Are there medal chances simmering inside of the 2023 USA U20 Greco-Roman World roster? Considering that one of the athletes, heavyweight Aden Attao (Suples) is a returning bronze from the event and another, Joel Adams (67 kg, TBW), won a World title on the U17 level a year ago, hopes are high in that regard. 

Perhaps they should be even higher. 

The reason for that is because the World-level ability residing within the U20 Greco squad is not limited to just Adams and Attao. Each member of the collective has, at one time or another, demonstrated the sort of skill set, competitiveness, and understanding that is required when facing off against the toughest counterparts available to them. Be it domestically or internationally, the athletes who are taking the mat this coming weekend have already proven that they won’t be daunted by challenging in-match situations, nor will they shrink just because the spotlight on them is shining a little brighter. Nerves might increase when their names are called on-deck. That’s only natural. What is decidedly uncommon is the toughness and talent beholden to each individual, which is how they wound up on this team with which to begin. 

2023 USA U20 World Team Scouting Report And Draws

55 kg: Zach Silvis (PINnacle, Friday)

First-round opponent: Dzianis Vitaroi (AIN)

A product of one of the very best developmental systems in the U.S., Silvis as Greco-Roman competitor exhibits the traditional Minnesotan blend of technical confidence and mad-dog ferocity. He will start off against Vitaroi, which on-the-feet is a solid stylistic match-up given Eastern Europe’s lean towards linear mechanics. Scoring from multiple positions will be key for Silvis to gain momentum, something of which he is capable. 

60 kg: Max Black (NMU/NTS, Saturday)

First-round opponent: Koto Gomi (JPN)

Black is more well-known in the U.S. as a Senior athlete, making the fact that he still held age-group eligibility this season a surprise to some. He struggled in the Junior Worlds a year ago. He faced stout opposition (including Gomi, against whom he fell) but it was more that Black just couldn’t rev the engine. Soon after returning home from this event last fall, he doubled-down on his training and the growth has been hard to miss. We shall see what that growth looks like this time around against Gomi. 

63 kg: Landon Drury (Betterman Elite, Friday)

First-round opponent: Suhab Alhasanat (JOR) or Rati Khozrevanidze (GEO)

Two items: 1) Drury is one of the most gifted prospects America has witnessed in recent years, as evidenced by both his achievements and what you actually witness when he’s wrestling; 2) Khozrevanidze is the likely opponent he will greet, and there is a chasm in experience that must be acknowledged. However, Drury’s style may mesh very well against Khozrevanidze. Georgians are often looser with their legs and they open up a bit more than other Europeans. Drury has been trained to score aggressively whilst minding reasonable risk opportunities. He is also sound from par terre. It might be viewed as an upset if Drury advances past the opening round due to Khosrevanidze’s polish, but not a big one. 

67 kg: Joel Adams (TBW, Saturday)

First-round opponent: Artur Jeremejev (EST)

Adams is currently the bluest of the blue chips in terms of prospective Greco-Roman Seniors and it is easy to see why. Sure, he is skilled and athletic, but he also constantly makes smart decisions and wields a unique degree of comprehension when it comes to battling positionally en route to making attempts. He is seeing things ahead of time; and even when that is not the case, Adams has a “feel” for what he needs to do. Jeremejev may provide a test to start, but Adams is expected to advance into the later rounds. He will be comfortable with the environment should that come to fruition. 

72 kg: Braden Stauffenberg (Michigan WC, Saturday)

First-round opponent: Omar Ali Daraghmeh (JOR)

There is a lot to look forward to with Stauffenberg in this tournament. Although he is not of the same full-time ilk as Black or Drury, the sensibilities are there. Stauffenberg is mean when he has to be, but not overzealous. And, in Greco competition, he has a grasp of flow that fits quite well in this weight range. A wrestler from home country Jordan is up first. That would matter more if Jordan were a more significant program. Stauffenberg has wrestled enough matches in his young career to where hostile territory won’t be a bother. 

77 kg: Derek Matthews (Northern Colorado WC, Friday)

First-round opponent: Alexandro Solovei (MDA) or Abdulmash Abdulmasih (AIN)

There is no avoiding the circumstances: Matthews is up against it right out of the gate. He will have either Solovei, who was a runner-up last year and a Cadet World champ the season prior – or Abdulmasih, who comes from a powerhouse program and is now being let off the leash. Solovei is an animal, who trains with animals everyday. Abdulmasih has been in a holding pattern for the most part but figure him to be a threat to the Moldovan in some form or fashion. But none of this should mean that you just wave a white flag on Matthews’ behalf. Not even close. Between World Team selection and the Pan-Ams, those of us stateside have seen enough of Matthews to know how hard he fights on the feet. That is the x-factor. Matthews will go to war for positions foreigners usually bypass, and you can bet he will be in better condition than they are. Par terre is the equalizer, of course, so for an upset to occur Matthews must defend at all costs. 

82 kg: Mike Altomer (Curby 3-Style, Saturday)

First-round opponent: Jesper Haerkanen (FIN) or Mahmoud Ibragim (EGY)

The World debut of “Muscle Mike” should deliver some fireworks, regardless of what happens. Altomer, in case his physique is at all misleading (which it certainly is not), prefers power over finesse. The headlock, the front headlock, a good gutwrench, a developing lift… Plus, he can grind, which is vital in the upper-weights. As he matures, so too will his methods. But in this tournament, Altomer’s relative zeal is a necessity. If he has Haerkanen, he will have the chance to pummel it out tooth-and-nail to set up his attacks; if Ibragim, a little more patience leading to some of his preferred dynamic attempts would be the smarter course of action. Altomer is well-rounded, to be sure. Par terre bottom is a vulnerability, but that is hardly unique. One match to get going might be all that is required for a breakout showing. 

87 kg: Wyatt Voelker (Big Game, Friday)

First-round opponent: Yhlas Abdulrazakov (TKM)

Another all-around competitor. In Greco circles, Voelker would be referred to as a “total wrestling athlete”, which translates to “an athlete who competes well in Greco but we all know that his bread has been buttered in folkstyle”. The Greco program should want him to consider moving over full-time. Voelker has the tangibles and, more importantly, the intangibles that bode well for future success. You may see this immediately on Friday. Against Turkmenistan, anticipate a switch to flip. Voelker has a tendency to absorb a little data before getting into a groove. While Abdulrazakov, who is surely more experienced, might brandish a little more positional savvy, it is altogether unlikely that he will remain a mystery past the midway mark of the first period. After that, Voelker can begin eating up real estate and imposing his charging style that is difficult with which for opponents to maintain. 

97 kg: Sawyer Bartelt (Gladiator WC, Saturday)

First-round opponent: Igor Kabadeicev (LTU) or Juan Diaz Blanco (VEN)

Bartelt has had a strong Greco season. He made the team, took second at the Pan-Ams, and won Fargo. He showed flashes of fundamental improvements in doing so, a critical point to make since Juniors don’t receive the same time-on-target training as their Senior brethren. How will this tournament unfold for him? Bartelt definitely fits the mold of “one match at a time”. It suits him. He might have customized wrinkles to his game, but he can perform differently from match to match. Lithuania would be an interesting pairing. The Lithuanians are expert pushers, suitably sound in par terre, but not much else. Venezuela might be nice. Bartelt was defeated by Blanco in the Pan-Ams this past June. It was not a turbulent bout, and Blanco had more of an idea of what he wanted to do. Remember, Venezuela is on the come-up. But you didn’t walk away from that match thinking there was a gap in skill between the two. Bartelt can, simply put, beat up Blanco – and US fans should want that match-up because it might inject some fuel for confidence Bartelt can use in the next round. Again, one match at a time. 

130 kg: Aden Attao (Suples, Friday)

First-round opponent: Ayumu Iwasawa (JPN)

Athletes and coaches from other countries indeed do pay attention, even with the turn-over that takes place on the age-group level. Therefore, Attao is not anonymous to those in his bracket; or more specifically, Attao’s penchant for classical, authentic Greco-Roman offense has, rest assured, been looked upon by potential antagonists leading up to this tournament. That is what happens when an athlete earns World hardware. What is quite encouraging for American fans is how much better Attao is even compared to last summer. He is stronger, displaying more conviction, confidence, and nuance in his attacks. A huge problem that is for opponents in this weight category. Most heavies, regardless of country of origin or experience, do not desire too much in the way of kinetic activity. They would rather bruise and bash, pummel and hand-fight – and wait for passives. Attao is not that kind of wrestler. He forces action while also navigating positions using pressure-release mechanics that you do not witness very often at this level. None of this is to suggest that you go and dismiss Iwasawa. Japan, unlike the U.S., does not struggle to develop Greco-Roman athletes. It is in their school systems. But it is absolutely just fine to be confident that Attao can victimize Iwasawa by sticking to the positions and motions most in his class take for granted. That is what helped Attao deliver the boom on his way to bronze in ‘22, and it is what will help him this weekend in Jordan.