Greco-Roman wrestlers representing the United States of America, in varying age divisions, have competed in over a dozen tournaments in 2023 — and there are still other events remaining before the calendar flips.
The US can stake claim to a World Champion in Jordyn Raney (55 kg, KY), who put forth a memorable performance this past summer on the U17 level. One age group north, there have been several terrific showings from Team USA Juniors (U20), most prominently from the Pan-American Championships in July. At that event, the US had an astounding eight gold medalists and two silvers. In other words, the entire roster made it to the finals.
Elsewhere on the age-group front, Aidan Squier (80 kg, Combat WC) began the year with a gold medal in Sweden, which was his first from an overseas event. On Sunday, Squier dominantly finished off his bracket at the Malar Cupen, also in Sweden, to come away with his second such title. Joining him in the winner’s circle were ’19 Cadet World Teamer Tyler “Truck” Hannah (87 kg, Combat WC) and newcomer Brennan Carey (110 kg, Combat WC). The aforementioned three were not the only Americans to stand on the podium, as they were accompanied by bronze medalists William Jakeway (55 kg, Sons of Thunder) and Zane Chavis (57 kg, Sons of Thunder).
On the Senior level, which is the preeminent focus, World Team members Ildar Hafizov (60 kg, Army/WCAP) and Kamal Bey (77 kg, Army/WCAP) have led the way internationally. In July, Bey made an enormous impact on the sport’s highest circuit by advancing to the final of the Hungarian Grand Prix “Ranking Series” tournament; a little less than a month later, Hafizov did the same in Germany and likewise wound up with silver. Most recently, the pair were also responsible for giving the US squad their only gold medals at the just-wrapped Pan-Am Games.
But there have been many more medals collected from US Greco-Roman athletes thus far in ’23 and this is where to find them.
Fall 2023 USA International Medal Count
Breakdown
- SR: 15 — 10 golds, three silvers, two bronze
- U20: 10 — eight golds, two silvers
- U17: 15 — eight golds, four silvers, three bronze
- U15: 1 — one gold
- 41 total medals as of 11/6/23
Sundsvall Open — 1/22/23 — Sundsvall, SWE (U17 & U20)
GOLD: Aidan Squier (80 kg, Combat WC)
SILVER: Will Scherer (65 kg, Combat WC)
Pan-American Championships — 5/4/23 — Buenos Aires, ARG (SR)
GOLD: Dalton Duffield (55 kg, Army/WCAP), Dalton Roberts (60 kg, Army/WCAP), Justus Scott (72 kg, Army/WCAP), Kamal Bey (77 kg, Army/WCAP), Spencer Woods (82 kg, Army/WCAP), Joe Rau (97 kg, TMWC)
BRONZE: Alan Vera (87 kg, NYAC)
Pan-American Championships — 6/22/23 — Mexico City, MEX (U17)
GOLD: Henry Aslikyan (45 kg, CA), Lincoln Sledzianowski (48 kg, PA), Vince Bouzakis (71 kg, PA), Nicholas Sahakyan (130 kg, Sunkist)
SILVER: Elijah Cortez (55 kg, CA), Adam Waters (80 kg, PA), Aiden Cooley (92 kg, TX)
BRONZE: Czar Quintanilla (51 kg, WA), Sam Herring (60 kg, PA), Gabriel Bouyssou (65 kg, RI)
Pan-American Championships — 7/6/23 — Santiago, CHI (U20)
GOLD: Robert Estrada (55 kg, Western Colorado WC), Landon Drury (63 kg, Betterman Elite), Jadon Skellenger (67 kg, ID), Arvin Khosravy (72 kg, CA), Derek Matthews (77 kg, Northern Colorado WC), Mike Altomer (82 kg, Curby 3-Style), Wyatt Voelker (87 kg, Big Game WC), Aden Attao (130 kg, Suples)
SILVER: Zan Fugitt (60 kg, Nixa HS), Sawyer Bartelt (97 kg, Gladiator WC)
Grand Prix of Spain — 7/7/23 — Madrid, ESP (SR)
GOLD: Courtney Freeman (130 kg, Marines)
Hungarian Grand Prix/Polyak Imre Memorial — 7/16/23 (SR)
SILVER: Kamal Bey (77 kg, Army/WCAP)
World Championships — 8/1/23 — Istanbul, TUR (U17)
GOLD: Jordyn Raney (55 kg, Union County HS)
Grand Prix of Germany — 8/13/23 — Dortmund, GER (SR)
SILVER: Ildar Hafizov (60 kg, Army/WCAP)
Pan-American Games — 11/4/23 — Santiago, CHI (SR)
GOLD: Ildar Hafizov (60 kg, Army/WCAP), Kamal Bey (77 kg, Army/WCAP)
SILVER: Cohlton Schultz (130 kg, Sunkist)
Malar Cupen — 11/5/23 — Västerås, SWE (U15, U17, U20, & SR)
GOLD: Aidan Squier (80 kg, Combat WC), Tyler Hannah (87 kg, Combat WC), Brennan Carey (110 kg, Combat WC)
BRONZE: William Jakeway (55 kg, Sons of Thunder), Zane Chavis (57 kg, Sons of Thunder)
Upcoming Greco Schedule
The United States is expected to have a presence at several international tournaments prior to the New Year, with two more in November (not counting the Bill Farrell Memorial, which carries potential selection implications for the Olympic Team Trials and is held on US soil). More may be added to the list below, but it is unlikely due to the scheduling of the US Nationals in December. The National tournament is the primary qualifier for those Senior athletes with designs on entering the Olympic Trials. It is also the Team USA roster selection tournament for the Pan-Am Olympic Qualifier in February.
November 25 — Kolbotn Cup (U17 & U20) — Kolbotn, NOR
December 1-2 — CISM World Military Games (SR) — (Baku, AZE)
December 2 — Haparanda Cup (SR) — (Haparanda SWE)
December 9 — Haavisto Cup (SR) — (Ilmajokie, FIN)
Listen to “5PM54: WCAP’s Ryan Epps and a Final X Greco-Roman Preview” on Spreaker.
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