Grapes of Wrath 2025: Event Preview
- Jules
- Mar 31
- 12 min read
We are less than a week away from the annual Grapes of Wrath tournament, which will be held at the Mountain Run Winery. While the previous year's event had 8 teams in attendance, this year, 14 teams plan to make the trip down to the home of the Iron Lions Vanguard in the biggest Grapes of Wrath to date.
The teams will be divided into two separate round-robin pools, with the top-placed teams advancing into a bracket-style tournament. Various duels and Armored MMA fights are planned as well, with over 30 individual duelists and singles fighters signed up for the weekend. Those who attended Grapes of Wrath 2024 will remember the torrential downpour of rain that soaked the field and turned the ground into a modern-day battle of Agincourt. Severely muddy conditions made maneuverability an impossible task, which prevented many would-be flankers from running the field as they would have liked. This year, the weather is forecasted for more rainfall, and the fighters will have to adapt quickly to rough terrain in order to succeed in the tournament.
We'll provide a detailed list of the scheduled melee pools and check out the teams in attendance this weekend. You can find the social media links of the teams attending as well, so you can keep up to date with your favorite teams, or even find a team near you.
Table of Contents
Pool 1
Team Name | Heraldry | Record | Fighting out of | Captain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Knyaz USA |  | 5-1 | Warren, MI | Andrew McCabe |
The Berserkers |  | 5-2 | Various | Darius Sileikis |
Iron Lions Vanguard |  | 0-6 | Fairfax, VA | Kevin Leclerc |
DFC Dire Wolves |  | 1-3 | Detroit, MI | Bolvar |
Pale Riders |  | 4-1 | Various | William Stone |
Imperium |  | 0-4 | Sanford, NC | Jason Noakes |
The Headsmen |  | 0-2 | Nashua, NH | Curtis Hennessey |
Pool 2
Team Name | Heraldry | Record | Fighting out of | Captain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
New England Executioners |  | 2-0 | Nashua, NH | Cat Brooks |
Company of the Pale Horse |  | 3-3 | Various | Alexander Straub |
Cincinnati Barbarians |  | 2-2 | Cincinnati, OH | Travis Young |
Tidewater Dogs of War |  | 0-0 | Virginia | Nick Johnson |
NYC Armored Combat |  | 1-3 | New York City, NY | Marco Damiano |
South Jersey Pine Barons |  | 1-2 | Blackwood, NJ | Chris Torok |
The Forsaken |  | 0-0 | York, PA | Drew Shipley |
Team Name: New England Executioners
Captain: Cat Brooks
Fighting out of: Nashua, NH
Current season record: 2-0 (KFL)
Coming off a first-place finish at the inaugural Knight Fight League event earlier this year in Los Angeles, the Executioners will be looking to continue their winning streak next week. With a team focus on brute athleticism and hard-hitting polearms, the Executioners have earned their reputation as an elite-level team and have the history to back it up.
The Executioners are one of the oldest formed teams in the sport, with many of their fighters and training staff holding numerous Team USA accolades and previous Knight Fight experience. They train out of the illustrious Knights Hall, a buhurt school/gym that regularly hosts both dueling and melee events. Last year, they were ranked #4 in the nation, achieving 21 victories with their only two losses coming from Dominus and Knyaz USA at Carolina Carnage 2024. As the previous winners of Grapes of Wrath 2024, they are expecting to bring down the hammer next weekend, especially since Knyaz USA is planning to make an appearance for the first time at this event.
In recent months, the Executioners have been focusing on rebuilding and promoting the new Knight Fight League, which has several events scheduled nationwide. They have also opened a sister location for the Knights Hall in Charlton, MA, allowing them to further their recruitment and expand their roster's skill set for the upcoming season.
New England Executioners Social Media
Team Name: Knyaz USA
Captain: Andrew McCabe
Fighting out of: Warren, MI
Current season record: 5-1 (MCUSA)
Knyaz USA is coming off a stellar performance at Carolina Carnage Fest, where they finished in 2nd place, earning a spot on Team USA at the BI World Cup later this year. In larger open field tournaments, Knyaz USA reigns supreme with the help of their team captain and elite Center Andrew McCabe, who wears the #6 belt flag on fight days. Their roster is rounded out by heavyset rail fighters (Like AMMA Titanweight champion Pete Moe) and high-speed fighters who either crush their opponents under them or outmaneuver them on the field.
Their only loss on record this season comes from Dominus, which was in a very close three-round fight that could have gone either way for these two champion teams. With Grapes of Wrath 2025 being the first time this team has made an appearance at this yearly event, their planned attendance has had many of the eastern regional teams taking caution and training to watch their backs.
Knyaz USA Social Media
Team Name: Company of the Pale Horse
Captain: Alexander Straub
Fighting out of: Various
Current season record: 3-3 (MCUSA)
Grapes of Wrath holds a special place in the hearts of the fighters on the Company of the Pale Horse roster, with many of the roster claiming that Grapes of Wrath 2023 was the moment of the team's inception. Since then, the team has taken the sport by storm, rising from inception to Team USA prospects in just a single year. Yet that success did not come without a fair share of rivalries, a few of which will most likely culminate next week.
Earlier this year at Carolina Carnage fest, the team went 3-3, defeating Iron Lions Vanguard, Idaho-based Rat Pack, and the Pacific juggernauts Ordo Draconis. Losses against elite teams like Knyaz USA and Dominus kept them from reaching the podium, but Company of the Pale Horse dealt enough damage to prove they belonged amongst these champion teams.
Now under new leadership in the form of Alexander Straub, the Company of the Pale Horse is primed to kick off the new season. With most of the roster picking up profight wins just a week prior at the AMCF run War on Alzheimer's charity event, spirits are high in the Company's camp. They'll be looking to continue their winning trend this weekend as they square off against numerous teams who have gotten the better of them before, and settle some grudges against their growing rivals.
Company of the Pale Horse Social Media
Team Name: The Berserkers
Captain: Darius Sileikis
Fighting out of: Brick, NJ
Current season record: 5-2
Making their first appearance at Grapes of Wrath, The Berserkers are a Superteam led by the New Jersey Steel Fighting Academy coach Darius Sileikis. Their roster pulls from all over the country, including fighters from New England and the Midwest. This deep talent pool gives The Berserkers a huge advantage, but also provides an extra challenge in developing the synergy of their fighters on the field.
Yet their performances this season and last year have proven that The Berserkers are up to the challenge and may, in fact, thrive on it. Members of their roster appeared on Team USA during the 2024 IMCF World Championship in Mexico last year, and they finished 4th in a tournament of 20 at Carolina Carnage Fest at the end of January.
The team was absent from the Gold Tier of Carolina Carnage Fest this year due to having an insufficient number of MCUSA events under their belt to qualify. Some might assume that they have a chip on their shoulder because of this, as The Berserkers finished in 1st place in the Silver Tier the year prior. Luckily for them, Grapes of Wrath will put them up against multiple teams who fought in the Gold Tier, such as Company of the Pale Horse, a team that The Beserkers had beaten during their undefeated streak in 2024. This will give them the chance to prove that they belong at the top, and dish out some punishment to those in their way.
The Berserkers Social Media
Team Name: Iron Lions Vanguard
Captain: Kevin Leclerc
Fighting out of: Fairfax, VA
Current season record: 0-6 (MCUSA)
The Iron Lions Vanguard's season so far has been turbulent. While the team was able to break into the Gold Tier bracket of Carolina Carnage Fest earlier this year, they were unable to secure a victory in the round-robin tournament. Now back on their home turf, and with the support of their entire club in attendance, the Iron Lions will be looking to bounce back this weekend with a dominant performance.
Ranked #7 in the country last year by Buhurt International, Iron Lions Vanguard has a deep pool of veteran fighters, including team captain Kevin Leclerc, a USMC veteran who has been fighting since the team's inception in 2020. The team is the American branch of it's German parent team, Eiserne Löwen, which was formed in 2013 to compete in the European steelfighting leagues.
While the Iron Lions Vanguard record may show zero wins so far this season, that does not accurately reflect the team's skills and abilities. In past seasons, the team has always been considered near the top of the competitive league, and their recent break into the Gold Tier this year reflects their progress. Regardless, they'll be on the prowl this weekend to pick up their first of hopefully many victories for the rest of the year.
Iron Lions Vanguard Social Media
Team Name: Cincinnati Barbarians
Captain: Travis Young
Fighting out of: Cincinnati, OH
Current season record: 2-2 (MCUSA)
Founded in 2019, the Barbarians are the premier team in Ohio. At Carolina Carnage Fest, they advanced from their round-robin pool with impressive victories over the NYC Armored Combat Team and the South Jersey Pine Barons while picking up a loss from Utah's Order of the Silver Rose. Their time in the bracket was short, however, as their first match against Iowa-based The New Order resulted in a Barbarians loss.
The Barbarians regularly hold combat events at their training facility, the Mt. Orab Sports Complex, and the Ohio Renaissance Festival. They also host the annual Cincinnati Siege event, one of the larger tournaments in the Midwest region, which will take place in May later this year.
With one of the deepest rosters in the sport, the Cincinnati Barbrians have a large amount of talent to pick from. From hardened veterans of the sport to those eager to get into armor for their first time, they should have no problem fielding a roster of battle-hungry fighters this upcoming weekend.
Cinannati Barbarians Social Media
Team Name: Tidewater Dogs of War
Captain: Nick Johnson
Fighting out of: Virginia
Current season record: 0-0
Based out of southeast Virginia, the Tidewater Dogs of War will be making their season debut this weekend at Grapes of Wrath. Last year, they kicked off the season at Carolina Carnage 2024 with victories over Gladiators NYC and the US military veteran team Steel Legion in their round-robin pool. They were unable to advance to the brackets, however, as losses against the Portland Reavers, Bastion, and the now Gold Tier team Rat Pack ended their Carnage run at 2-3.
Their only other MCUSA event last year was the Tournament of the Tower, held in November. There, the team picked up victories against 'wesome 'possum and Imperium but lost to the other teams in the round-robin event, including the Executioners and the Canadian North Blood team.
While the team was absent from Carolina Carnage Fest earlier this year, members of the team still participated by fighting as mercenaries on several teams. The act of "mercing" is common in the steelfighting community as it allows smaller teams who may not have the numbers to compete, and is a useful way for individual fighters to gain experience when their home team is unable to attend.
Yet now the Dogs of War are back in full force. Led by their captain Nick "The Brick" Johnson, and with the imposing Cano Mattheisen on their line, the team is ready to take the field in earnest this weekend.
Tidewater Dogs of War Social Media
Team Name: NYC Armored Combat
Captain: Marco Damiano
Fighting out of: New York City, NY
Current season record: 1-2 (MCUSA)
NYC Armored Combat is a coalition of multiple teams that call New York City home. These teams join forces to compete in larger tournaments around the country. Some of the teams that comprise this coalition are: The Sentinels, the Plague Rats, and the New York Orks. These teams frequently train together in city-wide training events and regularly hold exhibition matches on the rooftops of the city during the warmer months.
At Carolina Carnage Fest, the coalition was large enough to field two separate teams in the Silver Tier tournament. However, the combined teams were only able to achieve a victory over the mercenary team Leper Knights, and they picked up losses from the other teams in their pool.
Many of the NYC Armored Combat fighters regularly partake in the AMCF profight circuit,, including team captain Marco Damiano and his brother Joseph Damiano, who both fought and won their respective matchups just last week at the AMCF War on Alzerimers. Regular experience in profights gives most fighters an advantage in melee matches, as these fights focus on striking and being able to defend oneself, a skillset that is greatly desired in the more chaotic team battles.
NYC Armored Combat Social Media
Team Name: DFC Dire Wolves
Captain: Bolvar
Fighting out of: Detroit, MI
Current season record: 1-3 (MCUSA)
The newly rebranded DFC Dire Wolves will take the field this weekend. They are also first-time attendees of the annual Grapes of Wrath tournament. Their most recent appearances at Carolina Carnage Fest and the AMCF Qualifiers had them defeating the South Carolina 'wesome 'possums, and the Regulators Armored Combat Club, respectively.
Led by head trainer Boris Tuman, who has been steelfighing since 2015, the DFC Dire Wolves showcase some unusual tactics and maneuvers on the field to get their opponents second-guessing. Look for them this weekend to use the muddy conditions of the field to their advantage in any way that they can.
DFC Dire Wolves Social Media
Team Name: South Jersey Pine Barons
Captain: Chris Torok
Fighting out of: Blackwood, NJ
Current season record: 1-2 (MCUSA)
The South Jersey Pine Barons made their MCUSA debut earlier this year at Carolina Carnage Fest. There they were placed into a round-robin pool with three other teams where the top two teams would advance. The team managed to achieve a victory over one of the NYC Armored Combat teams in attendance, but suffered defeat against the Cincinnati Barbarians and the Order of the Silver Rose.
Despite the mixed results, the Pine Barons showcased their tenacity in every fight. Facing off against well-established teams, they demonstrated flashes of brilliance, earning takedowns in every round to keep their opponents on edge. Though they fell short of advancing, their performance showcased their potential, earning the respect of both spectators and seasoned fighters alike. With this experience under their belts, the Pine Barons have set their sights on the rest of the season, eager to refine their tactics and carve out a name for themselves.
South Jersey Pine Barons Social Media
Searching for Victory
Both of the teams below will be searching for their first melee victories this season. In the case of Imperium, they will be looking for their first MCUSA victory since Grapes of Wrath 2023, where they took first place after an undefeated round-robin run. Since then, they have struggled to win consistently, but have some incredibly determined and hungry fighters on their roster. Members of the team have been seen at training camps all over the country in preparation for the upcoming fights, and they are ready to put their skills to the test.
For The Forsaken, they will be looking to make their season debut in the rain, which is nothing new to the Pennsylvania team. Last year at Grapes of Wrath 2024, the team went 1-3 in their pool, defeating the Iron Lions Legion in a two-round sweep, before losing a series of matches against Bastion and Iron Lions Vanguard. The Forsaken were absent from the rest of the season, but their fighters have been seen in numerous dueling and Armored MMA events around the Atlantic region as they ready themselves for the upcoming season.
Team Name: Imperium
Captain: Jason Noakes
Fighting out of: Sanford, NC
Current season record: 0-4 (MCUSA)
Team Name: The Forsaken
Captain: Drew Shipley
Fighting out of: York, PA
Current season record: 0-0
Imperium Social Media
The Forsaken Social Media
Satellite Teams
In some cases, an already established team or club may decide to create another official team. This could be due to having an overabundance of fighters on their roster, a desire to provide their newer fighters with a dedicated place to fight, or to prospect new additions to their own teams. Both The Headsmen and Pale Riders are such teams, formed by The Executioners and Company of the Pale Horse, respectively.
In the case of The Headsmen, they train directly with The Executioners at the coveted Knights Hall, and their roster consists mostly of newer fighters who are looking to gain experience and glory as they develop their own skills. The Headsmen team itself has a long and storied history within the sport, and some of the current Executioners fighters had their start on the humble team. This iteration of The Headsmen have already cut their teeth earlier in the year at the inaugural Knight Fight League event in Los Angeles, and now they set their sights on more conquests this weekend.
The Pale Riders came into formation due to having an overabundance of fighters on the Company of the Pale Horse roster for Carolina Carnage Fest. Rather than having their fighters sit out of the tournament or join up on the various merc teams, they decided to form another team where their fighters would still be able to fight with each other. The team debuted at Carolina Carnage Fest, going undefeated in their round-robin pool before being eliminated by The Berserkers in the first round of the elimination brackets.
Interestingly enough, both satellite teams are in the same pool, separated from their older sibling teams. This will lead to a situation where both The Executioners and Company of the Pale Horse will be able to fully support their sibling teams from the sidelines as The Headsmen and Pale Riders duke it out.
Team Name: The Headsmen
Captain: Curtis Hennessey
Fighting out of: Nashua, NH
Current season record: 0-2 (KFL)
Team Name: Pale Riders
Captain: William Stone
Fighting out of: Various
Current season record: 4-1 (MCUSA)
The Battle begins
As the countdown to Grapes of Wrath 2025 reaches its final days, anticipation is at an all-time high. With a record-breaking number of teams set to take the field, this year’s tournament promises intense battles, fierce rivalries, and unforgettable moments.
The rain may return to test the fighters’ endurance, but that won’t dampen the spirit of those who have traveled from far and wide to prove themselves. Some come seeking redemption, others looking to defend their titles, and a few eager to make their mark on the sport. No matter their path, every fighter this weekend is prepared to leave it all on the field.
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