2024 | 2024 Grand Prix Zagreb Open | Zagreb, Croatia |
| 2023 Pan American Games at 125 kg |||||||
| Win | 32–8 | José Daniel Díaz | 2–0 | November 2, 2023 | 2023 Pan American Games | Santiago, Chile |
| Win | 31–8 | Aaron Johnson | TF 10–0 | November 2, 2023 | 2023 Pan American Games | Santiago, Chile |
| Win | 30–8 | Elison Adames | TF 12–0 | November 2, 2023 | 2023 Pan American Games | Santiago, Chile |
| 2023 World Championships at 125 kg |||||||
| Win | 29–8 | Abdulla Kurbanov | TF 12–2 | September 16–17, 2023 | 2023 World Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Loss | 28–8 | Geno Petriashvili | 6–8 | September 16–17, 2023 | 2023 World Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Win | 28–7 | Deng Zhiwei | 8–4 | September 16–17, 2023 | 2023 World Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Win | 27–7 | Abraham Conyedo | 3–0 | September 16–17, 2023 | 2023 World Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Win | 26–7 | Yusup Batirmurzaev | TF 11–0 | September 16–17, 2023 | 2023 World Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| 2023 Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial at 125 kg |||||||
| Win | 25–7 | Dániel Ligeti | INJ | July 13–16, 2023 | 2023 Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial | Budapest, Hungary |
| Win | 24–7 | Deng Zhiwei | 5–0 | July 13–16, 2023 | 2023 Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial | Budapest, Hungary |
| Win | 23–7 | Youssif Hemida | TF 11–1 | July 13–16, 2023 | 2023 Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial | Budapest, Hungary |
| Win | 22–7 | Abraham Conyedo | TF 10–0 | July 13–16, 2023 | 2023 Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial | Budapest, Hungary |
| 2023 US World Team Trials at 125 kg |||||||
| Loss | 21–7 | Gable Steveson | 0–5 | June 9–10, 2023 | 2023 Final X | Newark, New Jersey |
| Loss | 21–6 | Gable Steveson | 2–6 | June 9–10, 2023 | 2023 Final X | Newark, New Jersey |
| Win | 21–5 | Nick Gwiazdowski | 6–2 | May 20–21, 2023 | 2023 US World Team Trials | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Win | 20–5 | Wyatt Hendrickson | 12–11 | May 20–21, 2023 | 2023 US World Team Trials | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Win | 19–5 | Tony Cassioppi | TF 10–0 | May 20–21, 2023 | 2023 US World Team Trials | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| 2023 US Open at 125 kg |||||||
| Win | 18–5 | Wyatt Hendrickson | TF 20–7 | April 27, 2023 | 2023 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 17–5 | Demetrius Thomas | Fall | April 27, 2023 | 2023 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Loss | 16–5 | Gable Steveson | TF 1–12 | April 27, 2023 | 2023 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 16–4 | Ty Walz | 4–0 | April 27, 2023 | 2023 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 15–4 | Gary Traub | TF 10–0 | April 27, 2023 | 2023 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 14–4 | Gabe Jacobs | TF 10–0 | April 27, 2023 | 2023 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 2021 US World Team Trials at 125 kg |||||||
| Loss | 13–4 | Nick Gwiazdowski | 3–10 | September 11–12, 2021 | 2021 US World Team Trials | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Loss | 13–3 | Nick Gwiazdowski | 0–6 | September 11–12, 2021 | 2021 US World Team Trials | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Win | 13–2 | Dom Bradley | 8–4 | September 11–12, 2021 | 2021 US World Team Trials | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Win | 12–2 | Austin Schafer | Fall | September 11–12, 2021 | 2021 US World Team Trials | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| 2020 US Olympic Team Trials at 125 kg |||||||
| Win | 11–2 | Tony Nelson | 6–3 | April 2–3, 2021 | 2020 US Olympic Team Trials | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Win | 10–2 | Dom Bradley | 7–4 | April 2–3, 2021 | 2020 US Olympic Team Trials | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Win | 9–2 | Tanner Hall | TF 10–0 | April 2–3, 2021 | 2020 US Olympic Team Trials | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Loss | 8–2 | Greg Kerkvliet | 4–4 | April 2–3, 2021 | 2020 US Olympic Team Trials | Fort Worth, Texas |
| FloWrestling RTC Cup at 125 kg |||||||
| Win | 8–1 | Jordan Wood | TF 12–1 | December 4–5, 2020 | FloWrestling RTC Cup | Austin, Texas |
| Win | 7–1 | Nick Gwiazdowski | 10–7 | December 4–5, 2020 | FloWrestling RTC Cup | Austin, Texas |
| Loss | 6–1 | Nick Gwiazdowski | TF 8–18 | December 4–5, 2020 | FloWrestling RTC Cup | Austin, Texas |
| Win | 6–0 | Tony Nelson | 8–2 | December 4–5, 2020 | FloWrestling RTC Cup | Austin, Texas |
| 2020 US Nationals at 125 kg |||||||
| Win | 5–0 | Tanner Hall | 8–2 | October 9–11, 2020 | 2020 US National Championships | Coralville, Iowa |
| Win | 4–0 | Trent Hillger | Fall | October 9–11, 2020 | 2020 US National Championships | Coralville, Iowa |
| Win | 3–0 | Jordan Wood | 9–6 | October 9–11, 2020 | 2020 US National Championships | Coralville, Iowa |
| Win | 2–0 | Chris Lance | 9–4 | October 9–11, 2020 | 2020 US National Championships | Coralville, Iowa |
| Win | 1–0 | Josh Heindselman | TF 10–0 | October 9–11, 2020 | 2020 US National Championships | Coralville, Iowa |