Truzzcat

Luke Stanich has that DAWG in him. Dhzandubaev is a menace really excited for that one.

For some reason I feel like he is repping another nation but I could just be associating him with Arujao. He could be an awesome 97kg I love whats going on at Stanford.

NC state just got the cadet champ at 55kg from Japan. A lot of it seems to come down to if the coaches have relationships with these guys either personally or their coaches. Esposito knew Okonogi I believe through KD and PJ who have a very good relationship with NC state.

2026 apologies

After day 1 we have a shot at 10 medals still and it got me thinking about if we will have a fall off next year, spoiler we will not. 57kg: Knox/Zinkin/Mills 61kg: Blaze/Forrest//Davino/Ramirez 65kg: Basset/Forrest/Blaze/Zepeda? 70kg: Duke/Robideau/Zepeda/Miller 74kg: Lockett/James/Miller/Duke 79kg: James/Henckel/Burton/Cunnigham 86kg: Ryder/Waters 92kg: Waters 97kg: Ziola 125kg: Merill/Ross/Mocco

I think both countries wrestle considerably more live than other nations.

In my opinion the only way you are getting a professional leage to have traction is by getting international guys "and their fans" on board. The only way to do that is make it freestyle rules. Folkstyle does well because it has a college team affiliation going along with it. I live in the heart of central PA in PSU country and the amount of people I talk to everyday that consider themselves wrestling fans but did not even know u20's was happening is crazy to me. Even crazier when you consider 5 psu guys are on that team. If there was some way to get colleges affiliated with the league maybe then it would work but then you risk burnout and redundancy without a lot of monetary incentive.

really bad challenge coaches need to remember these are not NCAA refs they are not getting that call.

4-3 at the break little geno looks real tired.

Interesting side note Gomez beat Elahi 9-3 early this year at a ranking series event.

Likely the 5 best wrestlers at the weight being on the same side is absolutely criminal.

Lockett will get drawn back in. He is going to have to battle for bronze though Yamaguchi and Wagin are studs.

Yamaguchi is built and wrestles like chance.

gonna need to know who the Russian 17 year old is who beat Gaidarli at Euros.

This guy from Azerbijan looks really good.

wow what a moron

2-1 lead at the break for PJ really nice limp arm on the edge. This kid feels like he will break.

Khaniev is unreal good not upset with Dee at all for dropping that one but he needs to keep his cool in matches. Giving up a caution and 1 there was all but the nail in the coffin, he was absolutely still in that match before that. I also think he is pretty undersized for 74kg right now.

Worst draws are probably Dee's and stanich Stanich gets Toprak right off the scale which is likely the second toughest guy at his weight will be a huge test for Stanich Dee has to go through all the guys just to make the finals Novuruzov,Khaniev,Wagin Henckel got an incredible draw. Youseffi,Begenjov,Saidulov on the other side. He does have amit on his side but I think that is the most winnable match for him of the big 3. Knox gets ukraine which should not be an issue but then he gets Atainov who was Asian Silver and I think is quite tough. If he gets past him he will likely have Zangaladze. Not a good draw but he is opposite Sakamoto and Baghirov which I think is good for him. https://uww.org/event/u20-world-championships-0/brackets

He has good leg attacks but his style is really predicated on forcing guys in on his legs thats where he is the most prolific imo. I dont think he is doubling a guy like Zare from space and Zare will not hit a knee against him. The more typical wrestling exchanges that happen the better for Taz but I do think a Zare/Masoumi matchup could be bad for him.

Just saw scourges post above which was great, The thing that I love about Ross's game that has not been mentioned is his timing. I have never seen a guy as big as him time low ankle attacks quite like him.

Omar Ayoub is going to have a battle to start but I think he could be great. Wrestled Larkin tough at Pan ams and I think is probably a better folk guy. Beat Diversent last year 7-4 and Diversent beat Noto,Burwick,Grice.

I wonder if there is concern for him that Taz ends up at heavy.

@Jon_Kozak glad we were on the same wavelength! https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14459990-2025-u20-world-championships-preview-predictions-mens-freestyle

Chad red, Steve fittery, Josh Terao