This year’s edition of the hardest tournament in sports did not go well for Team USA from a results perspective. But, at the very least, Otto Black (67 kg, NYAC) provided a reminder of what this developing unit may be capable in the near future, even if his own performance ended with a loss.
The fourth and final day of Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2026 World Championships began at 10:30am local time from Astana, Kazakhstan (1:30am ET) and streamed live in the US on FLOWrestling.
Black, 21, was defeated in the qualification round on Monday by 20-year-old returning World champ Aytjan Khalamakhanov (UZB), and Khalamakhanov summarily downed the remaining opposition on his side of the bracket to make the finals and pull Black in for this morning’s repechage rounds. For Black, it meant one rematch and potentially another. In the opening round of repechage, Black drew former Japanese Olympian Tsuchika Shimoyamada (AUS), by whom he was defeated this past summer in Hungary. A win over Shimoyamada would then move Black to the next round against ’20 Olympic Champion/’24 bronze Luis Orta Sanchez of Cuba. Back in May, Black delivered a stiff test to Orta Sanchez en-route to a close decision loss in the Pan-American Championships finals.
When Shimoyamada defeated Black in July, it was via 8-0 VSU. On Tuesday, the outcome was reversed. Amid an exchange in the first period, Black roped a four-point headlock and, after settling in position on top, found his lock and rotated one gutwrench. A re-adjustment, and then Black was there again with a gutwrench that yielded the match-ending points. Shimoyamada opted to challenge, the call on the sequence was upheld, and Black had himself another shot against the terrific Cuban Orta Sanchez.
An early step-out point for Orta Sanchez soon gave way to a passivity point and subsequent opportunity from top par terre, as well as a 2-0 advantage. But as he has done for the majority of the past year, Black exhibited stout defense from bottom and stymied Orta Sanchez to earn a reset. With time a factor in the first period, Orta Sanchez swam over the top of Black to clamp a front headlock. It was a costly decision. Black fought the hands and hung back as Cuba attempted to pull the clasp over, and Black easily covered to garner two exposure points just before the break to jump out in front on criteria.
One more step-out point gave Orta Sanchez a 3-2 margin shortly into the second period. A reset, and Orta Sanchez had once again managed to clamp head and arm around Black, this time from a more perpendicular position near the boundary. Black fought the hold and, in a flash, shucked loose and covered for takedown points. It was the fourth lead change of the match.
But then Black stepped out for a third time following the restart. A one-point caution was levied on the American, as well, and Orta Sanchez was back in front 5-4. A late takedown further expanded his lead to 7-4, which represented the final score. A thrilling, hard-fought match for Black and — despite a 1-2 showing — one of the few bright spots for the US delegation in Astana this week.
A final wrap-up of the 2026 World Championships will be forthcoming.
2026 World Championships
October 24-27 — Astana, KAZ
TEAM USA DAY 4 RESULTS
67 kg: Otto Black (NYAC)
LOSS Aytjan Khalamakhanov (UZB) 12-1, TF
WON Tsuchika Shimoyamada (AUS) 9-0, TF
LOSS Luis Orta Sanchez (CUB) 7-4
TEAM USA FULL RESULTS
55 kg: Max Nowry (NYAC/IRTC) — 11th
WON Nazarmamad Rakhmonbekov (TJK) 11-2, TF
LOSS Payam Ahmadi Balootaki (IRI) 10-1, TF
LOSS Lalit Lalit (IND) 7-0
60 kg: Dalton Roberts (Army/WCAP) — 20th
LOSS Ramzan Arnaut (ROU) 9-0, TF
72 kg: Benji Peak (NYAC/Position) — 11th
WON Aliaksandr Liavonchyk (BLR) 4-1
LOSS Mingiian Goriaev (RUS) 5-4
77 kg: Joel Adams (Beaver Dam RTC) — 23rd
LOSS Stoyan Kubatov (BUL) 3-1
82 kg: Kamal Bey (Army/WCAP) — 19th
LOSS Halishan Bahejiang (CHN) 4-2
87 kg: Beka Melelashvili (NYAC)
LOSS Ivan Huklek (CRO) via fall
97 kg: Timothy Young (Army/WCAP) — 16th
LOSS Matej Mandic (CRO) 4-3
130 kg: Cohlton Schultz (Atreus WC) — 17th
LOSS Abdelatif Mohamed (EGY) 1-1 (criteria)
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