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Today, InterMat has learned that Chris Ayres will be the next head coach at Stanford University. Ayres has spent the last 17 years leading the Princeton Tigers. During his tenure at Princeton, Ayres amassed a 93-168 dual record. The numbers don’t do Ayres justice as he inherited a Princeton team in 2006 that did not have a national qualifier in the previous season. In fact, they had only one in the final three years before Ayres was hired. Ayres had to totally rebuild the Princeton program as the Tigers lost their first 35 matches with him at the helm. He didn’t produce his first national qualifier until the 2010 national tournament. For reasons like those (and plenty others) InterMat has dubbed the turnaround at Princeton, under Ayres, the “Greatest in College Sports.” At the 15th anniversary of his hiring, InterMat spoke with Ayres at length about the early years and his perseverance. Once Brett Harner broke through and earned All-American honors in the 2016 NCAA Tournament, Princeton was off and running. The following year the team saw Matt Kolodzik earn All-American honors as a freshman, which was a program-first at the time. Kolodzik also represented the highest-ranked recruit ever (at the time) to sign with the Tigers. While he didn’t know it at the time, Ayres’ final match coaching in Princeton colors demonstrated just how far the program turned under his watch. Another blue-chip recruit, Patrick Glory, won the 125 lb NCAA title and became the first Princeton wrestler since Bradley Glass did so in 1951. Glory and Quincy Monday were both finalists the previous year, the first time Princeton had ever put two wrestlers in the national finals. Other key achievements for Ayres at Princeton include stopping Cornell’s run of 92 straight Ivy League wins in 2020. That streak spanned 18 seasons. That Ivy League title was Princeton’s first since 1986. Under his tutelage, five different Tiger wrestlers have combined to earn NCAA All-American honors ten times. After sending a program-high seven wrestlers to the 2017 NCAA Tournament, Ayres was named EIWA Co-Head Coach of the Year. Ayres will inherit a Stanford team that has a young roster, ranked #24 in duals by InterMat, with six wrestlers amongst the top-33 for the preseason. There’s plenty of talent left in the cupboard as the team is fresh off of back-to-back recruiting classes ranked in the top eight nationally by InterMat. The Stanford position was vacant after Rob Koll left for the head coaching position at his alma mater, North Carolina.

We’re less than a week away from the 2023 Senior World Championships, so it’s time to unveil our previews for the event. We’ll go in order of the competition and hit half of the weights one day and the other half the following day. The tournament will start off hot with the men’s freestyle competition. In 2022, our team earned medals at eight of ten weights; half of which were gold. That performance propelled the American squad to a team title, as well. Will the 2023 team be able to repeat? This year’s team is extremely talented, however, six of the ten representatives will be wrestling in their first Senior World Championships. The elephant in the room is whether or not perennial power Russia will be able to compete. As of noon on September 11th, Russia has submitted entries. In order for the Russian team to wrestle, there will need to be third-party checks done on each team member before September 15th. For the sake of this preview, they have been included; however, this is a fluid situation and they may be a last-minute scratch as the tournament starts Saturday. With that out of the way, here are the entries at each of the first five weights, along with some of their notable achievements, pre-seeds, information on the American entry, and 2022 medalists. 57kg Dzmitry SHAMELA (AIN - BLR) - 2021 U23 World 5th Place Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) - 2022 World Champion, 2023 European Silver Medalist Bofenda KALUWEKO (ANG) - 2023 African 9th Place Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) - 2x World Bronze Medalist, 2x U23 World Champion Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) - 2023 European Champion, 2021 U23 World Champion Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) - 3x European Bronze Medalist, 2022 World 5th Place Darthe CAPELLAN (CAN) - 2016 Pan-American Champion Wanhao ZOU (CHN) - 2018 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2022 World 5th Place Gamal MOHAMED (EGY) - 2022 African Champion Levan METREVELI (ESP) - 2023 European 10th Place Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS) - 2023 African Champion Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) - 2023 European 5th Place, 2019 European U23 Bronze Medalist Niklas STECHELE (GER) - 2023 European U23 Champion, 2022 European 5th Place Aman AMAN (IND) - 2022 U23 World Champion Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) Simone PIRODDU (ITA) - 2023 European 5th Place, 2023 European U23 Bronze Medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) - 2022 World Champion, 2018 European U23 World Champion, 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) - 2021 World 5th Place Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) - 2023 Asian Silver Medalist, 2022 Asian Bronze Medalist Gukhyeon KIM (KOR) - 2014 Asian Junior Bronze Medalist Ben TARIK (MAR) Igor CHICHIOI (MDA) - 2023 European 12th Place Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) - 2022 World Bronze Medalist, 2017 Asian Silver Medalist Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) - 2022 European Champion Muhammad BILAL (PAK) - 2021 Asian 5th Place Darian CRUZ (PUR) - 2x Pan-American Silver Medalist, 2022 World 9th Place Razvan KOVACS (ROU) - 3x European 7th Place Zavur Uguev (AIN - RUS) - 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist, 2x World Champion Gayan KATHURANGANA (SRI) - 2021 World Military 5th Place Thomas EPP (SUI) - 2023 European U23 5th Place Suleyman ATLI (TUR) - 2019 World Silver Medalist, 2018 World Bronze Medalist, 2x European Champion Kamil KERYMOV (UKR) Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) - 2022 World 7th Place, 2022 Asian 5th Place 57 kg Pre-seeds #1 Wanhao ZOU (CHN) #2 Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) #3 Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) #4 Darian CRUZ (PUR) #5 Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) #6 Stevan Andria MICIC (SRB) #7 Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) #8 Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) Past World/Olympic Medalists (Senior Level Only): (6) Zelimkhan Abakarov (ALB), Arsen Harutyunyan (ARM), Rei Higuchi (JPN), Zanabazar Zandanbud (MGL), Zavur Uguev (RUS), Suleyman ATLI (TUR) The American Entry: Zane Richards Zane Richards is the epitome of a “grinder.” Richards finished up his collegiate career in 2017 and entered Senior level competition with little fanfare. Unlike most other world team members nowadays, Richards wasn’t immediately a threat to win a spot on the squad. He continued to improve little-by-little and had a breakout year in 2023. Richards earned his spot in Final X with a shocking, clutch win over Nick Suriano in the US Open finals. He took advantage of the opportunity and swept a pair of matches with four-time World/Olympic medalist Thomas Gilman in Newark. Richards went on to grab a bronze medal at the Ranking Series event in Hungary a month after Final X. If the past is any indication, don’t count Richards out! 2022 World Championship Medalists Gold: Zelimkhan Abakarov (Albania) Silver: Thomas Gilman (USA) Bronze: Zanabazar Zandanbud (Mongolia) Bronze: Stevan Micic (Serbia) 61 kg Men’s Freestyle Entries Andrei BEKRENEU (AIN - BLR) - 2021 European 5th place Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG) - 4x African Champion Norik HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) - 2023 European U23 Bronze Medalist Georgii OKOROKOV (AUS) - 2016 European Junior Champion Intigam VALIZADA (AZE) - 2022 World 9th Place Stilyan ILIEV (BUL) - 2021 U23 World 5th Place Nicholas LATTANZE (CAN) Congbao XIE (CHN) - 2023 U20 World 16th Place Shota PHARTENADZE (GEO) - 2023 European Bronze Medalist Akash DAHIYA (IND) - 2017 Asian Cadet Champion Reza ATRI (IRI) - 2022 World Silver Medalist, 2020 Olympic 5th Place, 2019 Asian Champion Daniel POPOV (ISR) - 2023 European 13th Place Kodai OGAWA (JPN) - 2023 Asian 5th Place Ossimzhan DASTANBEK (KAZ) - 2023 Asian U23 Silver Medalist Kenneth KOECH (KEN) - 2023 African 5th Place Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) - 2023 Asian Champion, 2022 U23 World Silver Medalist Hyeonsik SONG (KOR) - 2023 Asian 7th Place Leomid COLESNIC (MDA) - 2022 European U23 8th Place Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL) - 2022 World Bronze Medalist, 2021 U23 World Bronze Medalist Besir ALILI (MKD) - 2023 U23 World 5th Place Joseph SILVA (PUR) - 2023 Pan-American Silver Medalist Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU) - 2021 and 2022 World 13th Place Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (AIN - RUS) - 2021 World Champion Stevan MICIC (SRB) - 2022 World Bronze Medalist, 2019 World 5th Place Nils LEUTERT (SUI) - 2022 U23 World 14th Place Emrah ORMANOGLU (TUR) - 2023 European Bronze Medalist, 2022 U23 World Bronze Medalist Valentyn BLIASETSKYI (UKR) - 2019 U23 World 7th Place Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) - 2021 Asian Champion 61 kg Pre-Seeds #1 Reza Ahmadali ATRI (IRI) #2 Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL) #3 Shota PHARTENADZE (GEO) #4 Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) #5 Pankaj PANKAJ (IND) #6 Emrah ORMANOGLU (TUR) #7 Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) #9 Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU) Past World/Olympic Medalists (Senior Level Only): (3) Reza Atri (IRI), Narankhuu Narmandakh (MGL), Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS), Stevan MICIC (SRB) The American Entry: Vito Arujau With two of the four medalists from 2022 down at 57 kg, 61 is pretty wide open. That bodes well for the American representative, Vito Arujau. Despite this being his first Senior-level world team appearance, Arujau has plenty of international experience; winning world silver medals at both the Cadet and Junior level. He also was a U23 World Team member last year, though he did not medal. Arujau has been on a tear since the end of the collegiate season with Cornell. He crushed an impressive field at the NCAA tournament and hasn’t looked back since. Arujau needed less than a minute to roll through Austin DeSanto for a tech in the US Open finals. He locked up a spot on the Senior team after a pair of entertaining scraps with fellow Big Red national champion Nahshon Garrett at Final X. In the interim, Arujau claimed his second Pan-American title. At the Hungarian Ranking Series event, Arujau dismantled 2022 World medalist, Narakhuu Narmandakh, after losing to the 57 kg world champion. We’ve seen in the recent past that still being in college is no hindrance to winning a world medal. With the way Arujau has been wrestling for the past six months, he’s certain capable of returning with a medal. 2022 World Championship Medalists Gold: Rei Higuchi (Japan) Silver: Reza Atri (Iran) Bronze: Narankhuu Narmandakh (Mongolia) Bronze: Arsen Harutyunyan (Armenia) 65kg Niurgun SKRIABIN (AIN - BLR) Islam DUDAEV (ALB) - 2022 European Bronze Medalist, 2x U23 World Bronze Medalist Pedro LUVUEZO (ANG) Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) - 4x Pan-American Bronze Medalist Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) - 2022 U23 World Champion, 2021 U23 World Silver Medalist, 2023 European Champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE) - 3x World Champion, 2x Olympic Medalist (2,3) Ayub MUSAEV (BEL) - 2022 European U20 Silver Medalist Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) - 2022 Asian U23 Bronze Medalist, 2021 Junior World Bronze Medalist Mikyay NAIM (BUL) - 2023 European Silver Medalist, 2017 U23 World Silver Medalist Lachlan MCNEIL (CAN) - 2022 World 20th Place Shaohua YUAN (CHN) - 2019 Asian Bronze Medalist Uber CUERO (COL) Yanisse MADI (COM) - 2023 African 7th Place Alejandro VALDES (CUB) - 2x World Bronze Medalist Carlos ALVAREZ (ESP) Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) - 2023 European U23 Champion, 2022 U20 World Bronze Medalist Junjun ASEBIAS (FSM) - 2023 Oceania Champion Edemi BOLKVADZE (GEO) - 2023 European Bronze Medalist Alexander SEMISOROW (GER) - 2019 World 8th Place Ethan AGUIGUI (GUM) - 3x Oceania Champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) - 2x World Bronze Medalist, 2022 European Champion, 2020 Olympic 5th Place Anuj KUMAR (IND) - 2023 Asian 7th Place Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) - 2022 World Champion, 2x Asian Champion Joshua FINESILVER (ISR) - 2022 World 10th Place Colin REALBUTO (ITA) - 2023 European 15th Place Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) - 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist, 2018 World Champion, 2x Asian Champion Adil OSPANOV (KAZ) - 2022 Asian 8th Place Levi NYONGESA (KEN) - 2023 African 7th Place Ikromzhon KHADZHIMURODOV (KGZ) Seokki YOON (KOR) Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) - 2023 European Bronze Medalist Austin GOMEZ (MEX) Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) - 2021 World Bronze Medalist, 2023 Asian Silver Medalist Lowe BINGHAM (NRU) - 2019 Oceania Champion Abdullah ASSAF (PLE) Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL) - 2021 European Silver Medalist Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) - 2022 World 5th Place, 2022 Pan-American Silver Medalist Stefan COMAN (ROU) - 2023 European 5th Place Shamil MAMEDOV (AIN - RUS) - 2021 U20 World Champion Sylvio DIATTA (SEN) Divoshan CHARLES FERNANDO (SRI) - 2016 Asian 5th Place Nino LEUTERT (SUI) - 2023 European 13th Place Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) - 2023 Asian U23 Champion Cavit ACAR (TUR) - 2021 U23 World Bronze Medalist Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) - 2022 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2023 European Bronze Medalist Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) - 2022 U20 World Champion, 2x Cadet World Medalist (1,2) Ibrahim GUZAN (YEM) - 2023 Asian 11th Place 65 kg Pre-Seeds #1 Rahman Mousa AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) #2 Sebastian C RIVERA (PUR) #3 Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) #4 Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) #5 Agustin Alejandro DESTRIBATS (ARG) #6 Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) #7 Edemi BOLKVADZE (GEO) #8 Bajrang PUNIA (IND) Past World/Olympic Medalists (Senior Level Only): (6) Haji Aliyev (AZE), Alejandro Valdes (CUB), Iszmail Muszukajev (HUN), Rahman Amouzad (IRI), Takuto Otoguro (JPN), Tulga Tumur Ochir (MGL) The American Entry: Nick Lee Just one year removed from a decorated collegiate career at Penn State, Nick Lee is ready to take on the world at 65 kg. Lee has his first shot at a world medal after sweeping 2022 World silver medalist Yianni Diakomihalis at Final X. Though Lee won both bouts, they were extremely competitive and were both decided by a point or criteria. Lee almost didn’t get a chance to face his old collegiate rival after a scare in the US Open semifinals from ex-teammate Beau Bartlett. The final score was 10-10 and Lee won on criteria; however, Bartlett’s hand was raised and initially declared the winner. He’d have less trouble in the finals downing another opponent from his days in State College, Joey McKenna. After securing his spot on the world team, Lee wrestled in the Hungarian Ranking Series event and fell in the finals to 2022 World bronze medalist Tulga Tumur Ochir. I’d expect a better showing from Lee if they meet in Belgrade and being able to defeat Diakomihalis means Lee should be squarely in the medal hunt. 2022 World Championship Medalists Gold: Rahman Amouzad (Iran) Silver: Yianni Diakomihalis (USA) Bronze: Iszmail Muszukajev (Hungary) Bronze: Bajrang Punia (India) 70kg Nikita DMITRIJEVS MAYEUSKI (AIN - BLR) Patricio MANGUAU (ANG) Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) - 2x World 5th Place, 2022 European Silver Medalist Magomed KHANIEV (AZE) - 2023 European U23 Champion Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) - 2023 European Silver Medalist, 2022 World 7th Place Michael ASSELSTINE (CAN) Hazhimuhan YELIXIATI (CHN) Amr REDA (EGY) Caetano SA (GBS) - 2022 African 10th Place Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) - 2022 U23 World Champion, 2023 European 7th Place Kevin HENKEL (GER) - 2023 European 5th Place, 2022 World 14th Place Daniel ANTAL (HUN) - 2022 World 21st Place ABHIMANYOU (IND) - 2023 Asian U23 Bronze Medalist Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) - 2021 World Silver Medalist, 2022 U23 World Silver Medalist Orts ISAKOV (JOR) - 2023 Asian 5th Place Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) - 2023 Asian Bronze Medalist, 2022 U20 World Bronze Medalist Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ) - 2023 Asian Champion Brian Maurice OLOO (KEN) - 2x African 5th Place Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) - 2x World Medalist (2,3), 2022 Asian Silver Medalist Yongseok JEONG (KOR) - 2021 Asian Bronze Medalist, 2022 World 11th Place Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA) - 2022 European Bronze Medalist, 2021 U23 World Bronze Medalist Cristian SANTIAGO (MEX) Temuulen ENKHTUYA (MGL) - 2x Asian 5th Place, 2019 Asian U23 Champion Fati VEJSELI (MKD) - 2022 World 19th Place Patryk OLENCZYN (POL) - 2023 European 5th Place Evgeni Zherbaev (AIN - RUS) - 2021 World Bronze Medalist Viktor VOINOVIC (SRB) Niroshan MUNASINGE (SRI) Marc DIETSCHE (SUI) - 2022 World 15th Place Mustafo AKHMEDOV (TJK) - 2023 Asian U23 Silver Medalist Perman HOMMADOV (TKM) Servet COSKUN (TUR) - 2022 World 8th Place, 2014 European Silver Medalist Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR) - 2023 European Bronze Medalist, 2019 U23 World Bronze Medalist Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB) - 2023 Asian Silver Medalist 70 kg Pre-Seeds #1 Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) #2 Zain Allen RETHERFORD (USA) #3 Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) #4 Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) #5 Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) #6 Servet COSKUN (TUR) #7 Ihor NYKYFORUK (URK) #8 Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ) Past World/Olympic Medalists (Senior Level Only): (4) Amirmohammad Yazdani (IRI), Ernazar Akmataliev (KGZ), Evgeni Zherbaev (RUS), Zain Retherford (USA) The American Entry: Zain Retherford 2022 saw Zain Retherford get over the hump and earn a world medal in his third Senior level appearance. That medal, combined with his first career Pan-American gold medal has him receiving the second seed here, at least in the pre-seeds. Retherford made his fourth career world team by downing former Nebraska national runner-up Tyler Berger in two straight matches at Final X. Both contests featured plenty of physicality, but Retherford was able to persevere and grabbed a one-point win in match two. After clinching another world team berth, Retherford went to the Pan-American Championships and dominated the field, surrendering only two total points amongst four matches. Like 61 kg, 70 kg has thinned out a bit due to the looming Olympic year. That means no rematch with Taishi Narikuni, who is not entered for Japan. While there is still a talented, dangerous field, it seems like a perfect time for Retherford to move one step higher on the world podium. 2022 World Championship Medalists Gold: Taishi Narikuni (Japan) Silver: Zain Retherford (USA) Bronze: Ernazar Akmataliev (Kyrgyzstan) Bronze: Zurabi Iakobishvili (Georgia) 74 kg Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (AIN - BEL) - 2020 Olympic Silver Medalist, 2022 European Champion Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM) - 2021 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2x European 5th Place Simon MARCHL (AUT) - 2021 U23 World 5th Place Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) - 2021 World 5th Place, 2023 European U23 Champion, 2019 U23 World Champion Cesar BORDEAUX (BRA) - 2x Pan-American Bronze Medalist Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) - 2023 Asian Bronze Medalist Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL) - 2023 European 5th Place Adam THOMSON (CAN) - 2022 U23 World 8th Place Feng LU (CHN) - 2023 Asian U23 Champion Anthony WESLEY (CPV) - 2x African 5th Place Erik REINBOK (EST) - 2022 U23 World 19th Place Bacar NDUM (GBS) - 2022 African Champion Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) - 2018 World Silver Medalist, 2018 U23 World Champion, 3x European Bronze Medalist Tim MUELLER (GER) Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) - 2022 European Champion, 2022 U23 World 5th Place Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) - 2020 European 5th Place NAVEEN (IND) - 2022 World 5th Place, 2022 Asian U23 Champion Yones EMAMI (IRI) - 2x World Bronze Medalist, 2022 Asian Champion Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR) - 2021 European Bronze Medalist Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) - 2x World Champion, 2016 Olympic Bronze Medalist, 5x World Medalist Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) - 2018 Asian Silver Medalist, 2014 World 7th Place Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) - 2019 World Silver Medalist, 2x Asian Champion Mathayo MAHABILA (KEN) - 2022 World 22nd Place Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) - 2022 World Bronze Medalist, 2020 Asian Champion Seungchul LEE (KOR) - 2018 World 5th Place, 2017 Asian Silver Medalist Vasile DIACON (MDA) - 2023 European Bronze Medalist, 2022 U23 World Bronze Medalist Anthony VALENCIA (MEX) - 2023 Pan-American 7th Place Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) - 2023 Asian Bronze Medalist, 2022 World 8th Place Marko ANDONOV (MKD) Inayat ULLAH (PAK) - 2018 Youth Olympic Games Bronze Medalist Kamil RYBICKI (POL) - 2020 Olympic 13th Place Shane JONES (PUR) - 2023 Pan-American Bronze Medalist Iakub SHIKHDZHAMALOV (ROU) - 2022 World 13th Place Cherman Valiev (AIN - RUS) - 2021 U23 World Champion, 2x U23 World Medalist (1,2) Mamadou DIOUF (SEN) - 2022 African 5th Place Mamudu MARAH (SLE) Malik AMINE (SMR) - 2019 World 13th Place Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) - 2023 European Bronze Medalist, 2x World 7th Place Udayantha FERNANDO (SRI) Tobias PORTMANN (SUI) - 2022 U23 World 8th Place Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) - 2x World Silver Medalist, 3x World Medalist, 3x European Champion Magomet EVLOEV (TJK) - 2023 Asian 7th Place Kakageldi AGAYEV (TKM) Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) - 2016 Olympic Bronze Medalist, 2017 World Bronze Medalist, 3x European Champion Jamal ABDUL (UGA) Tymur HUDYMA (UKR) - 2022 U20 World 10th Place Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) - 2020 Olympic Bronze Medalist, 2x World Bronze Medalist, 2x Asian Champion Anthony MONTERO (VEN) - 2020 Pan-American Bronze Medalist 74 kg Pre-Seeds #1 Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) #2 Kyle Douglas DAKE (USA) #3 Tajmuraz Mairbekovic SALKAZANOV (SVK) #4 Yones Aliakbar EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) #5 Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) #6 Mitchell Louis FINESILVER (ISR) #7 Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) #8 Sagar JAGLAN (IND) Past World/Olympic Medalists (Senior Level Only): (10) Mahamedkhabib Kadzimahamedau (AIN/BEL), Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO), Yones Emami (IRI), Frank Chamizo (ITA), Nurkozha Kaipanov (KAZ), Arsalan Budazhapov (KGZ), Tajmuraz Salkazanov (SVK), Soner Demirtas (TUR), Kyle Dake (USA), Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (UZB) The American Entry: Kyle Dake Already a legend for USA Wrestling, Kyle Dake is looking to add to his extensive collection of international accolades. He already has an Olympic bronze medal sandwiched between a pair of world titles at 79, then 74 kg. Dake finally topped Jordan Burroughs at the 2020 Olympic Team Trials and hasn’t relinquished the spot at 74 kg since. Already in rarified air, Dake is looking for his fifth world title and third consecutive at 74 kg. Dake’s 2022 win pushed him into Final X where he faced his 2022 Final X opponent Jason Nolf. True to his form, Dake didn’t necessarily blow out Nolf, rather he displayed impenetrable defense and timely offense, during his 6-0, 3-0 wins. While Dake has the second seed, you can throw rankings/seeds/brackets out the window with this weight. An astonishing 10 past world/Olympic medalists are expected to compete, along with a host of other talented contenders. Even with Dake’s talent and history, the depth of this field should provide stiff tests in almost every matchup. The one most (Dake included) have to be looking forward to is a rematch with Mahamedkhabib Kadzimahamedau of Belarus. Kadzimahamedau defeated Dake at the Olympics, but was unable to compete at Worlds due to Belarus’ ban in 2022. 2022 World Championship Medalists Gold: Kyle Dake (USA) Silver: Tajmuraz Salkazanov (SVK) Bronze: Yones Emami (IRI) Bronze: Frank Chamizo (ITA)

Welcome to a new running feature that we'll use to keep track of ex-wrestlers who are now competing in MMA. As more fights are agreed upon, they will be added to this article. Sept. 30 Polaris 25 (UFC Fight Pass) Aljamain Sterling (Cortland) vs. Mike Grundy – Grappling match Oct. 1 RIZIN Landmark 6 (FITE) Shinobu Ota (2019 World gold and 2016 Olympic silver in Greco) vs. Shoko Sato Oct. 6 Fighting Alliance Championship 21 Jackson Hemauer (Fresno State/Northern Colorado) vs. Rey Martinez Timothy Prescott (St. Cloud State) vs. Bryan Herrera Oct. 6 LFA 169 (UFC Fight Pass) Aaron La Farge (Oklahoma City) vs. Alden Coria Oct. 7 UFC Fight Night (ESPN+) Kanako Murata (2013 University bronze) vs. Vanessa Demopoulos Oct. 7 Bellator 300 (Showtime/YouTube) Ryan Bader (Arizona State) vs. Linton Vassell Sara McMann (2004 Olympic silver - Lock Haven) vs. Leah McCourt Romero Cotton (Nebraska Kearney) vs. Grant Neal Bryce Meredith (Wyoming) vs. Miguel Peimbert Josh Hokit (Fresno State) vs. Spencer Smith Davion Franklin (Iowa Lakes) vs. Slim Trabelsi Oct. 7 Shogun Fights 27 Mansur Abdul-Malik (Maryland) vs. Donelei Benedetto Oct. 10 Dana White’s Contender Series (ESPN+) Torrez Finney (Chattanooga) vs. Yuri Panferov Oct. 13 CFFC 126 CJ LaFragola (Brown) vs. Alonzo Turner Thomas Lane (Cal Poly) vs. Isaiah Sackey-El Oct. 14 UFC Fight Night (ESPN+) Terrance McKinney (Chadron State) vs. Chris Duncan Oct. 20 247 FC Gavin Teasdale vs. Lucas Seibert (West Virginia) – Grappling Oct. 21 UFC 294 (ESPN+/PPV) Khamzat Chimaev (Swedish national champ) vs. Paulo Costa Tim Elliott (Central Oklahoma) vs Muhammad Mokaev Oct. 22 Fury Challenger Series 8 (UFC Fight Pass) Anthony Cassar (Penn State) vs. John Gianatsio II

Last week, the University of North Carolina officially announced that they had hired Rob Koll as their next head wrestling coach. Just over two years ago, Koll shocked the wrestling world by leaving Cornell, a school that he built from a good EIWA team into a consistent national power, for Stanford. Now, we’re left to wonder, “Who replaces Koll at Stanford.” Even though it’s extremely late in the game (or really early) for coaching changes, there should be plenty of interest in the job. Stanford has a young, talented roster that starts the preseason ranked #24 in duals by InterMat and features six ranked wrestlers. Koll and his staff were able to ink back-to-back top-eight classes (#8 in 2022; #5 in 2021) and have an impressive list of high school seniors that have given the Cardinal program verbals. In addition, Koll's efforts have led to the possibility of an increase in funding from the athletic department. Also, with conference realignment front and center, Stanford will have some stability as they head to the ACC. While it doesn’t make sense geographically, the Cardinal will now compete in a league that features four ranked teams and plenty of talented individuals. That should lead to more at-large opportunities for any Stanford wrestlers who don’t automatically qualify at the ACC Tournament. With a brief bit of background information out of the way, let’s focus on coaches that InterMat has identified as quality candidates for the opening. With each coach, we’ll have some background information that helps us understand why he makes sense for the opening. Since there are so many great coaches around the country, there are plenty of others whom we did not mention that could emerge as strong candidates. Chris Ayres (Princeton - Head Coach) Why he makes sense: Ayres has been in charge of “The Greatest Turnaround in College Sports” as he has led Princeton from a team that struggled to score team points at EIWA’s and win dual meets, to one that has finished in the top 20 at their last three national tournaments. During that span, Princeton has had multiple AA’s each year. In 2023, Princeton saw Patrick Glory capture the 125 lb national title, breaking a 72-year title-less drought at the school. Coaching at Princeton, Ayres has experience working with admissions at an institute that is as stringent as Stanford, when it comes to that sort of thing. Whether or not anyone from the current team goes into the portal or they lose some talented 2024 recruits, Stanford would be in a significantly better position than the one Ayres inherited at Princeton. Joe Dubuque (Princeton - Associate Head Coach) Why he makes sense: Working alongside Ayres for more than a decade now has been Joe Dubuque. Dubuque, a two-time national champion at 125 lbs for Indiana, worked extremely closely with Glory and helped him to the podium on three occasions and two national finals. It depends on the route that Stanford wants to take. If they are looking to get an assistant that could be “the next great head coach” Dubuque is certainly a great prospect. He now has plenty of familiarity working in and recruiting at a school like Stanford. As Willie Saylor pondered on a recent “First Word,” Stanford’s administration has not been great to wrestling. They may not want to put in the effort to find that gem of an assistant and look to a proven head coach. Nate Engel (Oregon State - Associate Head Coach) Why he makes sense: The other assistant coach we’ll mention is Nate Engel who isn’t a stranger on the Stanford campus. Engel spent two seasons as an assistant in Palo Alto from 2018-20. That’s important because he was not on staff when the sport was dropped and then saved. Those coaches have moved on and I’m not sure that the administration looks at them as glowingly as the wrestling community does for fighting to save the program. Engel is highly respected around the coaching world. In a profession that typically rewards coaches with the most high-profile collegiate careers, Engel is an outlier. He was an NAIA All-American before becoming a top domestic contender on the Greco ladder. Engel remains one of the best Greco minds in the country. It doesn’t matter as much as it would at your typical school, but Stanford would represent “coming home” for Engel, who grew up about 90 miles north of Palo Alto. Because of its academic reputation, Stanford recruits on a national level, and having recruiting ties locally isn’t as important, though it would help for fundraising and generating fan interest. Damion Hahn (South Dakota State - Head Coach) Why he makes sense: In his fifth year at South Dakota State, Damion Hahn saw his team finish 14th in the nation with a pair of All-Americans and a national finalist. That finish was the third highest for a Big 12 school and head of schools like Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, and Northern Iowa. Hahn has done an excellent job at building off of the momentum initially generated by Chris Bono in Brookings. SDSU is ready to unveil a state-of-the-art wrestling facility that will make most other programs in the country jealous. That couldn’t have happened without the efforts of the coaching staff and the belief of the athletic department. Before coming to South Dakota State, Hahn spent 12 years as Rob Koll’s right-hand man at Cornell. Again, we’re identifying coaches with experience working in the Ivy League or an Ivy-like environment. Also, does a recommendation from Rob Koll hold weight with Stanford? In most cases it would; however, the job is vacant because Koll left for North Carolina. Troy Nickerson (Northern Colorado - Head Coach) Why he makes sense: Like Hahn, Troy Nickerson is fresh off a banner year at his respective institution, Northern Colorado. Nickerson is getting ready to start his tenth year as the head man of the Bears. The 2022-23 season saw his 141 lber, Andrew Alirez, win a national title which was the first by a Northern Colorado wrestler since 1962. During his time at Northern Colorado, Nickerson has been able to ink a top-five recruiting class and has overseen the move (wrestling-wise) to the Big 12. Since then, he’s seen a pair of wrestlers combine to win three Big 12 titles. Last year, Alirez and Stevo Poulin (125) both accomplished the feat. Only Iowa State and Oklahoma State had multiple champions in 2023. Also like Hahn, Nickerson has a history at Cornell with Koll. He was a top recruit and four-time All-American for the Big Red, winning a national title in 2009. Nickerson doesn’t have the long Ivy track record like others on this list, but he has brought his team farther along than anyone else on this list (except Ayres) despite some limitations. Chris Pendleton (Oregon State - Head Coach) Why he makes sense: Chris Pendleton just completed his third year as head coach for Oregon State. In his second season, Pendleton’s squad finished 12th in the nation on the strength of four All-Americans. The 2023 team crowned five conference champions, won the Pac-12 and was ten points ahead of second place…..Stanford. With a good thing going, why would Pendleton want to look elsewhere? The current state of college athletics on the West Coast could be an answer. Something way out of you, or I, or Pendleton’s control. On Monday, Stanford and California announced that they were leaving the Pac-12 for the ACC. Earlier this summer, a group of teams announced their departure for the Big 12. Others are Big Ten bound. What’s left of the Pac-12 after this school year is Oregon State and Washington State. Where they land is anyone’s guess. While the wrestling program has turned in strong results of late, and the 2023-24 is nationally ranked, who knows what the athletic department will look like going forward. In just a short amount of time, Pendleton has shown that he can put the right assistant coaches into place, spearhead strong recruiting efforts, and pump life into a program that was often overlooked. Zach Tanelli (Columbia - Head Coach) Why he makes sense: Once again, we’re looking at a current head coach at an Ivy League school in Columbia’s Zach Tanelli. Hired in 2016, Tanelli is just starting to see the fruits of his labors pay off in New York City. The 2023 team had six national qualifiers which was the most in school history. At the EIWA Championships, Columbia tied Navy for fourth place, finishing ahead of rivals like Army, Harvard, and Princeton. The 2023-24 squad was ranked 30th in InterMat’s preseason dual rankings. Tanelli took over a program that trailed its Ivy League brethren on the mat, the recruiting trail, and post-collegiate training. Under his watch, Columbia has improved in each of those areas. The Lions have been mentioned in two of the last three years in InterMat’s Recruiting Rankings. They held the #25 spot in 2021 and were an honorable mention in 2022. It’s been a recurring theme here, but Tanelli has the experience of navigating through lofty admission expectations.