2021 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Ufa, Russia, August 16th 1:00AM on Flo
Day 1
97KG Braxton Amos (Freestyle)
Day 2
74KG Keegan O'Toole
Day 3
76KG Kylie Welker
Day 6
97KG Braxton Amos (Greco)
Day 1 Session 1
97 kg: Braxton Amos (Mineral Wells, W.V./Wisconsin RTC)
vs. Yunus Gafurov (Kazakhstan), Silver at 2018 Cadet Asian Championships
A.J. Ferrari (2021 NCAA Champ Oklahoma State) had an 8-2 win against Asian Cadet silver Yunus Gafurov of Kazakhstan at the 2018 Freestyle Cadet Worlds (Ferrari took Bronze)
For the full schedule and more see: https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/August/15/Draws-MFS-Junior-Worlds (https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/August/15/Draws-MFS-Junior-Worlds)
Braxton Amos is in the semifinals with a 6-4 win over Yunus Gafurov from Kazakhstan and a 10-0 win over Korcsog from Hungary. He takes on Deepak from India later this morning in the semi's.
Of note is that the Iranian Ali Abdollahi beat the Russian national star Soslan Dzhagaev on the top side of his bracket 9-7.
Another point on how tough this tournament is:
Braxton Amos and Beau Bartlett from Penn State are the only 2 wrestlers (Out of 5) from the United States to make the semifinals on day 1. Richard Figueroa, Bryce Andonian (Va Tech), and Donnell Washington (Indiana) all lost in the first round to wrestlers from Iran. Iran has come to wrestle. I really hope Braxton wins in the semi's and gets to face the Iranian.
BA into the finals with a very nice 9-1 victory!
Braxton Amos with the 9-1 win over Deepak Deepak of India in the semifinals.
Braxton Amos is the only United States wrestler out of the 5 weights that wrestled today that made the finals. Congrats Braxton!!!!!
Quote from: Harris on August 16, 2021, 09:52:11 AM
Braxton Amos with the 9-1 win over Deepak Deepak of India in the semifinals.
Braxton Amos is the only United States wrestler out of the 5 weights that wrestled today that made the finals. Congrats Braxton!!!!!
Boy it is going to be fun watching him this year in person!!
Lets hope they let us watch in person.
Great start for Amos. Guaranteed spot on the podium tomorrow. I personally think he is a better greco wrestler. Really excited for the weekend.
Braxton Amos vs. Polat Polatci (Turkey) in the day 2 session which starts at 6:45 AM. Polat had pins in his first 2 matches and then beat the Iranian 9-8 in the semifinals. Polat is the 2021 European Junior Champion where he beat a Russian for Gold. He wrestled as a very young competitor at the Junior World Championships in 2019 and did not medal.
For those of you following Keegan O'Toole he will wrestle in the day 2 (Tuesday) prelim session which starts at 1:00 AM.
He is shining at Greco now, but is pretty all around excellent.
I think he needs to design and sell a Braxton Amos wrestling headwrap ;) as part of the name image likeness (NIL).
https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/August/16/Recap-Jr-Worlds-MFS-2 (https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/August/16/Recap-Jr-Worlds-MFS-2)
Quote from: Harris on August 16, 2021, 11:07:30 AM
I think he needs to design and sell a Braxton Amos wrestling headwrap ;) as part of the name image likeness (NIL).
Harris, that is a brilliant idea! you have had a lot of good posts but this might be your best one ever! ;D
Quote from: vsmf2010 on August 16, 2021, 11:40:20 AM
Quote from: Harris on August 16, 2021, 11:07:30 AM
I think he needs to design and sell a Braxton Amos wrestling headwrap ;) as part of the name image likeness (NIL).
Harris, that is a brilliant idea! you have had a lot of good posts but this might be your best one ever! ;D
We could all wear them at a dual meet next year and then take them off to wave them during his match like a terrible towel :D
Could you imagine if they handed them out before a dual meet with the instructions for everyone to go crazy when they announced him for the first time? That would be awesome. I could see him coming out to the song Country Roads since he said that is his pre-match song being from West Virginia. Better yet, do it against Iowa, Minnesota, or Penn State to get the crowd going.
We've got to work Thor in there with his hammer as well 8)
Foam Thor hammers with Braxton head wrap towels! The kids would love this.
Quote from: Harris on August 16, 2021, 12:17:15 PM
Foam Thor hammers with Braxton head wrap towels! The kids would love this.
In all seriousness, these are really good ideas. I do not have any relationships with anyone in the department right now or I would reach out to someone. I do not know who to contact but you should definitely gets these ideas out to someone.
Quote from: Harris on August 16, 2021, 12:17:15 PM
Foam Thor hammers with Braxton head wrap towels! The kids would love this.
Easy 2 dual promotions! What a start to his Junior world championships!
Quote from: Harris on August 15, 2021, 08:38:59 PM
Day 1 Session 1
97 kg: Braxton Amos (Mineral Wells, W.V./Wisconsin RTC)
vs. Yunus Gafurov (Kazakhstan), Silver at 2018 Cadet Asian Championships
A.J. Ferrari (2021 NCAA Champ Oklahoma State) had an 8-2 win against Asian Cadet silver Yunus Gafurov of Kazakhstan at the 2018 Freestyle Cadet Worlds (Ferrari took Bronze)
So what you're saying is, Gafurov has been unfortunate to draw USA in the first round in both of his trips to the World Championships?
At least Braxton had the courtesy to make the finals and pull him back into the Repechage.
Quote from: wrastle63 on August 16, 2021, 02:33:47 PM
Quote from: Harris on August 16, 2021, 12:17:15 PM
Foam Thor hammers with Braxton head wrap towels! The kids would love this.
Easy 2 dual promotions! What a start to his Junior world championships!
Hilger Hammers and Braxton Bandanas?
Quote from: Harris on August 16, 2021, 10:34:09 AM
Braxton Amos vs. Polat Polatci (Turkey) in the day 2 session which starts at 6:45 AM. Polat had pins in his first 2 matches and then beat the Iranian 9-8 in the semifinals. Polat is the 2021 European Junior Champion where he beat a Russian for Gold. He wrestled as a very young competitor at the Junior World Championships in 2019 and did not medal.
Another interesting fact is Polat Polatci is the son of 2005 World Champion and 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist Aydin Polatci of Turkey.
Tomorrow Keegan O'Toole will make his Junior World debut in the 1AM prelim session. I believe he should win his first match.
74 kg: Keegan O'Toole (Hartland, Wisc./Tiger Style WC)
vs. Balint Balazs (Hungary), Seventh at 2021 Junior European Championships
What is more interesting to me is his potential opponent in the quarterfinals. He will probably wrestle Turan Bayramov from Azerbaijan. Turan actually wrestled in the Tokyo Olympics as a 20 year old after Khadzhimurad Gadzhiyev had to withdraw after suffering a knee injury. Turan won his first match at the Olympics against an Ukrainian opponent before falling to World Champion and 2016 Olympic Bronze medalist Frank Chamizo in a close 3-1 match. Chamizo is the opponent Kyle Dake beat 5-0 for bronze at the 2020 Olympics.
Turan was the 2021 Junior European Champion and the 2021 Senior European silver medalist losing 3-1 in the finals. Turan was the 2019 U23 World Champion, 2018 Cadet World Champion, and 2018 Youth Olympic Champion.
This is an exciting potential matchup and one where Keegan can really make some noise on the international scene against an up and coming star.
Quote from: Harris on August 16, 2021, 07:32:17 PM
Tomorrow Keegan O'Toole will make his Junior World debut in the 1AM prelim session. I believe he should win his first match.
74 kg: Keegan O'Toole (Hartland, Wisc./Tiger Style WC)
vs. Balint Balazs (Hungary), Seventh at 2021 Junior European Championships
What is more interesting to me is his potential opponent in the quarterfinals. He will probably wrestle Turan Bayramov from Azerbaijan. Turan actually wrestled in the Tokyo Olympics as a 20 year old after Khadzhimurad Gadzhiyev had to withdraw after suffering a knee injury. Turan won his first match at the Olympics against an Ukrainian opponent before falling to World Champion and 2016 Olympic Bronze medalist Frank Chamizo in a close 3-1 match. Chamizo is the opponent Kyle Dake beat 5-0 for bronze at the 2020 Olympics.
Turan was the 2021 Junior European Champion and the 2021 Senior European silver medalist losing 3-1 in the finals. Turan was the 2019 U23 World Champion, 2018 Cadet World Champion, and 2018 Youth Olympic Champion.
This is an exciting potential matchup and one where Keegan can really make some noise on the international scene against an up and coming star.
4 AM in Wisconsin. Anyone hear that noise?
What a session by O'Toole! He was down 5-3 to Turan and pinned him at 4:47 and then was down 10-9 in the semi's to the Russian and pinned him at 4:54. Wow.
Quote from: Harris on August 17, 2021, 07:53:14 AM
What a session by O'Toole! He was down 5-3 to Turan and pinned him at 4:47 and then was down 10-9 in the semi's to the Russian and pinned him at 4:54. Wow.
2 cradles!
He was down 10-1 I believe at one point. For sure it was 10-3.
Braxton Amos - Freestyle Junior World Champion!
Braxton Amos (USA) VPO1 Polat Polatci (TUR) , 11-4
I kind of thought Polatci would be put on the clock period 1. Maybe that's only if there is no scoring taking place?
You don't see 5 point throws that much and Braxton bombs his guy with like 30 seconds left :D
Quote from: Harris on August 17, 2021, 10:39:00 AM
You don't see 5 point throws that much and Braxton bombs his guy with like 30 seconds left :D
Scroll down on Pat Mineo's twitter feed to see the throw from 2 different angles. You don't go upper body with a greco guy especially someone as good as Braxton!
https://twitter.com/MrPatMineo?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (https://twitter.com/MrPatMineo?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
Post match interview:
https://themat.tv/all_videos/262494-braxton-amos-wins-2021-junior-world-gold-medal-at-97-kg-in-mens-freestyle (https://themat.tv/all_videos/262494-braxton-amos-wins-2021-junior-world-gold-medal-at-97-kg-in-mens-freestyle)
Quote from: Harris on August 17, 2021, 10:55:22 AM
Quote from: Harris on August 17, 2021, 10:39:00 AM
You don't see 5 point throws that much and Braxton bombs his guy with like 30 seconds left :D
Scroll down on Pat Mineo's twitter feed to see the throw from 2 different angles. You don't go upper body with a greco guy especially someone as good as Braxton!
https://twitter.com/MrPatMineo?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (https://twitter.com/MrPatMineo?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
Thanks for the link - spectacular. Congrats to Amos and O'Toole!
Quote from: Harris on August 17, 2021, 10:39:00 AM
You don't see 5 point throws that much and Braxton bombs his guy with like 30 seconds left :D
I thought Dake bomb right away when I saw that. He is really the only other guy I have seen do that on a regular basis in top end freestyle. That was very explosive and impressive from Braxton. They were locked up quite a while and I think he showed great patience before hitting that. He was in a similar situation on the side of the mat in period 1 and made a bit of a mistake that lead to his opponents only 4 points. His opponent was quite tall which can lead to some difficulty in that situation. Great in match adjustment!
Kylie Welker is a beast.
10-0 over Germany
11-0 over Russia
6-0 then pin over Belarus
In the finals against India. Way to represent Kylie!
Keegan Otoole (USA) VSU Nurdaulet Kuanyshbay (KAZ) , 11-0 4:56
Congratulations Keegan!
Keegan's post match interview. What a great young man. Wisconsin is proud of you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5po9QlzExl8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5po9QlzExl8)
Any chance Keegan might wrestle 70 kg senior world team trials next month?
Love watching him scrap!
Kylie Welker semifinals match. She is a great wrestler.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M8ro3X4qNU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M8ro3X4qNU)
Quote from: Numbers on August 18, 2021, 12:12:29 PM
Any chance Keegan might wrestle 70 kg senior world team trials next month?
Love watching him scrap!
Yikes that is a pretty big cut for a 165 college/74kg guy. If he could get down there and be strong and healthy that would be awesome but I do not see that happening.
Kylie Welker is the Junior World champion at 76Kg with a 10-0 victory over India. Congratulations! Unscored upon at the World Championship is quite an accomplishment. She is an awesome wrestler. Way to represent Wisconsin.
Quote from: Harris on August 19, 2021, 09:56:35 AM
Kylie Welker is the Junior World champion at 76Kg with a 10-0 victory over India. Congratulations! Unscored upon at the World Championship is quite an accomplishment. She is an awesome wrestler. Way to represent Wisconsin.
Her opponents were completely overmatched. I see senior level world medals for her in the very near future. She is on quite a trajectory. Every time I watch her she seems like she has improved.
Quote from: vsmf2010 on August 19, 2021, 09:54:41 AM
Quote from: Numbers on August 18, 2021, 12:12:29 PM
Any chance Keegan might wrestle 70 kg senior world team trials next month?
Love watching him scrap!
Yikes that is a pretty big cut for a 165 college/74kg guy. If he could get down there and be strong and healthy that would be awesome but I do not see that happening.
He did wrestle 157 at the beginning of the college season. He could make it I believe, but when you look at 70 KG it is LOADED! Zain, JO, James Green, Pantaleo, Deakin, and I am sure I am missing guys.
Quote from: vsmf2010 on August 19, 2021, 10:19:06 AM
Quote from: Harris on August 19, 2021, 09:56:35 AM
Kylie Welker is the Junior World champion at 76Kg with a 10-0 victory over India. Congratulations! Unscored upon at the World Championship is quite an accomplishment. She is an awesome wrestler. Way to represent Wisconsin.
Her opponents were completely overmatched. I see senior level world medals for her in the very near future. She is on quite a trajectory. Every time I watch her she seems like she has improved.
She was the Olympic Trials Alternate as a 17 year old Junior in high school and also won the Challenge Tournament. That young lady can scrap with anyone.
Kylie Welker Post Match Interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Cigc9p_ANg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Cigc9p_ANg)
She can't contain her excitement in this interview. I love her enthusiasm.
197 has a chance to be a crazy weight class next year with a returning NCAA champ and 2 junior world freestyle champs (Ferrari, Braxton, and Elam). In addition, you have Dean, Warner, Bonaccorsi, Darmstadt, etc. Some serious talent Braxton will have to compete with. 197 went from a weaker weight to possibly the strongest.
Will be curious to see how he fits in and transitions to folkstyle at the highest level.
Quote from: mkm13 on August 19, 2021, 01:55:42 PM
197 has a chance to be a crazy weight class next year with a returning NCAA champ and 2 junior world freestyle champs (Ferrari, Braxton, and Elam). In addition, you have Dean, Warner, Bonaccorsi, Darmstadt, etc. Some serious talent Braxton will have to compete with. 197 went from a weaker weight to possibly the strongest.
Will be curious to see how he fits in and transitions to folkstyle at the highest level.
I don't think any college wrestler in the country wants to wrestle Braxton Amos next year because he is going to fight them from whistle to whistle. He is one of those guys that just keeps coming and will never give up.
I am curious how all those guys you mentioned fit in and transition to his strength, style and toughness. He is bringing a whole different skill set in my opinion. He may not win them all but he is a tough match no matter what. He just loves to wrestle and he seems to love going to battle. Go back and look at his progress since 2016. This young man works hard!
One of my favorite posts was when he won Fargo in 2016 I think. His dad posted a thank you message on the WV message board. He mentioned Braxton's youth coach at Team Miron who Braxton talked about in his post match interview linked above. If you have never heard of Miron Kharchilava, he is the former decorated Soviet wrestler who came to the US and coached at Ohio State, Indiana, and for the US World team and eventually opened a local club. He actually beat Nate Carr, Matt Demaray (2X NCAA champ at WI), and Casey Cunningham back in the day and is Carson Kharchla's (Ohio State Wrester) dad.
So Braxton's dad posted back in 2016 about the training at Team Miron and it really helped me understand why he fits in so well at Wisconsin with the Bono and Reader training style. Basically his dad said Miron pushes you past the point you ever thought was possible and will hold you accountable for your training and wrestling regardless of who you are or how good you are. Braxton started training there when he was eight I believe and he is the perfect fit at Wisconsin in my opinion. I have heard him say over and over in interviews how he loves the hard training and really appreciates his practice partners and the coaching staff at UW and the RTC.
So to answer your statement above, I think Braxton is going to do fine in folkstyle ;) Have you ever seen the video of him getting interviewed at his house in front of all the folkstyle trophies? It kind of cracks me up because there isn't really any room left to fit any more stuff and the video was shot back in high school before all his international success recently. This guy has been an elite folk, free, and greco wrestler for a long time.
Not only that, Braxton blew out his knee in a match when he was younger (and still finished the match of course). He had to sit out after getting it surgically repaired and rehab from that injury. So not only is he a tough physical wrestler, he is mentally tough as well and has had to overcome a lot in his career that has made him the wrestler he is today.
I really hope he gets to wrestle A.J Ferrari. Win or lose that would be an epic match.
Can you tell I am a Braxton Amos fan?
Quote from: Harris on August 19, 2021, 11:50:53 AM
Quote from: vsmf2010 on August 19, 2021, 10:19:06 AM
Quote from: Harris on August 19, 2021, 09:56:35 AM
Kylie Welker is the Junior World champion at 76Kg with a 10-0 victory over India. Congratulations! Unscored upon at the World Championship is quite an accomplishment. She is an awesome wrestler. Way to represent Wisconsin.
Her opponents were completely overmatched. I see senior level world medals for her in the very near future. She is on quite a trajectory. Every time I watch her she seems like she has improved.
She was the Olympic Trials Alternate as a 17 year old Junior in high school and also won the Challenge Tournament. That young lady can scrap with anyone.
FANTASTIC!!!
Quote from: Harris on August 19, 2021, 02:33:02 PM
Quote from: mkm13 on August 19, 2021, 01:55:42 PM
197 has a chance to be a crazy weight class next year with a returning NCAA champ and 2 junior world freestyle champs (Ferrari, Braxton, and Elam). In addition, you have Dean, Warner, Bonaccorsi, Darmstadt, etc. Some serious talent Braxton will have to compete with. 197 went from a weaker weight to possibly the strongest.
Will be curious to see how he fits in and transitions to folkstyle at the highest level.
I don't think any college wrestler in the country wants to wrestle Braxton Amos next year because he is going to fight them from whistle to whistle. He is one of those guys that just keeps coming and will never give up.
I am curious how all those guys you mentioned fit in and transition to his strength, style and toughness. He is bringing a whole different skill set in my opinion. He may not win them all but he is a tough match no matter what. He just loves to wrestle and he seems to love going to battle. Go back and look at his progress since 2016. This young man works hard!
One of my favorite posts was when he won Fargo in 2016 I think. His dad posted a thank you message on the WV message board. He mentioned Braxton's youth coach at Team Miron who Braxton talked about in his post match interview linked above. If you have never heard of Miron Kharchilava, he is the former decorated Soviet wrestler who came to the US and coached at Ohio State, Indiana, and for the US World team and eventually opened a local club. He actually beat Nate Carr, Matt Demaray (2X NCAA champ at WI), and Casey Cunningham back in the day and is Carson Kharchla's (Ohio State Wrester) dad.
So Braxton's dad posted back in 2016 about the training at Team Miron and it really helped me understand why he fits in so well at Wisconsin with the Bono and Reader training style. Basically his dad said Miron pushes you past the point you ever thought was possible and will hold you accountable for your training and wrestling regardless of who you are or how good you are. Braxton started training there when he was eight I believe and he is the perfect fit at Wisconsin in my opinion. I have heard him say over and over in interviews how he loves the hard training and really appreciates his practice partners and the coaching staff at UW and the RTC.
So to answer your statement above, I think Braxton is going to do fine in folkstyle ;) Have you ever seen the video of him getting interviewed at his house in front of all the folkstyle trophies? It kind of cracks me up because there isn't really any room left to fit any more stuff and the video was shot back in high school before all his international success recently. This guy has been an elite folk, free, and greco wrestler for a long time.
Not only that, Braxton blew out his knee in a match when he was younger (and still finished the match of course). He had to sit out after getting it surgically repaired and rehab from that injury. So not only is he a tough physical wrestler, he is mentally tough as well and has had to overcome a lot in his career that has made him the wrestler he is today.
I really hope he gets to wrestle A.J Ferrari. Win or lose that would be an epic match.
Can you tell I am a Braxton Amos fan?
Great post Harris I knew a little about Miron Kharchilava but not this much thank you. Also did not realize he was Carson Kharchla's dad but that makes total sense. Kharchla is the real deal. Even with Evan, Keegan, Griffith and Marinelli there I Kharchla is my favorite to win it all at 165. Up until he hurt is knee he was destroying people this past year in FS. Teched Mekhi at the RTC cup.
Yep - Carson is a tank as well and definitely a contender for NCAA champion if he is healthy. I hope he comes back strong and healthy. Ohio State has kind of a log jam in their middle weights for next year.
This NCAA season is going to be fun to watch.
Quote from: mkm13 on August 19, 2021, 01:55:42 PM
197 has a chance to be a crazy weight class next year with a returning NCAA champ and 2 junior world freestyle champs (Ferrari, Braxton, and Elam). In addition, you have Dean, Warner, Bonaccorsi, Darmstadt, etc. Some serious talent Braxton will have to compete with. 197 went from a weaker weight to possibly the strongest.
Will be curious to see how he fits in and transitions to folkstyle at the highest level.
Does Myles Amine have one more year of eligibility? If so, you'd have to add in an Olympic medalist. Not to mention WI native Stephen Buchanon.
Quote from: Ledger on August 20, 2021, 09:00:55 AM
Quote from: mkm13 on August 19, 2021, 01:55:42 PM
197 has a chance to be a crazy weight class next year with a returning NCAA champ and 2 junior world freestyle champs (Ferrari, Braxton, and Elam). In addition, you have Dean, Warner, Bonaccorsi, Darmstadt, etc. Some serious talent Braxton will have to compete with. 197 went from a weaker weight to possibly the strongest.
Will be curious to see how he fits in and transitions to folkstyle at the highest level.
Does Myles Amine have one more year of eligibility? If so, you'd have to add in an Olympic medalist. Not to mention WI native Stephen Buchanon.
He had Dean in there, only one can be at 197, Amine wrestled 189.2 in the olympics so I guess he can go to 184, not sure he'd want to.
Quote from: bigoil on August 20, 2021, 12:54:07 PM
Quote from: Ledger on August 20, 2021, 09:00:55 AM
Quote from: mkm13 on August 19, 2021, 01:55:42 PM
197 has a chance to be a crazy weight class next year with a returning NCAA champ and 2 junior world freestyle champs (Ferrari, Braxton, and Elam). In addition, you have Dean, Warner, Bonaccorsi, Darmstadt, etc. Some serious talent Braxton will have to compete with. 197 went from a weaker weight to possibly the strongest.
Will be curious to see how he fits in and transitions to folkstyle at the highest level.
Does Myles Amine have one more year of eligibility? If so, you'd have to add in an Olympic medalist. Not to mention WI native Stephen Buchanon.
He had Dean in there, only one can be at 197, Amine wrestled 189.2 in the olympics so I guess he can go to 184, not sure he'd want to.
They don't wrestle at the same school. However, Brucki will most likely be 197 so if Amine comes back he would have to go 184.
Quote from: walden_hiker on August 20, 2021, 02:30:14 PM
Quote from: bigoil on August 20, 2021, 12:54:07 PM
Quote from: Ledger on August 20, 2021, 09:00:55 AM
Quote from: mkm13 on August 19, 2021, 01:55:42 PM
197 has a chance to be a crazy weight class next year with a returning NCAA champ and 2 junior world freestyle champs (Ferrari, Braxton, and Elam). In addition, you have Dean, Warner, Bonaccorsi, Darmstadt, etc. Some serious talent Braxton will have to compete with. 197 went from a weaker weight to possibly the strongest.
Will be curious to see how he fits in and transitions to folkstyle at the highest level.
Does Myles Amine have one more year of eligibility? If so, you'd have to add in an Olympic medalist. Not to mention WI native Stephen Buchanon.
He had Dean in there, only one can be at 197, Amine wrestled 189.2 in the olympics so I guess he can go to 184, not sure he'd want to.
They don't wrestle at the same school. However, Brucki will most likely be 197 so if Amine comes back he would have to go 184.
Oh my bad, I thought he transferred to Mich.
Braxton Amos is going for a bronze world medal in Greco. He won against Kazakhstan and Turkey before falling to the Russian in the semifinals. It is amazing how many matches Braxton has had since starting this journey with the Olympic last chance qualifier in freestyle and greco. He is a warrior. One more match. Let's go!
Just to show how tough it is to medal in Greco. Braxton Amos is the only United States Greco wrestler to make it to the semifinals and the only U.S. wrestler to make it to the medal round at Junior Worlds.
Here is the text from the Wisconsin RTC email with the details.
Braxton Amos's quest for a 2nd world medal will continue tomorrow.
Competing at 97kg in the Junior World Championship Greco Roman bracket, Amos started off continuing his success after winning gold in Freestyle earlier in the week.
In the round of 16, Amos wrestled against Yerzat Yerlanov of Kazakhstan. In the first period, it was all Amos with a 4 point headlock. He then scored 1 point with a passivity call, leading 5-0 at break.
Needing to score 3 points for a technical superiority victory, Amos did just that. A takedown on the edge and a pushout to ice the match was all he needed to move on.
Next up in the quarterfinals, was Turkey's Mustafa Olgun. Braxton was the first wrestler to have points put up on the board, with a passivity call to lead 1-0. This was the only point scored heading into break.
Olgun, was awarded 1 point with a passivity call to start the scoring in the 2nd. He was unable to turn Braxton, bringing them to their feet. Olgun stepped out with 90 seconds remaining to push Amos's lead to 2-1. Amos looked to add to his lead with a take down on the edge and then added a four point through before pinning Olgun in 5:58 to move on to the Semi-Finals match.
Amos squared off in the Semi-Finals against Aleksei Milshin of Russia. Amos was called for passivity, awarding one point to the Russian and his chance to wrestle on top in par terre. The Russian turned Amos three times, to lead 7-0. Milshin was able to get a takedown on the edge of the mat to win by a 9-0 technical superiority victory.
Amos will wrestle for Bronze at 97kg tomorrow morning, starting at 8 am central time.
According to Willie Saylor, There have only been 2 American wrestlers to ever win double medals at Junior Worlds - Adam Coon won Bronze-Bronze ('14) and Albright ('83) won Silver-Bronze. Braxton could join that group tomorrow. That would put him in Elite air!
Amos wins GR Bronze
Braxton James Amos (United States) VSU Arkyt Orozbekov (Kyrgyzstan) , 8-0 1:13
Of the three men ever to medal in both freestyle and greco, Amos is the only one to win a gold.
This kid is awesome.
Any wait to watch him in Madison and have Littleguy buy me an ice cream.
Congrats Braxton! What a fierce competitor. Just think of all the wrestling and training he has done over the past 6 months at such a high level.
Braxton Amos is a beast and he will be a part of deep 197 pound weight class!!! 197 and HWT are insane (lets keep 195-220).
Amos, Dean/Singleton, Farrari, Darmstadt who took/beat Deans for the spot at Cornell, Warner, Elam, Bonaccorsi, Amine or Brucki, Schultz and I know I am missing a few.
Congratulations Braxton! In addition to being a gifted athlete, he definitely put in the time. He invested time in all three styles. Trained all over the country and even spent a stint in Croatia to train with high level Greco guys from around the world.
Post match interview. Love this guy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5_IUW2dihM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5_IUW2dihM)
Wisconsin RTC has some great free content on Rokfin about the world championship run. Check it out, hit the follow button and subscribe.
https://rokfin.com/WiscRTC (https://rokfin.com/WiscRTC)