The 2025 U20 World Championships will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, from August 17-24. The men's freestyle portion of this tournament will get things started at U20 Worlds and will feature a loaded squad from Team USA. Check out the article below for a full breakdown, with predictions, for Team USA at this year's U20 Worlds. 

Anthony Knox, 57 kg - 5th Place/DNP

Top Contenders At 57 kg

• Rin Sakamoto, JPN - 2025 Senior World Team Rep, 2025 Senior Asian 5th, 2024 Emperor’s Cup Gold, 2025 Meiji Cup Gold
• Vasif Baghirov, AZE - 2025 U20 Euro Gold
• Nika Zangaladze, GEO - 2025 U20 Euro Silver
• Magomed Ozdamirov, RUS - 2025 U20 Euro Bronze
• Nurdanat Aitanov, KAZ - 2025 U20 Asian Gold
• Arash Haddadi, IRI - 2025 U20 Asian Bronze

Don't get me wrong, Anthony Knox is absolutely good enough to medal in this weight class. However, what gives me pause in predicting him to medal is the depth of the weight. Baghirov, Zangaladze, Sakamoto, Ozdamirov, and Aitanov are all top-level competitors and have the skills to defeat Knox. The depth, along with Knox's lackluster performance at the U20 World Team Trials against Villasenor, leads me to think that Knox will have trouble reaching the podium.

Baghirov's win over Zangaladze in the U20 Euro Finals:

Marcus Blaze, 61 kg - Gold

Top Contenders At 61 kg

• Sargis Begoyan, ARM - 2025 U20 Euro Gold, 2021 U17 World Bronze
• Askat Toktomatov, KGZ- 2025 U20 Asian Gold
• Ahora Khateri, IRI - 2023 U17 World Gold
• Bashir Verdiyev, AZE - 2025 U20 Euro 5th, 2022 U17 World Silver
• Saba Gambashidze, GEO - 2025 U20 Euro Bronze
• Takuto Osedo, JPN  - 2022 U17 World 5th
• Allan Oralbek, KAZ - 2025 U20 Asian Bronze, 2024 U23 World 5th
• Adlan Saitiev, RUS - 2025 U20 Euros Silver

61 kg has great depth, with Ahora Khateri, Sargis Begoyan, and Askat Toktomatov being the main contenders to challenge Marcus Blaze. However, unlike last year with Ono, I don't believe anyone has the high-end talent to defeat Blaze in this bracket. Blaze will be the favorite entering U20 Worlds, and he's my pick to come away with gold.

Luke Stanich, 65 kg - 5th Place/DNP

Top Contenders At 65 kg

• Amal Dzhandubaev, RUS - 2025 U23 & U20 Euro Gold
• Abdullah Toprak, TUR - 2025 U23 Euro Silver, U20 Euro Bronze, 2024 U23 World 5th, U20 World 5th, 2023 U20 World Bronze, U23 World Bronze, 2021 U17 World Bronze
• Omurbek Asan Uulu, KGZ - 2025 U20 Asian Bronze, 2024 U17 World Gold
• Reiji Uchida, JPN - 2024 Emperor’s Cup 5th
• Ashwani Ashwani, IND - 2025 U20 Asian Silver
• Alex Nini, ITA - 2022 U17 World 5th
• Viktor Borohan, UKR - 2025 U20 Euro Silver

Amal Dzhandubaev and Abdullah Toprak are the wrestlers to beat at 65 kg. Toprak has the most accomplishments of anyone in the bracket, but has lost two competitive matches to Dzhandubaev. After those top two, Uchida, Ashwani, and Asan Uulu will all present unique challenges to Stanich and make it difficult for him to medal. Stanich is capable of medaling but it might come down to his draw. Because of the depth of this field, I don't feel fully confident picking Stanich as a medalist. 

Dzhandubaev's win over Toprak at U20 Euros:

PJ Duke, 70 kg - Gold

Top Contenders At 70 kg

• Goga Otinashvili, GEO - 2025 U20 Euro Bronze, 2024 U20 World 5th, 2022 U17 World Bronze
• Ebrahim Elahi, IRI -, 2025 U20 Asian Gold, 2023 U20 Asian Silver, 2022 U17 World Gold
• Kairi Ito, JPN - 2024 U17 Bronze
• Daniele Gubbiotti, ITA - 2025 U20 Euro Silver
• Islam Kazharov, RUS - 2023 U17 Euro Silver, U17 World Bronze
• Umut Uslu, TUR - 2024 U17 World Bronze 
• Kade Brown, CAN - 2025 U20 Pan-Am Gold
• Ismayil Rahimli, AZE - 2023 U17 Euro Bronze

Duke is the favorite in this field, but Otinaashvili, Elahi, and Kazharov are all worthy contenders. Otinashvili placed 5th at the Zagreb Open this year while defeating Evan Henderson but losing a close match to Joey McKenna. Elahi also placed 5th in Zagreb while losing to Austin Gomez 9-3 but defeating a tough Jarrett Jacques 4-3. Kazharov doesn't have the same results on the senior level, but might be the best wrestler in the bracket after Duke. Kazharov was bronze at U17 Worlds in 2023 in the same bracket that Ladarion Lockett won gold in. Despite the depth at this weight, I don't think any measure up to Duke, and he's my pick to win gold.

Elahi's win over Jarrett Jacques:

Ladarion Lockett, 74 kg - Gold

Top Contenders At 74 kg

• Manuel Wagin, GER - 2025 U20 Euro Gold, U23 Euro 5th, 2024 U17 World Silver, 2023 U17 World Bronze
• Ismail Khaniev, RUS - 2025 U20 Euro Bronze, U23 Euro Gold, 2024 U23 World 5th
• Mahdi Mamivand, IRI - 2025 U20 Asian Gold
• Raul Caso, ITA - 2025 U20 Euro Silver, 2022 U17 World Silver (lost to Sealey)
• Bohdan Oliinyk, UKR - 2025 U20 Euro 5th, U23 Euro 5th, 2022 U17 World 5th
• Dosszhan Kul Gaiyp, KGZ - 2025 U20 Asian Bronze
• Omar Gulmammadov, AZE - 2025 U20 Euro Bronze
• Vatan Annaorazov, TKM - 2025 U20 Asian Bronze
• Umarkhon Muydinov, UZB - 2025 U20 Asian Silver

Dee Lockett lost in the U20 finals last year (3-3 on criteria), and Lockett will be the favorite to win gold this year. Even still, Lockett will be challenged by Germany's Manuel Wagin, who has won two medals at U17 Worlds and notably defeated Melvin Miller (7-1) at last year's U17 Worlds. After Wagin, Russia's Ismail Khaniev is also a wrestler to watch out for. Khaniev lost a close match to Wagin at U20 Euros but won gold at U23 worlds in a tough bracket that Wagin placed 5th in. Iran's Mamivand is also a wrestler to watch out for, but I'm picking Lockett to come away with gold. 

Manuel Wagin's win over Melvin Miller:

Will Henckel, 79 kg - Bronze

Top Contenders At 79 kg

• Mahdi Yousefi, IRI - Senior Asian Gold, 2024 U20 World Bronze, U23 World Gold
• Alp Arslan Begenjov, TKM - 2025 U23 Asian Silver, U20 Asian Bronze, 2024 U20 World Gold (beat Amit and Ryder), 2023  U17 World 5th
• Amit Amit, IND - 2025 U20 Asian Gold, 2024 U20 World 5th
• Said Saidulov, RUS - 2025 U20 Euro Bronze, 2024 U20 Euro Gold, U20 World 5th
• Davit Tchetchelashvili, GEO - 2025 U20 Euro Gold (beat Saidulov and Omarov)
• LJ Araujo, BRA - 2024 U20 World Bronze, 2025 U20 Pan-Ams Silver 
• Keyran Gharehdaghi, JPN - 2025 Meiji Cup Gold
• Muradkhan Omarov, AZE - 2025 U20 Euro Silver

79 kg has some of the best depth of any weight class at U20 Worlds. Mahdi Yousefi has already had outstanding senior-level success with a victory over world medalist Vladimeri Gamkrelidze at the Zagreb Open earlier this year. Outside of that, Yousefi won a bronze medal at last year's U20 World Championships and then followed that performance up by winning gold at U23 Worlds. After Yousefi, 2024 U20 World Champ Alp Arslan Begenjov is also in the bracket and notably defeated Zack Ryder at last year's U20 Worlds. Nebraska LJ Aruajo is another returning U20 World Medalist. India's Amit is another wrestler to watch out for based on his head-to-head win over Begenjov. Even with all of the depth, Henckel has been wrestling outstandingly and was one of the most impressive wrestlers at the US Open and World Team Trials. It could be a tough road, but I think Henckel gets the job done and reaches the podium.

Yousefi's win over Vladimeri Gamkrelidze: 

Max McEnelly, 86 kg - Silver

Top Contenders At 86 kg

• Abolfazl Rahmani, IRI - 2025 U20 Asian Gold, 2024 U20 World Bronze
• Dovletgeldi Myradov, TKM - 2025 U20 Asian Silver, 2023 U17 World 5th
• Daichi Papinashvili, GEO - 2025 U20 Euro Gold
• Ahmet Yagan, TUR - 2025 U20 Euro Silver, 2024 U20 World Bronze, 2023 U20 World 5th
• Razmik Yepremyan, ARM - 2025 U20 Euro Bronze, 2022 U17 World Bronze

Abolfazl Rahmani is the man to beat in this bracket. Rahmani was bronze at last year's U20 Worlds and has already had success on the senior level. Rahmani won the Takhti Cup earlier this year and is currently #2 on Iran's ladder behind only multiple-time world champion Kamran Ghasempour. In fact, Rahmani and Ghasempour wrestled in May in a match to decide the senior world team spot. In that match, Ghasempour won a close, 3-1 match that was decided by one takedown by Ghasempour. McEnelly will have his hands full with Rahmani, but I believe McEnelly can beat anyone else in the bracket. 

Connor Mirasola, 92 kg - Bronze

Top Contenders At 92 kg

• Sherzod Poyonov, UZB - 2025 U20 Asian Gold, 2025 Senior Asian 5th
• Toohid Noory, IRI - 2025 U20 Asian Silver
• Gadzhimurad Gadzhibatyrov, RUS
• Anar Jafarli, AZE - 2025 U20 Euro Bronze, 2024 U20 World Bronze
• Kamil Kurugliyev, KAZ - 2025 U20 Euro Silver (at 97kg), 2024 U20 World Bronze - 2022 U17 World Gold
• Musa Arsunkaev, HUN - 2025 U202 Euro Siler 

Connor Mirasola came just short of earning a medal last year and will be looking for redemption. This will be a great test for Mirasola and will tell us how much progress he's made since last year. This bracket is filled with talent, with U20 World Medalists Anar Jafarli (who beat Mirasola last year) and Kamil Kurugliyev returning. Beyond these two, Gadzhibatyrov and Poyonov are the other wrestlers that I consider a gold medal threat. Poyonov has been active on the senior level with a silver medal finish a the 2024 Kunaev (where he defeated Kurugliyev). Gadzhibatyrov won U20 Russian Nationals but didn't wrestle at U20 Euros. Instead, Russia sent Artur Togoev to Euros, and Togoev came away with gold after defeating both Anar Jafarli and Musza Arsunkaev. Gadzhibatyrov defeated Togoev at U20 Russian Nationals (10-4), and because of that, Gadzhibatyrov might be the most dangerous wrestler in the field.

Gadzhibatyrov's win in the 2025 U20 Russian Nationals Finals:

Justin Rademacher, 97 kg - Silver

Top Contenders At 97 kg

• Erfan Alizadeh, IRI - 2025 Senior Asian, 2025 U20 Asian Gold, 2022 U17 World Bronze, 2025 Albanian Ranking Series Silver
• Magomedgadzhi Magomedov, RUS - 2025 U20 Euro Bronze
• Konstantine Petriashvili, GEO - 2025 U20 Euro Gold, 2024 U17 World Gold, 2023 U17 World Bronze
• Jiawei Li, CHN - 2025 U20 Asian Bronze
• Ashab Dadaev, FRA - 2025 U20 Euro Silver
• Nikolaos Karavanos, GRE - 2024 U20 World 5th

Justin Rademacher will be right in the mix to win a U20 World title this year after coming away with bronze last year. Rademacher lost only to the eventual U20 World Champ and 2023 senior World Champion Rizabek Aitmukhan last year. This year, I think Iran's Erfan Alizadeh is the toughest wrestler in the bracket. Alizadeh is already having success on the senior level and won a silver medal at the Ranking Series Tournament in Albania earlier this year, where he defeated senior world medalists Batyrbek Tsakulov and Magomedgadzhi Nurov. After Alizadeh, Geno Petriashvili's younger brother, Konstantine Petriashvili, is also a dangerous competitor in the field. Petriashvili won U20 Euros this year and was a U17 World Champion last year. Even still, Petriashvili is only 18, and I don't think he will be able to withstand the power and physicality of Rademacher. 

Alizadeh's win over Kamil Kurugliyev in the 2025 U20 Asian Finals:

Cole Mirasola, 125 kg - Bronze

Top Contenders At 125 kg

• Inal Gagloev, RUS  - 2025 U20 Euro Gold
• Yusif Dursunov, AZE - 2025 U20 Euro Silver, 2023 U17 World Gold, 2021 U17 World Bronze
• Yedige Kassimbek, KAZ - 2025 U20 Asian Gold, 2024 U17 World Silver, 2023 U17 World Silver
• Narantulga Darmaabazar, MGL- 2025 U20 Asian Silver
• Singh Jaspooran, IND - 2025 U20 Asian Bronze, 2024 U17 World 5th
• Abolfazl Nezhad, IRI - 2024 U17 World Bronze

Inal Gagloev and Yusif Dursonov are two heavyweights in this field who could give Mirasola some trouble. Gagloev and Dursunov will be two of the biggest and most athletic competitors in the field. Mirasola will definitely be undersized compared to some of the top wrestlers in the bracket. Yedige Kassimbek and Abolfazl Nezhad are also challengers in this bracket. However, Michael Mocco teched Kassimbek at last year's U17 Worlds, so I expect Mirasola to have the upper hand in those matchups. 

Inal Gagloev's win over Yusif Dursunov in the 2025 U20 Euro Finals:

Team Finish - Gold

After a historic 9 medals last year, it's hard to imagine a team that could perform much better this year. I've predicted 8 total medals for Team USA, and if they meet those expectations, they should run away with the team title once again. Iran and Russia will have talented teams as well, but Team USA is entering as the favorites. If they wrestle to their potential, they'll bring back the title to once again this year.