For the third year in a row, Team USA will exit the Cadet Worlds with multiple medalists.
Day 2 of the 2026 U17 World Championships began at 10:30am local time from Baku, Azerbaijan (2:30am ET) and streamed live on FLOWrestling.
Bruno Pallone (110 kg, Mardin WC) put forth an incredible effort as he dominated his side of the bracket on Monday to earn a spot in the heavyweight final on Tuesday evening, ultimately falling to Ukrainian prospect Tymofii Prykhodko to finish with silver. Pallone advanced on the strength of two pins and two VSU before being turned back by Prykhodko in the gold-medal round. One other athlete from the first day of wrestling made it to the second day, Ivan Ivanov (80 kg, Suples) — son of the World silver medalist, former NMU/USOEC coach, and Suples founder of the same name. Ivanov was felled by Alireza Rezaei (IRI) in his opener; but because Rezaei made the final (and would later prevail for gold), another shot via repechage on Tuesday was in order. Ivanov impressively disposed of Nurluutan Kubatov (KGZ) and Ilias Gadaboeshev (RUS), respectively, to punch his ticket to the bronze-medal round. Once there, he was on the wrong side of 12-4 VSU against Abdulaziz Khlmirzaev (UZB), thereby ultimately placing 5th.
On Tuesday, the United States was able to guarantee at least one more medal in Baku when Rylen Wax (65 kg, Beast Mode) navigated through three opponents from top Greco programs. Wax downed Vazgen Vardanyan (ARM) in the round-of-16 and then ran over Arsan Aliev (RUS) in the quarters. One round later, Wax was able to bite down on a 3-1 nod against Afruzbek Ibragimov (UZB), thus sending him into the finals on Wednesday opposed by Ali Javadli of the host country Azerbaijan.
Wax will not be the only American to compete on Wednesday as William Etu (92 kg, Wild Buffalo WC) has an alternate route available through the repechage round. Etu pinned Polykarpos Servetas (GRE) in the first round but was defeated by eventual finalist Hiib Yevsieiev (UKR) in his next match. And he will have to take a pause prior to his first repechage bout, as well. Etu will face the winner between Zohrab Safarov (AZE) and Amirreza Mehritalarposhti (IRI); if Etu is successful, he will go for bronze against Mirajalol Shovkatov (UZB).
The repechage round for Etu is scheduled to begin at 10:30am local time on Wednesday morning (2:30am ET). The medal rounds, including the finals, will begin at 6:00pm in Baku (10:00am ET). FLOWrestling is carrying the live broadcast for the US audience.
Notes:
- After two days of competition, Team USA is in 6th place with 44 points, one spot behind Hungary and Ukraine. Hungary and Ukraine both have 45 points but UKR holds criteria due to having a gold medalist. Russia is currently in 1st place with 77 points and enjoys a comfortable lead over 2nd place Azerbaijan (52 points).
- Thus far, the US has a combined individual record of 15-12 at the 2026 U17 World Championships.
- Of the 15 victories, six have been recorded as pins; there have also been five wins via technical superiority and four wins by decision.
- The US will now have at least one U17 World medalist for a sixth consecutive years. Cory Land started the streak in ’21 by earning silver; in ’22, current Senior World Team member Joel Adams (77 kg, Beaver Dam RTC) came away with gold while Cody Merrill picked up bronze; Jordyn Raney brought home gold in ’23; Jayden Raney earned gold in ’24 as Jordyn fought back for bronze; and last year, MJ Rundell, Arseni Kikiniou, and David Calkins Jr. each earned bronze.
2926 U17 World Championships
July 27-29 — Baku, AZE
TEAM USA RESULTS
45 kg: Rylen Wax (Beast Mode)
WON Vazgen Vardanyan (ARM) 4-1
WON Arsan Aliev (RUS) 11-2, TF
WON Afruzbek Ibragimov (UZB) 3-1
vs. Ali Javadli (AZE) — Final
48 kg: Arav Pandey (American Dream WC) — 7th
WON Mustafa Karakose (TUR) via fall
LOSS Soltan Iusupov (RUS) 9-3
LOSS Giorgi Chhikvadze (GEO) 6-3
51 kg: Wyatt Danneger (Team MO)
LOSS Vadim Tarelunga (MDA) 9-4
55 kg: Corey Brown (HeadHunters WC) — 8th
WON Abdullah Ahmed (EGY) 7-5
LOSS Keve Kovacs (HUN) 5-1
WON Lavozier Marubo (BRA) via fall
LOSS Vlad Trip (ROU) 3-1
60 kg: Cooper Matthews (Black Fox)
WON Artush Petrosyan (ARM) 12-4, TF
LOSS Hinata Hanamori (JPN) 9-4
65 kg: Arseni Kikiniou (Poway) — 21st
LOSS Kunal Dagar (IND) 6-1
71 kg: Aiden Arnett (Izzy Style)
WON Albert Deacu (ROU) 7-2
LOSS Baiel Nuraliev (KGZ) 8-0m TF
80 kg: Ivan Ivanov (Suples) — 5th
LOSS Alireza Rezaei (IRI) 9-0, TF
WON Nurluutan Kubatov (KGZ) 9-0, TF
WON Ilias Gadaboeshev (RUS) via fall
LOSS Abdulaziz Khlmirzaev (UZB) 12-4, TF
92 kg: William Etu (Wild Buffalo WC)
WON Polykarpos Servetas (GRE) via fall
LOSS Hiib Yevsieiev (UKR) via fall
vs. winner between Zohrab Safarov (AZE) & Amirreza Mehritalarposhti (IRI) — Repechage
110 kg: Bruno Pallone (Hardin WC) –– SILVER
WON Mitsuyoshi Urushima (JPN) via fall
WON Yahor Savich (BLR) 18-9, TF
WON Khachik Khachatryan (ARM) 8-0, TF
WON Andrej Simic (SRB) via fall
LOSS Tymofii Prykhodko (UKR) 14-5, TF
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