InterMat Staff

Maya Nelson at the 2021 World Team Trials (Photo/Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com) 57 kg 59 kg 68 kg 72 kg

2021 Junior World Champion Kylie Welker (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 57 kg: 2020 Olympic Bronze Medalists Maroulis & Nikolova Headline 57 kg Bracket While 57 kilos was originally one of the most loaded brackets of the competition, it certainly suffered from registration changes as several of the top wrestlers originally entered in this bracket chose not to attend. Nonetheless, it still features some incredible athletes, containing everything from age-level superstars and wrestling's future to Olympic medalists and legends of the sport. This weight class will be headlined by the return of two-time Olympic medalist Helen Maroulis, who will be competing in her first World Championships since 2018. Maroulis made her return this season after recovering from some serious head injuries that plagued her for much of the past quad. Her journey back to the podium was far from smooth sailing; however: there was much doubt as to how Maroulis would perform at the Games based on her limited international experience in the couple of years leading up to the event. While she looked solid at the Pan Am Qualifier in 2020, she faltered domestically in the Olympic Trials Finals against Jenna Burkert and took two surprise losses at the Poland Open Ranking Series in June. At the Olympics, however, she appeared to be back in tip-top shape: she beat 2018 World Champion Ningning Rong in the first round, avenged her loss from Poland against Tetyana Kit in the quarters, and pushed eventual Olympic Champion Risako Kawai to the brink in a 2-1 semifinal match. Maroulis will enter this bracket as the heavy favorite. Also returning from the Olympics is Evelina Nikolova of Bulgaria, who was a surprise bronze medalist at the weight. Nikolova had initially planned to try to qualify at 53 kilos, where she competed at the 2019 World Championships, but moved up in 2021 for the European OGQ. The Bulgarian had a strong performance at the Games, earning notable wins over Anastasia Nichita and 2016 Olympic Silver Valeria Koblova, but her path to a medal was somewhat softened when Adekuoroye fell in the first round. Nikolova lacks the resume of some of the other women in this weight class and has numerous losses to women both at 57 kilos and 55kg. The sole remaining Olympian returning to this weight class is young star Anshu Malik of India. Anshu had a challenging tournament, dropping both of her matches; however, her two Olympic losses were to past and present silver medallists. Anshu most definitely has a bright future ahead of her and will be instrumental in leading the Indian Wrestling Federation to success in the upcoming quad. While Japan will not be sending their two-time Olympic Champion and legend-in-the-making Risako Kawai, their 'B' team replacement could very well have near-equivalent success. Sae Nanjo owns three world titles- two Junior and one U23- and has proven that she can contend with Senior-level athletes since she was a Cadet. Nanjo made her debut performance at the 2017 Ivan Yariguin as an 18-year-old, dominating the competition (including a pin over Sarah Hildebrandt in the final). Despite her youth and relative Senior level inexperience, Japan's track record and Nanjo's age-level dominance should cause wrestling fans to regard her as a serious contender. While these Olympians and senior-level talents have already been able to showcase themselves on the highest level, several athletes are entering these World Championships looking to prove themselves. Russian Veronika Chumikova had been looking strong as ever and a huge force when she qualified the weight for Russia at the World OGQ. However, a fluke performance at the Poland Open influenced Russian coaches to send 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist, Valeria Koblova, instead of her. This tournament is a prime opportunity for her to redeem herself as Russia's number one. In addition, Canadian Alex Town will look to have a strong performance after Canada surprisingly failed to qualify 57 kg for the Games. Town is a U23 World Champion and placed a very respectable third at the Canadian Olympic Trials. Her dynamic and crafty style will be a treat for all fans looking to view some exciting matches. Giullia Rodrigues of Brazil had been looking to qualify Brazil to the Olympic Games at 57 kg after winning the 2020 (and 2021) Pan-Am Championships, but unfortunately fell just short at the Pan-Am and World OGQs, where 57kg was one of the deepest weights. She has some strong wins under her belt. This bracket will also feature 2019 Junior World Champion Patrycja Gil, who beat Chumikova in a strange match at the Poland Open in addition to notching a U23 Euro silver this year. This year's Junior World Bronze medallist Elvira Kamaloglu of Turkey will also be in attendance. Also to be kept an eye on is Solomiia Vynnyk of Ukraine, who didn't compete at Junior Worlds due to Ukraine's team not attending but managed to win a Junior Euro title to add to her prior Senior Euro silver from 2020. All in all, this weight class is solid, as the returning Olympic medallists and top tier of competitors will be nipped at the heels by some of the age level scene's biggest stars. Watch as Japan's Sae Nanjo will have an opportunity to prove her country's women's wrestling depth while Maroulis and Nikolova look to upgrade the colors of their medals. 59 kg: Bullen, Morais & Dudova Show What We Missed at the Olympic Games While many of the weight classes contested in Oslo have retained some semblance of depth following the Olympics, 59 kilos lacks the starpower that the others have. Unlike many of these weight classes, which contain Olympic medalists or well-credentialed veterans, 59 kilos has only one Olympian returning from Tokyo and no clear favorite. Jowita Wrzesien of Poland is the sole Tokyo Olympian in this weight class here. She qualified for the Games via a 5th place finish at the World Championships, but hasn't notched any other big results or wins. Wrzesien's slim international credentials make it hard to pick her as a likely title contender, but her solid run in 2019 and status as the sole 2020 Olympian make her certainly in the mix to contend for a medal. While this weight class may lack in number of Olympians, the defending World Champion from 2019 will be in attendance: Canadian Linda Morais won her nation's sole world medal in Nur-Sultan with a stunning gold-medal performance, capped off with a come-from-behind fall over Liubov Ovcharova. Despite this grand success, Morais was unable to qualify Canada for the Olympic Games; she was upset by Jane Valencia of Mexico at the Pan-Am OGQ and fell to Grace Bullen- who she had previously teched 10-0- at the World OGQ. Morais will look to defend her title here, though she can be a little hot-and-cold with her performances. Ukraine's late addition of 2015 World Champion and Rio Olympian Oksana Kukhta Herhel throws an interesting twist in things: Kukhta has only competed a couple times since 2017, but owns astounding results prior to that. She won a world title in Vegas at 60 kilos before qualifying her nation to the Olympics at 58 kg and competing in Rio, where she lost in the first round. Since 2017, however, she has competed sparingly and predominantly at 65 kilos without any major results. It's hard to gauge what level she's currently at and how she'll perform at this lower weight, but she'll certainly be an intriguing addition to the field. One of the most underrated women's wrestlers of our time, Bilyana Dudova, is also registered to compete at 59 kilos. Despite being a four-time European Champion and a 2018 World Silver Medalist, Dudova did not make her country's Olympic team. Surprise Tokyo bronze medallist Evelina Nikolova, who had initially tried to qualify at 53 kilos, made the trip to the Games instead of her talented teammate. Bulgaria's depth at this weight is often overlooked, but the three-woman punch of Olympic Bronze Medalists Nikolova and Taybe Yusein at 57 kg and 62 kg with Dudova sandwiched in between at 59 kg makes for an impressive lineup. Dudova will be one of the favorites of this weight class as she looks to redeem herself after missing the Games. Another big name missing at the Olympics was Grace Bullen of Norway. Bullen is regarded as one of the most promising Nordic wrestlers, heralding accolades such as U23 World Champ, 2-time Euro Champ and World 5th-placer thanks to her highly engaging and dynamic style. Despite being a powerhouse and sporting unique techniques, Bullen failed to qualify Norway for the Games at both the Euro OGQ and the World OGQ. She lost a dramatic bout to Veronika Chumikova in the semifinals in Sofia but had wrestled very well prior to that match. She'll look for redemption in her home country at her most natural weight. While 59kg lacks senior-level firepower, there are a total of three age-level world champions in this bracket. Bullen owns a U23 World title. The USA will be sending new World Team member Maya Nelson, who won the 2017 Junior Worlds at 63kg, to add to a bronze medal from the year prior. Nelson has some strong domestic wins and also secured a criteria victory over Linda Morais earlier this year at Pan Ams. She, in turn, will be challenged by Akie Hanai, a 2019 Junior World Champ at 57 kg, who also has a U23 World silver medal and some strong Senior-level results (including medals from the Klippan and Yariguin). These two women could have a breakout senior-level performance and should be watched to see how they fare on the big stage. Several other athletes to keep an eye on include 4-time Euro bronze medallist Alyona Kolesnik of Azerbaijan, who has been a staple internationally for the past quad. Russia will be sending 2020 World Cup Champion Svetlana Lipatova, who also has two Euro medals and strong results from some other tournaments (including gold at the 2018 Poland Open and silver at the 2019 Yariguin). As well, Sara Lindborg of Sweden picked up a Euro medal in 2020 and also owns a 2018 Junior World Bronze and Euro silver. She's had some strong results at some of the bigger international tournaments in Europe and could become one of Sweden's primary reps at the middleweights. In summary, there is no clear favorite at this weight class; Olympian Jowita Wrzesien and World Champions Morais and Kukhta Herhel stand out as the most credentialed women in this bracket. Keep an eye out for Bilyana Dudova to make a statement, and don't miss out on Grace Bullen's dynamic style as she looks to earn her first world medal in her home country. 68 kg: Tamyra Looks to Earn Her Second Global Title in 65 Days 68 kilos is one of the most blessed weights post-Olympics; with three of the four medallists making an appearance in Oslo, much of the depth that will be lacking in some of the other categories will still be retained here. This weight class will be headlined by the only defending Olympic Champion in Oslo: Tamyra Mensah-Stock, coming off a dominant gold medal campaign, will be looking to win her second global title in 65 days. Mensah-Stock manhandled everyone she faced at the Olympics- her performance was highlighted with technical superiority victories over defending champion Sara Dosho in the first round, followed by a similar 10-0 victory over the last woman to beat her: Feng Zhou, who defeated her at the Matteo Pellicone in January 2020. One-sided victories over Alla Cherkasova and Blessing Oborodudu capped off her championship performance. Perhaps just as impressive as these victories, however, has been Mensah's steady trajectory to the top- from not qualifying to the Games in 2016 to slowly moving up the rankings at the World Championships and now owning a World and Olympic Gold, Tamyra's growth over the last quad has been immeasurably impressive. However, the two other Olympic medalists joining Tamyra will be pushing to take the title for their own. Blessing Oborodudu of Nigeria was a bit of a surprise finalist; the 3-time Olympian lacked any previous major world accolades, but earned some solid wins en route to making it to the finals. Oborodudu's success holds deep meaning to the nation of Nigeria and its growing wrestling program, as well as wrestling in Africa overall. Women's wrestling in Nigeria, led by Canadian Olympic Champion Daniel Igali, has been improving exponentially over the past couple quads. Blessing will look to continue her positive momentum in Oslo and bring home more hardware for her nation. Equally treasured in her home country is Meerim Zhumanazarova, Kyrgyzstan's first female Olympic medalist in any sport. Zhumanazarova, only 22, owns three age-level world medals and has had a very successful transition over to the senior scene. She emerged as a prime prospect after winning the 2020 World Cup, highlighted by a victory over Ukrainian 2013 World Champion and 2019 World Silver Medallist Alina Berezhna. En route to her Olympic bronze medal, Zhumanazarova lost a close 3-2 match to Oborodudu; she'll be itching to get another shot here. Two other Olympians will be present in this bracket. Khanum Velieva of Russia attended her first Games this year after qualifying at the Euro OGQ in March. Velieva has had tons of success on the age-level scene, earning three total world titles at the Cadet and Junior World Championships. She has already amassed wins over some of the top women, but has also taken some losses to women who aren't as skilled as her. Velieva has gained a lot of positive experience over the past couple years, attending essentially every major tournament since the 2019 World Championships, and will likely become a top threat on the senior scene once she gains a bit more experience. Also in attendance will be Adela Hanzlickova of the Czech Republic, who attended the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. Hanzlickova owns a U23 World Bronze medal and a handful of senior and age-level European medals. She is a pinning machine and has a sneaky way of getting a lot of high-level wins. Her big throws and strong positional wrestling give her the potential to upset some really tough athletes and she even threw Mensah-Stock for four points in a close match at the Pellicone in March. Hanzlickova's style naturally lends itself to some inconsistency, but it'll be interesting to see if she can do any damage in this bracket. Missing from this bracket is Rio 2016 Champion Sara Dosho, whose Tokyo performance disappointingly ended without a medal; she will be replaced by Cadet Asian Champion Rin Miyaji. Miyaji's victory at the Japanese nationals was a bit of a surprise; not only does she lack the normally well-adorned international resume that most of Japan's top women have, but she only recently moved up to 68kg from 62 kilos. Miyaji earned two victories over top prospect Naruha Matsuyuki to make the world team. She credits much of her recent success to training with Kaori Icho. After Dosho's disappointing performances at the past couple world events, it will be interesting to gauge Japan's depth at this weight class and their potential for future success with Miyaji's performance here. Several top Junior athletes will be looking to prove themselves on the next level in Oslo. Delgermaa Enkhsaikhan of Mongolia won a 2018 Junior World silver medal in addition to a 5th place finish in 2019; she's had a strong start to her senior level career with wins over some mid-tier women, including a defeat of 62kg Olympic bronze medallist Iryna Koliadenko in 2018. Enkhsaikhan will likely be the future of this weight class in Mongolia as longtime representative Battsettseg Soronzonbold is now 31. 2021 Junior World Bronze medallist Nesrin Bas will be attending her first Senior World championships. She has competed everywhere this year and has been really heavily invested in by Turkey; though her results have been pretty mixed, she does own a victory by fall over 2021 Olympian Elis Manolova from this year's senior Euros. 2019 Junior World Bronze medallist and 4-time age-level Euro medallist Ewelina Ciunek will also be in attendance in Oslo. A couple other names of note include Ukraine's choice to send Anastasia Lavrenchuk; 68 kilos has really strong domestic depth in Ukraine, but Lavrenchuk is not one of their top 3 or 5 women. She placed second at the Poland Open in June at 65 kilos but likely won't challenge for a medal here. Lithuania will be sending Senior level staple and one of their most successful female wrestlers, Danute Domikaityte, who heralds two age-level world medals in addition to some smaller international successes. Finally, Olivia Di Bacco of Canada will return to the biggest international stage following her 5th place showing at the 2018 World Championships. Di Bacco is a very talented athlete, albeit lacking some international experience, and even managed to take a match from 2018 World Silver medallist and 2020 Olympian Danielle Lappage at Canada's Olympic Team trials last year. She lost a very close 1-1 match against Zhumanazarova at the Kiev this year and could notch some strong results around the mid-to-top tier here. The depth of this weight class is insane. Tamyra Mensah-Stock will aim to defend the Olympic title she earned 65 days prior but will be pushed by returning Olympic medallists Zhumanazarova and Oborodudu, as well as other strong athletes like Rin Miyaji, Khanum Velieva and Olivia di Bacco. 72 kg: Young Star Welker Looks to Prove Herself Amongst Schell, Furuichi, Bakbergenova Last month, in Lincoln, Nebraska, the wrestling community was treated to a showdown between two of the best teenage athletes in the world: Kennedy Blades versus Kylie Welker. The sheer skill level and insane success the two girls have already had suggests that it'll be looked back on as an early clash in one of the greatest domestic rivalries in American history. Although the series didn't materialize to the extent, anyone had hoped- cut short by an apparent head injury to Kennedy Blades, who was knocked unconscious and looked a little out of sorts- Kylie Welker's two-match defeat of her Illinois opponent earned her a well-deserved World Team berth. Both Welker and Blades had sensational years, making the American Olympic Trials finals against eventual Olympic finalists Adeline Gray and Tamyra Mensah-Stock, respectively. The two followed it up with identical age-level paths, both making their national Junior and U23 World teams before dominating the international field at the Junior World Championships in Ufa (Blades at 72 kg and Welker at 76 kg). The recent successes and level of dominance, domestically and internationally, have led many wrestling fans to believe that either would be competitive on the senior level. Welker will certainly look to demonstrate this here. Though Welker may have the most potential, the most seasoned competitor in this bracket is Anna Schell of Germany. Schell is one of only two Olympians at this weight class and will enter as the on-paper favorite: she impressed at the 2019 World Championships, where she qualified for the Olympics with defeats against Rio Olympic Silver Medalist Mariya Mamashuk and Rio Olympic Champion Sara Dosho. Though she hasn't been able to replicate that performance in tournaments since, she is still a solid wrestler and certainly in the mix to bring home the title here. One of the most interesting additions to this bracket is the very heavily credentialed Masako Furuichi of Japan, who owns an astounding seven age-level world titles. With Cadet titles every year between 2011 and 2013, Junior golds from 2014 to 2016, and a 2019 U23 victory, Furuichi has more hardware than many of these women could even dream of. She also won a bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships at this weight. Furuichi owns head-to-head wins over one of the tougher women in this bracket, Divya Kakran, and even defeated Tamyra back in 2016. A potential Welker-Furuichi final would be an incredible display of talent and age-level potential, though Japan would definitely be favored in this matchup. The only other Olympian in this bracket is Alla Belinska, who is returning back down to her preferred weight after representing Ukraine at 76kg in Tokyo. She lost to eventual bronze medalist Qian Zhou in the first round at the Games, but her qualifying performance in Sofia and recent dominance at 72 kilos should make her one of the favourites of this weight class. Belinska won the Euros and the Poland Open earlier this year and will look to add another medal to her collection. A woman who could have possibly been an Olympian- should her nation have chosen to enlist her to qualify was Divya Kakran of India. Kakran is a two-time Asian Champion and 5-time medallist; she's been dominant continentally as of late. She also owns wins over two Olympic medallists: 2020 Silver Blessing Oborodudu and 2012 Bronze Battsetseg Soronzonbold. Additionally, the talented Buse Tosun of Turkey came close to qualifying her nation at the World Olympic Games qualifier at 68 kilos, but fell short in the quarterfinals. She has had her best performances, including a U23 world title and a World Cup silver medal- at 72 kilos and should be expected to be a force at this weight. Young Zsuzsanna Molnar of Slovakia has been really strong for her atypical wrestling nation despite being only 20; she owns a 2018 Cadet Euro title in addition to a Junior World Bronze from earlier this year. At her Senior level debut in 2020, she won a bronze at the Individual World Cup. Molnar has an eccentric style and tends to secure a lot of pins; she should be fun to watch here though she lacks the experience against high-level competition to really go the distance this year. The story here will likely be seeing how the top four women at this weight- Olympians Belinska and Schell, youngster Welker, and well-credentialed Furuichi- end up placing relative to each other. Will the buzz around America's upperweight youth be proven correct? Will Schell and Belinska's extensive relative experience steer them towards a world title? Can Masako Furuichi add an eighth world gold medal to her already extensive list of credentials? This small weight class will be incredibly interesting in Oslo. For more of Olivia's work check out her site: International Women's Wrestling

2021 NCAA All-American Keegan O'Toole (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com; Graphic/Anna-Lee Marie) Welcome to a new recurring feature from InterMat as we lead into the 2021-22 collegiate season. We are about 50 days away from the start of the new season, so what better way to ring in the new year than to use that time to count down the top-50 current collegiate wrestlers. Each day a new wrestler will be released. These rankings have been compiled by members of the InterMat staff and used a combination of collegiate achievements, with 2021 accomplishments carrying more weight than past years, along with win-loss records and notable wins. While we are counting down the top-50 wrestlers based primarily on collegiate accomplishments, it is impossible to totally ignore achievements in the international settings, so they did factor in slightly, too. Before getting to the next wrestler on the list, look at the wrestlers previously profiled: #50 - Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) #49 - Ben Darmstadt (Cornell) #48 - Dakota Geer (Oklahoma State) #47 - Kaleb Young (Iowa) #46 - Rocky Elam (Missouri) #45 - Chad Red Jr. (Nebraska) #44 - Brandon Courtney (Arizona State) #43 - Brock Mauller (Missouri) #42 - Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) #41 - John Poznanski (Rutgers) #40 - Brayton Lee (Minnesota) #39 - Travis Wittlake (Oklahoma State) #38 - Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) #37 - Tariq Wilson (NC State) #36 - Jacob Warner (Iowa) #35 - Jacori Teemer (Arizona State) #34 - Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) #33 - Vito Arujau (Cornell) #32 - Patrick Glory (Princeton) #31 - Max Dean (Penn State) Next is… Keegan O'Toole (Missouri) Weight: 165 lbs Year: Freshman Career Record: 19-1 Hometown: Hartland, Wisconsin College Accomplishments: 2021 NCAA 3rd Place, 2021 MAC Champion 2021-22 Preseason Ranking: #5 at 165 lbs The Class of 2020 for the Missouri Tigers was an amazing group that could help Brian Smith's squad content for NCAA team trophies and sooner rather than later. We've already discussed one member of that star-studded class in #46 Rocky Elam. Now it's time to talk Keegan O'Toole, who was deemed the number five overall recruit in his senior class by MatScouts. From day one, O'Toole was in the lineup for the Tiger, but you may have forgotten where. O'Toole competed in Mizzou's dual against South Dakota State and later that day in an "extra match", while wrestling at 157 lbs. O'Toole blew out the opposition in both contests, one of which was Cade DeVos, a highly regarded redshirt freshman that ended up qualifying for nationals. A few days later, the Tigers readjusted their lineup and moved O'Toole to 165 and nudged previous starter Peyton Mocco to 174. No matter the weight class, O'Toole's outcome was the same. A combined 33 points against a pair of wrestlers (Alex Cramer - Central Michigan and Cole Moody - Wyoming) that would later compete at nationals. O'Toole and Mizzou were only in action for five more duals during the shortened 2021 season. The true freshman from Wisconsin finished the regular season unbeaten and relatively unchallenged. A 5-1 win over Izzak Olejnik (Northern Illinois) accounted for his closest bout. At the MAC Championships, O'Toole racked up two falls and a major decision before facing Olejnik for the title. Like their previous meeting, it was O'Toole who prevailed via a four-point margin. Sitting at 13-0 with a MAC title and bonus points in 10 of his 13 wins, O'Toole was presented with the sixth seed at his first national tournament. The first round of the NCAA Tournament resembled the regular season for O'Toole as he dominated a MAC foe Jake Silverstein (Rider). Keegan advanced with a fall in 4:10. Next up was a solid freshman in his own right, Cameron Amine (Michigan). O'Toole was pushed a bit, but didn't falter. He locked up a place in the quarterfinals after a 5-2 win. Looming in the quarters was the ACC champion #3 Jake Wentzel (Pittsburgh). O'Toole jumped out to an early lead on Wentzel, but ended up dropping a back-and-forth affair, 9-6. O'Toole's loss in the quarters left him in the bloodround fight for a spot on the NCAA podium. Standing in his way was #9 Luke Weber (North Dakota State), the Big 12 champion. The Mizzou freshman was able to grind out a 5-1 win and clinched a berth in the top-eight. Just getting on the podium wasn't enough as O'Toole poured it on his next two opponents. He outscored Anthony Valencia (Arizona State) and Zach Hartman (Bucknell) 33-5 during his run to the NCAA third place bout. For third place, O'Toole needed to get by #10 Travis Wittlake (Oklahoma State). Wittlake's seed was a bone of contention for many pre-tournament as he was unbeaten heading into the Big 12 Championships, before getting upset by Weber. Wittlake and O'Toole engaged in an exciting, action-packed 4-3 bout that was more exciting than the score may indicate. When the smoke cleared, it was Toole who got his hand raised and was third in the nation. During his true freshman year, O'Toole tallied up bonus points in 65% of his matches and notched six falls. After his collegiate season was over, O'Toole made the Junior World Team at 74 kg. In Ufa, Russia, O'Toole put on a tournament for the ages. In the quarters and semis, O'Toole was down on the scoreboard, but not out of the match mentally. Both times he cradled and pinned his highly-credentialed opponents. One of those opponents, Turan Bayramov (Azerbaijan), defeated James Green at Senior World's today and will wrestle for bronze tomorrow. O'Toole put the finishing touches on his Junior World title by rolling to an 11-0 showing of technical superiority in the gold medal match. Strengths: On his feet, you'll see go movement and level changes out of O'Toole. He gets the job done with inside-reach single's and high-C's. As one may expect being a protege of Ben Askren, O'Toole is a master scrambler. On the mat he has a variety of way to score. The cradle being perhaps the most deadly. He can catch one from any position, on top or in a no-control situation. O'Toole also tried to work in bars and hammerlocks, even an assassin. 2021-22 Outlook: O'Toole is in an absolutely loaded 165 lb weight class. Two veteran, multiple-time All-Americans (#2 Alex Marinelli - Iowa and #3 Evan Wick - Cal Poly) slotted in ahead of him, though he was fifth in the nation last year. As we saw during his freestyle run, once O'Toole gets more time in the Mizzou room, he could be absolutely scary. It's wouldn't be a huge shock to see O'Toole atop the podium Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena. He also competes in a Big 12 weight class that is expected to feature two other wrestlers in the top-eight and six of the top-16. 2021 NCAA All-American Keegan O'Toole (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com)

2021 World Champions Thomas Gilman (left) and Jordan Burroughs (Photo Courtesy of Tony Rotundo/UWW) #3 Thomas Gilman (USA) wins gold at 57 KG, Horst Lehr (GER) wins Germany's first world medal since 1999. #3 Thomas Gilman (USA) has been at another level this year, building off an impressive bronze medal showing at the Olympics with a world title in Oslo. In the finals, Gilman didn't miss a beat, peppering 2019 U-23 world bronze medalist Alireza Sarlak (IRI) with leg attacks and heavy handfighting for a 5-3 win. History was made for Germany when Horst Lehr (GER) beat #6 Abubakar Mutaliev (RWF) for bronze by 6-4 decision, getting Germany's first world medal since 1999 when Alexander Leipold finished silver at the 76KG weight class. #15 Aryan Tyutrin (BLR), a three-time Russian Nationals bronze medalist in 2014, 2016, and 2018, won a hard-fought 3-1 victory over 2019 world runner-up #8 Suleyman Atli (TUR) to bring home bronze. Thomas Gilman's run to Olympic bronze and world gold shows first and foremost just how much dedication to the journey can take you. Gilman was never an NCAA champion, was a world silver medalist in 2017 and 5th in 2018 and didn't make the team in 2019. He was neck-and-neck with the reigning three-time World/Olympic champion #1 Zavur Uguev (RWF) in Tokyo and rebounded to win bronze. A lot of guys would be lucky to have that as their total career, but Gilman comes back not even two months later, looking even better than he did in Tokyo and caps off his quad with a dominant world title. I, for one, am looking forward to Gilman go to war with Uguev and #2 Ravi Kumar (IND) this quad and can't wait to see how it all pans out. #3 Zagir Shakhiev (RWF) dominates for 65 KG world gold, Tulga Tumur Ochir (MGL) caps off upset run with world bronze. #3 Zagir Shakhiev (RWF) looked every part of the highly touted prospect he was hailed to be in the world finals, disposing of Amirmohammad Yazdani Charati (IRI) by 14-4 tech in under a minute and a half. In hindsight, it's easy to say, but Shakhiev's path to world gold here was won before he even stepped foot in Oslo; just off the performances he's had to be Russia's number two behind Olympic bronze medalist #2 Gadzhimurad Rashidov (RWF). Before even stepping foot at his first Senior world championships, Shakhiev has beaten Olympic champion Soslan Ramonov (RWF), two-time world bronze medalist #8 Akhmed Chakaev (RWF), 2020 European champion #3 (70) Kurban Shiraev (RWF) and U-23 European runner-up #10 Abdulmazhid Kudiev (RWF). The future for Shakhiev is bright, but it will be interesting to see if he continues to stay at 65 and battle it out with 2019 world champion #2 Gadzhimurad Rashidov (RWF) or make a move up to 70 KG with #1 (70) Evgheni Zherbaev (RWF), #2 Israil Kasumov (RWF),#3 Kurban Shiraev (RWF) and #4 David Baev (RWF). Tulga Tumur Ochir (MGL) made waves back in 2018 when he upset returning world runner-up #6 (70) Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL) in the round of 16 at the 65 KG world championships. A 5-3 loss to eventual runner-up #5 Bajrang Punia (IND) put Tumur Ochir into repechage where he fell 6-4 in the second round to Seung Chul Lee (CHN) and failed to place. 2019 worlds saw Tumur Ochir return where he'd fall 6-2 to runner-up #14 Daulet Niyazbekov (KAZ) and fall in a razor-thin 8-7 match to #5 Bajrang Punia (IND). In his third world championships appearance, Tumur Ochir was a completely different animal, upsetting #6 Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM) 2-1 and rebounded from a 4-4 criteria loss to world champion #3 Zagir Shakhiev (RWF) with a masterful 10-4 pin win over Rohit Rohit (IND). The future is bright for Tumur Ochir and I look forward to seeing if he can improve upon his finish in Oslo in the years to come. Alibek Osmonov (KGZ) capped off a strong day 3 run for Kyrgyzstan by winning world bronze over European runner-up Krzysztof Bienkowski (POL) in a 4-1 match. Considering Osmonov was the number two guy for Kyrgyzstan at 65 KG behind 70 KG world finalist #7 Ernazar Akhmataliev (KGZ), his run in Oslo was very impressive. #7 (65) Ernazar Akhmataliev (KGZ) upsets top-ranked Evgheni Zherbaev (RWF) to make 70 KG world finals. #6 Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL) fends off late charge from Turan Bayramov (AZE) for second career world finals appearance. In what was one of the premier matches of the tournament, 65 KG Olympian #7 (65) Ernazar Akhmataliev (KGZ) used a big four-point headlock along with some incredible scrambling ability to upset top-ranked Evgheni Zherbaev (RWF) 9-5 in the semifinals. The clutchness of Akhmataliev went beyond his win over Zherbaev, as in the quarterfinal, a clutch chest wrap secured him an 8-7 win over Junior world champion #12 Erfan Elahi (IRI). Turan Bayramov (AZE) was absolutely incredible through his semifinal run, as the Azeri talent beat a pair of world runner-ups in #8 James Green (USA) and Adam Batirov (BRN). After an inside trip late in his match against 2019 world bronze medalist, #6 Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL), looked to secure Bayramov a 3-2 win late in the match, but the ref blew the action dead and called a stepout. With Gadzhiev taking a point on a controversial call on passivity (after Bayramov was completing a takedown on Gadzhiev that was blown dead as a stepout), Bayramov protested the call and after a long challenge was with Gadzhiev winning 4-2. Expect to see Turan Bayramov (AZE) and #1 Evgheni Zherbaev (RWF) rebound strongly to win bronze tomorrow and in the future, I see Bayramov as being the man to beat at this weight. He still is and would be a great lock to win gold tomorrow but had his opportunity to do so taken away from him by incompetent officiating. #1 Jordan Burroughs (USA) makes history with a hardfought sixth World/Olympic title at 79 KG. Taking on Junior world champion #20 Mohammad Nokhodilarimi (IRI), 33-year-old Jordan Burroughs (USA) was looking to enter the record books along with John Smith (USA) as six-time World/Olympic champion. In a highly physical bout with both men trading their best shots, it was the veteran Burroughs who would show he was not done yet, winning his sixth World/Olympic title with a resounding 5-1 victory over #20 Mohammad Nokhodilarimi (IRI). Time will only tell what is next for Burroughs, but as it stands, he lays claim to being one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and living legend status. #20 Mohammad Nokhodilarimi (IRI) needs to be given proper respect as well, as just in August he was winning Junior world gold and to turn around and beat an established talent like #7 Nika Kentchadze (GEO) to make the finals speaks to his ability as a future champion at the weight. Taking bronze at 79 KG was European bronze medalist #7 Nika Kentchadze (GEO) 10-0 over Arman Avagyan (ARM) and #3 Radik Valiev (RWF) over Ryuki Yoshida (JPN). Expect to see Kentchadze and Valiev continue to be staples of the top 10 at 79 KG for years to come as both men were neck and neck with Nokhodilarimi and Burroughs. #2 Kamran Ghasempour (IRI) finishes as 92 KG world champion with clutch victory over #1 Magomed Kurbanov (RWF). After a career-defining 3-3 criteria victory in the semifinals over two-time world champion #13 J'den Cox (USA), #2 Kamran Ghasempour (IRI) was a man on a mission in his finals match against top-ranked Magomed Kurbanov (RWF). Leading 6-2 late into the match, Ghasempour was stunned by a Kurbanov takedown and his chances for gold looked dashed as Kurbanov loaded him up for a gut wrench to take the 6-6 criteria lead with short time left. In what was another example of Ghasempour's calm under fire, the Iranian champion used a clutch reversal to expose Kurbanov and lock in the 8-6 win and world gold to become Iran's third world champion of the tournament along with Hassan Yazdani Charati and Amir Zare. Ghasempour looks to have the tools to begin for a long run at 92 KG, but the question of if he will cut down to 86 KG and challenge Yazdani again or fill Iran's much-needed spot for a 97 KG who can win world medals is yet to be seen. Finishing with bronze at the 92 KG world championships was two-time world champion #13 J'den Cox (USA) by 11-0 tech over Andrii Vlasov (UKR) and #14 Osman Nurmagomedov (AZE) with a 2-0 victory over #11 Amarhadzhi Magomedov (BLR). The future for Cox is in question of if he stays at 92 KG and tries to regain the championship form he had from 2018-2019 or make the move to 97 KG to contend with Kyle Snyder. #14 Osman Nurmagomedov (AZE) capped off a great year with a world bronze medal and I'm really excited to see what the U-23 European runner-up can do now at full strength as he continues to grow throughout the new quad. #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RWF) looks to continue historic run with seventh World/Olympic title at 97, #2 Kyle Snyder (USA) mounts clutch comeback to beat #11 Mojitaba Goleij (IRI). #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RWF) was in complete control throughout his run to the finals at 97 KG, putting together victories over #17 Aleksandr Hushtyn (BLR), Mahammad Zakariiev (UKR) and Takashi Ishiguro (JPN). #2 Kyle Snyder (USA) took a harder path to the finals, relying on a takedown in the final five seconds to take out two-time U-23 world champion #11 Mojitaba Goleij (IRI) and make his sixth World/Olympic finals match in pursuit of title number four. Notable upsets from the bracket were Mahamad Zakariiev (UKR) over #10 Suleyman Karadeniz (TUR) 6-3 in the quarterfinals, #11 Mojitaba Goleij (IRI) over #6 Elizbar Odikadze (GEO) in the qualification round. While Goleij is likely to end his world championships run with a medal, I'm not sold on Iran keeping him as the rep for 97 KG moving forward as they try and return #7 Mohammad Mohammadian (IRI) to form or look to newly minted 92 KG champion #2 Kamran Ghasempour (IRI) to right the ship.

Amy Fearnside at the 2021 World Team Trials (Photo/Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com) 50 kg 53 kg 65 kg 76 kg Women's Freestyle

Forrest Molinari 2021 World Team Trials(Photo/Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com) 50 kg: Hildebrandt Headlines a Young Lightweight Field As is typical in most post-Olympic World Championships, many weight classes are slightly depleted of talent. 50 kilos is no exception: reigning Olympic Champion Yui Susaki will not be attending, nor will her finals opponent Yanan Sun or defending World Champion and Olympic Bronze Medallist Mariya Stadnik. However, the weight class is not completely deficient of Olympic medalists and major international stars: 2018 World Silver Medalist and Tokyo Bronze Sarah Hildebrandt will make her return in Oslo this week. Hildebrandt's descent down to 50 kilos left some questions in international wrestling fans, wondering if the cut would be too much. The American had spent most of her time up at 55 kilos before switching to 53kg, a weight where she looked strong and lean. However, Hildebrandt accustomed to 50 kg nicely (as evidenced by the fact that she has only lost one match in her five tournaments since descending!) and secured a bronze medal in Tokyo, earning wins over Evin Demirhan, Miglena Selishka and Oksana Livach, losing only a razor-thin bout to Sun of China. As the highest Olympic placer and one of the most successful women as of late in the field, Hildebrandt will be heavily favored to win this tournament. The two women that Hildebrandt steamrolled en route to the semifinals, Selishka of Bulgaria and Demirhan of Turkey, are both registered for the World Championships. While Hildebrandt dominated them both with a pair of techfalls, both these women are well-credentialed and are in excellent position to secure a medal at this event. Demirhan owns three continental medals in addition to a 2017 World Bronze and a U23 World Title from the same year. Selishka is a three-time European finalist, including when she took the title in 2020, and has been a fixture on the international scene for the past quad. While neither of these athletes are in the top tier of competitors at 50 kilos, the slightly sparser field will provide them with an opportunity to bring home some hardware for their nations. Other Olympians who'll be present at this weight include Argentinian Patricia Bermudez, who had the performance of a lifetime to secure fifth in Rio but failed to re-qualify to Tokyo, and two-time World Silver Medallist Emilia Vuc of Romania. Vuc's resume is well-credentialed, including two World and three European medals, but her performances can politely be described as hot-and-cold. At her previous five tournaments, she has placed 3rd, 7th twice, 8th, and 14th at the Olympic Games (falling to Selishka first round). However, she made the 2019 World finals over some incredibly tough competitors and pushed Hildebrandt to the final seconds in a 4-2 match at the 2020 Matteo Pellicone. If Vuc is on, this bracket could be hers for the taking; however, it's hard to know what version of her we will see. Though Japan will not be sending Susaki, the women's wrestling powerhouse will be sending one of their youngest up-and-comers, who should undoubtedly not be counted out. Remina Yoshimoto won a 2017 Cadet World Title as well as 2016 Cadet and 2019 Junior Asian titles, and she'll look to continue Japan's traditional dominance at the lightest weight class here. This will be a big test for the 21-year old as she looks to prove herself, though she'll likely be stuck behind Susaki in the lineup for the foreseeable future. A couple other points of interest include Ukraine's entry of Bohdana Kokozei Yashchuk, who is decidedly an unknown at this weight. Yashchuk doesn't appear to have any international results- not even at her home country's annual Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers and Coaches Memorial- and Ukraine's depth at this weight makes her registration a surprise. It will be interesting to see if she is on the top tier of Ukrainian lightweight women's wrestling, which includes the likes of World Medallist Oksana Livach, World Cup Finalist Lillia Malanchuk and multiple-time age-group World Medallist Mariia Vynnyk. Beyond these top contenders are many age-level standouts looking to expand their credentials from the highly competitive Cadet, Junior and U23 Championships to the Senior level. There are six athletes at this weight with solid international resumes looking for their breakout performance on the big stage. The most successful of the group is 2015 Junior World Champion Turkan Nasirova, who also owns a U23 Bronze and Junior Silver to complete her collection. However, the Azeri hasn't had the same success on the senior level as she has on the age-group scene, though this tournament is the prime opportunity for a breakout performance. Also incredibly successful on the Junior and U23 levels is Russian Nadezhda Sokolova, who owns two U23 World medals and a Junior World Silver. She could really make some noise at this event. Furthermore, Cadet World Silver Medallist Otgonjargal Dolgarjav of Mongolia will be making her Senior level debut in Oslo; she dominated the 2018 Cadet Worlds field up until her finals match and thus will be an interesting addition to this weight class. Additionally, 2018 Cadet World Bronze Medallist Natallia Varakina has secured 5th at the past two Junior World Championships and will look to improve upon those finishes here. Lisa Ersel of Germany won bronze at the 2020 World Cup and also owns a Junior Euro Silver and a Cadet World Bronze. Finally, Kumari Hanny of India secured a 2019 Cadet World Bronze medal in solid fashion. She'll look to make waves on the senior level and increase India's growing list of successes in women's wrestling. Don't be surprised if any of these athletes have a breakout performance and land amongst the medals or upset one of the more established competitors. 53 kg: The World's First Look at Akari Fujinami Of the six Olympic weights, 53 kilos is the most deprived of talent post-Tokyo. Only two of the sixteen competitors will be returning to action in Oslo and the bracket contains only one previous Senior level world medalist, who'll go into this bracket as the prohibitive favorite: Bolortuya Bat-Ochir of Mongolia. Bat-Ochir has emerged as a top senior-level contender over the past couple years since winning a 2019 World Bronze medal in Nur-Sultan at 55 kilos. Since then, she capped off a stellar performance at the Asian OGQ with an even brighter run in Tokyo, securing the bronze medal with a tech-fall in her final match. Bat-Ochir is only 24 and indubitably has a bright future ahead of her at the weight. The only other Tokyo Olympian in this bracket, Luisa Valverde Melendres of Ecuador, is an interesting addition to the field. Valverde has been incredibly successful on the Pan-Am scene with 8 continental medals to her name and has also experienced flashes of brilliance on the World-level scene, including wins over 3-time European Champion Stalvira Orshush and two-time world medallist Maria Prevolaraki. However, she tends to struggle with consistency and putting together a complete tournament (see her performance at this year's Pan-Am's- she teched Ronna Heaton in the first round, then lost to her 9-6 in the finals). If Valverde is on, look out. It's just hard to say what version of her will show up in Oslo. Also making an appearance is Polish veteran Katarzyna Krawczyk, who attended the Rio 2016 Olympics but stayed at home behind Roksana Zasina this year. Krawczyk has been a staple at 53 kilos for many years, highlighted by a fifth-place finish at the 2018 Worlds, and is consistent and experienced enough to be in medal contention. Other veterans to watch out for include two-time European medallist Annika Wendle of Germany, 2021 European bronze medallist Iulia Leorda of Moldova, and Anzhelika Vetoshkina, who has been a staple on the Russian scene and has had some solid results at tournaments like the Klippan and Yariguin. Vetoshkina also won bronze at the 2020 World Cup. While these veterans are solid and well-credentialed, the young women entering will steal the show in Oslo. Positive age-level results have shown a promising new crop of 53 kg athletes emerging, which will be highlighted in Oslo by Akari Fujanami of Japan. Fujanami won the Cadet Asian and World Championships in 2018 and has since been the source of a lot of domestic and international buzz. Rumors have floated around that she has been able to "more than hold her own" against Olympic Champion Mayu Mukaida in training room matches. Fujinami also had to beat out two-time World Champion Haruna Okuno and 2019 World finalist Nanami Irie just to make the world team- matches which she won dominantly. Japan is well-known for having incredibly talented youngsters right out the gate and Fujinami will be a prime pick to win the title in Oslo. While Fujinami has been absent from the international scene since 2019, 2021 Junior World Champion Emma Malmgrem is more than familiar: she looked fantastic in Ufa in August and has accumulated a long list of age-level credentials since 2017. The Swede won the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, won Cadet Euros twice, and owns two age-level Euro bronzes. Malmgrem is not new to the Senior level, having wrestled for Sweden at 50kg at the OGQs; however, she is definitely too big for the weight class, but was stuck behind the talented Sofia Mattsson in regards to the 53kg spot. She looked alright at 50 kilos- even pinning 2012 World Champion Jessica MacDonald- but has looked even more stellar at 53kg and has huge Senior-level potential. Other strong youngsters include Zeynep Yetgil of Turkey, who has had a ton of age-level success, including 3 World bronze medals and 5 European medals. She has been a rising star for Turkey for the past couple years and will likely be their prime representative over the next couple quads. Yetgil is in the top tier of current U23 athletes and will be looking to extend her success to the older age group. Ukraine's Khrystyna Bereza will also look to establish herself and her country on the senior level after securing silver at the 2021 Poland Open in addition to her previous three age-group world medals. Bereza will look to be the answer for Ukraine at 53 kilos after they failed to qualify the weight for the Olympics; this is the only category in which Ukraine lacks in success and depth. A strong performance here could cement the nation's strong women's wrestling program as a powerhouse for the upcoming quad. Also, keep an eye on American Amy Fearnside, who won the US World Team Trials out of the seventh seed and will be attending her first world championships. Though Fearnside lacks the international experience of some of her competitors, she does have some really strong results, including a recent win over 2019 50kg World Bronze medallist Ekaterina Poleshchuk. While this weight class features some of the international scene's most seasoned veterans, all eyes should be on young Akari Fujinami. Her insane domestic success- already including victories over some of the world's best- should translate well to Oslo and I expect her to dominate the field in her senior international debut. 65 kg: Return of the 'Tweeners 65 kilos will be an interesting weight class as the top women who have ruled this category will be largely absent from Oslo. 2021 Olympian Elis Manolova is the only medalist returning from 2019, and none of the medallists from 2018 (when this weight class debuted) are registered. Going through the entry list, there's an interesting prevalence of 'tweeners: many of the women struggled to make the 62kg weight class, and were forced to go up to 68kg for the Olympic year despite being undersized. Manolova has one of the most well-adorned resumes in the field as she will look to continue Azerbaijan's streak of medaling at 65 kilos since the weight class' inception. She qualified for the 2021 Games at 68kg through the World OGQ in Sofia, Bulgaria, and sports credentials, including a 2020 European title, a 2019 World Bronze and three age-level world medals. She'll most certainly be in the hunt for a medal, especially down at her optimal weight. The most interesting entry, however, is the last-minute addition of Koumba Larroque of France, moving down from 68 kg after a disappointing performance in Tokyo. The 22-year old athlete looked on pace to have a stellar performance at the Olympics, winning the Poland Open and Euros in the months prior to the Games, but was shockingly pinned by Soronzonbold of Mongolia in the first round. Larroque owns world titles at the Cadet, Junior and U23 age levels and will be looking to complete her collection by upgrading her two senior world medals to gold in Oslo. Larroque has a win over Tamyra from 2018 and will be in contention for the title here if she is at her best. Her entry at 65 kilos is especially interesting considering she has spent a lot of time up at 72kg, and was thus generally regarded as a bigger 68kg athlete. If she can compete at her best and be healthy here in Oslo, she'll be the favorite to win her first senior world title. Also well-esteemed is Mimi Hristova of Bulgaria, a two-time Olympian and 2020 European Champion. Originally, Hristova tried to qualify for the Olympic Games at 57 kilos, but would eventually qualify and compete at 68kg. The descent to 57 appeared to be a large cut for her and Bulgaria's middleweight depth- featuring Olympic medallists Taybe Yusein and Evelina Nikolova in addition to 4-time Euro Champ and 2018 World Silver medallist Bilyana Dudova, who couldn't even attend the Olympics- lead Hristova to search for a new weight class. As Yusein occupied 62 kilos, 68kg was the only option left; despite being obviously undersized, Hristova was able to represent her nation in Tokyo and will look to have a solid performance at 65 kilos here (where she fits best in the Bulgarian lineup). The only 62kg Olympian in this weight class is Romanian Kriszta Incze, who is back up at her more natural weight. Incze has three Senior and 5 age-level Euro medals, but hasn't really been able to extend her success to wins over the top tier at this weight class. She qualified for the Olympics following North Korea's withdrawal from the Olympic Games, assuming the spot of Rim-Jong Sim as the next highest placer at the 2019 Worlds. Despite the four Olympians in this weight class, the athlete that many are most excited to see is 2021 Junior World Champ Irina Ringaci. Ringaci will look to become Moldova's first female world medallist as her nation rises through the ranks of women's wrestling powerhouses, sporting formidable youngsters such as herself and Anastasia Nichita. Ringaci has amassed a pile of age-level credentials, including 3 European medals, 3 age-level world bronze medals and most recently, a well-deserved Junior World title. Ringaci even capped off her stellar recent performances with a 2021 Senior European title, showcasing her readiness for the senior scene. However, she failed to qualify for the Olympics-losing a heartbreaking razor-thin 12-11 match at the Euro OGQ and a surprise defeat by fall at the World OGQ largely in part to being ill-suited to either Olympic weight. Despite competing at 62kg in 2019, she was no longer suitable for that descent post-pandemic; she was undersized at 68 kilos and failed to produce the results she was looking for. This will be an opportunity for the Moldovan to prove herself as the top tier of this weight class. Ringaci's participation in this tournament could lead to the rubber match in what has been one of the more invigorating women's wrestling series over the past 12 months: her matches against Ukrainian Tetiana Rizhko. The two first met at the Individual World Cup, where Rizhko teched her 14-4 in the finals; however, Ringaci flipped the script at the European Championships to deal her a 10-0 defeat in the gold medal match. The drastic variance in the two results will lead to an intriguing deciding bout. Rizhko has had remarkable success on the age-level scene and could very well be in medal contention here. After finishing in fifth place at the previous two World Championships, American Forrest Molinari will look to upgrade to a medal here in Tokyo. Her chances are looking brighter than ever: none of the four women who have defeated her in the past two World Championships will be in attendance, giving Molinari a fresh shot at cracking the top tier of 65kg wrestlers. Also in the hunt for a medal will be 2016 Olympian and two-time world bronze medallist Johanna Mattsson of Sweden, who has had an observable decline in performance over the past two years. Her biggest claim to fame, however, is two wins over Tynybekova, including one in 2019 at the Sassari City tournament just prior to the World Championships- where Tynybekova would go on to win a world title. If Mattsson is in top form, she could potentially do some damage in this bracket, though she hasn't competed since 2019. Japan will be represented by 2019 Junior World Champion Miwa Morikawa, who also owns a U23 World Silver and Junior Bronze. Morikawa has minimal Senior experience, though she did earn a silver medal at the 2018 Klippan and has had some positive results representing her country at the World Cups. This event will be a good gauge for her potential future representing Japan. Based on the current entries, the top seed of this bracket will go to Aleksandra Wolczynska of Poland, who has expanded upon her 2017 Junior success to winning a Senior Euro bronze and a medal at the Poland Open this year. Wolczynska is still new to the senior level and thus lacks the wins over the top women in this bracket, but the 24-year old will seek to attain some defining results at these World Championships. This weight class will be characterized by rejuvenation: as many of these women will return from the smaller and larger Olympic weights to their optimal size, we'll get to see the world's top athletes performing at their best. If Koumba Larroque arrives in peak form, watch for her to notch some big results; keep an eye on Ringaci, Rizhko, Molinari and Manolova to contend for medals here as well. 76 kg: Adeline goes for World Title #6 After a heartbreaking quarterfinal defeat in Rio, Tokyo seemed like Adeline's time. With nearly three years between competition day and her last loss, and the momentum following her second consecutive and fifth total world title, it seemed as though there was little that could get between Adeline and an Olympic gold medal. However, in the finals, the always-tough Aline Rotter Focken rattled off 7 huge points to eventually take the match by a score of 7-3, leaving Adeline to settle for second place. While an Olympic silver medal in arguably the deepest women's weight class is nothing to scoff at, such a loss will surely have instilled a new degree of hunger in the American to reach the top of the podium once more. Gray may be the only returning Tokyo medalist in this weight class, but she is far from the only Olympian. Narrowly missing the podium this year is one of 76 kilos' greatest rising stars, Aiperi Medet Kyzy. Medet Kyzy made history by becoming the first Kyrgyzstani woman to win a world title, taking Junior Gold in 2017. She had an impressive performance en route to fifth place at the Games, capped off with a near-defeat of Adeline Gray in the semifinals. A lost Kyrgyz challenge shifted the 2-2 criteria lead from Aiperi back to Adeline's corner, a decision that turned out to eventually decide the match. Despite this defeat, Medet Kyzy has impressed the world by showing that she can already compete with the very experienced field, and she should be expected to compete for a medal in Oslo. One of the favorites to make the finals opposite Adeline will indubitably be Epp Maee of Estonia. Maee knocked out defending Olympic Champion Erica Wiebe in the first round in Tokyo, but unfortunately fell in the quarterfinals to Minagawa (who she has historically struggled against). Despite this early loss, Maee is more than capable: she won the European Championships and placed second at the Poland Open, and inarguably has a spot in the top tier amongst Gray and Medet Kyzy. The two-time world medallist will look to redeem herself after a disappointing Olympic performance. A potential match against Gray would be of great intrigue, as the two have not met since 2018. Top contenders at this weight class don't just hail from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Samar Hamza of Egypt is a two-time Olympian and will be beginning the new quad back up at 76 kg despite briefly flirting with 68 kilos during the Olympic qualification procedures. Hamza has looked decent this year: she pinned 2016 Olympic Bronze medallist Ekaterina Bukina at the Yariguin prior to the Olympics and pushed 2012 Olympic Champion Vorobieva to the brink in a 16-12 barn burner in Tokyo. Hamza won't be a walkover match for any athlete, though she'll likely struggle to notch wins over the top tier of women in Oslo. The depth of 76 kilos is exemplified by the difficulty many of the 2016 Olympians experienced when trying to repeat their previous feats in qualifiers for the Games. Two women who attended the Rio Games will look to better their recent performances in Oslo after missing out on the qualification processes. Cynthia Vescan of France, a two-time European medallist, will return to the wrestling mat despite announcing intentions to transition to MMA earlier this year. She'll be joined by the very solid Zsanett Nemeth of Hungary, who owns two European medals and has been solid on the international scene. Both women are good athletes, but will likely struggle to crack the enormous top tier of women that rule this weight class. While Germany had a historic performance at this weight class in Tokyo, recording their first wrestling Olympic gold medallist, Russia's women's wrestling team experienced a little more disappointment. The lack of an Olympic medal at the heaviest women's weight class marked only the second time since the sport's Olympic inception that Russia failed to bring home hardware. 2012 London Champion Vorobieva and Rio 2016 Bronze Bukina will be staying home from Oslo and instead, 21-year old Marina Surovtseva will be representing her nation. Surovtseva is inexperienced on the international scene, owning a 2019 Junior Euro bronze and a 2021 U23 Euro silver. Her rise up to heavyweight is surprising as she competed down at 72kg in May. It'll be interesting to see how Surovtseva performs; her results could very well impact whether she stays at the weight class or returns back to 72 kilos, as well as whether she will be Russia's primary representative at this weight class in a potential post-Bukina/Vorobieva era. While Japan's Tokyo heavyweight representative, Hiroe Minagawa, failed to medal at the Olympics, her replacement will indubitably be a contender to place. Yasuha Matsuyuki is still relatively new to the senior level, but has amassed accolades, including Cadet and U23 World titles and three Junior world medals. As Minagawa turned 34 this year, Japan will likely be scoping out for who will become her most likely replacement over the next quad; Matsuyuki has a huge opportunity to establish herself here. Beyond these quintessential contenders and new faces, there are a couple other names to watch out for as potential upsetters or beneficiaries of a good draw. Iselin Solheim won a 2020 Euro bronze medal with an impressive victory over Vasilisa Marzaliuk. The Norwegian star also owns a Euro Games bronze medal and has been competitive enough at the senior level to make her a potential source of upset-style victories. Also keep an eye on U23 World silver medallist Aysegul Ozbege, who has experienced lots of success on the age-level scene, but has lacked an opportunity to prove herself internationally as a result of being backup to Turkey's superstar Yasemin Adar. As Adar has stated that she will continue to wrestle until Paris 2024, this may be one of only a few opportunities for Ozbege to compete on the world stage for a few years. Even with some of the biggest names and most successful women missing from the entry list of this weight class, 76 kilos will still be a madhouse of talent and depth, though Gray remains the prohibitive favorite. Adeline's quest to earn a sixth world title will only be held with greater reverence because of the deep field she must overcome to turn Gray to gold once more. For more of Olivia's work check out her site: International Women's Wrestling

2021 World Champion Kyle Dake (Photo Courtesy of Tony Rotundo/UWW) Dominant #3 Thomas Gilman (USA) and upset-minded Alireza Sarlak (IRI) break through into the 57 KG world finals. Returning Olympic bronze medalist #3 Thomas Gilman (USA) has been a man on a mission through his way to the gold medal finals at 57 KG. A pin in the round of 16 over #6 Abubakar Mutaliev (RWF) avenged two past losses from 2019 to the Russian for Gilman and an 11-0 tech fall over Vladimir Egorov (MKD) got Gilman into the world semis. 2020 European bronze medalist Horst Lehr (GER) was neck and neck with Gilman early in the match, even headlocking the 2017 world runner-up in what looked to be developing into a potential upset scare. But Gilman turned on a whole other gear and picked the powerful German apart, winning his semifinal bout 15-5 to make his second world finals match and looking to improve on his silver from 2017. A U-23 world bronze medalist in 2019, Alireza Sarlak (IRI) was the #2 man behind Tokyo 5th place finisher #4 Reza Atri (IRI) and sent to world's in his absence. As a backup on a loaded Iranian team, Sarlak's performance was a flex of Iran's depth as he used upsets over #15 Aryan Tyutrin (BLR) and 2019 world runner-up #8 Suleyman Atli (TUR) to blaze his way into the finals. Gilman has looked the part of a man possessed at this tournament and while Sarlak has looked great on his own, Gilman has jumped levels and is ready for gold. The way Gilman has been wrestling in the past 3 months has put him right there in conversation as a world title contender to three-time World/Olympic champion #1 Zavur Uguev (RWF). If Sarlak is capable of stopping this version of Gilman, it will be a true testament to the power of Iran and the dominance they will have in this quad, but I lean towards Gilman getting gold here. #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RWF) cements his top status by stopping dominant #4 Daton Fix (USA) in the 61 KG world finals In the first world finals of the 2021 world championships, #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RWF) and #4 Daton Fix (USA) met in a rematch from their 2015 Cadet world quarterfinal match. Since then, Fix had gone on to make six more world teams while Magomedov took the #1 spot in the world at the end of 2020 off the strength of two Russian Nationals titles and a European title. Even as good as the two are, neither man laid claim to a Senior world championship, and both fought fiercely for gold in Oslo. The composure and fundamentals of Magomedov would win the day over the explosive style of Fix, as the Russian champion used a strong single-leg attack and defense to take the 4-1 victory over the dominant American. Taking bronze was the surging Toshihiro Hasegawa of Japan, who upended 2018 world bronze medalist Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (MGL) in a dominant 12-1 showing. Along with his victory over Tumenbileg, Hasegawa notched ranked wins over #13 Nico Megerle (GER), #9 Rahman Amouzadkhalili (IRI) and #7 Eduard Grigorev (POL). 2019 European champion Arsen Harutyunyan (ARM) was also dominant on his way to his first Senior world medal earning a first-period tech fall over Ravinder Ravinder (IND). #3 Zagir Shakhiev (RWF) survives upset scare from Tulga Tumur Ochir (MGL), Amir Mohammad Yazdani Charati (IRI) ends 6-year medal drought at 65 KG for Iran with finals berth. #3 Zagir Shakhiev (RWF) had to overcome two huge upset scares to make his way into the 65 KG world finals; A razor-thin 5-4 victory over Indian national champion Rohit Rohit was followed by a more comfortable 11-0 tech fall over 2019 European runner-up Selehattin Killicsallyan (TUR) in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Shakhiev snatched victory from the jaws of defeat from the powerful Tulga Tumur Ochir (MGL). Tumur Ochir, fresh off a 2-1 upset over #6 Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM) in the quarterfinals, stymied the offense of Shakhiev through 5 minutes of the match to lead 2-0 off a stepout and passivity point, when in the final 45 seconds of the match Shakhiev gets a takedown and exposure to take a 4-2 lead. In the last four seconds of the match, Tumur Ochir scored a go-behind takedown, but because he'd had the lower valued scores (one passivity point, one takedown, one pushout) compared to Shakhiev's (one takedown, one exposure), he lost the match on criteria. A furious Tumur Ochir was distraught and a protest ensued from the Mongolian coaches, but unlike the one made iconic from Rio, everyone kept their clothes on and the semifinals were able to proceed. On the same side of the bracket, #6 Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM) met the highly touted #18 Yianni Diakomihalis (USA) in the round of 16. Diakomihalis, who burst onto the scene in 2019 with wins over world medalists #5 Bajrang Punia (IND) and #11 Ismail Musukaev (HUN), trailed Tevanyan 1-0 at the end of the first. But the strength of Tevanyan took over in the second as the Armenian bullied his way through two takedowns to secure the 5-1 lead over the American standout. 2021 Asian Olympic qualifier runner-up Amir Mohammad Yazdani Charati (IRI) carved his way through the other side of the bracket with victories over Rutgers All-American Sebastian Rivera (PUR), Gabriel Janatsch (AUT), Krysztof Bienkowski (POL) and Alibek Osmonov (KGZ). Yazdani Charati joins his cousin, 86 KG world champion Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI), along with Kamran Ghasempour, Amir Zare, and Mohammad Nokhodilarimi as finalists for a resurgent Iranian team at the world championships. #3 Kyle Dake (USA) stops resurgent #14 Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK) for world gold at 74 KG. #14 Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK) has had an absolute career-defining year, coming back from failing to place at the European Olympic qualifier to winning the European championships over a stacked lineup of World/Olympic medalists in #4 Frank Chamizo (ITA), #5 Razambek Zhamalov (RWF) and #8 Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO). A 12-4 loss in the semifinals of the World Olympic qualifier to eventual Olympic runner-up #2 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR) saw the talented Slovakian on the outside looking in for Tokyo. Followed up by a bronze medal finish in September at the Medved, where he was upset by 2019 Intercontinental Cup runner-up #13 Magomed Dibirgadzhiev (RWF); Salkazanov's back was against the wall coming into Oslo. In another career-defining moment, Salkazanov showed he was more than one good tournament, beating the likes of Alipasha Umarpashaev (BUL), #6 Timur Bizhoev (RWF) and #8 Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO) to make the finals. In the finals against the returning two-time 79 KG world champion #3 Kyle Dake (USA), Salkazanov led Dake 2-1 halfway through the match, when the experienced American pulled away with two takedowns and a gut wrench to pull away with a 7-2 lead with a final Salkazanov making the score 7-3 for Kyle Dake as he won his third world title. Taimuraz Salkazanov has been on the rise throughout the 2016-2021 quad and seeing him cap it off with a world runner-up finish in the toughest weight to go along with a European gold is indicative of the talent level and ability of the Slovakian. Expect to see him continue to contend for gold in the upcoming quad as the landscape of 74 KG continues to grow and change. Kyle Dake's incredible run continues as the American has truly cemented himself as one of the best middleweights of the generation after his third world title. With the longevity of Dake, expect to see him be in title contention throughout this quad and in the Paris Games. Taking bronze at 74 KG was Fazli Eryilmaz (TUR) over #12 Azamat Nurikov (BLR) and #6 Timur Bizhoev (RWF) over 2018 world runner-up #8 Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO). The Bizhoev/Kentchadze match was especially entertaining as Bizhoev was down 6-1 late into the match and used a clutch reversal and three exposures to take a 7-6 lead over Kentchadze. In the final 15 seconds of the match, the powerful Kentchadze got in on a shot and Bizhoev showed incredible defense and poise, continually adjusting and fighting Kentchadze as he drove through for the pushout in the waning seconds. A failed Kentchadze challenge made the final score 8-6 for Bizhoev and gave him the career lead in their match series along with a victory in the 2018 Alans finals against Kentchadze's win in the 2018 U-23 semifinals. #1 Jordan Burroughs (USA) and Junior world champion #20 Mohammad Nokhodilarimi (IRI) impress on their way to the 79 KG world finals. #1 Jordan Burroughs (USA) continues to make history as he booked his spot in his sixth World/Olympic finals, with his best win coming in the quarterfinals 9-4 of #3 Radik Valiev (RWF). Burroughs' other wins in his 10th World/Olympic championships were Bolat Sakaev (KAZ), Ryuki Yoshida (JPN) and Samuel Barrish (CAN). #20 Mohammad Nokhodilarimi (IRI) put together wins over European runner-up Saifedine Alekma (FRA) and #7 Nika Kentchadze (GEO) in the quarterfinals and semifinals to make his second world finals of the year after taking gold at Junior worlds. Nokhodilarimi's semifinal match against #7 Nika Kentchadze (GEO) was especially entertaining as Nokhodilarimi overcame multiple Kentchadze fouls to walk away with the 6-5 victory. Some other prominent performers in the bracket were Junior European bronze medalist Giorgios Kougiomtsidis (GRE) beating U-23 European champion #18 Ramazan Sari (IRI) and Junior world runner-up Ashraf Ashirov (AZE) over European champion #9 Akhsarbek Gulaev (SVK) in the round of 16. #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI) takes back the title of the greatest as he beats Olympic champion #1 David Taylor (USA) for 86 KG world gold. #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI) trailed reigning Olympic champion 0-3 in the match series with losses at the 2017 World Cup, 2018 World Championships and the Olympic finals in August. Closing the gap each time, Yazdani was a man on a mission in Oslo, completely dominating #1 David Taylor (USA), taking two stepouts in the first and two takedowns in the second for the 6-2 win and his fourth World/Olympic title. #3 Artur Naifonov (RWF) won his third World/Olympic medal with a controlled 3-0 win over Azamat Dauletbekov (KAZ), while #15 Abubakar Abakarov (AZE) capped off a great run with a 9-5 victory over 2017 world runner-up #14 Boris Makoev (SVK) for bronze. #2 Kamran Ghasempour (IRI) takes out reigning two-time world champion #13 J'den Cox (USA) to make the 92 KG world finals against #1 Magomed Kurbanov (RWF). #2 Kamran Ghasempour (IRI) has been undefeated in international Senior competition for the past three years, only taking losses domestically to 4x World/Olympic champion #2 (86) Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI) in 2018, 2019, and 2021. In the semifinals, Ghasempour faced off against the reigning two-time world champion #13 J'den Cox (USA). Cox, known for his defensive mastery and speed, was stunned by Ghasempour, who got in on multiple leg attacks and controlled the center against the physically dominant Cox for the massive 3-3 victory. #1 Magomed Kurbanov (RWF) used wins over #11 Amarhadzhi Magomedov (BLR) and #14 Osman Nurmagomedov (AZE) to make the finals. #14 Osman Nurmagomedov (AZE) had an impressive run to the semifinals as the U-23 European runner-up beat out #6 Zbigniew Baranowski (POL) and Junior World bronze medalist Pruthviraj Patil (IND). #6 Zbigniew Baranowski (POL) put together a dominant win over U-23 European champion #8 Erhan Yaylaci (TUR) to make the quarterfinals but was put out by #14 Osman Nurmagomedov (AZE). #3 Amir Zare (IRI), the new heavyweight king as he unseats #1 Taha Akgul (TUR) and #2 Geno Petriashvili (GEO) for world gold. #3 Amir Zare (IRI) was a man on a mission in Tokyo and in his finals match as the Iranian star avenged his Tokyo semifinal loss to three-time world champion #2 Geno Petriashvili (GEO) with a powerful 9-2 victory. Capping it off with an amazing backflip, Zare's world title came with wins over Petriashvili, #1 Taha Akgul (TUR), #8 Nick Gwiazdowski (USA) and #10 Dzianis Khramiankov (BLR). Zare is the new king of heavyweight and I'm hard-pressed to think of anyone not named Gable Steveson who could beat him right now. Taking bronze at heavyweight was #1 Taha Akgul (TUR) over two-time world bronze medalist #8 Nick Gwiazdowski (USA) 6-4 and #9 Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur (MGL) over Oleg Boltin (KAZ) 5-3.

2x NCAA All-American Max Dean (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com; Graphic/Anna-Lee Marie) Welcome to a new recurring feature from InterMat as we lead into the 2021-22 collegiate season. We are about 50 days away from the start of the new season, so what better way to ring in the new year than to use that time to count down the top-50 current collegiate wrestlers. Each day a new wrestler will be released. These rankings have been compiled by members of the InterMat staff and used a combination of collegiate achievements, with 2021 accomplishments carrying more weight than past years, along with win-loss records and notable wins. While we are counting down the top-50 wrestlers based primarily on collegiate accomplishments, it is impossible to totally ignore achievements in the international settings, so they did factor in slightly, too. Before getting to the next wrestler on the list, look at the wrestlers previously profiled: #50 - Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) #49 - Ben Darmstadt (Cornell) #48 - Dakota Geer (Oklahoma State) #47 - Kaleb Young (Iowa) #46 - Rocky Elam (Missouri) #45 - Chad Red Jr. (Nebraska) #44 - Brandon Courtney (Arizona State) #43 - Brock Mauller (Missouri) #42 - Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) #41 - John Poznanski (Rutgers) #40 - Brayton Lee (Minnesota) #39 - Travis Wittlake (Oklahoma State) #38 - Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) #37 - Tariq Wilson (NC State) #36 - Jacob Warner (Iowa) #35 - Jacori Teemer (Arizona State) #34 - Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) #33 - Vito Arujau (Cornell) #32 - Patrick Glory (Princeton) Next is… Max Dean (Penn State) Weight: 197 lbs Year: Junior Career Record: 57-12 Hometown: Lowell, Michigan College Accomplishments: 2019 NCAA Runner-Up, 2019 EIWA Champion, 2018 NCAA 8th Place 2021-22 Preseason Ranking: #4 at 197 lbs When Gabe Dean arrived in Ithaca during the fall of 2012 as a relatively under-the-radar recruit, it wasn't overly noteworthy. After four All-American honors and a pair of national titles, Gabe raised the bar for his younger brother, Max. The younger Dean was a solid recruit in his own right after winning a pair of Michigan state titles, while excelling on the football team. Like many Cornell wrestlers, Dean took a grayshirt year in 2016-17. Dean made the most of this opportunity and participated in 33 bouts while competing unattached. After suffering close losses in his first two outings, Dean went on a good run that saw him head into the Southern Scuffle with a nine-match winning streak. At the Scuffle, Dean was able to notch three wins before getting eliminated without placing. For his grayshirt year, Dean went 26-7 and grabbed tournament titles at the NY State Intercollegiate Open, the Cleveland State Open and the Brockport Open. With Gabe having graduated in 2017, the 184 lb spot belonged to Max during the following year as a freshman. Max's Cornell debut occurred at the Bearcat Open, as he captured bonus points in four of his five bouts. In mid-November, Dean took the mat in a dual meet and pulled out a win against returning All-American Drew Foster (Northern Iowa). They might meet later on. Well, later on, turned out to be two weeks later at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Foster turned the tables with a 9-5 win. Dean ducked out of Vegas with a 2-2 showing, also losing to Zack Zavatsky (Virginia Tech). Those setbacks in Vegas turned out to be Dean's last loss of the regular season. That winning streak included victories over five eventual national qualifiers and one All-American. At his first EIWA Championship event, Dean advanced to the finals to meet Ryan Preisch (Lehigh). Preisch was not in the Mountain Hawks lineup when they met Cornell in the dual season. The Lehigh veteran prevailed via pin. A runner-up up finish was good enough for the ninth seed at the 2018 NCAA Championships. After an opening-round major decision over Northern Colorado's Dylan Gabel, Dean and Foster were on a collision course, once again. In the Round of 16, Dean cruised to a 6-0 decision in the latest chapter of this budding rivalry. That win set the stage for a quarterfinal contest with top-seeded Bo Nickal (Penn State). Dean fared better than most and went the entire seven minutes with the Nittany Lion superstar, but ultimately fell, 13-7. The quarterfinal loss to Nickal meant Dean would have to win a Round of 12 bout if he wanted to earn All-American honors. That he did. Dean came out on top of a hard-fought 6-4 win over Bryce Carr (Chattanooga). Dean fell into an early 4-1 hole, but battled back for the win. With a spot in the top-eight guaranteed, Dean dropped his next bout against fellow freshman Taylor Venz (Nebraska). Dean's season ended after a 6-3 loss to Chip Ness (North Carolina), an opponent he defeated earlier in the year, in the seventh-place bout. The sophomore year for Dean started with a pair of bonus-point wins in dual meet competition. He then moved on to a loaded bracket at the CKLV Invitational. Although Dean posted a win over Ness, he still dropped three bouts and finished in eighth place. The next dual was a “get-right” opportunity as Dean was back in top form, defeating rival Foster by a 6-5 margin. About two weeks later, at the South Beach Duals, Dean went 3-1 and suffered his first career dual meet setback to Dylan Wisman (Missouri). That loss to Wisman gave way to a new eight-match winning streak that would include almost the entire balance of the 2018-19 season. That run featured wins over Ness and All-American Zavatsky, one of the foes that defeated him in Vegas. Another opponent that was victorious over Dean in Vegas was the eventual champion, Myles Martin (Ohio State). Martin got his hand raised again at Dean's expense in the final dual meet of the season, 13-6. Like his freshman year, Dean made it through the early rounds of the EIWA Championships with little adversity. And once again, he'd face Preisch with a title on the line. This time Dean took a 3-0 win and the title. The EIWA title helped Dean receive the #5 seed at the 2019 national tournament. Dean's tournament started with an EIWA foe that he missed during the regular season and conference tournament, Noah Stewart (Army West Point). Stewart had no answers for Dean's offense and he rolled to a 13-2 major decision. Though Dean was the favorite on paper in the Round of 16, he got pushed to the brink by #12 Cash Wilcke (Iowa). Dean managed to survive on the strength of a takedown during the sudden victory period to advance. A second-round upset by #13 Nino Bonaccorsi (Pittsburgh) managed to put the freshman Panther in the quarterfinals opposite Dean. No sweat, as Dean clinched All-American honors with a 6-0 decision. Dean's semifinal opponent was another familiar face; the undefeated, top-seeded Myles Martin. Almost a month to the day where Dean was almost majored by Martin, the Big Red sophomore was able to pull one of the biggest upsets of the tournament and defeated the 2016 national champion, 5-4. As luck would have it, opposing Dean in the final was Drew Foster. This would be the fifth time that the two squared off in a two-year span. Dean headed into the match with a 3-1 advantage in their previous encounters. The final meeting went Foster's way as he capped an amazing run and became his school's first national champion in two decades after a 6-4 win. Following the 2018-19 season, Dean won the U23 World Team Trials in freestyle. He planned to sit out the 2019-20 season to pursue a spot on the Olympic Team. Dean participated in the U23 World Championships in late October and finished in 19th place. As we know, the 2020 NCAA Championships were canceled at the onset of the Covid pandemic, so had he competed for Cornell, Dean would have burned a year of eligibility without a national tournament. He and his Cornell teammates did not get a chance to wrestle at all in 2021 as the Ivy League did not allow competition in any sport. After appearing in the transfer portal, Dean made his transfer to Penn State official in May. Strengths: Dean is a strong handfighter that holds good position. While he's fundamentally solid offensively and can execute a variety of attacks, the bulk of his offense against good competition is predicated on his opponent. Either from a reshot or with a counter is where Dean is at his best. Dean's able to turn it into another gear after snapping and spinning for two points. His scrambling skills are probably underrated. On the mat, Dean's is good at tying up wrists and amassing riding time. 2021-22 Outlook: First of all, Dean and returning All-American Michael Beard are slated to compete for the starting role at 197 lbs for PSU. We'll see how the change of scenery and coaching impact Dean's on-the-mat results. Even from what we've seen of Dean in the past, he's capable of taking a title at 197 lbs. While returning champion AJ Ferrari (Oklahoma State) is back, the Cowboy freshman had plenty of close matches and hasn't separated himself from the field. 2x NCAA All-American Max Dean (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com)

(Photo/Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com) 70kg 97 kg 55 kg Women's Freestyle 62 kg Women's Freestyle

Jenna Burkert (left) and Kayla Miracle 2021 World Team Trials(Photo/Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com) 55 kg: Burkert Looks to Keep the 55kg World Title American Jenna Burkert has had one heck of a year. It started with heartbreak: at the beginning of 2021, Jenna's mother had begun suffering from issues with her heart. She had to undergo numerous surgeries before her unfortunate passing a week before the US Olympic Team Trials. In an interview on The Bader Show, Jenna described herself as a "wreck" after her mother's death- she hadn't even planned on going to the Olympic Trials as she had focused her time and energy on caring for her mom. However, one of her mother's last wishes was that Jenna go and compete- so she did. At the Olympic Trials, Jenna had the performance of a lifetime. She steamrolled her way through the bracket, including a victory via fall in the challenge tournament finals over two-time World Finalist Alli Ragan, who she had never previously beaten. In the best two-of-three series to decide the Olympic Team Spot, Jenna faced off against defending 53kg Olympic Champion Helen Maroulis- and stunned the nation by taking a match from her. Though she ended up falling in the third match, her emotions surrounding the loss of her mother combined with the beautiful display of sportsmanship between Maroulis and Burkert created a moment that no one watching the Trials would ever forget. Fast forward to September 12th, where Burkert found herself in another three-match series: this time for the 55kg World Team spot. She faced off against reigning World Champion Jacarra Winchester, who was coming off a fifth-place finish at the Olympics, and was this time able to win the series in dramatic fashion. Each match was decided by points scored in the final seconds, with Burkert tossing Jacarra for four points in the first match and taking her down late in the third. Though Jenna lacks in international credentials compared to the rest of the field, her recent high-level success against some of the most talented women in the world- and the defending World Champion at this weight- make her a definite contender to win a world title this year. While Jenna is coming down from 57 kilos to 55kg, many of the women in the field are 53 kilo Olympians rising back up to their preferred weight. 2019 World Bronze Medallist and two-time European Champion Olga Khoroshavtseva of Russia, 2017 World Bronze Medallist Roksana Zasina of Poland and two-time European Bronze Medallist and U23 World Bronze Medallist Andreea Ana of Romania will all be competing at 55 kilos. While Zasina was the only one of the three to win a match at the Olympics (eventually falling in repechage), the other two should not be overlooked: Ana has had some stellar age-level results, and Khoroshavtseva is a returning medalist at this weight. The Russian has also been on a hot streak prior to the Olympics, winning 7 of her last 8 tournaments. She and Zasina are prime contenders to win gold in Oslo. A couple other veterans at this weight class include Sumiya Eredenechimeg of Mongolia, who won a World silver medal in 2013 and was also a 2016 Olympian. She has a recent win over Zasina and could be in medal contention if she is in peak form. Fellow 2016 Olympian Nina Hemmer of Germany has three Euro bronze medals to her name and has been a staple on the 53-kilo scene for some time; this could be a prime opportunity for her to have a career-defining performance and pick up a medal. Japan's young women's wrestling team will be represented at 55 kilos by Tsugumi Sakurai, a 2016 Cadet World Champion and 2019 Junior Asian Bronze medallist. It'll be interesting to see how she performs on the senior level. Other strong youngsters include Turkey's two-time age-level Euro medallist Eda Tekin and Ukraine's talented Oleksandra Khomenets, who won this year's Junior Euros dominantly in addition to taking bronze at the Kiev in February. Ultimately, if Burkert performs at the level, she has as of late, this could be her weight to win. However, watch out for the very hot Olga Khoroshavtseva to contend for a title as well as Olympians Zasina and Ana and youngsters Khomenets and Sakurai. 62 kg: A New Chapter in the Japanese-Kyrgyz Rivalry This August in Tokyo, we were treated to the fourth bout in one of the most remarkable women's wrestling rivalries of the past quad: home country's Yukako Kawai's 4-3 defeat over Aisuluu Tynybekova in the 62 kg Olympic finals. This razor-thin match between two of the world's best talents brought the 62kg Kyrgyz-Japan series to a 2-2 split and resulted in Kawai earning Japan's first of four Olympic gold WW medals. While Tynybekova, unfortunately, suffered the defeat, her win was still monumental in that she was only Kyrgyzstan's second woman to ever medal in the Olympics (the first being her teammate Meerim Zhumanazarova the day prior). Despite failing in her attempt to win her country's first-ever Olympic gold, Tynybekova has made plenty of history previously, becoming her country's first female senior World Champion and proving her unquestionable dominance since the creation of the weight class in 2018. While Kawai will not be attending the World Championships, Japan will be sending a formidable replacement who could very well be the only other woman on Earth to challenge Tynybekova: 18-year-old Nonoka Ozaki. Ozaki won 2018 and 2019 Cadet World titles in addition to a Youth Olympic Games title in utterly dominant fashion. She followed up those performances with a stellar transition to the senior level, winning Japan's last two senior tournaments and downing two age-level World Champions en route to earning the world team spot. Ozaki is from the same academy that produced wrestling legends and Olympic Champions Yui Susaki, Mayu Mukaida and Takuto Otoguro, and her senior-level debut should not be missed. Beyond Tynybekova, three other Olympians will be returning to this weight. Lais Nunes de Oliveira, a two-time Pan-Am Champion from Brazil, will be looking to place high; while she doesn't have any major Senior-level results, she does have some really solid wins under her belt. American Kayla Miracle will still be in the hunt for her first senior-level medal here; she has a U23 World silver medal from 2019 in addition to a host of other solid international results. This bracket will provide a real opportunity for her to vie for a podium shot. Finally, Luisa Niemesch of Germany was a 2016 Olympian, but failed to qualify for Tokyo this year. She has some solid wins but likely isn't in medal contention. A youngster well-worth watching in this weight class is Ossetian Alina Kasabieva, who teched and pinned her way to Junior European and World titles this year. Her dominant performance led women's wrestling fans to question whether she can contend domestically and internationally on the Senior level yet, and Russia's decision to send her despite having respectable depth at the weight implies she just might be able to. Kasabieva is from one of the wrestling epicenters of the world, but Ossetia is not yet known for producing women's wrestlers. If the Caucasus region can start producing women that can replicate the success of their men, Russian women's wrestling could reach unimaginable heights. While Ana Paula Godinez doesn't have the same years of experience under her belt as many of her competitors do- considering she took up the sport at age 16- she has established herself as a potential rising star. In 2019, she secured a Junior World Bronze medal (complete with a techfall over European and Junior World Champion Irina Ringaci) and followed that up with a surprise finalist performance at the very deep Poland Open, notching a gritty win over tough Ukrainian Ilona Prokopevniuk (who is also in this bracket) and losing only to Tynybekova. While Godinez is still new to the international scene, watch for her as a potential dark horse to make the medal matches. Speaking of Prokopevniuk, she should not be overlooked- Ukraine's insane depth at 62 kilos has resulted in her being second or third in the lineup, despite credentials including three U23 World medals, two U23 Euro titles, a 2018 Euro bronze, a 2020 World Cup bronze, and formidable results at some of the bigger international events like the Yasar Dogu and Poland Open. She even pushed Tynybekova in an exciting 9-7 match at the Kiev in February. Ilona's fellow countryman Iryna Koliadenko won an Olympic bronze medal in August, so Prokopevniuk will look to showcase how deep the talent runs in Ukraine's backup lineup. One final cool storyline that makes up this weight class includes the entry of Olympic Bronze medalist and international superstar Bajrang Punia's wife, Sangeeta Phogat. Sangeeta has limited international experience but does own a 2018 Asian Bronze medal. Overall, watch for a new chapter in Aisuluu Tynybekova's rivalry with her Japanese opponents to be written here as Ozaki makes her senior debut, and enjoy the performances of returning Olympians and talented up-and-comers alike in this deep bracket.

Jordan Burroughs at the 2021 World Team Trials(Photo/Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com) A five-time World/Olympic champion at 74 KG, #1 Jordan Burroughs (USA) makes his Senior world debut at 79 KG after rebounding from a runner-up finish at 74 KG Olympic Trials to Olympic bronze medalist #3 Kyle Dake (USA). While Burroughs career and performance make it a gut reaction to believe he will go unchallenged in Oslo, the American great will have to contend with a surging #3 Radik Valiev (RWF) along with contenders the likes of #7 Nika Kentchadze (GEO), #9 Akhsarbek Gulaev (SVK) and #20 Mohammad Nokhodilarimi (IRI). Title Contenders #1 Jordan Burroughs (USA)- 5x World/Olympic champ (‘11,'12,'13,'15,'17), 2018 world bronze medalist, 2019 Dan Kolov champ, 2019 Yasar Dogu champ, 2019 Final X champ, 2019 world bronze medalist, 2021 Matteo Pellicone runner-up, 2021 Olympic trials runner-up, 2021 79 KG U.S. World Team Trials champion Key Wins: Denis Tsargush (2011 world's 2012 Olympics), #3 (74) Kyle Dake (2013 WTT, 2015 WTT, 2017 WTT), #2 Alex Dieringer (2021 U.S. World Team Trials finals), #12 (74) Azamat Nurikov (2019 world's), #1 (86) David Taylor (2014 WTT), Aniuar Geduev (2015 world's), #4 (79) Frank Chamizo (2018 Grapple at the Garden, 2018 world bronze medal match, 2019 Dan Kolov), #16 (74) Khetag Tsabolov (2017 world finals), Ali Shabanov (2013 world's, 2015 Medved, 2017 world's). Key Losses: Denis Tsargush (2014 world's), Nick Marable (2014 Yasar Dogu), #3 (74) Kyle Dake (2017 world team trials, 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials finals), Isaiah Martinez (2019 Final X), Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (2016 Olympics), Aniuar Geduev (2016 Olympics), Zaurbek Sidakov (2018 world's quarters, 2019 world's), Frank Chamizo (2018 Yasar Dogu finals, 2021 Matteo Pellicone finals) With Burroughs being the only person in the bracket with Senior world hardware to his name plus his career as an all-time great at the toughest weight in the world at 74 KG, Burroughs is an obvious frontrunner to win gold here. In the field, Burroughs biggest test is likely to be Russian Nationals bronze medalist #3 Radik Valiev (RWF) who has the length and a strong double leg that could give Burroughs potential issues. Medal Contenders #3 Radik Valiev (RUS)-2017 Yarygin 3rd, 2014 Cadet worlds 2nd, 2016 Junior Russian Nationals 2nd, 2018 Yarygin 3rd, 2017 Korkin bronze, 2017 Junior world 5th, 2018 President Cup of Buryatia champ 2018 Ali Aliyev 5th, 2018 U-23 European Champ, 2018 Semenov tournament bronze medalist, 2019 Alans bronze medalist, 2019 U-23 world bronze medalist 2021 Russian Nationals bronze medalist, 2021 Russian Nationals world team trials wrestle offs champion, Key Wins: #4 Gadzhi Nabiyev (2021 Russian world team trials wrestle-offs), #10 Malik Shavaev ( 2019 Russian Nationals qualification round, 2021 Russian world team trials wrestle-offs), Alibek Akbaev(2016 Nationals), Mulid Lamphezhev(2016 Nationals), Khabib Batyrov(2017 Yarygin), Sosuke Takatani(2017 Yarygin), Tazhidin Akaev (2018 Yarygin), Tariel Gaprindashvili (2018 Yarygin), Muhammet Nuri Kotanglu (2018 Yarygin), #11 Khalil Aminov (2018 President Cup of Buryatia, 2021 Russian Nationals quarterfinals), #16 Gadzhimurad Alikhmaev (2021 Russian Nationals bronze medal match) #19 Khalid Yakhiev (2021 Russian Nationals), Alexei Sabidaev (2018 President Cup of Buryatia), Adam Khasiev (2018 Ali Aliyev), Magomed Ramazanov (2018 Ali Aliyev), Johnny Bur (2018 U-23 European Championships finals), Muhammet Kucukyildirim (2018 U-23 Euros), Nika Kentchadze (2018 U-23 Euros) Key Losses: #1 (74) Zaurbek Sidakov(2016 70 KG Nationals), Atsamaz Sanakoev(2017 Yarygin, 2019 Russian Nationals quarterfinals), Kakhaber Khubezhty (2019 Russian Nationals bronze medal match), David Tlashadze(2016 World Cup), Adam Khasiev(2016 Yarygin), Mason Manville(2014 Cadet world finals), Mark Hall (2017 Junior Worlds), Mohammd Mottaghinia (2017 Junior Worlds), #6 (86) Ahmed Gadzhimagomedov (2018 Yarygin, 2018 Russian Nationals round of 16), #11 (74) Nikita Suchkov (2017 Korkin), Evgeni Lapshov (2017 Vladimir Semenov tournament) Bolat Sakaev (2017 Vladimir Semenov tournament), Ibragim Yusubov (2018 Ali Aliyev semis), #11 Khalil Aminov (2018 Semenov), #10 Malik Shavaev (2021 Russian Nationals semifinals), #5 (86) Magomed Ramazanov (2020 86 KG Russian Nationals round of 16) #9 Akhsarbek Gulaev (SVK)- 2021 European Champion, 2021 Ziolkowski champion, 2019 U-23 European Championships runner-up, 2017 74 KG U-23 world runner-up, 2019 Yasar Dogu runner-up, 2017 74 KG Junior European championships bronze medalist, 2018 74 KG International Ukrainian Tournament bronze medalist, 2018 74 KG U-23 European championships runner-up, 2017 74 KG Korkin bronze medalist Key Wins: #7 Nika Kentchadze (2021 European championships semifinals), Giorgi Sulava (2019 74 KG U-23 European championships), Vasyl Mykhailov (2017 74 KG U-23 world championships), Rashid Kurbanov (2021 Ziolkowski finals). Key Losses: #2 Alex Dieringer (2019 Yasar Dogu finals), #8 Magomed Magomaev (2021 Medved finals), #4 Gadzhi Nabiev (2017 74 KG U-23 world finals), #6 (74) Timur Bizhoev (2018 74 KG U-23 world bronze medal match), #8 (74) Avtandil Kentchadze (2018 74 KG U-23 world championships), #1 (74) Zaurbek Sidakov (2018 74 KG U-23 European championships finals), #11 (74) Nikita Suchkov (2019 74 KG U-23 European championships finals), #15 (74) Soner Demirtas (2018 74 KG Senior world championships), Mohammad Mottaghinia (2017 74 KG Junior world championships round of 16) #7 Nika Kentchadze (GEO)- 2021 European Championships bronze medalist, 2018 U-23 world champion, 2021 Medved runner-up, 2018 U-23 European championships bronze medalist, 2021 International Ukrainian Tournament champion, 2021 Henri Deglane Grand Prix champion, 2019 European championships bronze medalist, 2019 Dan Kolov bronze medalist. Key Wins: #4 Gadzhi Nabiev (2018 U-23 world championships finals), Omarashkab Nazhmudinov (2018 U-23 world championships), #10 Malik Shavaev (2021 European championships), #18 (74) Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (2021 International Ukrainian Tournament), Saifedine Alekma (2021 Henri Deglane Grand Prix Finals), Zelimkhan Khadjiev (2019 Dan Kolov), #8 Magomed Magomaev (2021 Medved semifinals) Key Losses: #3 Radik Valiev (2018 U-23 European championships), #9 Akhsarbek Gulaev (2021 European Championships semifinals), Grigor Grigoryan (2019 world championships), #2 Alex Dieringer (2019 Dan Kolov semifinals), #6 Amanulla Gadzhimagomedov (2021 Medved finals), Jabrayil Hasanov (2019 European Championships, 2020 European Championships), Rustam Magomedov (2017 74 KG Junior European Championships finals) #3 Radik Valiev (RWF) has established himself far and away as the best man in this group over the past quad, and save for some horrible officiating or coming in injured he should be seen as the consensus #2 behind Burroughs. Gulaev beat Kentchadze in the semifinals of the European championships on his way to gold but has recently taken a fall in the rankings for losing to 2020 Junior Russian national champion #10 Magomed Magomaev (RWF). Gulaev is defensively stingy and has solid match IQ but doesn't really break out against the elites of the weight (read; elite 74's who moved up) and #7 Nika Kentchadze (GEO) has a strong offensive arsenal but poor match I.Q. and starting slow has cost him big matches in the past and I don't see it as a pattern correcting against the likes of one of the greatest middleweights of all time in Jordan Burroughs. Dark Horse #20 Mohammad Nokhodilarimi (IRI)- 2021 Junior World champion, 2021 Yasar Dogu champion, 2019 74 KG U-23 world runner-up, 2019 74 KG Asian championships bronze medalist, 2017 69 KG Cadet world bronze medalist, 2018 71 KG Cadet Asian champion. Key Wins: Murad Kuramagomedov (2019 74 KG U-23 world championships), Byambadorj Bat-Erdene (2019 74 KG U-23 world championships), Baliyan Gourav (2021 Junior World championships), Ashraf Ashirov (2021 Junior World Finals), Hamidreza Zarinpeykar (2021 Yasar Dogu finals), Muhammet Kotanoglu (2021 Yasar Dogu semifinals). Key Losses: #5 (74) Razambek Zhamalov (2019 74 KG U-23 world finals), Amit Dhankar (2019 74 KG Asian championships), David Carr (2019 74 KG Junior world championships), David Betanov (2019 74 KG Junior world championships). #20 Mohammad Nokhodilarimi (IRI) is coming off gold at the Junior world championships and has a past runner-up finish at the 2019 U-23 world championships with wins over Senior talent Byambadorj Bat-Erdene (MGL) and Murad Kuramagomedov (HUN) Nokhodilarimi looks to be part of the second wave of Iranian talent along with 61 KG Junior world champ #9 (61) Rahman Amouzadkhalili and 86 KG Amirhossein Firouzpourbandpei. I'm not immediately sold on him against Burroughs or Valiev, but the rest of the field I feel Nokhodilarimi more than keeps it close.

Thomas Gilman at the 2020 Olympics (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Olympic bronze medalist #3 Thomas Gilman (USA) is coming off a career best performance in Tokyo, falling by the thinnest of margins to Olympic champion #1 Zavur Uguev (RWF) and notching huge wins over #5 Gulomyon Abdullaev (UZB) and #4 Reza Atri (IRI).Even with Gilman's career best, him as a lock for gold is no sure bet as a pair of old rivals in #6 Abubakar Mutaliev (RWF) and #8 Suleyman Atli (TUR) threaten to usurp Gilman's newfound momentum. #15 Aryan Tyutrin (BLR), #14 Bekhbayar Erdenebat (MGL) and European bronze medalist Afghan Khashalov (AZE) round out a strong field with no returning world champion at the weight. Title Contenders #8 Suleyman Atli (TUR)- 2018 world bronze medalist, 2019 European champ, 2017 Yasar Dogu champ, 2019 European Games bronze medalist, 2019 world silver medalist, 2020 European runner-up, 2021 European champion Key Wins: #1 Zavur Uguev (2017 Yasar Dogu), Makhir Amiraslanov (2017 Yasar Dogu finals, 2019 European Championships), Muslim Sadulaev (2019 European Championships finals), #3 (61) Beka Lomtadze (2017 world championships), #14 Bekhbayar Erdenebat (2016 world cup), #3 Thomas Gilman (2018 World bronze medal match), #9 Nachyn Mongush (2021 European championships finals) Key Losses: #12 Nurislam Sanayev (2018 world championships quarterfinals), Stevan Micic (2019 European Games quarterfinals), Beka Bujiashvili (2019 Dan Kolov finals), #3 Thomas Gilman (2018 Yasar Dogu), #4 Reza Atri (2021 Olympics), #10 Azamat Tuskaev (2020 European championships finals), #1 Zavur Uguev (2019 world finals) #6 Abubakar Mutaliev (RUS)- 2019 Intercontinental Cup champion, 2019 Kadyrov Cup runner-up, 2021 Russian Nationals bronze medalist, 2019 Alans 5th place finisher, 2021 Russian World Team Trials Wrestle-Offs champion. Key Wins: #3 Thomas Gilman (2019 Intercontinental Cup, 2019 Alans) #7 Ramiz Gamzatov (2021 Russian World Team Trials Wrestle-Offs), #10 Azamat Tuskaev (2021 Russian World Team Trials Wrestle-Offs), Khasanhussein Badrudinov (2019 Intercontinental Cup Finals), #17 Belek-Ool Kuzhuget (2021 Russian Nationals bronze medal match) Key Losses: #11 Akhmed Idrisov (2019 Allans semifinals), #10 Azamat Tuskaev (2019 Alans bronze medal match), #7 Ramiz Gamzatov (2020 Yarygin qualification round), #1 Zavur Uguev (2021 Russian Nationals), Muslim Sadulaev (2019 Kadyrov Cup finals). #3 Thomas Gilman(USA)- 2014 junior world bronze, 2017 World team trials champ, 2017 Grand Prix of Spain champ, 2017 world runner-up, 2018 Pan-Am bronze medalist, 2018 Final X champ, 2018 Yasar Dogu champ, 2018 world 5th, 2019 Final X runner-up, 2019 Yusup Abdusalamov tournament champion, 2019 Intercontinental Cup bronze medalist, 2020 Matteo Pellicone champion, 2021 Olympic bronze medalist Key wins: #8 Suleyman Atli (2018 Yasar Dogu), #5 Gulomyon Abdullaev (2021 Olympics), Salikh Muradov (2019 Yusup Abdusalamov tournament finals, 2019 Intercontinental Cup), Dimchik Rinchinov (2018 Yasar Dogu finals), Berdakh Primbayev (2018 Yasar Dogu), Tony Ramos(2017 world team trials), Nico Megaludis(2017 world team trials), #4 Reza Atri(2014 Junior worlds, 2017 worlds, 2021 Olympic bronze medal match), Zoheir El Quarrage(2017 Grand Prix of Spain), Hak Jin Jong (2017 worlds), Andrey Yatsenko (2017 worlds), Nodiryun Safarov (2017 worlds), Amit Kumar (2017 World Club Cup), #12 (61) Teimuraz Vanishvili (2018 world cup), #4 (61) Daton Fix (2018 Final X, 2020 Matteo Pellicone ), Giorgi Edisherashvili (2018 world quarters) Key Losses: #1 Zavur Uguev (2021 Olympics qualification round), Mirjalal Hasanzade(2014 Junior worlds), #13 Yuki Takahashi (2017 worlds, 2018 world cup), #12 Nurislam Sanayev (2018 world semis), #6 Abubakar Mutaliev (2019 Intercontinental Cup, 2019 Alans), #8 Suleyman Atli (2018 world bronze medal match), #4 Reza Atri (2017 World Club Cup), #20 Giorgi Vangelov (2013 Junior worlds, 2019 Dan Kolov), Giorgi Edisherashvili (2018 world cup), #18 Reineri Andreu Ortega (2018 Pan-Am Championships), #4 (61) Daton Fix (2019 Final X) #6 Abubakar Mutaliev (RWF) made the Russian team after winning wrestle-offs against 2019 national champion #7 Ramiz Gamzatov (RWF) and 2020 National runner-up #10 Azamat Tuskaev (RWF). Mutaliev has a high output style with a great knee pull single and two past wins over #3 Thomas Gilman (USA) from the 2019 Intercontinental Cup and the 2019 Alans and is a very real title threat. #3 Thomas Gilman (USA) is the returning Olympic bronze medalist at this weight and looked at his career best in Tokyo. While Gilman has had early season issues with consistency and dropping matches, come time for World's or the Olympics, Gilman is historically dialed in and I expect to see this here in a dangerous field with past foes. #8 Suleyman Atli (TUR) was the returning world runner-up going into the Olympics and the number two ranked athlete in the world but a close opening round lose to eventual 5th place finisher #4 Reza Atri (IRI) stopped his chances of Olympic hardware. Against a rejuvenated Gilman and debuting Mutaliev, I don't immediately take Atli but he's still dangerous and a good bet against the rest of the field. Medal Contenders #14 Bekhbayar Erdenebat (MGL): 2x world bronze medalist (‘15 & ‘17), 2018 Asian games champ, 2019 Mongolia Open champ, 2019 Yarygin 5th, 2015 Baku GGP runner-up Key Wins: Suleyman Atli (2017 world wrestling championships round of 16), Reza Atri (2018 Asian Games), Kumsong Kang (2018 Asian Games finals), Vladimir Dubov (2017 world championships bronze medal match), Yuki Takahashi (2015 world championships quarters), Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (2019 Mongolia Open), Makhir Amiraslanov (2019 world championships), Giorgi Edisherashvili (2021 World Olympic qualifier), Key Losses: #4 Reza Atri (2018 world's, 2021 Olympics, 2019 World's), #1 (61) Abasgadzhi Magomedov (2019 Yarygin), Thomas Gilman (2019 Yarygin bronze medal match), Yuki Takahashi (2017 world's quarters), Vladimir Khinchegashvili (2015 world's semis), Dinislam Takhtarov (2018 61 KG Alans), #1 Zavur Uguev (2019 world championships) #15 Aryan Tyutrin (BLR)- 3x Russian Nationals bronze medalist (‘14, ‘16, ‘18), 2019 Ziolkowski champion, 2021 Yarygin champion, 2021 Medved champion. Key Wins: #7 Ramiz Gamzatov (2019 Ziolkowski), #12 Nurislam Sanayev (2019 Ziolkowski), #16 Musa Mekhtikhanov (2021 Yarygin finals), Muslim Sadulaev (2021 Medved finals) Key Losses: #9 Nachyn Mongush (2021 European Championships), Afghan Khashalov (2021 European Championships bronze medal match), #1 Zavur Uguev (2019 Russian World team wrestle-offs), Donduk-Ool Khuresh-Ool (2018 Russian Nationals), Khasanhussein Badrudinov (2019 Russian Nationals) Afghan Khashalov (AZE)- 2016 Junior world champ, 2017 junior world bronze medallist, 2017 Junior European champ, 2014 cadet world runner-up, 2017 Azerbaijan National champ, 2014 Cadet Euro champ, 2017 Azerbaijan National federation cup bronze medallist, 2016 Azerbaijan Junior National Federation Cup runner-up, 2017 Military world championships bronze medallist, 2017 Azerbaijan National Federation Cup bronze, 2018 International Ukrainian tournament bronze, 2018 Military world 5th, 2018 U-23 European Championships runner-up, 2019 U-23 word bronze medalist, 2020 Yasar Dogu bronze medalist, 2021 European championships bronze medalist Key Wins: Andrey Yatsenko (2017 Military World championships), Khasanguseynov Badrudinov (2016 Junior world finals), #7 (61) Taras Markovych (2018 U-23 European Championships), #15 Aryan Tyutrin (2021 European Championships bronze medal match), #7 Ramiz Gamzatov (2019 U-23 world bronze medal match), Andrei Dukov (2017 World Military Championships), Giorgi Edisherashvili (2017 Azerbaijan National Finals), Salim Mikyay Naim (2017 Junior Worlds, 2017 Junior Euro finals), Nader Nasiri (2017 Junior worlds), #5 Gulomyon Abdullaev (2016 Junior Worlds, 2017 Junior worlds), Magomed Badrudinov (2014 Cadet European Finals), Vladislav Andreev (2018 International Ukrainian tournament), Josh Rodriguez (2018 International Ukrainian tournament) Key Losses: Makhir Amiraslanov (2016 Azerbaijan Federation National Cup, 2017 Azerbaijan National Federation Cup), Nariman Israpilov (2016 Baku GGP), Yuki Takahashi (2016 Baku GGP), Daton Fix (2017 Junior Worlds), Ibragim Ilyasov (2017 Military World Championships, 2018 U-23 European Championships), Kendrick Maple (2018 world cup at 61 KG), Erdenebat Bekhbayar (2018 World Cup), Gwang Un Pak (2018 Military Worlds), Azamat Tuskaev (2018 Military worlds bronze medal match), Dzhabrail Gairbekov (2017 Alans), #18 Reineri Andreu Ortega (2019 U-23 world championships), #9 Nachyn Mongush (2021 European Championships), #20 Georgi Vangelov (2020 Yasar Dogu semifinals) Out of the medal contender tier, I'm taking #15 Aryan Tyutrin (BLR) as the guy with the most breakout potential as evident by his past wins over #7 Ramiz Gamzatov (RWF), #12 Nurislam Sanayev (KAZ), and Muslim Sadualaev (RWF). Afghan Khashalov (AZE) did beat him in the bronze medal match of Euros and there's some bad feeling in my gut that Khashalov puts together a quarterfinal run beating guys I like more than him, but for the time being I'll pull for Tyutrin out of the group.

J'den Cox at the 2021 World Team Trials(Photo/Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com) Two-time world champion #13 J'den Cox (USA) makes his return to a rejuvenated 92 KG weight class but while gold was a guarantee from 2018-2019, Cox will be facing an uphill battle against the likes of #1 Magomed Kurbanov (RWF) and #2 Kamran Ghasempour (IRI). A mix of young and established talent round out the medal contender tier with #6 Zbigniew Baranowski (POL), #14 Osman Nurmagomedov (AZE), #11 Amarhadzhi Magomedov (BLR) and #8 Erhan Yaylacı (TUR). 2019 world medalist #15 Irakli Mtsituri (GEO) and 2020 Individual World Cup runner-up #17 Georgi Rubaev (MDA) are dangerous dark horses who while limited still are potential early match threats to higher ranked talent. Title Contenders #13 J'Den Cox(USA)- 2016 Ulanbaatar OG Qualifier 1st, 2016 Olympics 3rd,2016 Grand prix of Germany 3rd, 2016 World Cup 2nd, 2017 World Team Trials 1st, 2017 world bronze, 2018 International Ukrainian tournament runner-up, 2018 U.S. Open champ, 2018 Final X champ, 2x world champ (‘18 & ‘19), Key Wins: Meisam Moustafa Joukar(2016 Beat the Streets), Kyle Dake(2016 Olympic Trials), Jake Herbert(2016 Olympic trials), Zbigniew Baranowski(2016 Ulanbaatar OG Qualifier, 2017 worlds), Pedro Ceballos Fuentes(2016 Ulanbaatar OG Qualifier), Umidyon Safarov(2016 Ulanbaatar OG Qualifier), Adilet Davlumbaev(2016 Grand Prix of Germany), Mihail Ganev (2017 worlds), Ahmed Dudarov (2017 worlds) Alexander Gostiev(2016 world cup), Reineris Salas Perez(2016 Olympics), #1 David Taylor(2017 World Team Trials), Riley Lefever (2018 International Ukrainian tournament), Hayden Zillmer (2018 U.S. Open finals, 2018 Final X), Deron Winn (2018 U.S. Open), Yurieski Torreblanca (2018 Beat the Streets), Dato Marsagishvili (2018 world championships), #13 Alireza Karimimachiani (2016 world cup, 2018 world championships, 2019 world finals), #15 Irakli Mtsituri (2019 world semis) Key Losses: #5 (97) Sharif Sharifov(2016 Grand Prix of Germany, 2018 International Ukrainian tournament), Dato Marsagishvili(2016 World Cup, 2018 world cup), #7 Selim Yasar(2016 Olympics), #14 (86) Boris Makoev (2017 worlds), #1 (86) David Taylor (2017 world team trials), Aslanbek Alborov (2018 World Cup), Serdar Boke (2018 Yasar Dogu first round match 2-2), #12 Illia Archaia (2021 Ziolkowski) J'Den Cox Match Playlist #2 Kamran Ghasempour (IRI)- 2018 Takhti Cup champ, 2018 International Ukrainian tournament champ, 2013 69 KG cadet world runner-up, 2018 Iranian World Team Trials runner-up Key Wins: Shamil Kudiyamagomedov (2018 International Ukrainian tournament), Alexander Gostiev (2018 International Ukrainian tournament), Richard Perry (2018 International Ukrainian Tournament), Osman Gocen (2018 Takhti Cup), Gadzhimurad Magomedsaidov (2018 Takhti Cup). Key Losses: Abdulmuslim Mukhuddinov (2013 69 KG Cadet world finals), Soslan Ktsoev (2017 Korkin), Alireza Karimiachiani (2017 Iranian Pro League), Hassan Yazdani Charati (2018 Iranian World Team Trials) #1 Magomed Kurbanov (RWF)- 2018 Medved bronze, 2017 Intercontinental Cup bronze medalist, 2018 Intercontinental Cup bronze medalist, 2021 Russian Nationals champion, 2019 Russian Nationals runner-up, 2020 Russian Nationals runner-up, 2019 Yarygin champ, 2021 European champion, 2021 Russian World team wrestle-off champion Key Wins: Serdar Boke (2018 medved), #10 (97) Alikhan Zhabrailov (2018 Yusup Abdusalamov tournament, 2018 Alans, 2019 Ugra Cup, 2019 Yarygin), #4 Batyrbek Tsakulov (2019 Yarygin), #5 Azamat Zakuev (2018 Intercontinental Cup bronze medal match, 2021 Russian world team wrestle off), #10 Gadzhi Radzhabov (2021 European championships), Samuel Scherrer (2021 European Championships) Key Losses: Alikhan Zhabrailov (2018 Medved semis, 2019 Russian Nationals finals, 2020 Russian Nationals finals), Zbigniew Baranowski (2017 Intercontinental Cup), Anzor Urishev (2018 Ali Aliyev), Anzor Urishev (2018 Intercontinental Cup semifinals) #1 Magomed Kurbanov (RWF) has taken a strong hold of the 92 KG weight class with the departure of world medalists #13 J'den Cox (USA), #13 (97) Alireza Karimimachiani (IRI) and #10 (97) Alikhan Zhabrailov (RWF). Boasting Russian Nationals, European and Yarygin gold, Kurbanov has earned his top billing. A pressure heavy grinder who drowns his opponents in deep waters, Kurbanov is a dangerous proposition to the other title contenders in #13 J'den Cox (USA) and #2 Kamran Ghasempour (IRI). #2 Kamran Ghasempour (IRI) first made waves in 2018 at 86 KG when he beat out established Russian talents in Shamil Kudiyamagomedov (ITA), Alexander Gostiev (AZE) and two time World/Olympic medalist #3 (86) Artur Naifonov (RUS) to win gold at the International Ukrainian Tournament and the U-23 world championships. Undefeated for the past 3 years, Ghasempour's only roadblock to senior world gold has been three time World/Olympic champion #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati, losing in the 2018, 2019 and 2021 wrestle-offs for the World/Olympic championships. Ghasempour's best accomplishments at 92 KG have been an Asian championships gold medal in April and winning Iranian world team trials over 2020 Asian champion #3 Javad Ebrahimi (IRI). #13 J'den Cox (USA) had been a fixture in the top of the pound for pound rankings due to his back to back world titles from 2018 and 2019 and wins over World/Olympic champions #1 (86) David Taylor (USA) and #3 (74) Kyle Dake (USA). But a rough transition to 97 KG that culminated in Cox missing the Olympic trials from missing weight that was followed up by a botched return to 92 KG that saw Cox lose to the unheralded #12 Illia Archaia (UKR) at the Ziolkowski has put Cox's back against the wall. Cox absolutely has the talent to win in this field and should be considered the favorite considering his past, but issues regarding his mindset and consistency make Cox as a surefire bet hard to buy. Medal Contenders #6 Zbigniew Baranowski (POL)- 2019 Ziolkowski runner-up, 2019 92 KG European championships runner-up, 2018 Ziolkowski champ, 2017 Intercontinental Cup runner-up Key Wins: Alexander Gostiev (2019 Ali Aliev), Dauren Kurugliev (2019 Ziolkowski semis), Alikhan Zhabrailov (2017 Kadyrov Cup), Murad Suleymanov (2018 Kadyrov Cup), Magomed Kurbanov (2017 Intercontinental Cup semis), Akhmed Magamaev (2019 European Championships) Key Losses: Dauren Kurugliev (2018 world's, 2019 European games), Myles Amine (2019 European Games repechage), Zushen Lin (2019 Ali Aliev), Artur Naifonov (2018 European Championships), J'den Cox (2017 world's), Sharif Sharifov (2016 Olympics, 2019 92 KG European Championships finals). #8 Erhan Yaylaci (TUR)- 2021 Yasar Dogu runner-up, 2020 Individual world cup bronze medalist, 2021 U-23 European championships gold medalist, 2018 Junior world bronze medalist, 2021 Matteo Pellicone runner-up, 2019 Medved 5th, 2020 Yasar Dogu 5th, 2020 Ziolkowski champion, 2019 U-23 European championships bronze medalist, 2018 Junior European championships bronze medalist. Key Wins: #14 Osman Nurmagomedov (2021 U-23 European Championships finals), #17 Georgi Rubaev (2020 Ziolkowski), Arif Ozen (2020 Ziolkowski), Gadzhimurad Magomedsaidov (2020 Individual World Cup bronze medal match), Pat Downey (2021 Matteo Pellicone), #15 Irakli Mtsituri (2021 Yasar Dogu semifinals), Guram Chertkoev (2019 Medved bronze medal match) Key Losses: #8 Selim Yasar (2021 Yasar Dogu finals, 2021 Matteo Pellicone finals), #17 Georgi Rubaev (2020 Individual World cup qualification round), #4 Batyrbek Tsakulov (2019 U-23 European Championships), Radoslaw Marcinkiewicz (2021 European championships qualification round), #15 (125) Abbas Ali Foroutanrami (2018 Junior World championships), Aslanbek Alborov (2020 Yasar Dogu semifinals), #15 Irakli Mtsituri (2020 Yasar Dogu bronze medal match, 2019 International Ukrainian Tournament semifinals ), Ivan Yankouski (2019 Meved semis), #5 Azamat Zakuev (2018 Junior European Championships semifinals), #10 Suleyman Karadeniz (2019 International Ukrainian Tournament bronze medal match), Shamil Zubairov (2019 Yasar Dogu quarterfinals). #11 Amarhadzhi Magomedov (BLR)- 2021 Medved champ, 2020 European bronze medalist, 2016 European Olympic qualifier runner-up Best Wins: #12 Illia Archiaia (2021 Ali Aliev), #15 Irakli Mtsituri (2021 Medved), Ibragim Aldatov (2016 European Olympic Qualifier). Key Losses: #3 Javad Ebrahimi (2021 Ali Aliev), #13 J'den Cox (2016 86 KG Olympics), Samuel Scherrer (2020 European championships #14 Osman Nurmagomedov (AZE)- 2021 U-23 European championships runner-up, 2021 Senior European championships bronze medalist, 2020 86 KG Yasar Dogu bronze medalist, 2021 Henri Deglane Grand Prix runner-up. Key Wins: #15 Iraki Mtsituri (2021 Henri Deglane Grand Prix), #5 Azamat Zakuev (2021 U-23 European Championships), Akhmed Magamaev (2021 Senior European championships quarterfinals). Key Losses: #1 Magomed Kurbanov (2021 Senior European championships semifinals), #8 Erhan Yaylaci (2021 U-23 European championships finals), #9 Zbigniew Baranowski (2021 Henri Deglane Grand Prix), #12 (79) Arsalan Budazhapov (2020 86 KG Moscow Grand Prix), #11 Amarhadzhi Magomedov (2021 International Ukrainian Tournament qualification round). Out of this group, I feel that U-23 European champion #8 Erhan Yaylaci (TUR) has made the most growth this year and is a serious contender to break through here. #6 Zbigniew Baranowski (POL) is always dangerous, but the same issues of pacing, issues with wrestling from ties and poor scrambling ability have prevented him from putting together a full run in a deep bracket for world hardware. 2016 Olympian #11 Amarhadzi Magomedov (BLR) has made a strong comeback campaign beating #12 Illia Archaia (UKR) and #15 Irakli Mtsituri (GEO) and taking gold at the Medved but against the title contender tear and more offensive young prospects like #8 Erhan Yaylaci (TUR), or #14 Osman Nurmagomedov (AZE), I see him struggling. #14 Osman Nurmagomedov (AZE) is part of a new group of young Azerbaijan talent rising through the ranks like Turan Bayramov, Abubakar Abakarov and Dzhabrail Gadzhiev. Nurmagomedov has had strong showings for himself this year with runner-up finishes at the Henri Deglane Challenge and the U-23 European championships beating out #15 Irakli Mtsituri (GEO) and #5 Azamat Zakuev (RWF) along with a Senior European bronze medal. I'm really excited to see how he and Yaylaci do in this bracket and if they break through. Dark Horses #15 Irakli Mtsituri(GEO)- 2016 U -23 european championships 2nd, 2018 International Ukrainian bronze medalist, 2018 U-23 Georgian Nationals champ, 2017 Georgian Nationals champ december, 2018 Dan Kolov runner-up(92), 2018 European Championships 5th(92), 2018 U-23 European Runner-up, 2018 Tbilisi GP bronze, 2018 U-23 world 5th place finisher, 2019 European championships bronze medalist, 2019 world bronze medalist, 2021 Medved runner-up Key Wins: Kadir Yazici(2016 U-23 european championships), Michael Bodnar(2016 U-23 european championships), Serdar Boke (2018 Dan Kolov), Huseiyn Gunduz (2018 Dan Kolov), Egzon Shala(2015 U-23 European Championships), Gadzhimurad Magomedsaidov (2017 U-23 worlds), Murat Erturk (2017 U-23 worlds), Lazaro Hernandez Luis (2017 U-23 worlds), #3 Javad Ebrahimi (2017 Kartozia&Balavadze GP), Dato Marsagishvili (2018 International Ukrainian tournament), Arashk Mohebi (2018 International Ukrainian tournament), Ivan Yankouski (2018 European Championships), #8 Erhan Yaylaci (2020 Yasar Dogu bronze medal match, 2019 International Ukrainian Tournament). Key Losses: #3 (74) Kyle Dake(2016 Medved), #18 (86) Arsen Ali Musalaliev(2015 Junior worlds), #1 (97) Abdulrashid Sadulaev(2016 U-23 european Championships, 2018 Dan Kolov, 2018 European Championships semis), Kyrylo Mieshkov (2018 European Championships bronze medal match), Mamuka Kordzaia(2016 pune Mayor's cup), Alireza Karimi(2016 Grand Prix of Paris), Adma Abdulvakhabov(2016 Grand Prix of Paris), Alexander Gostiev (2017 Kartozia&Balavadze GP), Azamat Dauletbekov (2017 U-23 worlds), Shamil Zubairov (2018 U-23 European Championships), #6 Anzor Urishev (2018 Tbilisi GP quarters), Aslanbek Sotiev (2018 U-23 world's round of 16), #13 J'den Cox (2019 world championships semifinals), #11 Amarhadzhi Magomedov (2021 Medved finals) #17 Georgi Rubaev (MDA)- 2019 86 KG Alans runner-up, 2020 Individual World Cup runner-up, Two time 86 KG Russian Nationals bronze medalist (‘11 & ‘12). Key Wins: #9 Erhan Yaylaci (2020 Individual World Cup), #4 Batyrbek Tsakulov (2020 European championships), #9 (86) Vladislav Valiev (2019 86 KG Alans). Key Losses: #15 Irakli Mtsituri (2020 European championships), #9 (97) Alikhan Zhabrailov (2020 Individual World Cup finals), #16 Soslan Ktsoev (2019 86 KG Alans finals) 2019 world bronze medalist #15 Irakli Mtsituri (GEO) has been someone who's been up and down over the quad as early on he's taking wins over transitioning Junior talent like #8 Erhan Yaylaci (TUR) and had strong performances over #3 Javad Ebrahimi (IRI) at the 2017 Tbilisi GP. While he's got a great technical acumen with his arm throws and high singles, he has struggled to put together full matches in a way that suggests he'd make a deep run in this deep of a field. #17 Georgi Rubaev (MDA) is in the same boat of Mtsituri as someone who can shock good guys in close matches with a big early counter, but the deeper they get into a tournament against who can make them pay for standing up hunting for throws, they usually fall apart. Still, Rubaev and Mtsituri are dangerous early and should not be discounted as potential single off upset scares.

Yianni Diakomihalis at the 2021 World Team Trials(Photo/Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com) In a weight headlined by young talent, the trio of #3 Zagir Shakhiev (RWF), #6 Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM) and #18 Yianni Diakomihalis (USA) will all look to earn their first senior world medal. Factor in 2018 U-23 world runner-up Ali Rahimzade (AZE) and Belarusian stalwart 2020 European runner-up Nyurgun Skryabin (BLR) and you've got a great bracket. Title Contenders #6 Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM)- 2019 Intercontinental Cup bronze medalist, 2018 61 KG Junior world bronze medalist, 2019 U-23 European Champion, 2020 Individual World Cup champion, 2021 European Olympic Qualifier champion. Key Wins: #4 Haji Aliyev (2021 European Olympic Qualifier finals), Vladimir Khinchegashvili (2021 European Olympic Qualifier), #6 (70) Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (2021 European Olympic Qualifier), #11 Ismail Musukaev (2020 Individual World Cup finals), Gor Oganesyan (2019 world championships), Ilman Mukhtarov ( 2019 U-23 European Championships), Maxim Sacultan ( 2019 U-23 European championships). Key Losses: #2 Takuto Otoguro (JPN; 2019 world championships), #1 (61) Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS; 2018 61 KG Junior world championships), Selim Kozan (TUR; 2019 U-23 world championships qualification round), #2 Gadzhimurad Rashidov (2021 Olympics opening round) #3 Zagir Shakhiev (RUS) - 2016 46 KG Cadet world champion, 2020 Russian Nationals runner-up, 2021 European champion, 2021 Russian Nationals runner-up, 2018 61 KG Stepan Sargsyan cup runner-up, 2019 61 KG Ugra Cup bronze medalist, 2019 61 KG Stepan Sargsyan Cup bronze medalist. Key Wins: Soslan Ramonov (2020 Russian Nationals), #8 Akhmed Chakaev (2021 Russian World Team Wrestle-Offs), #10 Abdulmazhid Kudiev (2021 Russian World Team Wrestle-Offs), #3 (70) Kurban Shiraev (2021 Russian Nationals), Julian Gergenov (2021 Russian Nationals), Gadzhimurad Omarov (2021 Russian Nationals), Ibragim Abdurakhmanov (2021 Russian Nationals), Ali Rahimzade (2021 European championships), Kezhik Chimba (2020 Russian Nationals, 2019 61 KG Ugra Cup), Artur Badtiev (2020 Russian Nationals bronze medal match), Rustam Abdurashidov (2018 Alans round of 16), Amirkhan Guvazhokov (2019 61 KG Stepan Sargsyan Cup bronze medal match) Key Losses: #2 Gadzhimurad Rashidov (2021 Russian Nationals finals), #8 Akhmed Chakaev (2020 Russian Nationals semifinals), Ashot Velitsyan (2018 61 KG Stepan Sargsyan Cup finals), Alexander Bogomoev (2018 61 KG Alans quarterfinals), #6 Vazgen Tevanyan (2018 Intercontinental Cup qualification round), Efim Kormiltsev (2019 61 KG Ugra Cup semifinals), #1 (61) Abasgadzhi Magomedov (2019 61 KG Stepan Sargsyan Cup semifinals), Bekhan Goygereev (2019 65 KG Russian Nationals quarterfinals) #18 Yianni Diakomihalis (USA)- 2015 58 KG Cadet world champion, 2016 63 KG Cadet world champion, 2x NCAA champion, 2019 U.S. Open champion, 2019 Final X runner-up, 2019 Ziolkowski champion, 2019 Yasar Dogu champion, 2021 Henri Deglane Grand Prix Champion, 2021 U.S. World Team Trials champion, 2021 Pan-Am champ. Key Wins: # 5 Bajrang Punia (2019 Beat the Streets), #11 Ismail Musukaev (2019 Yasar Dogu), Zain Retherford (2019 U.S. Open, 2019 Yasar Dogu), Joey McKenna ( 2019 141 LB NCAA finals, 2021 Ziolkowski, 2021 U.S. World Team Trials finals), Jordan Oliver (2019 U.S. Open), Ali Rahimzade (2019 Yasar Dogu), Vladimir Khinchegashvili (2021 Henri Deglane Grand Prix), #7 (61) Eduard Grigorev (2021 Ziolkowski), #8 (70) James Green (2021 Henri Deglane Grand Prix finals). Key Losses: #11 Ismail Musukaev (2021 Ziolkowski), #20 Joey McKenna (2019 U.S. Open semifinals), Jordan Oliver (2021 U.S. Olympic Trials), Zain Retherford (2019 Final X). #3 Zagir Shakhiev (RWF) has been on an absolute tear through one of the deepest weight classes in Russia off the strength of a bronze medal and silver medal at the 2020 and 2021 Russian Nationals championships. Wins over World/Olympic medalists the likes of Soslan Ramonov (RWF) and #8 Akhmed Chakaev (RWF) along with elites in #3 (70) Kurban Shiraev (RWF), #10 Abdulmazhid Kudiev (RWF) and Julian Gergenov (RWF) have made Shakhiev's debut at the world championships one of the most highly anticipated among the whole tournament. #6 Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM) had a career best placement of bronze at the 2018 60 KG Junior world championships before the end of 2020 at the Individual World Cup. While there, Tevanyan notched the biggest upset of his career over returning world bronze medalist #11 Ismail Musukaev (HUN) and following it up by qualifying for the Olympics by taking gold at the European Qualifier with wins over past World/Olympic medalists #4 Haji Aliyev (AZE), #6 (70) Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL) and Vladimir Khinchegashvili (GEO). While Tevanyan did lose first round in Tokyo to returning world champion #2 Gadzhimurad Rashidov (RWF), the young Armenian should still very much be considered a foremost title threat. #18 Yianni Diakomihalis (USA) has been one of the biggest prospects at 65 KG since his breakthrough performance in 2019 that saw him unseat then top ranked four time World/Olympic medalist #5 Bajrang Punia (IND) and #11 Ismail Musukaev (HUN) before getting his chance to qualify to compete at the world championships in Nursultan. In an extremely controversial and poorly handled qualification process, Diakomihalis was passed over and 2017 world rep Zain Retherford (USA) was selected over him. Diakomihalis has come back this year with a vengeance taking gold at the Ziolkowski and U.S. World team trials and expanding upon his impressive offense and highly layered, scramble centric defense that put him on the map in 2019. Medal Contenders Nyurgun Skryabin (BLR)- 2020 European runner-up, 2016 Yarygin champion, 2021 Medved bronze medalist. Key Wins: Ali Rahimzade (2020 European Championships), #11 Ismail Musukaev (2020 European championships), #8 Akhmed Chakaev (2016 61 KG Yarygin), Imam Adzhiev (2016 61 KG Yarygin finals). Key Losses: #3 (70) Kurban Shiraev (2020 European championships finals), Alejandro Valdes Tobier (2018 world championships), #6 (70) Magomedmurad Gadziev (2021 World Olympic qualifier) Ali Rahimzade (AZE)- 2018 U-23 world runner-up, 2020 European championships bronze medalist, 2021 International Ukrainian Tournament champion. Key Wins: #7 Ernazar Akhmataliev (2021 International Ukrainian Tournament), Dzhamal Otarsultanov (2017 61 KG world cup), #11 Ismail Musukaev (2020 European championships bronze medal match). Key Losses: #18 (57) Rei Higuchi (2018 U-23 world finals), #18 Yianni Diakomihalis (2019 Yasar Dogu), Nyurgun Skryabin (2020 European championships) Nyurgun Skryabin (BLR) is a seasoned vet who's finished strong this quad with a runner-up finish at the 2020 European championships and bronze this year at the Medved with wins over #8 Akhmed Chakaev (RWF), #11 Ismail Musukaev (HUN) and Ali Rahimzade (AZE) to bolster his career. Ali Rahimzade (AZE) has long been a bright spot on Azerbaijan's team at 65 and seen as the successor to Olympic runner-up #4 Haji Aliyev (AZE) and while he's got great wins over 2012 Olympic champion Dzhamal Otarsultanov (RWF) and #7 Ernazar Akhmataliev (KGZ), Rahimzade will be out gunned in this field against Shakhiev and Diakomihalis who both have wins over him and Tevanyan won't give the highly physical, lunging underhook heavy style of Rahimzade much room to breathe.

Daton Fix at the 2021 World Championships (Photo Courtesy of UWW) #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RWF) and #4 Daton Fix (USA) dominate to set up the highly anticipated 61 KG world final. #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RWF) and #4 Daton Fix (USA) have shown themselves to be on a completely different level than their competition in Oslo. Magomedov cruised through his bracket, pinning the likes of 2018 world bronze medalist Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (MGL) and Emrah Ormanoglu (TUR) before tech falling 2018 57 KG U-23 world champion Toshihiro Hasegawa (JPN) 10-0 in the semis. Fix's path of destruction has seen him not concede a single point and dominate the likes of Georgi Vangelov (BUL), Arman Eloyan (FRA), Ravinder Ravinder (IND) and Arsen Harutyunyan (ARM) by a margin of 42-0. Since their last battle at 2015 Cadet World's, both men have improved leaps and bounds and I expect the offensive dynamo that Fix has matriculated into to culminate his world championships performance with gold over Magomedov. Toshihiro Hasegawa (JPN) was one of the other big stories of the bracket as the past 57 KG standout made a strong run to the semifinals. An opening round win over #13 Nico Megerle (GER) put him against electrifying Junior World Champion #9 Rahman Amouzadkhalili (IRI), who terrified the age group scene with his dominating underhook series. Hasegawa showed veteran poise and composure and outlasted the young Iranian to win 9-5 and make the quarterfinals. Against another member of the top ten in European bronze medalist #7 Eduard Grigorev (POL), it would be the chain wrestling of Hasegawa that would carry him to a late 6-3 victory for a semifinal berth. While he was tech falled 10-0 by #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RWF), Hasegawa does have a strong path to bronze in what would cap off a standout debut at the Senior world championships. #3 Beka Lomtadze (GEO) had suffered a rib injury back in September at the Medved in his 65 KG semifinal bout against #20 (65) Ramazan Ferzaliev (RWF) and it came back to haunt him in his Round of 16 match against Ravinder Ravinder (IND). Lomtadze, a wrestler known for his speed and high paced offense, was sluggish and hesitant throughout the match and the powerful Ravinder took advantage of it for an 8-3 win. It's a shame that we didn't get to see Lomtadze at his full strength against Fix in the quarters or against Magomedov as the reigning world champion at the weight, but here's hoping that he recovers so that we can. #3 Kyle Dake (USA) dominant on his path for third world title while European champion #14 Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK) returns to form to make the finals. Based off their respective performances this year, I pegged #3 Kyle Dake (USA) and #14 Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK) as my favorites to win gold in what was a loaded 74 KG bracket. Even with both men having suffered lopsided defeats to #2 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR) this year with Salkazanov's being at the World Olympic qualifier and Dake's in the Olympic quarterfinals, Salkazanov and Dake had both shown themselves to be the cream crop of the weight outside of Sidakov and Kadimagomedov. But there was some hesitation regarding #14 Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK). A loss to #2 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR) is absolutely understandable given the year Kadimagomedov went on to have, but Salkazanov losing his semifinal match to #13 Magomed Dibirgadzhiev (RWF) in September at The Medved put doubt on his chances in Oslo. Salkazanov didn't have near the level of dominance that Dake had in his run to the finals, but Salkazanov made up for it with consistency. Starting off his tournament by avenging his loss from the European Olympic qualifier to Alipasha Umarpashaev (BUL) 3-0, Salkazanov was given a huge test against three-time Russian Nationals bronze medalist #6 Timur Bizhoev (RWF). With Bizhoev leading 2-1 and being as defensively strong as he is, it looked like Salkazanov's chances for gold were gone but a clutch duck under into a bodylock for Salkazanov saw the Slovakian pick up Bizhoev and carry him out of bounds for a clutch stepout and the 2-2 win. 2018 world runner-up Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO) would be all that stood between Salkazanov and the world finals and ever the calm, cool, and collected Salkazanov used two passivity points, a stepout and a late double leg to forge a 5-0 win over the explosive Georgian and make the world finals. #3 Kyle Dake (USA) had a much less dramatic path to his third straight world finals match, tech falling Vasile Diacon (MDA) before winning comfortable 5-0 and 8-1 wins over Fatih Eryilmaz (TUR) and #12 Azamat Nurikov (BLR). Dake and Salkazanov is going to be a very interesting contrast of styles as the highly aggressive Dake will try and put Salkazanov away early while the composed Slovakian will look to chip away and take over the match late on the American standout. For me, it is one of the premier matches of the whole tournament to watch. #12 Azamat Nurikov (BLR) had a very strong run to the semifinals defined by his comeback win in the quarterfinals against #16 Khetag Tsabolov (SRB). Nurikov historically has not been a wrestler with a strong comeback record or gas tank but the improvements he showed against the past world champion Tsabolov saw him overcome a 5-0 deficit to cap off a 7-7 criteria win with a takedown in the final second of the match. Nurikov's improved match IQ and increased offensive output will serve him well on his path to earn his first world medal after taking fifth four times before. Olympic champions #1 David Taylor (USA) and #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI) set to renew their rivalry for gold in Oslo. On his path to his third World/Olympic title, #1 David Taylor (USA) has more than lived up to the moniker of "The Magic Man" as the Olympic champion outscored the likes of #14 Boris Makoev (SVK), Akhmed Aibuev (SVK) and #15 Abubakar Abakarov (AZE) by a 25-2 margin with two pins. #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI) continued his chargeback to becoming the greatest as the Iranian standout outscored #3 Artur Naifonov (RWF), Azamat Dauletbekov (KAZ), and Ethan Ramos (PUR) by a 30-4 margin. I expect to see #3 Artur Naifonov (RWF) and #15 Abubakar Abakarov (SVK) walk away with bronze from the event and Taylor finish off his year with his third World/Olympic title as well. Keep an eye out for Ethan Ramos (PUR) as the past Tar Heel All-American has looked strong this tournament with a 13-2 win over Gwanuk Kim and could take out 2019 Intercontinental Cup champion Azamat Dauletbekov (KAZ) in repechage. #3 Amir Zare (IRI) upsets #1 Taha Akgul (TUR) on his path to gold. #3 Amir Zare (IRI) was a wrecking ball on his way to his pivotal semifinal match against three-time World/Olympic champion #1 Taha Akgul (TUR). Zare thoroughly controlled #10 Dzianis Khramiankov (BLR) in an opening round win before absolutely taking it to two time world bronze medalist #8 Nick Gwiazdowski (USA) for a 10-0 tech fall in under 2 minutes. In the semis against fellow Tokyo bronze medalist #1 Taha Akgul (TUR), Zare was in control throughout the bout and sealed the deal with a takedown in the final minute of the match. On the opposite side of the bracket, Olympic runner-up #2 Geno Petriashvili (GEO) opened with an 11-1 tech fall win over #9 Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur (MGL) and used wins over Johannes Ludescher (AUT) and Oleg Boltin (KAZ) to book his spot in his fourth-straight World/Olympic finals. Zare and Petriashvili are tied in their match series at 1-1 with Petriashvili winning in Tokyo and Zare winning in the Iranian Club League in 2019. While Zare has great momentum behind him, Petriashvili has shown this whole quad of being one of the most clutch performers when the spotlight is on so it's really anyone's match in the finals and I'm excited to get the chance to watch it.

2019 NCAA All-American Patrick Glory (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com; Graphic/Anna-Lee Marie) Welcome to a new recurring feature from InterMat as we lead into the 2021-22 collegiate season. We are about 50 days away from the start of the new season, so what better way to ring in the new year than to use that time to count down the top-50 current collegiate wrestlers. Each day a new wrestler will be released. These rankings have been compiled by members of the InterMat staff and used a combination of collegiate achievements, with 2021 accomplishments carrying more weight than past years, along with win-loss records and notable wins. While we are counting down the top-50 wrestlers based primarily on collegiate accomplishments, it is impossible to totally ignore achievements in the international settings, so they did factor in slightly, too. Before getting to the next wrestler on the list, look at the wrestlers previously profiled: #50 - Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) #49 - Ben Darmstadt (Cornell) #48 - Dakota Geer (Oklahoma State) #47 - Kaleb Young (Iowa) #46 - Rocky Elam (Missouri) #45 - Chad Red Jr. (Nebraska) #44 - Brandon Courtney (Arizona State) #43 - Brock Mauller (Missouri) #42 - Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) #41 - John Poznanski (Rutgers) #40 - Brayton Lee (Minnesota) #39 - Travis Wittlake (Oklahoma State) #38 - Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) #37 - Tariq Wilson (NC State) #36 - Jacob Warner (Iowa) #35 - Jacori Teemer (Arizona State) #34 - Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) #33 - Vito Arujau (Cornell) Next is… Patrick Glory (Princeton) Weight: 125 lbs Year: Junior Career Record: 54-7 Hometown: Randolph, New Jersey College Accomplishments: 2019 NCAA 6th Place, 2020 NWCA 1st Team All-American 2021-22 Preseason Ranking: #2 at 125 lbs The success of blue-chip recruit Matt Kolodzik helped pave the way for a recruit the caliber of Patrick Glory to believe in the Princeton program. Glory, the #17 overall recruit in the Class of 2018, was ready to go in year one with the Tigers. Glory's debut in the black and orange saw him rack up bonus points in four bouts on his way to a title at the Princeton Open. Things would get significantly tougher in his first dual meet, which came against defending NCAA champion, Spencer Lee (Iowa). The freshman was no match for Lee as he put up a technical fall, 18-2. The freshman didn't have to wait long to get a rematch against Lee. The two clashed in the semifinals of the Midlands about a month and a half after their initial dual meeting. While Lee got his hand raised in this meeting too, Glory was able to limit Lee's damage and even amassed significant riding time late in the bout. Glory would go on to finish third at the tournament. Shortly after the Midlands, Glory suffered number three at the hands of Oklahoma State veteran Nick Piccininni, 9-4. A few weeks later, in the dual season, Glory was dropped his first (and only) conference bout of the year. Cornell's Vito Arujau went back-and-forth with Glory before ending the match via fall. Glory ran the table for the remainder of the dual season and carried a 24-4 record into his first EIWA Tournament. As expected, Glory and Arujau both advanced to the championship bout. Glory was able to pin two opponents along the way. The Tiger turned the tables on his fellow freshman from Cornell and emerged victorious in a 10-8 shootout. A conference title helped Glory to the #7 seventh seed at nationals in Pittsburgh. Glory started his first NCAA Tournament quickly and teched his first opponent, Alonzo Allen (Chattanooga) 16-0 in just over one period. The Round of 16 saw Glory take down #10 Brent Fleetwood (North Dakota State) 10-0. That gave Glory another chance for revenge in the NCAA quarterfinals, opposite Piccininni. No such luck this time, as Piccininni won again, this time with a 9-5 score. To clinch a place amongst the top-eight, Glory turned in a one-sided 7-1 win over Michael McGee (Old Dominion). He would keep that momentum going with a major decision win over Rayvon Foley (Michigan State) in his next bout. Glory was relegated to the fifth-place match after dropping his next contest to New Jersey rival Sebastian Rivera (Northwestern). With fifth-place on the line, Glory lost for the second time this tournament and the third time all year to Piccininni. Glory became only the second Princeton freshman to garner All-American honors. He also finished the year at 30-7, with all seven losses coming to wrestlers that finished ahead of him at nationals. Like his freshman year, Glory got the 2019-20 campaign off to a blazing start at the Princeton Open. There he achieved bonus point status in all four of his contests, with three techs and a fall. It didn't take long to see the improvements in a sophomore Glory. In the first week of December, he neutralized Piccininni during a 9-4 win. Glory didn't have the opportunity to meet another top contender that defeated him multiple times as a freshman in Spencer Lee (Iowa), but that wasn't for a lack of trying. Lee did not wrestle during the school's dual meet and after day one at the Midlands. Glory captured his first title at the event by downing Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern) 4-0 in the championship match. In the second half of the season, Glory was not seriously tested. He went 7-0 in dual competition and tallied bonus points in six of those contests. The EIWA Championships proved to be more of the same. Glory made the finals with two major decisions and a tech fall. In the first-place bout, Glory held off a surprising finalist in Joe Manchio (Columbia) 3-0 to capture his second EIWA title in as many tries. A perfect regular season and the EIWA Championship helped Glory land the second seed at the 2020 NCAA Championships. Unfortunately, the tournament was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. Glory was paired with #31 Christian Moody (Oklahoma) in the opening round. Notable top seeds on his half of the bracket included #3 Nick Piccininni (Oklahoma State), #6 Drew Hildebrandt (Central Michigan), #7 Brandon Paetzell (Lehigh), #10 Jakob Camacho (NC State). After the season, Glory was named an NWCA First-Team All-American, the EIWA Wrestler of the Year and a Hodge Trophy finalist. He was the first Tiger wrestler to earn the EIWA distinction and the program's first Hodge nominee. Glory was unable to compete during the 2021 campaign, as well, since the Ivy League did not allow any of their institutions to participate in winter sports. In May of 2021, Glory swept All-American Taylor LaMont (Utah Valley) in two straight bouts to earn a spot on the U23 World Team. Strengths: Aside from Spencer Lee, Glory is the best 125 lber from the top position. He can bust a match wide open from that position or simply grind an opponent into the mat. Glory also is very strong mentally and has the makeup to take down a wrestler of Lee's caliber. 2021-22 Outlook: As evidenced by his 2019-20 season, Glory is one of the elite 125's in the nation and is an NCAA finals threat. Glory's top game has made him closer to Spencer Lee than the rest of the competition. To pull an upset over Lee, you'll need to wear him down on the mat.

(Photo/Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com) 57kg 65 kg 79 kg 92 kg

Daton Fix at the 2021 World Team Trials(Photo/Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com) #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov of Russia has cemented himself as the consensus number one 61 KG wrestler in the world with his performances at the end of 2020 and throughout 2021. Two back-to-back Russian Nationals titles, an Individual World cup title and gold at the Yarygin and European championships have rightfully earned Magomedov the coveted top spot. While Magomedov has jumped levels, 61 KG is rejuvenated with an influx of talent after having not had a full World/Olympic championships since 2019. Returning world medalists #3 Beka Lomtadze (GEO) and #4 Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov (AZE) lead the charge while #5 Daton Fix (USA), #7 Eduard Grigorev (POL), #9 Rahman Amouzadkhalili (IRI) and #10 Andrey Bekrenev (BLR) complete the rest of the top ten entered to compete. Past contenders the likes of #19 Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov (KGZ) and Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (MGL) along with age group talents #13 Nico Megerle (GER) and Arsen Harutyunyan (ARM) round out what is a loaded bracket. Title Contenders #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS)- 2018 57 KG Alans champ, 2019 57 KG Yarygin runner-up, 2019 Alans runner-up, 2020 Russian nationals champion, 2020 Individual World Cup champion, 2021 61 KG Russian Nationals champion, 2021 European champion, 2021 Yarygin champ Key Wins: #2 Andrey Dzhelep (2021 European Finals), #20 (65) Ramazan Ferzaliev (RUS; 2020 Russian Nationals finals), #6 Muslim Mekhtikhanov (2021 Russian Nationals finals), #3 (57) Thomas Gilman (USA; 2019 Yarygin), #15 Zelimkhan Abakarov ( 2019 Alans), Ibragim Abdurakhmanov (2020 Soslan Azaev tournament, 2020 Russian nationals semifinals), Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez ( 2020 DRL), #4 Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov (2019 DRL, 2020 Individual World Cup finals), Rustam Karakhanov (2021 Yarygin finals) Key Losses: #1 (57) Zavur Uguev (RUS; 2017 Kunaev finals), #2 Ramazan Ferzaliev (RUS; 2019 Ali Aliev, 2019 Alans finals match), #3 Alexander Bogomoev (RUS; 2020 Yarygin), #20 Muslim Sadulaev (RUS; 201857 KG Yarygin finals). #3 Beka Lomtadze(GEO)- 2015 European Games runner-up,, 2016 2018 International Ukrainian tournament runner-up, 2018 European Championships runner-up, 2x Tbilsi GP champ ('18 & '19), 2018 world 5th, 2018 Alans runner-up, 2019 European runner-up, 2019 world champ, 2020 European runner-up, 2021 European bronze medalist Key Wins: Vasyl Fedorishin(2014 World Cup), Imam Adzhiev(2016 World Cup), Joe Colon (2018 International Ukrainian tournament), Magomedrasul Idrisov (2018 Alans, 2019 world finals), Alexander Bogomoev (2018 Alans, 2019 Alans) Radoslav Velikov(2015 European Games, 2015 Ziolkowski), Ivan Guidea(2015 European Games, 2018 Euros), Nyam Ochir Enkhsaikhan(2014 world cup), Vladimir Khinchegashvili(2015 Georgian Nationals), Vasyl Shuptar(2015 European Games), Nikoali Okhlopkov (2020 Euros), #4 Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov(2016 world championships, 2019 Tbilisi GP finals, 2021 European Championships bronze medal match), Key Losses: #4 (65) Haji Aliyev (2014 European Championships, 2015 Baku GGP), Alexander Bogomoev (2015 European Games, 2014 world championships, 2020 European championships finals) Shingo Arimoto(2015 Baku GGP), Nomin Batbold(2015 World Championships), #5 (65) Bajrang Punia (2015 World Championships), Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg(2016 World Cup, 2018 world bronze medal match), Arash Moustafa Dargesarakai(2015 Takhti Cup), Egor Ponomarev(2014 Stepan Sargsyan), Alexander Semisorow(2014 European Championships), Logan Stieber(2016 world finals), Vladimir Khinchegashvili(2017 Georgian nationals finals), Andrei Perpelita(2017 Ziolkowski), Suleyman Atli (2017 worlds), Nariman Israpilov (2017 Kunaev), Lasha Lomtadze (2017 Georgian Nationals), #2 (65) Gadzhimurad Rashidov (2018 world semis), #2 (61) Andrey Dzhelep (2021 European Championships), #6 (70) Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (2021 World OG Qualifier), Magomed Magomedov (2019 Alans) #5 Daton Fix (USA)- 2019 Pan-Am Games champ, 2017 Junior world champ, 2018 Junior world bronze medalist, 2016 Junior world bronze medalist, 2015 cadet world's bronze medalist, 2021 U.S. World Team Trials champion Key Wins: #3 (57) Thomas Gilman (2019 Final X), #18 (57) Reineri Andreu Ortega (2019 Pan-Am Games), Ismail Gadzhiev (2017 junior world finals), Andrey Yatsenko (2016 junior world bronze medal match), Nathan Tomasello (2021 U.S. World Team Trials, 2017 U-23 world team trials) Key Losses:#3 (57) Thomas Gilman (2018 Final X, 2020 Matteo Pellicone), Naveen Naveen (2018 Junior world semis), Khasanguseynov Badrudinov (2016 junior world's), Parviz Ibragimov (2017 U-23 world's), #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (2015 cadet world's), Minghu Liu (2020 Matteo Pellicone bronze medal match), Vito Arujau (2021 57 KG Olympic Trials), Nathan Tomasello (2021 U.S. Olympic Team Trials) #9 Rahman Mousa Amouzadkhalili (IRI)- 2x 46 KG cadet world champ (''18 &'19), 2020 Iranian trials runner-up, 2020 57 KG Individual Cup bronze medalist, 2021 61 KG Yasar Dogu champ, 2021 61 KG Junior world champion Key Wins: Alireza Sarlak (2020 57 KG Iranian Trials runner-up), #14 Fedor Baltuev (2021 Junior World championships), #19 Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov (2021 Yasar Dogu), Assyl Aitakyn (2021 Yasar Dogu finals), Muenir Recep Aktas (2021 Yasar Dogu). Key Losses: #10 Reza Atri (2020 Iranian Trials finals), #1 (57) Zavur Uguev (2020 KG Individual World Cup) #4 Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov (AZE)- 2015 Kadyrov Cup runner-up, 2016 Baku GGP champ, 2016 world bronze medalist, 2018 Korkin champ, 2018 International Ukrainian tournament champion, 2020 Individual World cup runner-up, 2021 International Ukrainian Tournament champion, 2021 European championships 5th, Key Wins: #2 Andrey Dzhelep (2021 International Ukrainain Tournament), #3 (65) Bajrang Punia (IND; 2016 world championships), #9 (57) Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez (CUB; 2016 Baku GGP finals, 2018 World cup, 2019 world championships), Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (MGL; 2018 Korkin finals). Key Losses: Behnam Ehsanpour (IRI; 2019 world championships quarterfinals), #4 Beka Lomtadze (GEO; 2019 Tbilisi GP finals, 2016 world's semifinals, 2021 European Championships bronze medal match), #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS; 2019 DRL), #2 Andrey Dzhelep (2021 European Championships), Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (2018 world cup) ·#1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RWF), #5 Daton Fix (USA) and #9 Rahman Amouzadkhalili (IRI) have been three of the most successful age group prospects through the 2016-2020 quad and having them all competing in one bracket is guaranteed fireworks. Factor in returning world champion #3 Beka Lomtadze (GEO), who's capable of beating anyone at the weight along with the dangerous #4 Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov (AZE) and you have an absolutely loaded class of title contenders. Medal Contenders Arsen Harutunyan (ARM)- 2019 61 KG European championships gold medalist, 2019 Stepan Sargsyan 61 KG Cup runner-up, 2018 Junior world bronze medalist, 2017 55 KG junior world bronze medalist, 2020 57 KG Individual World Cup runner-up, 2021 European OG Qualifier champion. Key Wins: #3 Beka Lomtadze (2019 European Championships finals), Nikolai Okhlopkov (2019 European championships semis), Recep Topal (2019 European championships quarters), Zhandos Ismailov (2019 Sargsyan semis), Andrey Yatsenko (2020 Individual World Cup, 2021 European OG Qualifier), Georgi Vangelov (2021 European OG Qualifier finals), Beka Bujiashvili (2021 European OG Qualifier) Key Losses: #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (2019 Sargsyan cup finals), #11 (57) Akhmed Idrisov (2018 Junior world semis), Ismail Gadzhiev (2017 junior world championships quarterfinals). #7 Eduard Grigorev (POL)- 2018 Russian Nationals 5th place finisher, 2017 medved runner-up, 2018 Macedonian Pearl champ, 2018 President Cup of Buryatia runner-up, 2017 Korkin runner-up, 2015 Korkin runner-up, 2021 European bronze medalist, 2021 Ali Aliev runner-up, 2019 Yarygin bronze medalist Key Wins: Nikolai Okhlopkov (2017 Russian Nationals round of 32), Tulga Tumur Ochir (2018 President Cup of Buryatia quarters), #16 Dasha Sharastepanov (2018 President Cup of Buryatia semis), #15 Zelimkhan Abakarov (2018 Intercontinental Cup semifinals), #8 Taras Markovych (2021 Ali Aliev semis), Joe Colon (2019 Yarygin) Key Losses: Artem Gebek (2018 Russian Nationals bronze medal match, 2016 Russian Nationals round of 64), Bayar Tsyrenov (2018 President Cup of Buryatia finals), #11 (65) Ismail Musukaev (2018 Russian Nationals quarterfinals), Shamil Omarov (2017 Russian Nationals quarterfinals), Mikhail Ivanov (2015 Yarygin qualification round), Tony Ramos (2016 Yarygin qualification round), Viktor Rassadin (2015 Korkin finals), Galib Aliyev (2018 International Ukrainian tournament round of 16), Nariman Israpilov (2017 Yarygin round of 16), Nurgun Aleksandarov (2018 Kunaev quarterfinals), #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (2018 Intercontinental Cup finals, 2021 Euros)), #6 Muslim Mekhtikhanov (2021 Ali Aliev finals), #17 Adlan Askarov (KAZ)- 2019 57 KG Junior world bronze, 2019 57 KG U-23 world runner-up, 2021 Asian championships runner-up, 2021 Matteo Pellicone champion, 2021 Ziolkowski 5th place, 2017 46 KG Cadet world bronze medalist. Key Wins: #8 (57) Suleyman Atli (2021 Matteo Pellicone finals), Zanabazar Zandanbud (2019 57 KG U-23 world championships), Alireza Sarlak (2019 57 KG U-23 world championships), Nathan Tomasello (2021 Ziolkowski) Key Losses: Toshiaya Abe (2019 57 KG Junior World championships), #18 (57) Reineri Andreu Ortega (2019 57 KG U-23 world championships finals), #2 (57) Ravi Kumar (2021 Ziolkowski), #5 (57) Gulomyon Abdullaev (2021 Ziolkowski), Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (2019 57 KG Kunaev finals), Giorgi Gegelashvili (2017 46 KG Cadet world championships). #13 Nico Megerle (GER)- 2021 U-23 European Championships 5th place finisher. Key Wins: #6 Muslim Mekhitkhanov (2021 U-23 European championships). Key Losses: #12 Taimuraz Vanishvili (2021 U-23 European Championships), Ruhan Rasim (2021 U-23 European Championships). Toshihiro Hasegawa (JPN)- 2018 57 KG U-23 world champion, 2018 57 KG Asian championships bronze medalist, 2018 57 KG All-Japan championships runner-up, 2021 61 KG All-Japan championships gold medalist, 2017 57 KG Korkin bronze medalist, 2020 61 KG Japan championships bronze medalist, 2013 50 KG Cadet world bronze medalist Key Wins: #2 Ravi Kumar (2018 57 KG U-23 world finals), Wanhao Zou (2018 U-23 world championships), Jack Mueller (2018 U-23 world championships). Key Losses: #13 (57) Yuki Takahashi (2018 57 KG All-Japan championships finals), Tamir Garmaev (2017 Korkin), Kumsong Kang (2018 57 KG Asian Championships semifinals), Makhir Amiraslanov (2015 55 KG Junior World championships round of 16). Arsen Harutyunyan (ARM) is coming off his first Olympics at 57 KG and is a 2019 European champion at 61 KG. He's got great wins over #3 Beka Lomtadze (GEO) and Stevan Micic (SRB), but his issues as a front runner who falters in scrambles makes me hesitant to pick him over guys like Magomedov, Gvarzatilov, or Fix and I believe Lomtadze has figured him out and Amouzadkhalili is too much for him to handle at this point. #13 Nico Megerle (GER) is a really interesting guy to me as someone who is part of a really solid German program along with Horst Lehr at 57, Akhmed Dudarov at 86, Erik Thiele at 97 and Gennadij Cudinovic at 125 KG. Megerle did tech fall Russian Nationals runner-up #6 Muslim Mekhtikhanov (RWF) at the U-23 European championships but followed it up with a semis slide with losses to #12 Taimuraz Vanishvili (GEO) and Ruhan Rasim (BUL). Seeing Megerle put together a full tournament against more established Senior level talent will be one of my big points to watch out for here in the bracket. #17 Adlan Askarov (KAZ) has been someone who came on strong at the end of 2019 with a bronze medal finish at Junior World's and a runner-up finish at the U-23 World Championships, both at 57 KG. Askarov made a strong argument for himself this year as a contender winning the Matteo Pellicone to start off the year over two time world medalist #8 (57) Suleyman Atli (TUR) and following it up with a runner-up finish at the Asian championships to Jahongirmirza Turobov (UZB) and then failing to place in a loaded Ziolkowski bracket from losses to #2 (57) Ravi Kumar (IND) and #5 (57) Gulomyon Abdullaev (UZB). Askarov is absolutely not someone to be counted out and thrives in extended exchanges. #7 Eduard Grigorev (POL) came on strong with a runner-up finish at the Ali Aliyev that saw him beat #8 Taras Markovych (UKR) in the semis after Markovych had beaten out Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist #12 (57) Nurislam Sanayaev (KAZ) in his past match. Grigorev is a calculated counter wrestler who also boasts bronze medal finishes at the 2021 European championships and 2019 Yarygin and should be a stiff test for the young talent in this bracket. Toshihiro Hasegawa (JPN) broke through at the end of 2018 with a gold medal at the U-23 World Championships over Olympic silver medalist #2 Ravi Kumar (IND). Hasegawa is one to keep eyes on early as Japan has a great track record of developing and pushing through lightweight talent. Dark Horses #10 Andrey Bekrenev (BLR)- 2018 Mongolia Open runner-up (61), 2017 Medved champ, 2017 International Ukrainian Tournament bronze, 2015 Korkin bronze (61), 2013 Yasar Dogu bronze, 2018 Yasar Dogu bronze medalist, 2021 Medved champ Key Wins: Nathan Tomasello (2017 medved finals), Kuat Amirtaev (2018 Mongolia Open), #12 (57) Nurislam Sanayev (2018 Mongolia Open), #11 Nodar Arabidze (2017 medved, 2021 Medved), Tyler Graff (2017 Medved), Vyacheslav Efremov (2015 Korkin), Recep Topal (2018 Yasar Dogu quarters), Ruslan Gasimov (2018 Yasar Dogu bronze medal match 4-1 score) Key Losses: Frank Perelli (2017 International Ukrainian Tournament), Afghan Khasalov (2018 International Ukrainian Tournament), Nyurgun Skryabin (2015 Korkin, 2014 Dan Kolov), Egor Ponomarev (2017 Yarygin), Vladimir Dubov (2017 Ziolkowski), Bekhan Goygereev (2015 Russian Nationals), Alexander Kontoev (2014 Medved), Batyr Borjakov (2014 Yasar Dogu), Alexander Bogomoev (2018 Mongolia Open finals), Baris Kaya (2018 Dan Kolov), Tim Schleicher (2013 Dan Kolov), Mohammadba Kashkeshi (2018 Yasar Dogu semis), Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (2018 Korkin quarters), Sonba Gangane (2018 world's) #19 Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov (KGZ)- 2019 Takhti Cup champ, 2019 U-23 world champion, 2020 Asian champion, 2021 Yasar Dogu bronze medalist Key Wins: #4 Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov (AZE; 2019 Takhti Cup), Behnam Ehsanpour (IRI; 2019 Takhti Cup), #15 Zelimkhan Abakarov (RUS; 2018 Kadyrov Cup), #12 (57) Nurislam Sanayev (KAZ; 2019 Kojomkula tournament finals). Key Losses: #15 (57) Makhir Amiraslanov ( 2019 world championships), Yudai Fujita ( 2019 Asian championships), Petr Konstantinov ( 2019 57 KG Medved), Magomedrasul Idrisov ( 2018 U-23 world's), Nikolai Okhlopkov ( 2018 U-23 world's bronze medal match), Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg 2018 world wrestling championships), #9 Rahman Amouzadkhalili (2021 Yasar Dogu), August Destribats (2021 Individual World Cup) Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg(MGL)- 2014 University World Champion, 2016 Asian Championships 3rd, 2014 Asian Games 5th, 2016 Mongolia Open champ, 2016 Yasar Dogu runner-up, 2015 Mongolia Open 3rd, 2013 President Cup of Buryatia 3rd, 2017 President Cup of Buryatia 5th, 2018 Yarygin bronze medalist, 2017 Mongolian Open champ, 2018 President Cup of Buryatia bronze, 2018 Mongolia Open 5th, 2018 Korkin runner-up, 2018 world bronze medalist Key Wins: #3 Beka Lomtadze(2016 World Cup, 2018 world bronze medal match), Sonba Gongane (2018 world repechage), Nyurgun Aleksandarov (2018 Yarygin), Cory Clark (2018 Yarygin), BJ Futrell(2014 University World Championships), Vladimir Flegontov(2016 Mongolia Open), Keisuke Otugoru(2016 Asian Championships), Abbos Rakhmonov (2018 Yarygin bronze), Hussein Shakbanov (2017 worlds), Dzhamal Otarsultanov (2018 President Cup of Buryatia), #4 Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov (2018 world cup), Rasul Kaliev (2018 world cup), Lasha Lomtadze (2018 world cup), Rustam Abdurashidov (2017 Ali Aliyev), Aldar Balzhinimaev (2018 Mongolia Open), #10 Andrey Berkenev (2018 Korkin round of 16) Key Losses: #4 Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov(2016 World Cup, 2016 world championships, 2018 Korkin finals), Vladimir Khinchegashvili (2017 worlds), #11 (65) Ismail Musukaev (2018 Yarygin), #11 (70) Victor Rassadin(2016 world cup), Behnam Ehsanpour (2016 Asian Championships), Mehmet Soyler (2016 Yasar Dogu finals), Noriyuki Tokatsuka (2014 Asian Games), #5 (65) Bajrang Punia (2014 Asian Games), Akhmed Kasumov (2017 Ali Aliyev), #15 Zelimkhan Abakarov (2018 President Cup of Buryatia), Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez (2018 world cup), Alexander Bogomoev (2018 Mongolia Open), Otgonbatar Gansukh (2018 Mongolia Open bronze medal match), #2 (65) Gadzhimurad Rashidov (2018 world's) #19 Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov (KGZ) really had a great 2019 that saw him beat World/Olympic medalists Nurislam Sanayaev (KAZ), Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov (AZE), Behnam Ehsanpour and Russian Nationals medalist Zelimkhan Abakarov (RUS) going into world's. An opening round loss to Makhir Amiraslanov (AZE) at 57 KG saw Zholdoshbekov make the move back up to 61 KG where he ended the year with a U-23 world title over Ravinder Ravinder (IND). But since the end of 2020, Zholdoshbekov has been on a major cold streak, losing in lopsided fashion to August Destribats at the Individual World Cup, then being replaced by Bekbolot Myrzanazar-Uulu for qualifying Kyrgyzstan at 57 for Tokyo and most recently took bronze at the Yasar Dogu. Zholdoshbekov has a great array of throws and is one of the best athletes in the weight, but his inability to pull the trigger and close out matches makes me not sold on him cashing it all in Oslo. #10 Andrey Bekrenev (BLR) is back in the rankings after beating #11 Nodar Arabidze (RWF) at the Medved, but he's not been able to put it all together for world's losing in 2018 to Sonba Gongane (IND) but past wins over Arabidze and #12 (57) Nurislam Sanayev (KAZ) means at least he has an outside chance. Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (MGL) has a 2018 world bronze medal to his name that he won over 2019 world champion #3 Beka Lomtadze (GEO), but Tumenbileg is notorious for having a very low match output and waiting too long on the counter so he's got the goods it's just it's unlikely he'll pull the trigger much in the match and just keep it closer than it needs to be. I equate him a lightweight version of #12 (74) Azamat Nurikov (BLR) as a great counter wrestler with absolutely zero urgency and low shot output that costs them matches.

2020 Olympic Gold Medalist David Taylor (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Fresh off winning his second World/Olympic title over three time World/Olympic champion Hassan Yazdani Charati of Iran, #1 David Taylor of the U.S. is on a career hot streak and is looking to cap off 2021 with his second world title. An upset minded #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI) looks to reclaim his 86 KG crown from the American standout and looks to have the tools to do so, but will he have made the adjustments in time to takeout Taylor only two months after Tokyo. #3 Artur Naifonov (RWF) has dominated the European scene since 2018 and the two time World/Olympic medalist is right there to unseat Taylor and Yazdani and bring 86 KG gold back to Russia. A dangerous mix of young prospects and veteran talent also highlight the field and should push the trio of Taylor, Yazdani and Naifonov. Title Contenders David Taylor(USA)- 2018 world champion, 2021 Olympic champion, 2018 Yarygin champion, 2018 Yasar Dogu champion Key Wins: #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (2017 world cup finals, 2018 world championships qualification round, 2021 Olympic finals), #1 (79) Jordan Burroughs (2021 Flo Pro League), #3 Artur Naifonov (2018 Yarygin), #4 Dauren Kurugliev (2018 world semis), Selim Yasar (2018 Yarygin), #5 (97) Sharif Sharifov(2017 world cup), #9 Vladislav Valiev(2017 world cup), Dato Marsagishvili(2017 world cup), Key Losses: #3 (74) Kyle Dake(2016 Olympic trials, 2012 Olympic trials, 2015 U.S. Open), #1 (79) Jordan Burroughs(2014 world team trials finals, 2014 U.S. Open finals, 2013 U.S. Open Finals), Ehsan Lashgari(2015 Baku GGP), Nurmagomed Ghadzhiev(2015 Baku GGP), Denis Tsargush(2013 World University Games, 2015 Yasar Dogu), #16 (74) Khetag Tsabolov(2015 Yasar Dogu), Dmytro Rochniak(2016 world club cup), #13 (92) J'den Cox (2017 World team Trials) #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI)- 2015 70 KG world runner-up, 2018 Asian games champ, 2019 Dan Kolov champ, 2x world champ (‘17 & ‘19), 2018 world bronze medalist, 2021 Olympic runner-up, 2016 74 KG Olympic champion Key Wins: #2 (92) Kamran Ghasempour (2018 Iranian world team trials, 2019 Iranian World Team Trials 2021 Iranian Olympic Trials), #3 Artur Naifonov (2019 world championships, 2021 Olympics), #7 Javrail Shapiev (2021 Olympics), #4 Dauren Kurugliev (2018 world bronze medal match), #9 Vladislav Valiev (2017 world semis),#12 Myles Amine (2019 world championships semifinals), #13 Alireza Karimimachiani (2017 Iranian world team trials), #16 (74) Khetag Tsabolov (2016 world cup), Ali Shabanov (2019 Dan Kolov finals), Soner Demirtas (2016 Medved), #14 Boris Makoev (2017 world finals, 2019 Dan Kolov semis) Key Losses: #1 David Taylor (2017 world cup, 2018 world's, 2021 Olympic finals), Ali Shabanov (2016 Grand Prix of Paris), #16 (74) Khetag Tsabolov (2016 Medved finals), #7 (74) Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (2015 70 KG world finals), #2 (65) Gadzhimurad Rashidov (2011 55 KG Cadet world finals). #3 Artur Naifonov (RUS)- 2019 Russian national champ, 2019 Ziolkowski champ, 2018 European Champ, 2018 Yarygin bronze 2018 European champ, 2019 Ali Aliev champ, 2018 U-23 world runner-up, 2017 Alans champ, 2019 world bronze medalist, 2020 European champion 2020 Russian Nationals runner-up, 2021 European champion, 2021 Russian Nationals champion 2021 Olympic bronze medalist, 2021 Russian world team wrestle-offs champion. Key Wins: #4 Dauren Kurugliev (2018 Yarygin, 2019 Ali Aliev finals, 2020 Yarygin finals, 2021 Russian Nationals finals, 2021 Russian world team wrestle-offs), #5 Magomed Ramazanov (2019 Russian Nationals, 2021 Russian Nationals semifinals), #7 Javrail Shapiev (2019 world championships, 2021 Olympic bronze medal match), #12 Myles Amine (2019 world bronze medal match, 2020 European championships finals), #9 (97) Alikhan Zhabrailov (2018 Yarygin), #9 Vladislav Valiev (2017 Alans finals, 2018 Dan Kolov, 2019 Russian national finals),Key Losses: #1 David Taylor (2018 Yarygin), #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (2019 world championships quarterfinals, 2021 Olympic semifinals), #4 Dauren Kurugliev (2018 Russian nationals finals, 2020 Russian Nationals finals), Kamran Ghasempour (2018 U-23 world finals), Shamil Kudiyamagomedov (2017 Russian nationals), Soslan Ktsoev (2017 Russian Nationals repechage). David Taylor (USA) capped off a spectacular quad that saw him finally break away from #1 (79) Jordan Burroughs (USA), #3 (74) Kyle Dake (USA) and #13 (92) J'Den Cox (USA) and assert himself as a P4P fixture. Taylor's rapid ascension to the top of the 86 KG weight class in 2018 saw the Magic Man put himself as the premier frontrunner for gold in Tokyo, but a traumatic knee injury in 2019 looked to put the reigning world champion out of commission for Tokyo. Having come back in 2020, Taylor tore through the domestic scene in the U.S., starting the year off avenging his past losses to #1 (79) Jordan Burroughs (USA) at the FloPro event and locking up his spot in Tokyo by beating 3x NCAA champion Bo Nickal in the U.S. Olympic Trials finals. Not skipping a beat, Taylor amped up his dominance come time for Tokyo, outscoring past World/Olympic medalists #12 Myles Amine (SMR), #19 Ali Shabanov (BLR) and #20 Deepak Punia (IND) 33-2 on his way to the finals. Capping off his golden run, Taylor used a late go behind takedown to win his rubber match against the reigning three-time World/Olympic champion #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI). Taylor looks to be a man on a mission, but Yazdani and Naifonov are right there with him, so the American standout will have to be his best in Oslo if he wants to take home World/Olympic title number three. The improvements that #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI) has made since his last match against #1 David Taylor (USA) was evident throughout their match, as the Iranian stymied the American's prestigious scrambling and leg attacks and looked well on his way to World/Olympic title number four. A late go behind from the American would curb Yazdani's chances at his fourth World/Olympic title, but the dominant Iranian looks better than ever and his chances of beating Taylor are great in Oslo. #3 Artur Naifonov (RWF) has been the breakthrough for Russia this quad at 86 KG beating out world medalists #4 Dauren Kurugliev (RWF), #6 Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov (RWF) and #9 Vladislav Valiev (RWF) to take the crown of Russia's best. Absolutely dominant on the European scene, Naifonov has jumped levels since his dominating loss to #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI) in the 2019 world quarterfinals, being right there with the three time World/Olympic champion to the end in their Olympic semifinal match. Naifonov looks better than ever and an upset against either Yazdani or Taylor would not surprise me in the slightest. Medal Contenders #12 Osman Gocen (TUR)- 2020 Individual World cup bronze medalist, 2021 European OG Qualifier champion, 2019 U-23 world bronze medalist. Key Wins: #13 Sosuke Takatani (2021 Olympics), #14 Boris Makoev (2021 European OG Qualifier), #15 Abubakar Abakarov (2021 European OG Qualifier), Taimuraz Friev ( 2020 Individual World Cup bronze medal match). Key Losses: #3 Artur Naifonov (2021 Olympics quarterfinals), #9 (92) Zbigniew Baranowski (2020 Individual World Cup), #19 Ali Shabanov (2021 European OG Qualifier finals). #14 Boris Makoev (SVK)- 2017 world runner-up, 2018 Yasar Dogu bronze medalist, 2018 medved bronze, 2020 European championships bronze. Key Wins: #13 (92) J'den Cox (USA; 2017 world championships), #15 Abubakar Abakarov (2021 European OG Qualifier), Dato Marsagishvili (GEO; 2020 European championships), Ahmed Magamaev ( 2020 European Championships), Akhmed Dudarov ( 2018 world's) Key Losses: #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati ( 2017 world finals), #3 Artur Naifonov ( 2020 European championships, 2021 Olympics), Fatih Erdin ( 2018 world's), Gwan Uk Kim (2018 world's), Akhmed Dudarov ( 2019 world's round of 32), #7 Javrail Shapiev (2021 International Ukrainian Tournament), #12 Osman Gocen (2021 European OG Qualifier), #13 Sosuke Takatani (2021 World OG Qualifier) #15 Abubakar Abakarov (AZE)- 2021 World OG Qualifier bronze medalist, 2021 European OG Qualifier 5th place finisher, 2021 Henri Deglane Grand Prix bronze medalist, 2019 79 KG U-23 world runner-up, 2018 74 KG Junior world runner-up, 2019 79 KG Korkin runner-up, 2020 79 KG Yasar Dogu champion, 2019 79 KG Junior World bronze medalist, 2019 74 KG Junior European Champion, 2016 69 KG Cadet world champion, 2016 69 KG Cadet European Champion. Key Wins: #3 (79) Radik Valiev (2019 U-23 world championships), Aaron Brooks (2019 79 KG Junior World championships), Amkhad Tashukhadzhiev (2019 79 KG Korkin, 2019 79 Junior European finals), Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (2018 74 KG Senior world championships), Azamat Dauletbekov (2021 World OG Qualifier quarterfinals), Sandro Aminashvili (2021 World OG Qualifier round of 16), Stefan Reichmuth (2021 Henri Deglane Grand Prix bronze medal match), Istvan Vereb (2021 European OG Qualifier), Sajjad Gholami (2016 69 KG Cadet world finals), Akhmed Magamaev (2020 Individual World Cup). Key Losses: #2 (79) Alex Dieringer (2019 79 KG Yasar Dogu), Bahman Teymouri (2019 79 KG Yasar Dogu bronze medal match), #3 Artur Naifonov (2020 European Championships), Akhmed Magamaev (2020 European championships repechage round 1), #12 Osman Gocen (2021 European OG qualifier), #14 Boris Makoev (2021 European OG Qualifier bronze medal match, 2021 World OG Qualifier), Amkhad Tashukhadzhiev (2019 79 KG Junior World championships), #5 Magomed Ramazanov (2021 Henri Deglane Grand Prix), Mekhi Lewis (2018 74 KG Junior world finals), Taimuraz Friev (2020 Individual World Cup quarterfinals), Tazhidin Akaev (2019 79 KG Korkin finals), #8 (74) Avtandil Kentchadze (2018 74 KG Senior world championships). Piotr Ianulov (MDA)- 2020 Ziolkowski champion, 2010 World 5th, 2019 Korkin champion, 2019 European championships runner-up, 2020 Individual World Cup bronze medalist. Key Wins: Fatih Erdin ( 2019 European Championships, 2020 Ziolkowski), Deepak Punia (2020 Individual World Cup bronze medal match) #9 (92) Zbigniew Baranowski (2020 Ziolkowski), Alexander Gostiev (AZE; 2019 Korkin finals). Key Losses: #6 Vladislav Valiev (RUS; 2019 European Championships finals), #3 Artur Naifonov ( 2019 World championships), Radoslaw Marcinkiewicz (2020 European wrestling championships), #7 Javrail Shapiev (2021 International Ukrainian Tournament) #12 Osman Gocen (TUR) and #15 Abubakar Abakarov (AZE) are the standouts of this group and while I don't see them really contender with the likes of Taylor, Yazdani or Naifonov at this point in their careers, I do think they have a significant edge against the rest of the field. #14 Boris Makoev (SVK) is a dangerous veteran who can never be counted out of a match. Piotr Ianulov (MDA) had a career best year in 2020, taking bronze at the Individual World cup and beating #9 (92) Zbigniew Baranowski (POL), Fatih Erdin (TUR), and #20 Deepak Punia (IND) in what was a late career revival for the Moldovan vet.

Kyle Dake at the 2020 Olympics (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Two-time 79 KG world champion #3 Kyle Dake of the United States highlights an absolutely loaded 74 KG field as he looks to rebound from his bronze medal finish in Tokyo with his first 74 KG world title. Dake is sure to be pushed by the likes of the relentless #6 Timur Bizhoev (RWF), European champion #14 Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK) and past world champion #16 Khetag Tsabolov (SRB). 2018 world runner-up #8 Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO), #12 Azamat Nurikov (BLR), Nurkhoza Kaipanov (KAZ), Alipasha Umarpashsev (BUL) and Younes Emami (IRI) round out the field. Title Contenders #3 Kyle Dake(USA)-2013 Baku GGP 5th, 2017 Grand Prix of Paris 1st, 2016 Olympic Trials 2nd 86 KG, 2017 World Team Trials 2nd 74 KG, 2018 Yarygin runner-up 79 KG, 2018 Yasar Dogu champ, 2x world champ ('18 & '19), 2021 Olympic bronze medalist Key Wins: #1 (79) Jordan Burroughs (2021 US Olympic Trials), #4 Frank Chamizo (2020 Flo Pro card, 2021 Olympic bronze medal match), #2 (79) Alex Dieringer (2017 Grand Prix of Paris, 2017 US World Team Trials, 2018 US Open, 2019 Final X), Jabrayil Hasanov (2018 world cup, 2018 Yasar Dogu quarters, 2018 world finals, 2019 world finals), #1 (86) David Taylor(2016 Olympic trials, 2013 NCAA finals match, 2013 world team trials, 2015 US Open, 2012 Olympic Trials), Denis Tsargush(2013 Baku GGP), #10 (86) Zahid Valencia (2018 Final X), #6 (86) Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov (2018 79 KG world semifinals), #4 (79) Gadzhi Nabiev (2019 79 KG world championships) Key Losses: #2 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (2021 Olympics), Gadzhi Gadzhiev(2013 Baku GGP), Ashraf Aliyev(2013 Baku GGP), #6 (86) Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov (2018 79 KG Yarygin), #11 (92) Amarhadsi Magomedov(2016 Medved), #1 (79) Jordan Burroughs(2013 world team trials, 2015 world team trials, 2017 US Open), #13 (92) J'Den Cox(2016 Olympic trials), Azamat Dauletbekov(2015 Intercontinental Cup). #16 Khetag Tsabolov (SRB)-2014 70 KG world champ, 2017 world runner-up 2016 Medved champ, 2x Russian Nationals champion ('14 & '17), 3x Russian nationals runner-up ('18, '19, '20) 2018 Yarygin champ, 2018 Military world champion(79), 2019 Alans champion Key Wins: #1 Zaurbek Sidakov (2018 Yarygin finals, 2020 Russian Nationals), #2 (86) Hassan Yazdani Charati (2016 Medved finals), #6 Timur Bizhoev (2019 Alans semifinals, 2019 Russian Nationals semifinals) #2 (70) Israil Kasumov (2014 70 KG Russian Nationals Finals, 2018 Russian Nationals round of 16 ), #6 (86) Ahmed Gadzhimagomedov(2015 Baku GGP, 2017 Yasar Dogu, 2017 Kadyrov Cup), #1 (86) David Taylor(2015 Yasar Dogu bronze medal match), #7 Magomedrasaul Gazimagomedov (2014 Yarygin), #13 (79) Atsamaz Sanakoev (2017 Alans tournament), #11 Nikita Suchkov(2017 Yarygin, 2017 Russian Nationals, 2018 Russian Nationals semis), #4 (79) Gadzhi Nabiyev(2017 Russian Nationals finals), #14 Soner Demirtas (2017 worlds, 2019 Military World Games), Khabib Magomedov (2018 Russian Nationals quarters), Jabrayil Hasanov (2017 worlds), Zelimkhan Khadjiev (2018 Military world semifinals), Key Losses: #2 (86) Hassan Yazdani Charati(2016 world cup), Purevjav Unurbat(2016 world cup), #9 Magomed Kurbanaliev (2019 Russian Nationals finals), #6 Timur Bizhoev (2019 European championships wrestle-off), #8 Avtandil Kentchadze (2021 European #2 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (2018 Stepan Sargsyan finals), #4 Frank Chamizo (2018 European Championships, 2019 City of Sassari tournament finals), #1 (70) Evgeni Zherbaev (2015 70 KG nationals), #12 (79) Arsalan Budashapanov (2016 Russian Nationals), #7 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (2015 Russian Nationals, 2017 world club cup, 2020 Yarygin), Jabrayil Hasanov(2015 Baku GGP), Moustafa Hosseinkhani, Ilyas Bekbulatov(2012 Russian Nationals, 2012 Yarygin), #6 (86) Ahmed Gadzhimagomedov(2017 Yarygin, 2013 Murad Gaidarov tournament, 2013 Kadyrov Cup finals), Jordan Burroughs (2017 worlds), #16 (86) Alan Zaseev (2017 Alans tournament), Zaurbek Sidakov (2018 Russian Nationals finals), #14 Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK)- 2018 Ali Aliev bronze medalist, 2018 Tbilisi GP bronze medalist, 2018 70 KG U-23 world champion, 2019 Yasar Dogu bronze, 2019 79 KG world bronze medalist, 2020 Individual World Cup bronze medalist, 2021 European champion, 2021 Medved bronze medalist Key Wins: #4 Frank Chamizo (2021 European Championships), #5 Razambek Zhamalov (2021 European Championships), #8 Avtandil Kentchadze (2021 European Championships), #4 (70) David Baev ( 2018 70 KG U-23 World Finals), Giorgi Sulava (2018 Tbilisi GP), Yakup Gor (2019 Yasar Dogu), Galymzhan Usserbaev ( 2019 79 KG world bronze medal match), #1 (70) Evgheni Zherbaev (2017 70 KG Miner's cup finals) Key Losses: #2 (79) Jabrayil Hasanov (2019 79 KG world championships), #12 (70) Zurab Iakobishvili (GEO; 2018 International Ukrainian tournament, 2018 European championships, 2018 world championships), #1 (79) Jordan Burroughs (USA; 2019 Yasar Dogu), #2 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (2021 World OG Qualifier), Alipasha Umarpashev (2021 European OG qualifier), #13 Magomed Dibirgadzhiev (2021 Medved semifinals) #6 Timur Bizhoev (RUS)- 2017 Intercontinental Cup 1st, 2017 Alans tournament bronze medallist, 2018 Andrei Shumulin tournament runner-up, 2019 Yuri Gusov tournament runner-up 3x Russian Nationals bronze medalist ('18, '19, 20), 2018 Medved runner-up, 2018 U-23 world bronze medalist, 2018 Alans champion, 2019 European bronze medalist, 2021 Russian world team wrestle-offs champion Key Wins: #2 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (2017 Kunaev), #7 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (2020 Russian Nationals, 2021 Russian world team wrestle-offs), #9 Magomed Kurbanaliev (2021 Russian world team wrestle-offs), #8 Avtandil Kentchadze (2018 Alans finals, 2019 Alrosa Cup), #6 (86) Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov (2017 Intercontinental Cup), #5 (79) Akhmed Usmanov (2018 Russian Nationals round of 16, 2018 Alans), Evgeni Lapshov (2018 Russian Nationals quarterfinals), Rasul Dzhukaev (2017 Yarygin), Kakhaber Khubezhty (2017 Alans tournament), Khusuy Suyunchev (2017 Intercontinental Cup), Yakup Shikdzhamalov (2017 Intercontinental Cup), Alipasha Umarpashaev (2018 Medved semis), #9 (79) Akhsarbek Gulaev (2018 Medved quarters, 2018 U-23 world bronze medal match), Vasyl Mykhailov (2018 U-23 quarters), #13 Magomed Dibirgadzhiev (2019 Yuri Gusov semifinals) Key Losses: #1 Zaurbek Sidakov (2017 Yarygin, 2019 Yarygin, 2018 Russian Nationals, 2021 Russian Nationals), #6 Frank Chamizo (2019 European Championships), #16 Khetag Tsabolov (2019 Russian Nationals, 2019 Alans), #5 Razambek Zhamalov ( #8 Avtandil Kentchadze (2018 U-23 world semis), #2 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (2017 Yarygin), #9 Magomed Kurbanaliev (2021 Russian Nationals bronze medal match), #6 (86) Ahmed Gadzhimagomedov (2017 Kunaev), #16 (86) Alan Zaseev (2017 Nusuev tournament, 2017 Alans tournament), #11 Nikita Suchkov (2018 Andrey Shumulin tournament), #12 Azamat Nurikov (2018 Medved finals match, 2019 Yarygin bronze medal match) #3 Kyle Dake (USA) was one of the hottest commodities going into the Olympic Games after beating out 5x World/Olympic champion #1 (79) Jordan Burroughs (USA) to make the team. The possibility of a match between the reigning two-time 79 KG world champion Dake vs. the reigning two-time 74 KG champ in #1 Zaurbek Sidakov (RWF) was one of the biggest storylines going into the Games. Dake made the quarterfinals of the Olympics with a close win over Mostafa Hosseinkhani (IRI), but what would happen next would shock the world. A highly aggressive Dake bullied his way into a bodylock but was immediately countered ease by #2 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR). Not just simple exposure, but 4. Dake was reeling, but he had no other choice to keep charging forward. Chalk up another counter for Kadimagomedov as he used a Metzger to expose Dake again. A final takedown would seal the win for Kadimagomedov and sent the untouchable American star Crashing back down to Earth. Rebounding from the thrashing by Kadimagomedov, Dake put together wins over Geandry Garzon (CUB) and #4 Frank Chamizo (ITA) to claim Olympic bronze. While Dake may be the highest-ranked competitor in the field, it's going to be no cakewalk as Salkazanov, Bizhoev, and Tsabolov are able to take advantage of Dake's weaknesses of giving up his legs, starting slow, and rushing ties. #16 Khetag Tsabolov (SRB) made waves at the end of 2020 as the 2017 world runner-up upset the reigning two-time 74 KG world champion #1 Zaurbek Sidakov (RWF) in his second-round match at Russian Nationals on his way to the finals. Coming up short against #5 Razambek Zhamalov (RWF) and having been the returning two-time Russian Nationals runner-up in 2018 and 2019, Tsabolov made the choice to transfer to Serbia to get the chance to compete at the Olympic Games. Tsabolov's first competitions with Serbia haven't been great as he has been upset by #8 Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO) at the European championships and #14 Soner Demirtas (TUR) at the World Olympic Games qualifier. Still, even with Tsabolov's rough start to the year, he should absolutely be considered one of the favorites to win gold here considering his past wins over Sidakov, #2 (IRI) Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI), #6 Timur Bizhoev (RWF), #1 (86) David Taylor (USA) and #7 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (RWF). Factor in Tsabolov's fantastic scrambling ability and an exceptional leg lace off his knee pull single and if the North Ossetian standout is dialed in, he's my pick to win gold. #14 Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK) started off his 2021 on a rough note, being pinned by Alipasha Umarpashaev (BUL) at the European Olympic Games qualifier and looked to the European championships to rebound. Salkazanov has had his ups and downs, but as a 2018 70 KG U-23 world champion and 2019 79 KG world bronze medalist, it was well known he had the talent to hang with the best. But Salkazanov pushed himself to a whole new level at the European championships, upsetting #4 Frank Chamizo (ITA), #5 Razambek Zhamalov (RWF), #8 Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO) and Miroslav Kirov (BUL) for gold. A semifinal run at the World Olympic Games qualifier put him up against #2 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR), who'd just upset two-time World/Olympic medalist #14 Soner Demirtas (TUR) his past match. As the reigning European champion and a favorite to medal in Tokyo at the time, Salkazanov was the favorite in the match, but as Kadimagomedov has done all year, he defied expectations as the underdog and absolutely destroyed the favorite Salkazanov, dominating the North Ossetian powerhouse 12-4 to qualify for Tokyo. The woes of Salkazanov continued on as in the a tightly contested semifinal bout at the Medved against 2019 Intercontinental Cup runner-up #13 Magomed Dibirgadzhiev (RWF), he would lose on a last-second takedown and continue to plummet in the rankings. Given Salkazanov's losses to Kadimagomedov and Dibirgadzhiev, there are those that would lose faith in him and say he was a flash in the pan. Salkazanov should 100% be considered a heavy medal and title threat and even given matches against guys with bad style matchups like Bizhoev, Dake, and Tsabolov; he should 100% be considered a favorite to win gold. #6 Timur Bizhoev (RWF) has been one of the best in Russia not to wrestle at the World Championships or Olympics for a long time now. A standout from this quad who's beaten every Russian not named Sidakov, Bizhoev is coming off wins over past Russian world champions #7 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (RWF) and #8 Magomed Kurbanaliev (RWF) in the Russian world team trials wrestle-offs. Bizhoev is someone who doesn't quite boast the high offense the likes of Dake, Salkazanov or Tsabolov but is an incredibly solid defensive wrestler who can capitalize on the smallest mistake by his opponent and take over a match. Medal Contenders #8 Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO)- 2018 world runner-up, 2018 U-23 world champ, 2018 Alans runner-up, 2019 European Games bronze, 2017 U-23 world bronze medalist, 2020 European championships bronze medalist, 2021 European OG qualifier champion. Key Wins: #18 Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (2018 world's), #15 Soner Demirtas (2018 world's semis), #6 Timur Bizhoev (2018 U-23 world's), #2 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (2018 Alans), #12 Azamat Nurikov (2019 European Games bronze medal match), #13 Magomed Dibirgadzhiev (2018 Alans), Zelimkhan Khadjiev (2017 U-23 Euro finals), Isaiah Martinez (2017 U-23 world bronze medal match), Kakhaber Khubezhty (2018 Alans), #16 Khetag Tsabolov (2021 European Championships) Key Losses: #1 Zaurbek Sidakov (2018 U-23 Euros, 2018 World finals, 2019 European Games), #4 Frank Chamizo (2015 European Games, 2021 European Championships, 2021 Olympics), #6 Timur Bizhoev (2018 Alans finals), Togrul Asgarov (2015 world's quarters), Mustafa Kaya (2015 European Games), #4 (79) Gadzhi Nabiev (2017 U-23 world's), Zelimkhan Khadjiev (2019 European Championships, 2019 world championships), #14 Taimuraz Salkazanov (2021 European Championships), #7 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (2020 European Championships) #12 Azamat Nurikov (BLR)- 2014 65 KG world 5th, 2015 70 KG world 5th, 2017 65 KG world 5th, 2019 Yarygin bronze medalist, 2016 European championships bronze medalist, 2021 Ali Aliev runner-up, 6x Medved champion ('12, '14, '15, '17, '18, '21). Key Wins: #1 Zaurbek Sidakov ( 2016 European championships), #7 (70) Heydar Yavuz ( 2018 European Championships), #11 (70) Viktor Rassadin ( #2 (70) Magomedmurad Gadziev ( 2017 Kadyrov Cup), #6 Timur Bizhoev ( 2019 Yarygin bronze medal match), #13 Magomed Dibirgadzhiev (2021 Medved finals) Key Losses: #8 Avtandil Kentchadze (2019 European Games bronze medal match), #1 (79) Jordan Burroughs ( 2019 World championships), Yakup Gor (2015 70 KG world championships), #7 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov ( 2015 70 KG world championships), #8 (65) Soslan Ramonov (2014 world championships), #6 (70) Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (2017 world championships, 2018 European championships), Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (MGL; 2014 world bronze medal match), #1 Zaurbek Sidakov ( 2019 Yarygin, 2019 European Games), #3 Kyle Dake (2020 Matteo Pellicone tournament), #18 Fazli Eryilmaz ( 2020 Matteo Pellicone bronze medal match, 2020 Individual World Cup bronze medal match), Alejandro Valdes Tobier ( 2017 65 KG world bronze medal match), #10 (70) Rezuan Kazharov (2021 70 KG Ali Aliev finals) Alipasha Umarpashaev (BUL)- 2020 Yasar Dogu champion, 2018 Medved bronze medalist, 2017 Medved bronze, 2018 Takhti Cup champion. Key Wins: Khadzhimurad Gadzhiev (2020 Yasar Dogu), Yakup Gor (2020 Yasar Dogu), #16 Togrul Asgarov ( 2020 Yasar Dogu), Nurlan Bekzhanov (2018 Takhti Cup Finals), #2 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (2021 European OG Qualifier), #14 Taimuraz Salkazanov (2021 European OG Qualifier) Key Losses: #1 (79) Jordan Burroughs (USA; 2019 Dan Kolov), #4 Frank Chamizo (2019 Dan Kolov), Ikhtiyor Navruzov ( 2019 70 KG world championships), #12 Azamat Nurikov (2020 Individual World Cup), #8 Avtandil Kentchadze (2021 European OG Qualifier), Giorgios Kougioumtzidis (2021 European OG Qualifier bronze medal match) #8 Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO) is a 2018 world runner-up and one of the most fast-twitch, explosive guys at the weight. Couple that with his past wins over #12 Azamat Nurikov (BLR) and Alipasha Umarpashaev (BUL) and he should be seen as the favorite to break through out of this group. #12 Azamat Nurikov (BLR) is coming off a strong tournament run, finishing runner-up at the 70 KG Ali Aliev and taking gold at the Medved over 2019 Intercontinental Cup runner-up #13 Magomed Dibirgadzhiev (RWF). Nurikov boasts a past win over Alipasha Umarpashaev at the 2020 Individual World Cup and while I don't think his chances of breaking through to the top tier are great, he's still a dangerous, counter savvy vet not to be taken lightly. Alipasha Umarpashaev (BUL) had one of the most absolutely head-scratching tournament runs at the European Olympic Games Qualifier earlier this year. Beating eventual Olympic runner-up #2 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR) and European champion #14 Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK) to make the semis, the talented Chechen transfer was leading 2018 world runner-up #8 Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO) 6-0 at the start of their match before getting doubled and failing on a boot scoot takedown to get cradled and pinned. Ditto for his bronze medal match against Giorgios Kougiomtzidis where Umarpashaev's match IQ (or the lack thereof) cost him again in a match he was winning, as his suspect defense cost him an 8-6 loss. Umarpashaev is a quintessential glass cannon front runner and he's got all the skill in the world, but being able to keep that up over 6 minutes has been an issue of his. Here's hoping that he puts it all together in Oslo. Dark Horses Nurkhoza Kaipanov (KAZ)- 2019 70 KG world runner-up, 2019 Military World Games runner-up, 2019 70 KG Asian Champion, 2019 70 KG City of Sassari tournament champ 2021 Asian champion. Key Wins: Younes Emami (2019 Asian championships, 2019 City of Sassari tournament, 2019 world's), Zelimkhan Khadjiev (2019 Military World Games), #19 Mostafa Hosseinkhani (2021 Asian championships finals) Younes Emami (IRI)- 2017 60 KG Junior World bronze medalist, 2017 65 KG Korkin champion, 2019 70 KG Asian Championships bronze medalist, 2019 Takhti Cup champion 2019 70 KG world bronze medalist, 2021 Asian OG Qualifier champion. Key Wins: #8 (70) James Green (2020 Matteo Pellicone tournament), Murad Nukhadiev (2017 65 KG Korkin), Meysam Nasiri (2019 70 KG Takhti Cup Finals). Key Losses: Nurkhoza Kaipanov (2019 Asian Championships, 2019 World championships semis, 2019 City of Sassari tournament), Khadzhimruad Gadzhiev (2021 Ziolkowski), Abdulla Akhmedov (2017 60 KG Junior World's),#14 Taimuraz Salkazanov (2018 70 KG world's), #5 Bajrang Punia (2017 U-23 world championships, 2018 Asian Championships bronze medal match, 2018 Yasar Dogu). A pair of 70 KG world medalists from 2019, Nurkhoza Kaipanov (KAZ) and Younes Emami (IRI), have had up and down transitions to 74 KG. Kaipanov won the Asian Championships over Olympian Mostafa Hosseinkhani (IRI) but then bombed out at the Ziolkowski against Amir Hussen (EGY) and Daniyar Kaisanov (KAZ) was sent to Tokyo instead of him. That same issue arose for Emami, who was sent to the Ziolkowski to decide who'd go to Tokyo between him and Hosseinkhani and after his loss to Khadzhimurad Gadzhiev (AZE), he was left on the outside looking in. Both men clearly have the talent and have put up wins against the middle top 20 of the weight (Hosseinkhani and Zelimkhan Khadjiev for Kaipanov, #8 (70) James Green for Emami) but putting together a full tournament against the type of field here is unlikely. Still, between the two, I think Kaipanov's counter-heavy scramble-oriented style could lead to early issues against the medal contenders and title contenders of the weight.

(Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlerAreWarriors.com) 61kg 74 kg 86 kg 125 kg

Nick Gwiazdowski at the 2021 World Team Trials(Photo/Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com) The greatest heavyweight rivalry in wrestling returns as a pair of three-time World/Olympic champions in #1 Taha Akgul of Turkey and #2 Geno Petriashvili of Georgia looks to climb back atop the podium after bronze and silver medal finishes in Tokyo. Tokyo bronze medalist #3 Amir Zare of Iran has announced himself as heavyweight's premier young talent with the departure of Olympic champion Gable Steveson of the US and looks to cap his year off with world gold. Title Contenders #1 Taha Akgul (TUR)- 2013 world bronze medalist, 2x World champion (‘14 & ‘15), 2016 Olympic champion, 2x world runner-up (‘17,'19), 2021 Olympic bronze medalist 7x European champion (‘12,'13,'14,'17,'18,'19, ‘21), 2015 European Games champion, 6x Yasar Dogu champion (‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘15, ‘16, ‘19), 2012 Ziolkowski runner-up, 2010 Junior world runner-up, 2019 Yarygin runner-up. Key Wins: #2 Geno Petriashvili ( 2013 Yasar Dogu, 2013 Moscow lights tournament, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 European championships), Bilyal Makhov (2015 world championships), #7 Sergey Kozyrev (2021 European championships finals), #8 Nick Gwiazdowski (2017 world championships, 2019 Yasar Dogu finals), #9 Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur (2021 Olympics bronze medal match) #10 Dzianis Khramiankov (2021 European championships), Khomeil Ghasemi (2014 world finals, 2016 Olympic finals), Khadzhimurat Gatsalov (2014 Yasar Dogu), #6 Zhiwei Deng (2013 University World Games, 2019 world championships). Key Losses: #2 Geno Petriashvili (2016 European championships, 2017 world finals, 2019 world finals), Gable Steveson (2021 Olympic quarterfinals) Fatih Cakiroglu (2011 Yasar Dogu, 2010 Mediterranean championships), Tervel Dlagnev (2012 Ziolkowski finals), Alan Zasieiev (2013 world championships), Muradin Kushkov (2010 Junior world finals), #12 Anzor Khizriev (2019 Yarygin finals), Parviz Hadi (2018 world championships quarterfinals), Bilyal Makhov (2012 Olympics), Daniel Ligeti (2011 FILA test tournament) #2 Geno Petriashvili (GEO)- 3x World champion (‘17, ‘18, ‘19), 2021 Olympic runner-up, 2x world bronze medalist (‘13 & ‘15), 2016 Olympic bronze medallist, Key Wins: #1 Taha Akgul (2016 Euros, 2017 worlds, 2019 world finals), #3 Amir Zare (2021 Olympic semifinals), #6 Zhiwei Deng (2015 Ziolkowski, 2013 world bronze medal match, 2018 world finals, 2021 Olympics quarterfinals), Yadollah Mohebbi (2018 Tbilsi GP semis, 2016 Baku GGP), #8 Nick Gwiazdowski (2017 World Club Cup), Tervel Dlagnev (2016 Olympics), Khomeil Ghasemi (2016 Medved) Key Losses: Jamaluddin magomedov(2015 worlds), Khadzhimurad Gatsalov(2013 worlds), Adam Coon(2011 Cadet worlds), Alexei Shemarov(2015 European Games), Alan Zasieiev(2013 European Championships, 2014 world cup), Magomedghadshi Nuraslanov(2012 Junior worlds), Khomeil Ghasem(2016 Olympics), Taha Akgul(2017 European Championships, 2013 European Nations Cup, 2018 European Championships finals, 2019 European championships, 2021 European championships, 2013 Yasar Dogu), Oleksandr Khotsianivski (2018 International Ukrainian tournament), #3 Amir Zare (2019 Iranian Club League), Gable Steveson (2021 Olympics Finals) #3 Amir Zare (IRI)- 2018 110 KG Cadet Asian Champion, 2018 110 KG Cadet world champion, 2018 Youth Olympic Games runner-up, 2019 Junior Asian champ, 2019 Junior World runner-up, 2019 U-23 world champ, 2019 Alans bronze medalist, 2020 Matteo Pellicone champ, 2020 Iranian World Team Trials runner-up, 2021 Ziolkowski champ, 2021 Olympic bronze medalist. Key Wins: #2 Geno Petriashvili (2019 Club World Championships), #6 Zhiwei Deng (2021 Olympic bronze medal match) Yusup Batirmurzaev (2019 U-23 world championships, 2020 Matteo Pellicone), Bilyal Makhov (2020 Matteo Pellicone finals), #8 Nick Gwiazdowski (2019 Alans bronze medal match, 2021 Ziolkowski finals), Amin Taheri (2020 Iranian World Team Trials), Yadollah Mohebbi (2020 Iranian World Team Trials), Parviz Hadi (2020 Iranian World Team Trials), Khasanboy Rakhimov (2019 Alans), Vitali Goloev (2019 U-23 world finals). Key Losses: #6 Sergey Kozyrev (2018 110 KG Youth Olympic Games Finals), #8 Amin Taheri (2020 Iranian World Team Trials), #18 Batraz Gazzaev (2019 Alans semifinals), Mason Parris (2019 Junior world finals), #2 Geno Petriashvili (2021 Olympic semifinals) Akgul has never beaten Petriashvili at a World/Olympic championships and Petriashvili has never beaten Akgul at the European championships with the record between the two sitting at 6-3 with Akgul taking the lead. While Akgul hasn't been able to pull it out late against Akgul in his matches at the 2017 and 2019 world finals, I have a feeling now Akgul will be able to pull the trigger and have what it takes to win World/Olympic title #4. Don't count out #3 Amir Zare because if his defense holds up against Akgul, he has the pace and handfighting to crowd and potentially upset the Turkish front runner. And it can't be forgotten that Zare is 1-1 with Petriashvili and led him throughout their Tokyo semifinal bout. The young Iranian is a major x-factor in this weight and Oslo can be his homecoming. Medal Contenders #4 Zelimkhan Khizriev (RWF)- 2021 Russian World Team Trials Wrestle-Offs champion, 2021 Ali Aliev champion, 2021 Yarygin champion 2019 Yarygin bronze medalist, 2019 Russian Nationals bronze medalist, 2021 Russian Nationals 5th place finisher, 2019 Ali Aliev champion, 2018 Ali Aliev champion 2017 Ziolkowski runner-up, 2015 Junior European bronze medalist. Key Wins: #8 Nick Gwiazdowski (2019 DRL), #6 Zhiwei Deng (2019 Yarygin bronze medal match), #5 Baldan Tsyzhipov (2021 Russian World Team Trials Wrestle-Offs), #11 Shamil Sharipov (2021 Russian World Team Wrestle-Offs), #20 Kazbek Khubulov (2021 Russian Nationals), Yusup Batirmurzaev (2021 Ali Aliev),Tamerlan Rasuev (2021 Russian Nationals), Khamzat Khizriev (2021 Yarygin Finals, 2019 Russian Nationals), Kamil Kosciolek (2021 Ali Aliev finals), #17 Atsamaz Tebloev (2019 Russian Nationals bronze medal match), Magomedamin Dibirov (2018 Ali Aliev champion) Key Losses: #7 Sergey Kozyrev (2021 Russian Nationals), #13 Anzor Khizriev (2021 Russian Nationals bronze medal match, 2020 Russian Nationals, 2019 Yarygin, 2017 Russian Nationals), Alan Khugaev (2019 Russian Nationals), Daniel Ligeti (2017 Ziolkowski finals), Magomedgadzhi Nurasulov (2018 Russian Nationals) #8 Nick Gwiazdowski (USA)- 2015 Bill Farrell Invitational 1st, 2015 Grand Prix of Spain 1st, 2016 Ziolkowski 1st, 2017 world bronze medallist, 2018 Yarygin bronze medalist, 2018 Pan-Am champ, 2018 Final X champ, 2018 Yasar Dogu bronze, 2018 world bronze medalist Key Wins: Gable Steveson (2019 Final X), #6 Zhiwei Deng(2016 Grand Prix of Spain finals), Alexander Khotsianivski(2016 Ziolkowski), Parviz Hadi(2016 World Club Cup), Yadollah Mohebi (2017 worlds), Sumit Sumit (2018 World bronze medal match), Amarveer Dhesi (2018 world's repechage), #13 Anzor Khizriev (2018 DRL), #9 Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur (2018 Yarygin bronze medal match), Mason Parris (2020 RTC Cup, 2021 US World Team Trials) Key Losses: #1 Taha Akgul (2017 worlds), #2 Geno Petriashvili (2017 World Club Cup), Oleksandr Khotsianivski (2018 Yasar Dogu semis), #6 Zhiwei Deng (2018 world quarters), Yadollah Mohebbi (2019 world championships), Gable Steveson (2021 Olympic Trials finals), #3 Amir Zare (2019 Alans bronze medal match, 2021 Ziolkowski finals), #4 Zelimkhan Khizriev (2019 DRL), Mason Parris (2020 RTC Cup) #9 Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur (MGL)- 2021 Olympics 5th place finisher, 2019 U-23 world bronze medalist, 2021 Asian OG Qualifier runner-up, 2019 U-23 Asian championships runner-up, 2017 Junior Asian Championships runner-up. Key Wins: #10 Dzianis Khramiankov (2021 Olympic Games), #18 Gennadij Cudinovic (2021 Olympic Games), #14 Aiaal Lazarev (2021 Asian OG Qualifier), Greg Kerkvliet (2019 U-23 World championships bronze medal match). Key Losses: Vitali Goloev (2019 U-23 world championships), Yusup Batirmurzaev (2019 U-23 Asian Championships, 2021 Asian OG Qualifier finals), Gable Steveson (2021 Olympics), #1 Taha Akgul (2021 Olympics bronze medal match). #4 Zelimkhan Khizriev (RWF) has made an absolutely standout second half of the year; winning titles at the Yarygin, Ali Aliev and winning the Russian World Team Trials wrestle-offs after failing to place at Russian Nationals. Khizriev was a known talent in Russia who broke through on the second half of the 2016-2020 quad when he took bronze at the 2019 Yarygin, beating returning world runner-up #6 Zhiwei Deng (CHN) for bronze. Khizriev has finally put it all together and with wins over #5 Baldan Tsyzhipov (RWF), #8 Nick Gwiazdowski (USA), #6 Zhiwei Deng (CHN) and #11 Shamil Sharipov (RWF), he really looks the part of someone who could breakthrough to challenge the trio of Petriashvili, Akgul, and Zare. Two-time world bronze medalist #8 Nick Gwiazdowski of the United States has made a strong comeback this year after finishing runner-up in the US Olympic Trials to eventual Olympic champion Gable Steveson (USA). A perennial contender, Gwiazdowski has taken wins over past world medalists Parviz Hadi (IRI), Oleksandr Khotsianivski (UKR) and #6 Zhiwei Deng (CHN). Gwiazdowski has had issues in the past with match IQ and getting stuck underneath counter-minded, brick-hipped heavyweights on his low shots, but a dialed-in Gwiazdowski has routinely shown himself capable of hanging with the best and I'm excited to see what he brings to Oslo. #9 Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur (MGL) has been around the block for a while now, alternating between Senior, Junior, and U-23 events for the past quad. Munkhtur really got his first break at the end of 2019 when he beat Greg Kerkvliet (USA) for bronze at the U-23 World Championships. But 2021 has been the year Munkhtur has really broken through into a different tier, taking 5th at the Olympics and getting ranked wins this year over #10 Dzianis Khramiankov (BLR), #14 Aiaal Lazarev (KGZ) and #17 Gennadij Cudinovic (GER). Munkhtur brings a highly physical skillset into his matches and while he doesn't boast the technical acumen the likes of Akgul or Petriashvili, his ability to leverage his natural length and size into a hard-nosed, explosive heavyweight style has shown to give guys real problems. Expect to see him continue to grow throughout this quad. I'm very excited to see how heavyweight ends up playing out in Oslo. Between the race between Akgul and Petriashvili for World/Olympic title #4 and Zare looking better than ever in Tokyo, I'm thrilled. Add in Zelimkhan Khizriev giving Russia a real shot at their first world medalist in 6 years and you've got a weight you can't miss.

2019 NCAA All-American Vito Arujau (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com; Graphic/Anna-Lee Marie) Welcome to a new recurring feature from InterMat as we lead into the 2021-22 collegiate season. We are about 50 days away from the start of the new season, so what better way to ring in the new year than to use that time to count down the top-50 current collegiate wrestlers. Each day a new wrestler will be released. These rankings have been compiled by members of the InterMat staff and used a combination of collegiate achievements, with 2021 accomplishments carrying more weight than past years, along with win-loss records and notable wins. While we are counting down the top-50 wrestlers based primarily on collegiate accomplishments, it is impossible to totally ignore achievements in the international settings, so they did factor in slightly, too. Before getting to the next wrestler on the list, look at the wrestlers previously profiled: #50 - Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) #49 - Ben Darmstadt (Cornell) #48 - Dakota Geer (Oklahoma State) #47 - Kaleb Young (Iowa) #46 - Rocky Elam (Missouri) #45 - Chad Red Jr. (Nebraska) #44 - Brandon Courtney (Arizona State) #43 - Brock Mauller (Missouri) #42 - Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) #41 - John Poznanski (Rutgers) #40 - Brayton Lee (Minnesota) #39 - Travis Wittlake (Oklahoma State) #38 - Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) #37 - Tariq Wilson (NC State) #36 - Jacob Warner (Iowa) #35 - Jacori Teemer (Arizona State) #34 - Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) Next is… Vito Arujau (Cornell) Weight: 125/133 lbs Year: Sophomore Career Record: 31-4 Hometown: Syosset, New York College Accomplishments: 2019 NCAA 4th Place, 2019 EIWA Runner-Up 2021-22 Preseason Ranking: #3 at 125 lbs Back in 2017, Vito Arujau was named InterMat's High School Wrestling of the Year after winning his fourth New York state title. A year earlier, Arujau had gone to Tbilisi, Georgia and returned with a silver medal from the Cadet World Championships. Arujau decided to stay in-state and wrestle for Cornell, but first, he took a grayshirt year. While grayshirting, Arujau only competed in ten matches at 133 lbs, but he was able to notch some really strong wins. The first of which came over future teammate Chas Tucker, who went on to make the EIWA finals later that year. Arujau finished the year with a tournament title at the Cleveland State Open, which featured an 11-5 win over Micky Phillipi (Pittsburgh). His only loss during that year came at the hands of Ohio's Cameron Kelly. Arujau's first year at Cornell started at 133 lbs. He won three of four bouts at the season-opening Bearcat Open. The only loss came to Tucker. The remainder of the season saw Arujau compete at 125 lbs. That proved to be a wise decision, as Arujau did not lose another bout during the regular season. The first big win for the Big Red freshman came against returning national qualifier Jay Schwarm (Northern Iowa) in mid-December. Two months later, Arujau had a massive showdown with another super-freshman at an Ivy League school, Patrick Glory (Princeton). In the midst of a back-and-forth affair, Arujau pinned Glory. Two weeks later, he ended the regular season with a 6-0 shutout of Ohio State's freshman Malik Heinselman. An undefeated record (at 125) was good enough to warrant the top seed for Arujau in the 2019 EIWA Championships. Arujau piled up bonus points in two of his three wins on the way to the conference championship match. For the EIWA title, Glory was able to get his revenge in a 10-8 shootout. Arujau's runner-up finish at EIWA's gave him the #8 seed at his first NCAA Tournament. The first round of the NCAA Tournament saw Arujau tangle with a familiar opponent, Heinselman. This time, Vito was able to flex his offensive muscles even more with a 12-2 major decision. It was more of the same in the Round of 16 as he posted an identical score against #9 Rayvon Foley (Michigan State). That was put Arujau into the quarterfinals opposite top-seeded Sebastian Rivera (Northwestern). The Big Ten champion, Rivera, prevailed in a 6-2 match. Arujau was able to get back on track in the Round of 12 as he majored #14 Sean Fausz (NC State), to lock up All-American honors. Following the win over Fausz was victories over #4 Ronnie Bresser (Oregon State) and #2 Nick Piccininni (Oklahoma State). He would then settle with fourth place after a second loss to Rivera. After the 2018-19 season, Arujau claimed a spot on the Junior World Team at 57 kg. Arujau had an excellent showing in Tallinn, Estonia, defeating three-time Cadet world medalist Giorgi Gegelashvili (Georgia) and Akhmed Idrisov (Russia) on the way to the finals. Arujau would fall there and settled for a silver medal. Arujau did not enroll at Cornell in 2019-20 as he intended on pursuing a spot on the 2020 Olympic Team. With the postponement of the Olympic Games, Arujau had to wait until April of 2021 for the Trials. Before then, Arujau captured a title at 2020 Senior Nationals and was unbeaten at the RTC Cup. At the Olympic Trials, Arujau downed eventual third-place finisher Nate Tomasello in the opening round, before taking out 2019 World Team member Daton Fix in the semis. For the Olympic Team berth, Arujau was defeated in two consecutive bouts by Thomas Gilman. Strengths: Arujau has a very diverse and unique set of skills from his feet. He can bang in close and bully opponents or strike from space in the blink of an eye. Arujau doesn't necessarily have a “go-to” attack; he can do a little bit of everything. No matter what the shot, Arujau tends to finish decisively and minimize the potential for a scramble from his opponent. His athleticism and good hips help in scrambles and make him a threat from the bottom. For someone with such as strong freestyle pedigree, Arujau is a strong rider too. He can punish the opposition with his leg riding skills. 2021-22 Outlook: It's still sort of up-in-the-air as to which weight Arujau will go this year, 125 or 133. Both weight classes feature returning national champions, so Arujau won't be considered a favorite, initially. He does have enough offense to pull an upset and win at either weight class. 2019 NCAA All-American Vito Arujau (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com)

World Championship Fantasy Games are Live! Fantasy Fight League has dropped new monthly prizes and their first game of October. PLAY: Fantasy wrestling is here. There are games up for all three styles at the Worlds. Men's freestyle is first up in Oslo, so that game will close at 3am on Saturday. Women's freestyle will close after and Greco will be the last game to come down. Some new monthly prizes in October include a Cael Sanderson Wheaties box, a pair of Rudis shoes, a signed Dan Gable trading card and a cameo from Spencer Lee. There will be plenty of other games coming this month. There are currently two games up for Night of Conflict in Iowa, and games for Super 32 and the Stalemates Street League will be here soon. To play, click here.

2021 NCAA All-American Tony Cassioppi (Photo/Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com; Graphic/Anna-Lee Marie) Welcome to a new recurring feature from InterMat as we lead into the 2021-22 collegiate season. We are about 50 days away from the start of the new season, so what better way to ring in the new year than to use that time to count down the top-50 current collegiate wrestlers. Each day a new wrestler will be released. These rankings have been compiled by members of the InterMat staff and used a combination of collegiate achievements, with 2021 accomplishments carrying more weight than past years, along with win-loss records and notable wins. While we are counting down the top-50 wrestlers based primarily on collegiate accomplishments, it is impossible to totally ignore achievements in the international settings, so they did factor in slightly, too. Before getting to the next wrestler on the list, look at the wrestlers previously profiled: #50 - Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) #49 - Ben Darmstadt (Cornell) #48 - Dakota Geer (Oklahoma State) #47 - Kaleb Young (Iowa) #46 - Rocky Elam (Missouri) #45 - Chad Red Jr. (Nebraska) #44 - Brandon Courtney (Arizona State) #43 - Brock Mauller (Missouri) #42 - Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) #41 - John Poznanski (Rutgers) #40 - Brayton Lee (Minnesota) #39 - Travis Wittlake (Oklahoma State) #38 - Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) #37 - Tariq Wilson (NC State) #36 - Jacob Warner (Iowa) #35 - Jacori Teemer (Arizona State) Next is… Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) Weight: 285 lbs Year: Sophomore Career Record: 33-6 Hometown: Roscoe, Illinois College Accomplishments: 2021 NCAA 3rd Place, 2020 NWCA 1st Team All-American, 2x Big Ten 3rd Place 2021-22 Preseason Ranking: #3 at 285 lbs The final two years of Tony Cassioppi's high school career saw him go undefeated and he failed to surrender an offensive point. Not only did Cassioppi succeed in folkstyle, but he also shined in the international styles. During the spring/summer of 2017 and 2018, Cassioppi won the Triple Crown in the Junior age group. With returning All-American Sam Stoll in the fold, Cassioppi was allowed to redshirt during the 2018-19 season. Cassioppi started his year of unattached action with 13 straight wins. Of those 13 victories, 11 came via fall. That winning streak included tournament titles at the Grand View Open, the Lindenwood Open and the UNI Open. It extended into the quarterfinals of the Midlands, where Cassioppi fell to Campbell's Jere Heino, 11-3. Cassioppi would eventually take seventh. At the Midlands, he scored a win over national qualifier AJ Nevills (Fresno State). Cassioppi finished his redshirt year with three more falls during his title run at the Loras Open. After the collegiate season, Cassioppi turned his focus towards freestyle. He claimed a title at the UWW Junior Open at 125 kg. Though he did not compete at Junior World's, his replacement, Mason Parris (Michigan), captured a world title. Just like his redshirt season, Cassioppi started his official career with Iowa on a long win streak. It would be until February before Cassioppi lost in an Iowa singlet. In only his third dual meet, Cassioppi knocked off returning All-American Trent Hilger (Wisconsin), 3-2. He would get another at the Midlands, beating Central Michigan's Matt Stencel. Cassioppi went on the win the Midlands, also defeating Zach Elam (Missouri) and Carter Isley (Northern Iowa) in the process. Cassioppi's first loss came against Parris in early February. Parris was able to secure a fall after unleashing a barrage of offensive attacks. It didn't get any easier the next time Cassioppi took the mat as Gable Steveson (Minnesota) loomed. Cassioppi acquitted himself well in a 7-5 loss to the Gopher superstar. It wouldn't be long before Cassioppi butted heads with Steveson again. The two squared off in the semifinals of the Big Ten Championships and again, it went in Steveson's favor, 9-4. Tony would rebound to take third place after a 4-0 shutout of Hillger. The cancelation of the 2020 NCAA Championships prevented Cassioppi from competing in his first national and potentially Iowa's first team title since 2010. Tony was seeded third at the 285 lb weight class. His first match was supposed to be against Andrew Gunning (North Carolina). Other notables on his half of the bracket included #2 Parris, #6 Hillger, #7 Demetrius Thomas (Pittsburgh), and #10 Yaraslau Slavikouski (Harvard). Based on his seed, Cassioppi was named an NWCA 1st Team All-American. The shortened 2021 season saw Cassioppi hit the mat for the first time against Nebraska's national qualifier Christian Lance. He would get by with a 4-0 win over the Husker. Next up was another meeting with Steveson. This time the future Olympic champion was able to open up the scoring with a 15-6 major decision. Cassioppi coasted into the postseason after tallying pins in his next three bouts. At the B1G's, Cassioppi fell victim to Parris once again via fall. Aside from that setback, Tony did log wins over three 2021 All-Americans (Hillger, Tate Orndorff - Ohio State, and Greg Kerkvliet - Penn State) on his way to another third-place finish. The abridged season saw a pair of wrestlers from other conferences finish with undefeated records, which bumped Cassioppi down to the fifth seed. Right out of the gate, Cassioppi started hot with back-to-back major decisions over Jon Spaulding (Edinboro) and Orndorff. Those wins set the stage for a quarterfinal bout against one of the unbeaten contenders, #4 Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State). Cassioppi was able to keep the former Cadet Greco world champion in check with a 4-1 win. A win over Schultz put Cassioppi into the semifinals and guaranteed a place amongst the top-six. That was as far as he'd go in the championship round, as Steveson was looming. Once again, he defeated the Hawkeye big man by bonus points and relegated him to the consolations. In his two subsequent consi matches, Cassioppi did not allow a point and dominated to third place with wins over Hilger and Schultz. During his time at Iowa, Cassioppi has gone 30-6, with all six losses coming either to Steveson or Parris. 12 of those wins have come via fall and he's amassed bonus points in over 62% of his bouts, which is excellent for a heavyweight. Strengths: Cassioppi has heavy hands and is a very strong handfighter. Like many big men, Cassioppi's best leg attack is a snatch single. He has been known to go after Hi-C's, too. True to his Greco background, Cassioppi can hit throws from an over/under position. Many heavyweights are unable to keep quality opponents on the mat. Cassioppi isn't one of those guys. He is capable of racking up minutes of riding time. Typically he looks for a wrist and will pull it out for a bar or hammerlock. 2021-22 Outlook: Right now, it seems like Cassioppi is on a tier by himself. He is 0-6 in college against Steveson/Parris and has given up bonus points in four of those six matches. At the same time, he is unbeaten against the rest of the field. Recent pictures of Cassioppi suggest he has put in immense effort in the weight room and has transformed his physique. Could that be enough to close the gap between him and the returning national finalists, as well as holding off freshmen like Kerkvliet and Schultz? 2021 NCAA All-American Tony Cassioppi (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com)