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Today, the University of Northern Colorado and star 141 lber, Andrew Alirez, released a video through social media stating he’ll take an Olympic redshirt for the 2023-24 season. Alirez went 28-0 last year to capture Northern Colorado’s first NCAA title since 1962. Alirez’s NCAA quarterfinal win over Lachlan McNeil made him the first NCAA All-American during Troy Nickerson’s tenure at the school. He’d wrap up the national title with a 6-4 victory over top-seeded Big Ten champion Real Woods of Iowa. In addition to his NCAA exploits, Alirez also won the Southern Scuffle and his second Big 12 championship during the 2022-23 campaign. Alirez now has his sights set on making the 2024 Olympic team. In July, Alirez reminded the country (and world) of his freestyle chops by winning the Ziolkowski Memorial in Poland. On his way to the title, Alirez dismantled three-time world champion and two-time Olympic medalist Haji Aliyev of Azerbaijan. In 2018, Alirez used the spring freestyle season as his breakout. At the Junior World Team Trials, Alirez ran through the mini-tournament unscathed, with tech fall victories over collegiate opponents like Nick Lee and Yahya Thomas. He ultimately fell to Dom Demas in the finals, but snagged a match from Demas in the best-of-three wrestle-offs. That tournament took place after Alirez’s junior year of high school, which helped lead to a #3 overall ranking in the Class of 2019. As we get closer to the collegiate season, we’ll have a better understanding of who will try to replace Alirez at 141 lbs in the Bears lineup. Looking at UNC’s roster they have sophomores Rudy Lopez and Armando Garcia, along with redshirt freshman Otto Cate-Cribari.

Below are the official brackets for men's freestyle at the 2023 World Championships 57 kg 61 kg 65 kg 70 kg 74 kg 79 kg 86 kg 92 kg 97 kg 125 kg

Today USA Wrestling announced the procedures for participation in the 2024 Olympic Team Trials in all three styles. Men's Freestyle a) Past USA World Championships or Olympic Games Participant or Final World or Olympic Team Trials Champion Any past Senior Freestyle World Championships participant and/or Final World or Olympic Team Trials Champion from 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 or 2023 is automatically qualified to enter the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. b) 2023 U17 World Championships (August, 2023) Any 2023 U17 Freestyle World Championships gold medalist is automatically qualified to enter the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling c) 2023 U20 World Championships (August, 2023) Any 2023 U20 Freestyle World Championships gold medalist is automatically qualified to enter the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling d) 2023 Senior World Championships (September, 2023) i. Any 2023 Senior World Championship Freestyle Medalist, at an Olympic weight, will earn an automatic berth into the final wrestle-off (i.e., Day Two) at the same weight they won a medal in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. ii. Any 2023 Senior World Championship Freestyle Medalist, at a non-Olympic weight, will earn an automatic berth into the semifinals (i.e., Day One) at a weight category immediately adjacent (one weight class up or down) from their 2023 Senior World Championship weight category. e) 2023 U23 World Championships (October, 2023) Any 2023 U23 Freestyle USA World Championships gold medalist is automatically qualified to enter the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. f) 2023 Bill Farrell International Open (November, 2023) The highest placed Senior Freestyle USA athlete per weight category, that places in the top 4, who has yet to qualify, will earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials - Wrestling. g) 2023 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier (December, 2023) The Senior Freestyle top 5 finishers per weight category at the 2023 USA Wrestling Olympic Trials Qualifier will earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. h) 2024 Pan American Championships (February, 2024) Any Senior Freestyle Gold Medalist at the 2024 Pan American Championships will earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. i) 2024 Pan American Olympic Qualifier (March, 2024) The Senior Freestyle USA athlete who qualifies the Olympic weight category at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier will earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. j) NCAA Division I Championships (March, 2024) The 2024 NCAA Division I champion will earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling at the weight category they choose. k) Final 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier (March, 2024) The Freestyle champion of this event per weight category will qualify for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. Athletes who have already qualified will NOT be allowed to compete in this event Women's Freestyle a) Past USA World Championships or Olympic Games Participant or Final World or Olympic Team Trials Champion Any past Senior Women’s Freestyle World Championships participant and/or Final World or Olympic Team Trials Champion from 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 or 2023 is automatically qualified to enter the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. b) 2023 U17 World Championships (August, 2023) Any 2023 U17 Women’s Freestyle World Championships gold medalist is automatically qualified to enter the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. c) 2023 U20 World Championships (August, 2023) Any 2023 U20 Women’s Freestyle World Championships medalist is automatically qualified to enter the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. d) 2023 Senior World Championships (September, 2023) i. Any 2023 Senior World Championship Women’s Freestyle Medalist, at an Olympic weight, will earn an automatic berth into the final wrestle-off (i.e., Day Two) at the same weight they won a medal in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. ii. Any 2023 Senior World Championship Women’s Freestyle Medalist, at a nonOlympic weight, will earn an automatic berth into the semifinals (i.e., Day One) at a weight category immediately adjacent (one weight class up or down) from their 2023 Senior World Championship weight category. e) 2023 U23 World Championships (October, 2023) Any 2023 U23 Women’s Freestyle USA World Championships medalist is automatically qualified to enter the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. f) 2023 Bill Farrell International Open (November, 2023) The highest placed Senior Women’s Freestyle USA athlete per weight category, that places in the top 4, who has yet to qualify, will earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials - Wrestling. g) 2023 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier (December, 2023) The Senior Women’s Freestyle top 5 finishers per weight category at the 2023 USA Wrestling Olympic Trials Qualifier will earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. h) 2024 Pan American Championships (February, 2024) Any Senior Women’s Freestyle Gold Medalist at the 2024 Pan American Championships will earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. i) 2024 Pan American Olympic Qualifier (March, 2024) The Senior Women’s Freestyle USA athlete who qualifies the Olympic weight category at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier will earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. j) 2024 NCWWC National Championships (March, 2024) The NCWWC Women’s champion will earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling at the weight category they choose. k) 2024 NAIA National Championships (March, 2024) The NAIA Women’s champion will earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling at the weight category they choose. l) Final 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier (March, 2024) The Women’s Freestyle champion of this event per weight category will qualify for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. Athletes who have already qualified will NOT be allowed to compete in this event. Greco-Roman a) Past USA World Championships or Olympic Games Participant or Final World or Olympic Team Trials Champion Any past Senior Greco-Roman World Championships participant and/or Final World or Olympic Team Trials Champion from 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 or 2023 is automatically qualified to enter the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. b) 2023 U17 World Championships (August, 2023) Any 2023 U17 Greco-Roman World Championships gold medalist is automatically qualified to enter the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling c) 2023 U20 World Championships (August, 2023) Any 2021, 2022 or 2023 U20 Greco-Roman World Championships medalist is automatically qualified to enter the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling d) 2023 Senior World Championships (September, 2023) i. Any 2023 Senior World Championship Greco-Roman Medalist or a 2023 Senior World Championships Greco-Roman athlete that qualifies the weight for the 2024 Olympic Games, will earn an automatic berth into the final wrestle-off (i.e., Day Two) at the same weight they won a medal or qualified the weight for the Olympic Games in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. ii. Any 2023 Senior World Championship Greco-Roman Medalist, at a non-Olympic weight, will earn an automatic berth into the semifinals (i.e., Day One) at a weight category immediately adjacent (one weight class up or down) from their 2023 Senior World Championship weight category. e) 2023 U23 World Championships (October, 2023) Any 2023 U23 Greco-Roman USA World Championships medalist is automatically qualified to enter the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. f) 2023 Bill Farrell International Open (November, 2023) The highest placed Senior Greco-Roman USA athlete per weight category, that places in the top 4, who has yet to qualify, will earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials - Wrestling. g) 2023 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier (December, 2023) The Senior Greco-Roman top 5 finishers per weight category at the 2023 USA Wrestling Olympic Trials Qualifier will earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. h) 2024 Pan American Championships (February, 2024) Any Senior Greco-Roman Gold Medalist at the 2024 Pan American Championships will earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. i) 2024 U.S. Armed Forces Championships (February 2024) The highest placed Senior Greco-Roman athlete, per weight category, winning a medal, who has yet to qualify for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. *Gold and silver medals awarded. j) 2024 Pan American Olympic Qualifier (March, 2024) The Senior Greco-Roman athlete who qualifies the Olympic weight category at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier, will earn an automatic berth into the final wrestle off (i.e., Day Two) at the same weight they qualified in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. k) 2024 NCAA Division I Championships (March, 2024) The 2024 NCAA Division I champion will earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling at the weight category they choose. l) Final 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier (March, 2024) The Greco-Roman champion of this event per weight category will qualify for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Wrestling. Athletes who have already qualified will NOT be allowed to compete in this event.

We’re less than 24 hours away from the 2023 Senior World Championships, so it’s time to wrap up 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. Our men’s and women’s freestyle previews have already been released, so it’s time to finish with Greco-Roman. The 2023 Greco-Roman team is a good mix of grizzled veterans and new promising faces. This year’s team does not feature any past Senior world medalists, but what better time than now with Olympic qualification also on the line. Below are the entries at each of the last five weights, along with some of their notable achievements, pre-seeds, information on the American entry, and 2022 medalists. 55kg Vitalii KABALOEV (AIN - RUS) - 2019 World 7th Place, 2019 European Champion Mohamed DRIDI (ALG) - 2023 African Champion Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM) - 2x European Bronze Medalist Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) - 2x World Champion, 4x World Medalist (1x2, 3x2), 2x European Champion Wenjie CHEN (CHN) - 2023 Asian U23 5th Place Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) - 2019 World Champion, 4x World Medalist (1,2,3x2), 2022 European Silver Medalist Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) - 2022 U23 World Champion, 2023 Asian Champion Mostafa ALQADE (JOR) Taiga ONISHI (JPN) - 2022 U20 World Bronze Medalist, 2023 Asian 5th Place Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) Davies ORIWA (KEN) Hyeokjin JEON (KOR) - 2x Asian 5th Place Artiom DELEANU (MDA) - 2023 European 8th Place, 2022 U23 World 9th Place Denis MIHAI (ROU) - 2023 European Bronze Medalist, 2022 U20 World Silver Medalist Umit DURDYYEV (TKM) - 2019 Asian 8th Place Adem Burak UZUN (TUR) - 2023 European Championship, 2021 U23 World Bronze Medalist Koriun SAHRADIAN (UKR) - 2021 World 12th Place AJAY (UWW) Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) - 2022 World Bronze Medalist, 2020 Asian Silver Medalist 55 kg Pre-Seeds #1 Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) #2 Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) #3 Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) #4 Poya Soulat DAD MARZ (IRI) #5 Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM) #6 Denis Florin MIHAI (ROU) #7 Artiom DELEANU (MDA) #8 Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) Past World/Olympic Medalists (Senior Level Only): (3) Eldaniz Azizli (AZE), Nugzari Tsurtsumia (GEO), Jasurbek Ortikboev (UZB) The American Entry: Brady Koontz We’ll have the opportunity to see Brady Koontz compete for the first time on the World stage at the Senior level. Koontz finally broke through and earned a series win at Final X, after coming up short in two prior appearances. It wasn’t easy though. In fact, it looked like more of the same in his first match against Dalton Duffield. Koontz fell 8-0 and had his back against the wall; forced to win two straight bouts. That’s exactly what he did winning 4-1, 7-3 in the final two matches. Koontz earned his spot in Final X after winning his first US Open title, which also came against Duffield. Even though this is his first Senior World tournament, Koontz has plenty of experience on the international scene. He has participated in world tournaments at the Cadet, Junior, and U23 levels; however, he’s still seeking his first international medal. After clinching his spot on the Senior team, Koontz went to compete in Hungary and took sixth place. Bracketing will play a big role in Koontz’s success at this weight. Since it’s a non-Olympic bracket, it is considerably smaller than other weights. Getting to the podium won’t require quite as many wins as others might. 2022 World Championship Medalists Gold: Eldaniz Azizli (Azerbaijan) Silver: Nugzari Tsurtsumia (Georgia) Bronze: Jasurbek Ortikboev (Uzbekistan) Bronze: Yu Shiotani (Japan) 60kg Hleb MAKARANKA (AIN - BLR) - 2021 European 5th Place Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN - RUS) - 2021 U23 World Champion, 2019 Junior World Champion Bajram SINA (ALB) - 2021 European U23 Bronze Medalist Reginaldo da SILVA (ANG) Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM) - 2020 European Champion, 2021 World 5th Place Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) - 2022 European U23 Silver Medalist, 2x U20 World Bronze Medalist, 2023 European Bronze Medalist Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) - 2022 World Silver Medalist, 2x European Champion Liguo CAO (CHN) - 2019 World 5th Place, 2023 Asian Bronze Medalist Dicther TORO (COL) - 2x Pan-American Champion Latuf MADI (COM) Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) - 2023 Pan-American Bronze Medalist Jeremy PERALTA (ECU) - 2023 Pan-American Silver Medalist Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY) - 2020(1) Olympic 9th Place, 3x African Champion Helary MAEGISALU (EST) - 2018 European Silver Medalist Leo TUDEZCA (FRA) Pridon ABULADZE (GEO) - 2021 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2023 European 7th Place Christopher KRAEMER (GER) - 2023 European 12th Place Erik TORBA (HUN) - 2021 World 5th Place, 2020 European Bronze Medalist Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) - 2018 U23 World Bronze Medalist Melkamu FETENE (ISR) - 2022 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2023 European U23 Silver Medalist Jacopo SANDRON (ITA) - 2018 European Bronze Medalist Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) - 2x World Champion, 2020(1) Olympic Silver Medalist, 3x World Medalist (1 x2, 3), 2x Asian Champion Olzhas SULTAN (KAZ) - 2022 U23 World Bronze Medalist Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) - 2022 World Champion, 3x World Medalist (1, 2 x2), 2x Asian Champion Seunghak KIM (KOR) - 2017 World Bronze Medalist, 2021 World Bronze Medalist Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT) - 2021 European Bronze Medalist Justas PETRAVICIUS (LTU) - 2022 World 13th Place Ismail ETTALIBI (MAR) - 2023 African 3rd Place Victor CIOBANU (MDA) - 2021 World Champion, 2x World Medalist (1,2), 2019 European Champion Samuel GURRIA (MEX) - 2x Pan-American Silver Medalist Joao BENAVIDES (PER) - 2022 Pan-American Bronze Medalist Michal TRACZ (POL) - 2022 World 15th Place Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) - 2x World 10th Place Ibrahim BUNDUKA (SLE) - 2023 African Silver Medalist Sabolc LOSONC (SRB) Virgil BICA (SWE) Aslamdzhon AZIZOV (TJK) - 2022 Asian U23 Silver Medalist, 2021 Asian 5th Place Kerem KAMAL (TUR) - 2022 U23 World Champion, 3x Junior World Champion Viktor PETRYK (UKR) - 2021 European Bronze Medalist Manish KUNDU (UWW) Jamal VALIZADEH (UWW) Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) - 2019 Asian Champion, 2018 U23 World 5th Place Raiber RODRIGUEZ (VEN) - 3x Pan-American Bronze Medalist 60 kg Pre-Seeds #1 Edmond Armen NAZARYAN (BUL) #2 Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) #3 Kerem KAMAL (TUR) #4 Liguo CAO (CHN) #5 Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) #6 Mehdi Seifollah MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) #7 Haithem Mahmoud Ahmed Fahmy MAHMOUD (EGY) #8 Nihat Zahid MAMMADLI (AZE) Past World/Olympic Medalists (Senior Level Only): (5) Edmond Nazaryan (BUL), Kenichiro Fumita (JPN), Zholaman Sharshenbekov (KGZ), Seunghak Kim (KOR), Victor Ciobanu (MDA) The American Entry: Ildar Hafizov The senior member of the US team is Ildar Hafizov who looks as good as ever at 35 years old. Hafizov just made his fourth World/Olympic team competing for the United States. In addition, he also made three world teams and an Olympic Games for Uzbekistan. Last year, Hafizov won a pair of matches in Belgrade before falling to the eventual world champion, Zholaman Sharshenbekov. He later was eliminated in repechage. Hafizov is still seeking his first world medal. In order to make the 2023 squad, Hafizov had to go through a familiar face in teammate/rival Dalton Roberts. Just like last year, their series went the full three matches and ended up in Hafizov’s favor. That wasn’t the case at the 2023 Open, where Roberts came out on top. That forced Hafizov to head to the World Team Trials in order to make Final X. While this weight doesn’t have as many returning world medalists as other Olympic weights, it does feature three past world champions and two U23 world champs. 2022 World Championship Medalists Gold: Zholaman Sharshenbekov (KGZ) Silver: Edmond Nazaryan (BUL) Bronze: Aidos Sultangali (KAZ) Bronze: Kenichiro Fumita (JPN) 63kg Astemir BIZHOEV (AIN - RUS) Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) - 2022 World 5th Place, 2x U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2023 European Bronze Medalist Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) - 2021 World Bronze Medalist, 2018 European Silver Medalist Abu AMAEV (BUL) - 2023 European Bronze Medalist, 2019 Junior World Champion Zheng LI (CHN) Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO) - 2019 World 8th Place, 2019 European 5th Place Stefan CLEMENT (FRA) Leri ABULADZE (GEO) - 2x World Silver Medalist, 2x European Champion Etienne KINSINGER (GER) - 2018 World 8th Place Krisztian KECSKEMETI (HUN) - 2022 World 5th Place Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) - 2022 U23 World Champion, 2023 Asian Champion Ryuto IKEDA (JPN) - 2022 U23 World Bronze Medalist Mukhamedali MAMURBEK (KAZ) - 2023 Asian Bronze Medalist Dastan KADYROV (KGZ) - 2023 Asian 7th Place Jinwoong JUNG (KOR) - 2019 World 8th Place Alexis RODRIGUEZ (MEX) - 2023 Pan-American 5th Place Mairbek SALIMOV (POL) - 2023 European U23 Bronze Medalist Perica DIMITRIJEVIC (SRB) - 2023 European 9th Place Akmyrat GELDIYEV (TKM) Enes BASAR (TUR) - 2018 European Bronze Medalist Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR) - 2018 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2023 European 10th Place Vikram KURADE (UWW) Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB) - 2023 Asian Silver Medalist, 2022 Asian U23 Champion 63 kg Pre-Seeds #1 Leri ABULADZE (GEO) #2 Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) #3 Iman Hossein Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) #4 Mukhamedali MAMURBEK (KAZ) #5 Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB) #6 Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO) #7 Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) #8 Madiyar MALTEKBAYEV (KAZ) Past World/Olympic Medalists (Senior Level Only): (2) Murad Mammadov (AZE), Leri Abuladze (GEO) The American Entry: Xavier Johnson The second of three first-time world team members in Greco is Xavier Johnson. Johnson earned a spot in Final X for a second time in his career after a surprising upset of Sammy Jones at the World Team Trials. At Final X, Johnson had little trouble with US Open champion Hayden Tuma, teching him in both contests. After making the world team, Johnson went over the Hungary and took ninth at the Polyak Imre & Varga Janos. 2022 World Championship Medalists Gold: Sebastian Nad (Serbia) Silver: Leri Abuladze (Georgia) Bronze: Erbatu Tuo (China) Bronze: Taleh Mammadov (Azerbaijan) 67kg Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (AIN - BLR) - 2020 European 5th Place, 2019 U23 World Silver Medalist Aslan VISAITOV (AIN - RUS) - 2014 Junior World Bronze Medalist Ishak GHAIOU (ALG) - 3x African Silver Medalist Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) - 2019 World Bronze Medalist, 2x European Bronze Medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) - 2022 World Bronze Medalist, 2023 European Champion Ivo ILIEV (BUL) - 2023 European U23 Bronze Medalist, 2022 U23 World 8th Place Nestor ALMANZA (CHI) Husiyuetu HUSIYUETU (CHN) - 2022 World 9th Place Julian HORTA (COL) Luis SANCHEZ (CUB) - 2020(1) Olympic Gold Medalist, 3x Pan-American Champion Andres MONTANO (ECU) - 3x Pan-American Champion Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) - 2021 Olympic Bronze Medalist, 2x U23 World Champion, 5x African Champion Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA) - 2018 World 5th Place Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) - 2023 European Silver Medalist, 2022 World 5th Place Witalis LAZOVSKI (GER) - 2021 Worth 10th Place Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) - 2021 European U23 Champion, 2018 Junior World Bronze Medalist Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) - 2020(1) Olympic Gold Medalist, 2x World Medalist (1,2), 2019 Asian Champion Shon NADORGIN (ISR) - 2023 European U23 Bronze Medalist Ignazio SANFILIPPO (ITA) - 2022 European U23 5th Place Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) - 2022 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2023 Asian Silver Medalist Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) - 5x World Medalist (2, 3 x4), 2x Asian Champion Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) - 2022 World Bronze Medalist, 2021 Asian Bronze Medalist Minseong KWON (KOR) Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) - 2021 World Bronze Medalist, 2020 European Bronze Medalist Valentin PETIC (MDA) - 2019 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2021 World 7th Place Edsson OLMOS (MEX) - 2022 Pan-American Silver Medalist Morten THORESEN (NOR) - 2021 World 9th Place Nilton SOTO (PER) Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) - 2017 World Silver Medalist, 2021 European Silver Medalist Mihai MIHUT (ROU) - 2021 World 9th Place, 2018 European Champion Mate NEMES (SRB) - 2022 World Champion, 2x World Medalist (1,3), 2021 European Champion Andreas VETSCH (SUI) Niklas OEHLEN (SWE) - 2022 European U23 Bronze Medalist Firuz MIRZORAJABOV (TJK) - 2023 Asian U23 Bronze Medalist Mansur NURBERDIYEV (TKM) Souleymen NASR (TUN) - 2x African Silver Medalist Murat FIRAT (TUR) - 2x World 5th Place, 2022 European Champion Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) - 2020(1) Olympic Silver Medalist Vinayak PATIL (UWW) Abror ATABAEV (UZB) - 2023 Asian Champion, 2022 Asian U23 Champion 67 kg Pre-Seeds #1 Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) #2 Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) #3 Mate NEMES (SRB) #4 Mihai Radu MIHUT (ROU) #5 Murat FIRAT (TUR) #6 Mohammadreza Abdolhamid GERAEI (IRI) #7 Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) #8 Luis Alberto ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) Past World/Olympic Medalists (Senior Level Only): (10) Slavik Galstyan (ARM), Hasrat Jafarov (AZE), Luis Orta Sanchez (CUB), Mohamed Elsayed (EGY), Mohammadreza Geraei(IRI), Almat Kebispayev (KAZ), Amantur Ismailov (KGZ), Mateusz Bernatek(POL), Mate Nemes (SRB), Parviz Nasibov (UKR) The American Entry: Alex Sancho Now one of the veterans of the US team is Alex Sancho who has made his third World/Olympic team. Sancho was shocked in the quarterfinals of the US Open by high school sensation Joel Adams, which forced him to attend the World Team Trials. He would rebound at the Trials with two techs and a forfeit victory in the championship match to book a spot in Final X for a second straight year. At Final X, Sancho was paired with another young star in California native Robert Perez III. Sancho held off the youngster in a couple of tight victories (3-2, 5-1). After Final X, Sancho got a tune-up in Hungary finishing fifth in a deep weight class. Sancho advanced to the semifinals before falling to Joni Khetsuriani of Georgia. Khetsuriani will assume the top seed in Belgrade. Also in 2023, Sancho went 1-1 at the Ranking Series event in Croatia. He’ll be looking to improve upon his previous placements at the World/Olympics, where he was 11th/10th. 2022 World Championship Medalists Gold: Mate Nemes (SRB) Silver: Mohammadreza Geraei(IRI) Bronze: Amantur Ismailov (KGZ) Bronze: Hasrat Jafarov (AZE) 72kg Narek OGANIAN (AIN - RUS) - 2018 U23 5th Place Abdelmalek MERABET (ALG) - 2023 African Champion Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) - 2021 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2022 European U23 Bronze Medalist Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) - 2022 World Silver Medalist, 2023 European Champion, 2021 U23 World Bronze Medalist Stoyan KUBATOV (BUL) - 2019 European U23 Bronze Medalist Jian TAN (CHN) - 2023 Asian 5th Place Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) - 2021 World Bronze Medalist, 2020(1) Olympic 5th Place Michael WIDMAYER (GER) - 2019 World 5th Place, 2021 European 5th Place Robert FRITSCH (HUN) - 2022 World 8th Place, 2022 European Champion Danial SOHRABI (IRI) Zaur KABALOEV (ITA) - 2018 European Bronze Medalist, 2012 Junior World Champion Rintaro SOGABE (JPN) Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) Jiyeon LEE (KOR) - 2019 World 5th Place Mihai PETIC (MDA) Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR) - 2023 European 5th Place, 2021 World 10th Place Kamil CZARNECKI (POL) - 2023 European Bronze Medalist Ali ARSALAN (SRB) - 2022 World Champion, 2022 European Bronze Medalist Selcuk CAN (TUR) - 2022 World Bronze Medalist, 2x European Bronze Medalist Artur POLITAIEV (UKR) - 2019 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2x European U23 Bronze Medalist Ankit GULIA (UWW) Jamol JUMABAEV (UZB) - 2023 Asian U23 Bronze Medalist, 2023 Asian 8th Place 72 kg Pre-Seeds #1 Selcuk CAN (TUR) #2 Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) #3 Ali Feizollah ARSALAN (SRB) #4 Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamed Hassan GHANEM (FRA) #5 Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) #6 Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN) #7 Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) #8 Valentin PETIC (MDA) Past World/Olympic Medalists (Senior Level Only): (4) Ulvu Ganizade (AZE), Ramaz Zoidze (GEO), Ali Arsalan (SRB), Selcuk Can (TUR) The American Entry: Pat Smith Along with Ildar Hafizov, the only other wrestler on the 2023 Greco team with four World and/or Olympic appearances is Pat Smith. He’s made the world team for a fourth time. Smith is competing at 72 kg at the World Championships for a second time, his previous two iterations have come at other weights. Like many of the US veterans, Smith was stunned at the US Open by a younger counterpart in Justus Scott. In order to make Final X for the third time, Smith had to blank Michael Hooker and Nolan Wachsmuth at the Trials. Making a world team is rarely easy and once again, for Smith, it wasn’t. Just like his previous two Final X appearances, Smith’s series went the full three matches. Smith did it the hard way and dropped his first bout to Scott, before pulling out close wins (5-4, 7-5). In international competition this year, Smith has finished an identical 13th place in Croatia and Hungary. 2022 World Championship Medalists Gold: Ali Arsalan (SRB) Silver: Ulvi Ganizade (AZE) Bronze: Andrii Kulyk (UKR) Bronze: Selcuk Can (TUR)