Leaderboard

It didn’t take long for Princeton University to find its next head wrestling coach. And they didn’t have to look very far either. Just over a week after news broke that Stanford had hired Chris Ayres to be their new head coach, Princeton announced today that associate head coach Joe Dubuque is the 11th head wrestling coach in school history. Dubuque has been a member of the Princeton coaching staff for the last ten years. During that time, the Tigers have won an Ivy League title for the first time since 1986, they have put 10 wrestlers on the NCAA podium including two national finalists in 2022 and the program’s first NCAA champion since 1951 earlier this year. A college 125 lber himself, Dubuque worked closely with Princeton’s 125 lb NCAA champion Patrick Glory, who finished as one of the most decorated wrestlers in program history. Glory earned NCAA All-American honors on three occasions and was a three-time EIWA champion. Dubuque wrestled collegiately at Indiana where he was a three-time All-American and two-time national champion. He was famous for coming up big when the stakes were the highest, as Dubuque earned a pair of NCAA titles, yet never made the Big Ten finals. Dubuque was coaching at his alma mater before coming to Princeton to coach in his home state. He also spent time on the Hofstra coaching staff. The last few weeks have been wild on the collegiate coaching front. We’ve seen vacancies at North Carolina, Stanford, and Princeton; however, Dubuque’s hiring should bring this game of musical chairs to rest for now. With Dubuque being elevated to head coach, it should keep some stability with the Princeton program. While it’s not necessarily common for wrestlers to transfer from an Ivy League school like Princeton, there may have been some Class of 2024 recruits who would have reconsidered their options had the school hired a coach from the outside. That’s important as Princeton currently has six Big Boarder’s committed from the Class of 2024.

We’re right in the middle the 2023 Senior World Championships, so it’s time to wrap up our previews for the event. Our men’s and women’s freestyle previews have already been released, so it’s time to finish with the second part of our Greco-Roman preview. 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. 77kg Pavel LIAKH (AIN - BLR) - 2x World 9th Place, 2017 European Silver Medalist Adlet TIULIUBAEV (AIN - RUS) Kevin KUPI (ALB) Abd OUAKALI (ALG) - 3x African Champion Francisco KADIMA (ANG) Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) - 2021 World Champion, 2x World Medalist (1,2), 2022 U23 World Champion, 2x European Champion Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) - 2021 World Silver Medalist, 2019 U23 World Silver Medalist, 2020 European Champion Joilson RAMOS (BRA) Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) - 2x World Bronze Medalist, 2x European Bronze Medalist Rui LIU (CHN) - 2023 Asian Bronze Medalist, 2022 World 9th Place Jair CUERO (COL) - 3x Pan-American Silver Medalist Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) - 2021 European Bronze Medalist Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) - 3x Pan-American Champion, 2020(1) Olympic 10th Place Oldrich VARGA (CZE) Oliver KRUEGER (DEN) - 2023 European 5th Place Mohamed KHALIL (EGY) - 2x African Champion Marcos SANCHEZ (ESP) Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN) - 2023 European U23 Champion Johnny BUR (FRA) - 2018 European U23 Silver Medalist Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) - 2020 European Silver Medalist Deni NAKAEV (GER) - 2022 U20 World Champion Georgios PREVOLARAKIS (GRE) Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) - 2022 World Silver Medalist, 2020 European Silver Medalist Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) - 3x World Bronze Medalist, 2020(1) Olympic 5th Place, 2x Asian Silver Medalist Riccardo ABBRESCIA (ITA) Amro SADEH (JOR) Nao KUSAKA (JPN) - 2022 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2020 Asian 5th Place Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) - 2017 World Silver Medalist, 2018 Asian Silver Medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) - 2020(1) Olympic Silver Medalist, 2022 World Champion, 2x Asian Champion Daekun PARK (KOR) Paulius GALKINAS (LTU) - 2019 World 7th Place, 2019 European U23 5th Place Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) - 2022 U23 World Silver Medalist, 2023 European 5th Place Emmanuel BENITEZ (MEX) Per Anders KURE (NOR) Patryk BEDNARZ (POL) - 2022 European U23 5th Place Viktor NEMES (SRB) - 2022 World Champion, 2x World Medalist (1,3), 3x European Silver Medalist Fabio DIETSCHE (SUI) Per Albin OLOFSSON (SWE) - 2022 European 5th Place, 2021 U23 World Bronze Medalist Toyly ORAZOV (TKM) Yunus BASAR (TUR) - 2022 World Bronze Medalist, 2x European Silver Medalist Dmytro VASETSKYI (UKR) - 2x U23 World 5th Place Gurpreet SINGH (UWW) - 2019 Asian Silver Medalist Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) - 2019 World Silver Medalist, 2018 Asian Bronze Medalist Wuileixis RIVAS (VEN) - 2014 Pan-American Champion 77 kg Pre-Seeds #1 Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) #2 Yunus Emre BASAR (TUR) #3 Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) #4 Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) #5 Rui LIU (CHN) #6 Viktor NEMES (SRB) #7 Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) #8 Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) Past World/Olympic Medalists (Senior Level Only): (10) Malkhas Amoyan (ARM), Sanan Suleymanov (AZE), Aik Mnatsakanian (BUL), Zoltan Levai (HUN), Mohammadali Geraei (IRI), Demeu Zhadrayev (KAZ), Akzhol Makhmudov (KGZ), Viktor Nemes (SRB), Yunus Basar (TUR), Aram Vardanyan (UZB) The American Entry: Kamal Bey 77 kg always tends to be one of the premier Greco-Roman weights and the 2023 crop doesn’t disappoint. On the American side, we have one of our most exciting Greco athletes in Kamal Bey. Bey is now a part of his third Senior world team and still seeking his first medal at this level. He was a Junior world champion in 2017 (beating the current, defending world champion in the finals), so Bey does have a history against some of the top contenders at this weight. Bey is back on the world team after an impressive spring/summer. At the US Open, 2009 World Bronze medalist Aliaksandr Kikiniou emerged as a potential threat to his spot on the world team. Bey, however, only needed :33 seconds to roll to a tech fall. The two would meet at Final X and Bey put together another 9-0 tech, combined with a 5-1 win in match two to take the series, Internationally, Bey has shined in 2023. Shortly after the Open, Bey claimed his first Senior Pan-American title. Two months later, Bey made the finals in Hungary after defeating the returning world silver medalist at this weight. 2022 World Championship Medalists Gold: Akzhol Makhmudov (KGZ) Silver: Zoltan Levai(HUN) Bronze: Malkas Amoyan (ARM) Bronze: Yunus Basar (TUR) 82kg Stanislau SHAFARENKA (AIN - BLR) - 2017 U23 World 5th Place, 2019 European U23 Bronze Medalist Aues GONIBOV (AIN - RUS) - 2019 Junior World Silver Medalist Samvel GRIGORYAN (ARM) - 2021 European U23 Bronze Medalist Aker SCHMID AL OBAIDI (AUT) - 2020(1) Olympic 8th Place Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) - 2021 World Champion, 3x World Medalist (1,2,3), 2x European Champion Halishan BAHEJIANG (CHN) Bozo STARCEVIC (CRO) - 2016 Olympic 5th Place, 2013 European Bronze Medalist Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) - 2018 U23 World Champion, 2x U23 World Medalist (1,2), 2022 World 5th Place Idris Hanpasaevic IBAEV (GER) - 2021 U23 World Champion Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) - 2017 U23 World Champion, 2019 European Bronze Medalist Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) - 2023 Asian Bronze Medalist Sultan Ali Mohd Damen EID (JOR) - 2020 Asian 5th Place Shohei YABIKU (JPN) - 2020(1) Olympic Bronze Medalist, 2018 Asian 5th Place Dias KALEN (KAZ) - 2x Asian Silver Medalist, 2022 World 9th Place Beksultan NAZARBAEV (KGZ) - 2022 Asian U23 Champion Sejin YANG (KOR) Mihail BRADU (MDA) - 3x European 5th Place Jose Andres VARGAS RUEDA (MEX) - 2020 Pan-American Silver Medalist Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB) - 2021 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2022 European U23 Bronze Medalist Kristoffer Zakarias BERG (SWE) - 2021 World 7th Place Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) - 2022 World Champion, 2x World Medalist (1,2), 2023 European Champion Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) - 2022 World Bronze Medalist, 2023 European Silver Medalist Sajan BHANWALA (UWW) - 2022 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2022 Asian 5th Place Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) - 2023 Asian 5th Place 82 kg Pre-Seeds #1 Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) #2 Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) #3 Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) #4 Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) #5 Dias KALEN (KAZ) #6 Alireza Azizkhoon MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) #7 Mihail BRADU (MDA) #8 Kristoffer Zakarias BERG (SWE) Past World/Olympic Medalists (Senior Level Only): (4) Rafig Huseynov (AZE), Shohei Yabiku (JPN), Burhan Akbudak (TUR), Yaroslav Filchakov (UKR) The American Entry: Spencer Woods 2022 saw Spencer Woods inserted as a late replacement for Ben Provisor, which accounted for his first Senior World experience. This year, Woods is “the guy” without any questions and has been able to prepare as such for the last three months. Woods put himself in the driver’s seat for another world team berth after he downed Provisor at the US Open, 4-3. Most assumed another round of Woods/Provisor; however, Provisor didn’t make it through the World Team Trials, Ryan Epps did. Woods and Epps split the first two bouts at Final X, but Woods came through and locked up the world team berth with a 5-0 victory in the rubber match. After winning the Open, Woods went to the Pan-American Championships and went unbeaten in his round-robin matches without surrendering a point. 2022 World Championship Medalists Gold: Burhan Akbudak (TUR) Silver: Jalgasbay Berdimuratov (UZE) Bronze: Tamas Levai (HUN) Bronze: Yaroslav Filchakov (UKR) 87kg Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN - BLR) - 2021 World Silver Medalist, 2019 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2021 European Silver Medalist Savelii BORISOV (AIN - RUS) Bachir SID AZARA (ALG) - 5x African Champion, 2020(1) Olympic 7th Place Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM) - 2022 U23 World Silver Medalist, 2021 European U23 Bronze Medalist Lukas STAUDACHER (AUT) Islam ABBASOV (AZE) - 2x U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2019 European Silver Medalist Ronisson BRANDAO (BRA) - 2x Pan-American Bronze Medalist Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) - 2020 European Champion, 2x U23 World Champion Haitao QIAN (CHN) - 2019 World Bronze Medalist, 2019 Asian Bronze Medalist Carlos MUNOZ (COL) - 2020 Pan-American Silver Medalist Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) - 2020(1) Olympic 5th Place, 2017 U23 World Silver Medalist Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) - 3x Pan-American Champion, 2020(1) Olympic 9th, 2x U23 World Medalist (2,3) Mohamed METWALLY (EGY) - 2020(1) Olympic 5th Place, 2x African Champion Andreas VAELIS (EST) Toni METSOMAEKI (FIN) - 2019 European U23 5th Place Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) - 2019 World Champion, 3x World Medalist (1,3 x2), 2019 European Silver Medalist Hannes WAGNER (GER) - 2021 World 9th Place, 2x European Bronze Medalist Ilias PAGKALIDIS (GRE) - 2023 European U23 5th Place David LOSONCZI (HUN) - 2022 World Bronze Medalist, 2021 U23 World Silver Medalist Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) - 2022 World 5th Place, 2021 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 3x Asian Champion Mirco MINGUZZI (ITA) - 2022 European 5th Place Masato SUMI (JPN) - 2018 Asian Silver Medalist Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) - 2022 World 8th Place, 2014 Asian Champion John OMONDI (KEN) Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ) - 2020 Asian Silver Medalist, 2022 Asian U23 Silver Medalist Sanghyeok PARK (KOR) - 2019 World 14th Place Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU) - 2018 U23 World 9th Place, 2018 European U23 Bronze Medalist Viorel BURDUJA (MDA) Daniel VICENTE (MEX) - 2022 Pan-American Champion Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) - 2022 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2022 European U23 Champion, 2021 U20 World Champion Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) - 2022 U23 World Champion, 2023 European U23 Silver Medalist Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL) - 2021 World Bronze Medalist Nicu OJOG (ROU) - 2022 European Silver Medalist Mario VUKOVIC (SRB) Ramon BETSCHART (SUI) - 2021 U23 World Silver Medalist Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) - 2019 World Silver Medalist, 2020 European Bronze Medalist Azym ANNAMAMMEDOV (TKM) Ali CENGIZ (TUR) - 2022 World 3rd Place, 2023 European Silver Medalist Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) - 2020(1) Olympic Champion, 2x Olympic Medalist (1,2), 2x World Champion, 4x World Medalist (1 x2, 2,3) Manoj KUMAR (UWW) Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) - 2x World Medalist (2,3), 2021 Asian Champion Luis AVENDANO (VEN) - 87 kg Pre-Seeds #1 Ali CENGIZ (TUR) #2 David LOSONCZI (HUN) #3 Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) #4 Naser Ghasem ALIZADEH (IRI) #5 Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) #6 Semen Sergeevich NOVIKOV (BUL) #7 Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) #8 Kumar SUNIL (IND) Past World/Olympic Medalists (Senior Level Only): (9) Kiryl Maskevich (AIN - BLR), Haitao Qian (CHN), Lasha Gobadze (GEO), David Losonczi (HUN), Arkadiusz Kulynycz (POL), Alex Kessidis (SWE), Ali Cengiz (TUR), Zhan Beleniuk (UKR), Jalgasbay Berdimuratov (UZB) The American Entry: Zac Braunagel The NCAA star from Illinois gets his first crack at the Senior World level as Zac Braunagel emerged from an unpredictable 87 kg weight class domestically. Braunagel was a respectable third place at the US Open behind Olympic John Stefanowicz and returning World Team member Alan Vera. Braunagel clinched a spot in Final X after winning a pair of bouts at the Trials without surrendering a point. After going in the hole by losing a 10-0 tech to Vera in bout one at Final X, Braunagel battled back with a 6-5 win in match two. In that bout, Braunagel battered Vera to the point where he had to forfeit in match three. After winning the Final X spot, Braunagel competed in Hungary. Though he lost his only bout, it was a tight 2-1 affair against three-time World/Olympic medalist Rafig Huseynov of Azerbaijan. 2022 World Championship Medalists Gold: Zurabi Datunashvili (GEO) Silver: Turpal Bisultanov (DEN) Bronze: David Losonczi (HUN) Bronze: Ali Cengiz (TUR) 97kg Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN - BEL) - 2021 U17 World Champion Artur SARGSIAN (AIN - RUS) 2021 World Bronze Medalist, 2021 U23 World Champion Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG) - 4x African Champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) - 5x World/Olympic Champion, 3x Olympic Medalist (1,2,3), 9x World/Olympic Medalist Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) - 2021 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2022 U23 European Silver Medalist Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) - 2022 World Bronze Medalist Igor ALVES DE (BRA) - 2023 Pan-American Bronze Medalist, 2022 U23 World 5th Place Kiril Milenov MILOV (BUL) - 2x World Silver Medalist, 2022 European Champion Yiming LI (CHN) - 2023 Asian 5th Place Filip SMETKO (CRO) - 2022 U23 World 8th Place Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) - 2x Pan-American Champion, 2019 World 9th Place, 2019 Junior World Champion Artur OMAROV (CZE) - 2023 European Bronze Medalist Mathias BAK (DEN) Mohamed GABR (EGY) - 2023 African Champion Richard KARELSON (EST) - 2022 U20 World Bronze Medalist Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) - 2022 European Silver Medalist, 2021 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2020(1) Olympic 5th Place Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO) - 2x World Bronze Medalist, 2016 European Silver Medalist Peter OEHLER (GER) - 2021 World 5th Place Laokratis KESIDIS (GRE) Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON) - 2x Pan-American Champion Tamas LEVAI (HUN) - 2022 World Bronze Medalist, 2x U23 World Medalist (1,3), 2022 European Bronze Medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) - 2021 World Champion, 2020(1) Olympic Bronze Medalist, 2x World Medalist (1,3), 2020 Asian Champion Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) - 2x World 5th Place Yuta NARA (JPN) - 2023 Asian Bronze Medalist Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ) - 2023 Asian Bronze Medalist, 2019 Asian U23 Champion Beksultan MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) - 2021 Asian Bronze Medalist Seungjun KIM (KOR) - 2x Asian Silver Medalist Mindaugas VENCKAITIS (LTU) - 2023 European U23 5th Place Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) - 2022 European U23 Bronze Medalist, 2021 U20 World Silver Medalist Felix BALDAUF (NOR) - 2022 European 5th Place Gerard KURNICZAK (POL) - 2021 World 5th Place Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) - 2x World Bronze Medalist, 2018 European Silver Medalist Aleksandar STJEPANETIC (SWE) Metehan BASAR (TUR) - 2x World Champion, 2017 European Silver Medalist Serhii OMELIN (UKR) Shailesh SHELKE (UWW) Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) - 2x World Medalist (2,3), 3x Asian Champion 97 kg Pre-Seeds #1 Kiril Milenov MILOV (BUL) #2 Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) #3 Mohammadhadi Abdollah SARAVI (IRI) #4 KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) #5 Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) #6 Tamas LEVAI (HUN) #7 Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) #8 Felix BALDAUF (NOR) Past World/Olympic Medalists (Senior Level Only): (10) Artur Sargsian (AIN - RUS), Artur Aleksanyan (ARM), Arif Niftullayev (AZE), Kiril Milov (BUL), Roberti Kobliashvili (GEO), Tamas Levai (HUN), Mohammadhadi Saravi (IRI), Mihail Kajaia (SRB), Metehan Basar (TUR), Rustam Assakalov (UZB) The American Entry: Joe Rau Almost a decade after making his first world team (2014), Joe Rau is back for his third trip. That first time came at 80 kg and Rau’s 2019 appearance came at 87 kg. Shortly after a return at the US Open, Rau represented the United States at the Pan-American Championships and came away with his third title, all coming at different weights. A month after the Pan-Am’s was Final X and another set of matches against his Open finals opponent Christian DuLaney. After a close 2-1 victory in match one, Rau came out firing in match two and ended things in only :53 seconds. Rau tested the waters internationally at 97 kg in Hungary and went 1-1. He picked up a win over an Iranian opponent before getting blanked by European fifth-place finisher Felix Baldauf. 2022 World Championship Medalists Gold: Artur Aleksanyan (ARM) Silver: Kiril Milov (BUL) Bronze: Mohammadhadi Saravi (IRI) Bronze: Arif Niftullayev (AZE) 130kg Ilya YUDCHYTS (AIN - BLR) - 2019 U23 World 12th Place Sergei SEMENOV (AIN - RUS) - 2018 World Champion, 2x Olympic Bronze Medalist, 2019 European Bronze Medalist David OVASAPYAN (ARM) - 2021 U23 World Silver Medalist, 2021 European U23 Silver Medalist Daniel GASTL (AUT) - 2022 European Bronze Medalist Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) - 2022 European 5th Place, 2021 World 8th Place Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA) - 2x Pan-American Silver Medalist, 2x Olympian Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) - 2020(1) Olympic 5th Place, 2021 World 5th Place Lingzhe MENG (CHN) - 2023 Asian Silver Medalist, 2018 World 7th Place Oscar PINO (CUB) - 3x World Medalist (2,3 x2), 5x Pan-American Champion Marcel ALBINI (CZE) - 2022 U23 World 9th Place, 2023 European U23 5th Place Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) - 6x African Champion, 2018 U23 World 3rd Place, 2020(1) Olympic 9th Place Heiki NABI (EST) - 2013 World Champion, 2021 Olympic Silver Medalist, 4x World Medalist, Matti KUOSMANEN (FIN) - 2x European Bronze Medalist, 2017 U23 World Silver Medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) - 2020(1) Olympic Silver Medalist, 2x World Bronze Medalist, 2x European Silver Medalist Jello KRAHMER (GER) - 2020 European Bronze Medalist Dariusz VITEK (HUN) - 2022 U23 World Bronze Medalist Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) - 2022 World Silver Medalist, 2021 World 5th Place, 2020(1) Olympic 5th Place, 2x Asian Champion Sota OKUMURA (JPN) - 2021 Asian 5th Place Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) - 2022 Asian Champion Seungchan LEE (KOR) Romas FRIDRIKAS (LTU) - 2021 World 5th Place Paul MORALES (MEX) Oskar MARVIK (NOR) - 2021 World Bronze Medalist, 2023 European Bronze Medalist Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) - 2022 World Bronze Medalist, 2020 European Champion Boris PETRUSIC (SRB) Aybegshazada KURRAYEV (TKM) - 2023 Asian U23 Bronze Medalist Riza KAYAALP (TUR) - 3x Olympic Medalist (2, 3 x2), 5x World Champion, 8x World Medalist Oleksandr CHERNETSKYY (UKR) - 2015 World Bronze Medalist, 2016 European Silver Medalist Mehar SINGH (UWW) - 2015 World 5th Place Temurbek NASIMOV (UZB) - 2023 Asian 5th Place 130 kg Pre-Seeds #1 Riza KAYAALP (TUR) #2 Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) #3 Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) #4 Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) #5 Lingzhe MENG (CHN) #6 Dariusz Attila VITEK (HUN) #7 Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) #8 Oskar MARVIK (NOR) Past World/Olympic Medalists (Senior Level Only): (9) Sergei Semenov (AIN - RUS), Oscar Pino Hinds (CUB), Heiki Nabi (EST), Iakobi Kajaia (GEO), Amin Mirzazadeh (IRI), Oskar Marvik (NOR), Alin Alexuc Ciurariu (ROU), Riza Kayaalp (TUR), Oleksandr Chernetskyy (UKR) The American Entry: Cohlton Schultz On a team with three first-time World Team members and another second-timer, Arizona State All-American Cohlton Schultz represents one of the veterans of the squad. Schultz has earned world medals at the Cadet and Junior levels, but hasn’t had that Senior level breakthrough…yet. Most assumed Schultz would be pushed domestically after the return of 2018 World silver medalist Adam Coon from the football world; however, Schultz greeted Coon rudely at the Open with a tech fall in just over two minutes. The two would meet again at Final X. The results weren’t quite as lopsided, in Schultz’s favor, but he still won the series without a significant threat. Schultz might represent the best chance for a medal on the US squad. But to do so, he’ll have to navigate through a loaded field. The heavyweight bracket is expected to include three past world champions and nine medalists in total. 2022 World Championship Medalists Gold: Riza Kayaalp (TUR) Silver: Amin Mirzazadeh (IRI) Bronze: Mantas Knystautas (LTU) Bronze: Alin Alexuc Ciurariu (ROU)

In her first Senior World team appearance, Macey Kilty was not phased at all and cruised her way into the world finals at 65 kg. Of the four women whose tournaments started on Tuesday, Kilty is the only one who advanced to Wednesday’s gold medal matches. On paper, Kilty’s toughest test was slated to come in the quarterfinals against Bulgaria’s Mimi Hristova, a fifth-place finisher at each of the last two World Championships and a European Champion earlier this year. While technically it was her stiffest competition, Kilty still prevailed 11-2. That was the only of her four matches that went the full six minutes. To clinch her spot in the gold medal finals, Kilty needed two and a half minutes to tech Tatsiana Paulava (AIN - Belarus). Kilty got on the scoreboard with a takedown from a snapdown and go-behind. From there, Kilty patiently worked a lace and got three turns to bring her lead to 8-0. Shortly after, Kilty converted a double leg at the edge to push the score into match termination criteria at 10-0. Tuesday also marked the final day of competition in men’s freestyle and the United States took the team title for the second straight year. Seven of the ten team members won medals, led by golds from Vito Arujau (61 kg), Zain Retherford (70 kg), and David Taylor (86 kg). Iran was a distant second with four medals including one gold. The men’s freestyle team also earned Olympic qualification at four weights (74/86/97/125 kg). The final member of the men’s freestyle team took the mat Tuesday, albeit very briefly. After injury defaulting out of his semifinal match with 20-year-old sensation, Akhmed Tazhudinov (Bahrain), Abdulrashid Sadualev (AIN - Russia) did not weigh in and forfeited a bronze medal match to Kyle Snyder. That marked the ninth world/Olympic medal for Snyder. He’s made the podium in every Senior World/Olympic he has entered. Medals were also awarded for the first time this tournament in women’s freestyle and the American team grabbed medals in both of the weight classes contested. Yesterday, Jacarra Winchester secured a place in the 55 kg gold medal match opposite fellow world champion Haruna Okuno. Okuno methodically scored on Winchester earlier and fended off frantic attacks from Winchester late in the bout to take a 4-2 victory. Winchester’s silver medal represented the second career medal for the California native. The other American who came away with a medal on Tuesday was Jennifer Page at 59 kg. Page was in her first Senior World event and found her way onto the team by dropping a weight after losing at the US Open. Page deftly fought off a single-leg attack from Azerbaijan’s Alyona Kolesnik to get a set of exposure points on the ensuing flurry. Later in the first period, Kolesnik took a half-hearted shot attack and was met with a vicious pancake from Page. With her opponent in danger, Page seized the moment and got the fall. Three other past world medalists started their tournaments on Tuesday, Sarah Hildebrandt (50 kg), Helen Maroulis (57 kg), and Adeline Gray (76 kg); however, each was defeated at one point during the tournament. Hildebrandt and Maroulis both lost to the same opponents that beat them in the 2022 tournament in the semifinals. Each will drop down to wrestle in a bronze medal match and has the opportunity to qualify their weight for the Paris Olympics. Gray was shut down in the quarterfinals but got pulled back into repechage when Japan’s Yuka Kagami made the finals. She’ll need to win two bouts to earn a bronze medal. Tomorrow, the final four women’s freestyle team members will get their tournaments underway. Also, of note for American fans, Northwestern and Rutgers All-American Sebastian Rivera (Puerto Rico) advanced to the 65 kg men’s freestyle finals in dramatic fashion Monday. Rivera was defeated 11-0 by Iszmail Musakaev (Hungary) in the gold medal match, 11-0. Rivera did secure a spot at the 2024 Olympics with his finish. Final Results 55 kg Women’s Freestyle Gold Medal Match: Haruna Okuno (Japan) over Jacarra Winchester (USA) 4-2 Bronze Medal Match: Mariana Dragutan (Moldova) over Karla Godinez Gonzalez (Canada) 3-2 Bronze Medal Match: Anastasia Blayvas (Germany) over Neha Sharma (UWW - India) 2-2 59 kg Women’s Freestyle Gold Medal Match: Qi Zhang (China) over Yulia Tkach (Ukraine) 4-1 Bronze Medal Match: Jennifer Page (USA) over Alyona Kolesnik (Azerbaijan) Fall 1:40 Bronze Medal Match: Othelie Hoeie (Norway) over Elena Brugger (Germany) 5-1 65 kg Men’s Freestyle Gold Medal Match: Iszmail Musukaev (Hungary) over Sebastian Rivera (Puerto Rico) 11-0 Bronze Medal Match: Shamil Mamedov (AIN - Russia) over Rahman Amouzadkhalili (Iran) 8-6 Bronze Medal Match: Vazgen Tevanyan (Armenia) over Maxim Sacultan (Moldova) 5-1 Olympic Quota Wrestle-Off: Rahman Amouzadkhalili (Iran) over Maxim Sacultan (Moldova) 10-0 97 kg Men’s Freestyle Gold Medal Match: Akhmed Tazhudinov (Bahrain) over Magomedkhan Magomedov (Azerbaijan) Fall 2:50 Bronze Medal Match: Kyle Snyder (USA) over Abdulrashid Sadulaev (AIN - Russia) FFT Bronze Medal Match: Givi Matcharasvhili (Georgia) over Ibrahim Cift (Turkey) 6-2 Olympic Quota Wrestle-Off: Ibrahim Cift (Turkey) over Abdulrashid Sadulaev (AIN - Russia) FFT American Results 50 kg Women’s Freestyle Round of 16: Sarah Hildebrandt (USA) over Miseon Kwon (South Korea) 10-0 Quarterfinals: Sarah Hildebrandt (USA) over Mariya Stadnik (Azerbaijan) 14-3 Semifinals: Otgonjargal Dolgorjav (Mongolia) over Sarah Hildebrandt (USA) 7-5 55 kg Women’s Freestyle Gold Medal Match: Haruna Okuno (Japan) over Jacarra Winchester 4-2 57 kg Women’s Freestyle Qualification: Helen Maroulis (USA) over Nes Rodriguez (Puerto Rico) 10-0 Round of 16: Helen Maroulis (USA) over Graciela Sanchez Dias (Spain) Fall 1:14 Quarterfinals: Helen Maroulis (USA) over Zhala Aliyev (Azerbaijan) 8-3 Semifinals: Tsugumi Sakurai (Japan) over Helen Maroulis (USA) 6-0 59 kg Women’s Freestyle Bronze Medal Match: Jennifer Page over Alyona Kolesnik (Azerbaijan) Fall 1:40 65 kg Women’s Freestyle Qualification: Macey Kilty (USA) over Valeriia Dondupova-Suvorova (AIN - Russia) 10-0 Round of 16: Macey Kilty (USA) over Albina Drazhi (Albania) Fall 2:28 Quarterfinals: Macey Kilty (USA) over Mimi Hristova (Bulgaria) 11-2 Semifinals: Macey Kilty (USA) over Tatsiana Paulava (AIN - Belarus) 10-0 76 kg Women’s Freestyle Qualification: Adeline Gray (USA) over Jimin Baek (South Korea) 10-0 Round of 16: Adeline Gray (USA) over Epp Mae (Estonia) 11-0 Quarterfinals: Yuka Kagami (Japan) over Adeline Gray (USA) 4-1 97 kg Men’s Freestyle Repechage: Kyle Snyder (USA) over Magomed Ibragimov (Uzbekistan) 10-6 Bronze Medal Match: Kyle Snyder (USA) over Abdulrashid Sadulaev (AIN - Russia) FFT

Morgan Kopitsky sits down with Grand View head coach Angelo Crinzi to discuss how the Grand View position came about, coaching at his alma mater, building a program from scratch, developing leaders, and the recruiting process. Interview with Coach Crinzi.mp4