Here is my yearly U20 preview. I’ll try and post a few weights per week
57kg-
USA rep-Luke Lilledahl
PSU commit, #1 overall recruit
2021-Cadet worlds-2nd, 2022-U17 worlds-1st
2023-U20 worlds-2nd, U20 pan-ams-1st
2024-U20 pan-ams-1st
Contenders-
Lev Pavlov-AIN (Russia)
2023 U20 worlds-9th (lost to Lilledahl 1st round)
2024-U20 Euro’s-1st
2024-Russian nationals-2nd
Ranked #10 in FLO’s senior freestyle rankings
Vasif Baghirov-AZE
2022-U17 Euro’s-1st, 2022-U17 worlds-1st (beat Christian Castillo in finals)
2024-U20 Euros-2nd
Ankush Ankush-IND
2023-U17 Asians-1st
2023-U17 worlds-2nd ( lost to Blaze in finals)
Milad Valizadeh-IRI
2023-4th ranking series event-9th (lost to Zane Richards 17-6)
2023-Senior worlds-8th (beat #8 in seniors Rzazade 8-4)
Herbert Akapian-AIN
2021-Cadet world team
2023-U20 worlds-10th
2024-U23 Euros-5th
2024-U20 Euros-5th
Hayko Gasparyan-ARM
2022-U17 worlds-7th
2024-U20 Euros-3rd
Baiaman Kerimbekov-KGY
2022-U17 worlds-5th
Shotaro Matsumura-JPN
2023 beat Mitchell Neiner of WA 4-2 in a cultural exchange dual. That is all the info I could find
There is one huge question mark at this weight and it is the Japanese wrestler Yuto Nishiuchi. Nishiuchi won this weight last year beating Lilledahl in the finals. He still has U20 eligibility but has been competing up at 61kg where he won U20 Asians earlier this year. As of now he is not listed as competing at either 57kg or 61kg. No idea why because the 2 guys listed at those weights don’t have a ton of credentials. I’m interested to see if he does get entered as the tournament gets closer. If so, he is probably the favorite at either weight.
I think Lilledahl wins this weight. Will be challenged by Pavlov, Baghirov, Ankush, and Valizadeh. Valizadeh doesn’t have many results I can find but he did represent Iran at 57kg at senior worlds this year where he beat Olympian and world ranked #8 Razazade. He will absolutely be a contender. Lilledahl handled Pavlov at this tournament last year but he is super tough and wrestles a funky style. He just won U20 Euros so he is competing at a high level and holds wins over quite a few of the other top guys at this weight. Also took 2nd at Russian nationals this year. Ankush and Baghirov both have great results at the U17 level but are coming up to U20. I think both should be in medal contention.
Prediction-
Gold-Lilledahl
Silver-Pavlov
Bronze-Valizadeh
Bronze-Ankush
57kg-
USA rep-Luke Lilledahl
PSU commit, #1 overall recruit
2021-Cadet worlds-2nd, 2022-U17 worlds-1st
2023-U20 worlds-2nd, U20 pan-ams-1st
2024-U20 pan-ams-1st
Contenders-
Lev Pavlov-AIN (Russia)
2023 U20 worlds-9th (lost to Lilledahl 1st round)
2024-U20 Euro’s-1st
2024-Russian nationals-2nd
Ranked #10 in FLO’s senior freestyle rankings
Vasif Baghirov-AZE
2022-U17 Euro’s-1st, 2022-U17 worlds-1st (beat Christian Castillo in finals)
2024-U20 Euros-2nd
Ankush Ankush-IND
2023-U17 Asians-1st
2023-U17 worlds-2nd ( lost to Blaze in finals)
Milad Valizadeh-IRI
2023-4th ranking series event-9th (lost to Zane Richards 17-6)
2023-Senior worlds-8th (beat #8 in seniors Rzazade 8-4)
Herbert Akapian-AIN
2021-Cadet world team
2023-U20 worlds-10th
2024-U23 Euros-5th
2024-U20 Euros-5th
Hayko Gasparyan-ARM
2022-U17 worlds-7th
2024-U20 Euros-3rd
Baiaman Kerimbekov-KGY
2022-U17 worlds-5th
Shotaro Matsumura-JPN
2023 beat Mitchell Neiner of WA 4-2 in a cultural exchange dual. That is all the info I could find
There is one huge question mark at this weight and it is the Japanese wrestler Yuto Nishiuchi. Nishiuchi won this weight last year beating Lilledahl in the finals. He still has U20 eligibility but has been competing up at 61kg where he won U20 Asians earlier this year. As of now he is not listed as competing at either 57kg or 61kg. No idea why because the 2 guys listed at those weights don’t have a ton of credentials. I’m interested to see if he does get entered as the tournament gets closer. If so, he is probably the favorite at either weight.
I think Lilledahl wins this weight. Will be challenged by Pavlov, Baghirov, Ankush, and Valizadeh. Valizadeh doesn’t have many results I can find but he did represent Iran at 57kg at senior worlds this year where he beat Olympian and world ranked #8 Razazade. He will absolutely be a contender. Lilledahl handled Pavlov at this tournament last year but he is super tough and wrestles a funky style. He just won U20 Euros so he is competing at a high level and holds wins over quite a few of the other top guys at this weight. Also took 2nd at Russian nationals this year. Ankush and Baghirov both have great results at the U17 level but are coming up to U20. I think both should be in medal contention.
Prediction-
Gold-Lilledahl
Silver-Pavlov
Bronze-Valizadeh
Bronze-Ankush
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