Ben Provisor at the 2021 World Team Trials (Photo/Tony Rotundo/UWW)55 kg
Sajjad Abbaspourragani (Iran) 2018 Cadet World Bronze
Eldaniz Azizli (Azerbaijan) 2019 World Bronze, 2018 World Champion
Ken Matsui (Japan) 2019 Junior World Bronze, 2017 Cadet World Champion
Ekrem Ozturk (Turkey) 2019 U23 World Bronze, 2018 World Bronze
Emin Sefershaev (Russia) 2019 U23 World Silver, 2x Junior World Bronze
Nugzari Tsurtsumia (Georgia) 2019 World Champion, 2018 U23 World Champion, 2018 World Bronze
Khorlan Zhakansha (Kazakhstan) 2019 World Silver
The American Entry: Max Nowry
This is the smallest bracket of today's Greco weights also could be the deepest of the bunch. A pair of past world champions (Azizli and Tsurtsumia) headline the weight, that also features another 2019 world medalist (Zhakansha). We also could see some younger wrestlers break out, as there are a handful that have age group world medals.
One of those young talents is pair with Max Nowry in the opening round. He'll face 2018 Cadet World bronze medalist Sajjad Abbaspourragani of Iran.
72 kg
Malkhas Amoyan (Armenia) 2021 European Silver, 2018 Junior World Champion, 2017 Junior World Silver
Cengiz Arslan (Turkey) 2019 European Silver, 2018 U23 World Champion
Shmagi Bolkvadze (Georgia) 2017 U23 World Champion
Robert Fristch (Hungary) 2021 European Bronze, 017 U23 World Silver
Ulvi Ganizadeh (Azerbaijan) 2020 European Bronze, 2019 Junior World Silver
Kharman Kissymetov (Kazakhstan) 2018 U23 World Bronze, 2016 Junior World Silver
Sergey Kutuzov (Russia) 2021 European U23 Bronze
Valentin Petic (Moldova) 2019 U23 World Bronze, 2019 Junior World Bronze
Gevorg Sahakyan (Poland) 2018 World Bronze
Ruslan Tsarev (Kyrgyzstan) 2021 Asian Silver
The American Entry: Pat Smith
This will be a weight where someone breaks out and establishes themselves as a star. There are plenty of entrants with strong credentials, but none that stand out more significantly than others. Cengiz Arslan and Shmagi Bolkvadze are both U23 World champions, but still haven't totally established themselves at the Senior level. One that could be rising is Malkhas Amoyan, who was a runner-up in Europe this year.
Without a clear-cut tier of definitive medal contenders, a veteran like Pat Smith could thrive. We'll see how Smith fares at this new weight. He has not competed internationally below 77 kg since 2018.
77 kg
Yunus Basar (Turkey) 2021 European Silver
Gela Bolkvadze (Georgia) 2018 U23 World Champion, 2017 U23 World Silver, 2015 Junior World Champion
Mohammadali Geraei (Iran) 2019 World Bronze, 2019 Asian Bronze
Alexandrin Gutu (Moldova) 2021 Junior World Bronze, 2019 Cadet World Bronze
Tamas Levai (Hungary) 2018 U23 World Bronze
Aik Mnatsakanian (Bulgaria) 2019 World Bronze
Exauce Mukubu (Norway) 2021 Junior World Silver
Viktor Nemes (Serbia) 2018 World Bronze, 2017 World Champion
Kodai Sakuraba (Japan) 2019 U23 World Silver
Tamerlan Shadukaev (Kazakhstan) 2020 Asian Champion, 2019 U23 World Bronze, 2016 Junior World Champion
Sanen Suleyman (Azerbaijan) 2021 European Bronze, 2019 U23 World Silver
Roman Vlasov (Russia) 2x Olympic gold medalist, 2x World Champion
The American Entry: Jesse Porter
The big question at 77 kg is just how much Roman Vlasov has left. He is far and away the most credentialed entrant at this weight with a pair of Olympic golds and two other world championships. While Vlasov won the Individual World Cup in 2020, but was eighth in 2019 and 20th in 2017 at World's. A trio of Senior World medalists Mohammadali Geraei (Iran), Viktor Nemes (Serbia), and Aik Mnatsakanian (Bulgaria) could be in the mix if Vlasov isn't up to the task. Like other weights before it, 77 kg also has plenty of young contenders with gaudy age-group resumes that could be ready to break out.
After making three U23 World teams, Jesse Porter gets the opportunity to compete at the Senior World Championships for the first time. Porter had the tournament of a lifetime at the Olympic Team Trials to win the 77 kg spot. Unfortunately, the weight was not qualified for the Games and Porter was unable to do it, at the OG Qualifier. At the World Team Trials, Porter proved he was not just a one-tournament flash in the pan. Porter possesses one of the more entertaining styles of anyone on Team USA.
82 kg
Burhan Akbudak (Turkey) 2017 U23 World Champion
Adlan Akiev (Russia) 2021 European Champion
Alex Bjurberg Kessidis (Sweden) 2019 World Silver
Rafig Huseynov (Azerbaijan) 2020 Olympic Bronze, 2019 World Silver
Radzik Kuliyeu (Belarus) 2020 Individual World Cup Bronze, 2017 World Bronze
Per Anders Kure (Norway) 2018 Junior World Bronze
Peyman Poshtam (Iran) 2021 Asian Champion
Aivengo Rikadze (Georgia) 2021 European Bronze, 2019 U23 World Bronze
The American Entry: Ben Provisor
82 kg has a solid tier of possible contenders, any number of which could come away with gold on their best day. Rafig Huseynov (Azerbaijan) is coming off a bronze medal performance at the Olympics and is a past world finalist. The same can be said for Alex Bjurberg Kessidis (Sweden), though he did not have a great Olympics. This weight also has a handful of contenders that seem to be rising at the right time. Adlan Akiev (Russia) was a European champion this year, while Peyman Poshtam (Iran) won Asia. In the same breath, Radzik Kuliyeu was a winner at the Individual World Cup last year and is a past world medal winner.
Watch out for the young, upstart Grand View freshman Ben Provisor. Ok, even though Provisor is now a college student, he's anything but inexperienced. Provisor is a two-time Olympian and a 2017 world team member. Ben has a first-round bye and will face the winner of Petr Novak (Czech Republic) and Satoki Mukai (Japan).
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