There's been a lot of talk about how amazing this year's U20 men's freestyle World Team is, and I must agree, I'm buying into the hype. However, it got me wondering - what is the greatest U20 World Team in history? After researching and compiling the data one thing became clear - there is no simple and obvious answer. Firstly, from 1969 (the inaugural Junior World Championship) to 1984, only a handful of countries attended, and often neither the USSR nor Iran. Secondly, the number of weights has varied greatly over the years making it hard to compare teams. 

So, after looking things over and fairly or unfairly disregarding all teams before 1986, I have concluded that the 2017 Junior World Team was Team USA's best. They are the only team to win the team title in the modern era and had the highest (or lowest depending on how you look at it) average finish. They had an average weight-by-weight finish of 2.5 (between silver and bronze so to speak). They went 7 for 8 bringing home medals including three gold. 

2017 Junior World 1st Place Team

50 kg: Malik Heinselman, 8th

55 kg: Daton Fix, GOLD

60 kg: Mitchell McKee, SILVER

66 kg: Ryan Deakin, SILVER

74 kg: Mark Hall, GOLD

84 kg: Zahid Valencia, SILVER

96 kg: Kollin Moore, BRONZE

120 kg: Gable Steveson, GOLD

Another thing is clear - Team USA is on the right trajectory. After a downward trend from 1986 to 2012, the progression is up. Remember on the graphs below, the lower the number, the better.

So, can the 2024 team top the 2017 team? We will find out September 6th - 8th!

If a year is not represented below no Junior World Championship was held.

2024 - Pontevedra, Spain

57 kg: Luke Lilledahl

61 kg: Marcus Blaze

65 kg: Bo Bassett

70 kg: PJ Duke

74 kg: Ladarion Lockett

79 kg: Zack Ryder

86 kg: Josh Barr

92 kg: Connor Mirasola

97 kg: Justin Rademacher

125 kg: Ben Kueter

2023 - Amman, Jordan (2nd)

57 kg: Luke Lilledahl, SILVER

61 kg: Nic Bouzakis, BRONZE

65 kg: Jesse Mendez, SILVER

70 kg: Meyer Shapiro, GOLD

74 kg: Mitchell Mesenbrink, GOLD

79 kg: Matthew Singleton, BRONZE

86 kg: Bennett Berge, BRONZE

92 kg: Jack Darrah, 12th

97 kg: Camden McDanel, BRONZE

125 kg: Christian Carroll, 10

2022 - Sofia, Bulgaria (2nd)

57 kg: Jore Volk, GOLD

61 kg: Nic Bouzakis, 7th

65 kg: Vince Cornella, 5th

70 kg: Mitchell Mesenbrink, SILVER

74 kg: Alex Facundo, 16th

79 kg: Brayden Thompson, 9th

86 kg: Bennett Berge, SILVER

92 kg: Jaxon Smith, 5th

97 kg: Ben Kueter, GOLD

125 kg: Nick Feldman, 5th

2021 - Ufa, Russia (2nd)

57 kg: Richard Figueroa, 12th

61 kg: Jesse Mendez, 8th

65 kg: Beau Bartlett, BRONZE

70 kg: Bryce Andonian, BRONZE

74 kg: Keegan O'Toole, GOLD

86 kg: Colton Hawks, 7th

92 kg: Rocky Elam, GOLD

97 kg: Braxton Amos, GOLD

125 kg: Wyatt Hendrickson, 5th

2019 - Tallinn, Estonia (2nd)

57 kg: Vito Arujau, SILVER

61 kg: Gabriel Tagg, BRONZE

65 kg: Yahya Thomas, 12th

70 kg: Brayton Lee, 15th

74 kg: David Carr, GOLD

79 kg: Aaron Brooks, 17th

86 kg: Trend Hidlay, BRONZE

92 kg: Lucas Davison, SILVER

97 kg: Tanner Sloan, 15th

125 kg: Mason Parris, GOLD

2018 - Trnava, Slovakia (2nd)

57 kg: Daton Fix, BRONZE

61 kg: Joshua Saunders, 8th

65 kg: Dominick Demas, 9th

70 kg: Brady Berge, BRONZE

74 kg: Mekhi Lewis, GOLD

79 kg: Aaron Brooks, SILVER

86 kg: Lou Deprez, 9th

92 kg: Jacob Warner, 15th

97 kg: Zachery Elam, SILVER

125 kg: Gable Stevenson, 8th

2017 - Tampere, Finland (1st)

50 kg: Malik Heinselman, 8th

55 kg: Daton Fix, GOLD

60 kg: Mitchell McKee, SILVER

66 kg: Ryan Deakin, SILVER

74 kg: Mark Hall, GOLD

84 kg: Zahid Valencia, SILVER

96 kg: Kollin Moore, BRONZE

120 kg: Gable Steveson, GOLD

2016 - Macon, Georgia (3rd)

50 kg: Spencer Lee, GOLD

55 kg: Daton Fix, BRONZE

60 kg: Seth Gross, 8th

66 kg: Alec Pantaleo, 10th

74 kg: Mark Hall, GOLD

84 kg: Zahid Valencia, 7th

96 kg: Kollin Moore, 12th

120 kg: Jordan Wood, 11th

2015 - Salvador da Bahia, Brazil (4th)

50 kg: Spencer Lee, GOLD

55 kg: Stevan Micic, BRONZE

60 kg: Joseph McKenna, did not compete

66 kg: Aaron Pico, BRONZE

74 kg: Mark Hall, 9th

84 kg: Zahid Valencia, 10th

96 kg: Anthony Cassar, 8th

120 kg: Nathan Butler, BRONZE

2014 - Zagreb, Croatia (5th)

50 kg: Jabari Moody, 5th

55 kg: Thomas Gilman, BRONZE

60 kg: Joseph McKenna, SILVER

66 kg: Aaron Pico, SILVER

74 kg: Anthony Valencia, 9th

84 kg: Gabe Dean, BRONZE

96 kg: Kyle Snyder, BRONZE

120 kg: Adam Coon, BRONZE

2013 - Sofia, Bulgaria (5th)

50 kg: Ethan Lizak, 13th

55 kg: Thomas Gilman, 8th

60 kg: Mark Grey, 5th

66 kg: Jason Tsirtsis, 7th

74 kg: Alexander Dieringer, SILVER

84 kg: Samuel Brooks, 8th

96 kg: Kyle Snyder, GOLD

120 kg: Austin Marsden, 16th

2012 - Pattaya, Thailand (8th)

50 kg: Adrian Cordova, 19th

55 kg: Joey Dance, 11th

60 kg: Earl Hall, 17th

66 kg: Destin McCauley, 17th

74 kg: Alex Dieringer, 12th

84 kg: Pat Downey, SILVER

96 kg: Tanner Hall, 9th

120 kg: Austin Marsden, 11th

2011 - Bucharest, Romania (8th)

50 kg: Nick Roberts, 20th

55 kg: Mark Grey, 5th

60 kg: Logan Stieber, SILVER

66 kg: Joshua Kindig, 5th

74 kg: Alan Massa, 18th

84 kg: Lee Munster, 16th

96 kg: Tanner Hall, 20th

120 kg: Daniel Miller, 7th

2010 - Budapest, Hungary (8th)

50 kg: Nick Roberts, 5th

55 kg: Ryak Finch, 27th

60 kg: Matt McDonough, 19th

66 kg: Jason Chamberlain, 5th

74 kg: Conrad Polz, 15th

84 kg: Chris Perry, BRONZE

96 kg: Tyler Lehman, 14th

120 kg: Jeremy Johnson, 5th

2009 - Ankara, Turkey (4th)

50 kg: Carson Kuhhn, 20th

55 kg: Anthony Ramos, 5th

60 kg: Jordan Oliver, BRONZE

66 kg: Jason Chamberlain, 29th

74 kg: Andrew Howe, BRONZE

84 kg: Chris Perry, 5th

96 kg: Tyrell Fortune, 7th

120 kg: Dominique Bradley, GOLD

2008 - Istanbul, Turkey (8th)

50 kg: Mark Rappo, 13th

55 kg: Zach Sanders, 8th

60 kg: Tyler Graff, 13th

66 kg: Jordan Burroughs, 10th

74 kg: Quentin Wright, BRONZE

84 kg: Mike Letts, BRONZE

96 kg: Clayton Foster, BRONZE

120 kg: Jack Clayton, 5th

2007 - Beijing, China (5th)

50 kg: David Taylor, 8th

55 kg: Tyler Graff, 16th

60 kg: Angel Escobedo, 21st

66 kg: Bubba Jenkins, GOLD

74 kg: Jake Kerr, 11th

84 kg: Louis Caputo, 9th

96 kg: Taylor Moore, 14th

120 kg: Stefan Tighe, 15th

2006 - Guatemala City, Guatemala (7th)

50 kg: Patrick McCaffrey, BRONZE

55 kg: Henry Cejudo, SILVER

60 kg: Coleman Scott, 24th

66 kg: Brent Metcalf, 14th

74 kg: Matthew Coughlin, 18th

84 kg: Louis Caputo, 13th

96 kg: Maxwell Askren, 8th

120 kg: Erik Nye, 5th

2005 - Vilnius, Lithuania (9th)

50 kg: Patrik McCaffrey, BRONZE

55 kg: Henry Cejudo, 5th

60 kg: Angel Cejudo, 12th

66 kg: Eric Tannenbaum, 23rd

74 kg: Steve Luke, 8th

96 kg: Michael Tamillow, 8th

120 kg: Bode Ogunwole, BRONZE

2003 - Istanbul, Turkey (14th)

50 kg: Paul Donahoe, 4th

55 kg:  Mike Silengo, 22nd

60 kg: Nathan Gallick, 11th

66 kg: John Simmons, 6th

74 kg: Donald Reynolds, 7th

84 kg: Kurt Backes, 5th

96 kg: Nathan Moore, 18th

120 kg: Cole Konrad, 14th

2001 - Tashkent, Uzbekistan (6th)

50 kg:  Eric Stevenson, 16th

54 kg:  Jason Powell, 9th

58 kg:  Matt Shankey, 17th

63 kg:  Jason Mester, 9th

69 kg:  James Woodall, 5th

76 kg:  Tyler Nixt, 7th

85 kg:  Russell Vanderheyden, 11th

97 kg:  Jon Trenge, 12th

130 kg:  Stephen Mocco, 4th

2000 - Nantes, France (6th)

50 kg:  Timothy Hill, SILVER

54 kg:  Jason Powell, SILVER

58 kg:  Zachary Roberson, 8th

63 kg: Clark Forward, 17th

69 kg: Jared Lawrence, BRONZE

76 kg:  Matthew Lackey, 9th

85 kg:  Damion Hahn, 8th

97 kg: Thomas Rowlands, SILVER

130 kg:  Hector Torres, 6th

1999 - Sydney, Australia (5th)

50 kg:  Timothy Hill, GOLD

54 kg:  LeRoy Vega, 7th

58 kg:  Ben Martinez, 8th

63 kg:  Sean Gray, 6th

69 kg: Jared Lawrence, 5th

76 kg:  Anton Gansen, 13th

85 kg:  Damion Hahn, 4th

97 kg: Thomas Rowlands, 4th

130 kg:  John Lockhart, 10th

1998 - Las Vegas, United States (2nd)

49 kg:  Timothy Hill, SILVER

52 kg:  Chris Fleeger, 14th

56 kg:  Stephen Abas, GOLD

60 kg: Todd Beckerman, 9th

65 kg:  Reggie Wright, 4th

70 kg:  Don Pritzlaff, GOLD

76 kg:  Ty Wilcox, 17th

83 kg: Mark Munoz, SILVER

90 kg:  Zachary Thompson, SILVER

115 kg: Ronald Plienis, 6th

1997 - Helsinki, Finland (9th)

49 kg:  Timothy Hill, 8th

52 kg:  Jeff Ragan, 10th

56 kg:  Stephen Abas, 5th

60 kg:  Eric S. Guerrero, 6th

65 kg:  Adam Tirapelle, 5th

70 kg:  Timothy Williams, 8th

76 kg:  Steve Blackford, 16th

83 kg:  Joe Degain, 16th

90 kg:  Shane Zajac, BRONZE

115 kg: Ronald Plienis, 5th

1996 - Moscow, Russia (14th)

46 kg:  Timothy Hill, 4th

50 kg:  Jeffrey Ratliff, 9th

54 kg:  Stephen Abas, 6th

58 kg:  Carlos Blanco, 7th

63 kg:  Quinne Fosser, 12th

68 kg:  David Kirkegaard, 7th

81 kg: Mark Munoz, 5th

88 kg:  Victor Sveda, 13th

115 kg:  William Balnt, 4th

1994 - Budapest, Hungary (4th)

50 kg:  Devon Gray, 5th

63 kg:  Benjamin Geroes, 5th

68 kg:  Troy Marr, 8th

74 kg:  Brandon Eggum, 8th

88 kg:  Sean Hage, GOLD

115 kg:  Wesley Hand, 7th

1992 - Cali, Colombia (3rd)

50 kg:  Tim Dernlan, 5th

54 kg:  Danny Felix, BRONZE

58 kg:  Jeff McGinness, GOLD

63 kg:  Scott Reyna, 8th

74 kg:  Glenn Pritzlaff, 10th

81 kg:  Brandon Slay, 5th

88 kg:  Kerry McCoy, GOLD

1990 - Istanbul, Turkey (11th)

50 kg:  John Kelly, 4th

54 kg:  Mike Mena, 8th

68 kg:  Jim Canazola, 9th

81 kg:  Leslie Gutches, 7th

88 kg:  Andy Foster, 5th

115 kg:  Justin Greenlee, 7th

1988 - Wolfurt, Austria (8th)

50 kg:  Bobby Janisse, 8th

54 kg:  Eric John Akin, 9th

58 kg:  Jeffrey Theiler, 6th

63 kg:  Alan Fried, 4th

68 kg:  Troy Sunderland, 8th

74 kg:  Roy Hall, 7th

81 kg:  Bradley Knouse, 5th

88 kg:  Adam Mariano, SILVER

115 kg:  Joseph Lubno, 8th

1986 - Schifferstadt, Germany (7th)

48 kg:  Keith Ketchum, 10th

52 kg:  Sam Geraci, 10th

56 kg:  Kendall Cross, BRONZE

60 kg:  Reagan Hicks, 10th

65 kg: David Zuniga, 5th

70 kg:  Tobin Roitsch, 10th

75 kg:  Bart Chelesvig, 16th

81 kg:  Bradley Knouse, 5th

87 kg:  Matthew Ruppel, SILVER

130 kg:  Todd Nelson, 9th

1984 - Washington, United States (1st)

48 kg:  Chris Bollin, GOLD

52 kg:  Corey Baze, SILVER

56 kg:  Ken Chertow, GOLD

60 kg:  John Fisher, GOLD

65 kg:  Len Bernstein, GOLD

70 kg:  Stan Proctor, 5th

75 kg:  Chris Geneser, GOLD

81 kg:  John Ginther, GOLD

87 kg:  Dave Williams, SILVER

>87.0 kg:  Jeff Ellis, GOLD

1983 - Oak Lawn, United States (2nd)

48 kg:  Chris Bollin, BRONZE

52 kg:  Corey Baze, SILVER

56 kg:  Joe Melchiore, GOLD

60 kg:  John Smith, SILVER

70 kg:  Royce Alger, SILVER

75 kg:  Mike van Arsdale, SILVER

81 kg:  Jimmy Gressley, BRONZE

87 kg:  Jerry Curby, BRONZE

>87.0 kg:  Jeff Glenn, SILVER

1982 - Colorado Springs, United States (2nd)

48 kg:  Corey Baze, SILVER

56 kg:  Jim Picolo, 4th

60 kg:  Joe Ghezzi, GOLD

65 kg:  Tony Cook, GOLD

70 kg:  Duane Peoples, 4th

75 kg:  Fred Little, BRONZE

81 kg:  John Stafford, SILVER

87 kg:  Andy Cope, BRONZE

87 kg:  Michael Davies, SILVER

1981 - Vancouver, Canada (4th)

57 kg:  Eugene Lee Davis, SILVER

57 kg: Todorow, BRONZE

62 kg: Trizzino, BRONZE

82 kg: Scherr, SILVER

90 kg:  Pete Bush, SILVER

100 kg:  Kahlan O'Hara, BRONZE

>100.0 kg: Hamilton, SILVER

1980 - Colorado Springs, United States (1st)

48 kg:  Joe Gallardo, 5th

52 kg:  Dave Flores, SILVER

56 kg:  Kevin Darkus, GOLD

60 kg:  Tim Timok, GOLD

65 kg:  Duane Goldman, GOLD

70 kg:  John Johnson, GOLD

75 kg:  Pete Capone, SILVER

81 kg:  Dan Chaid, GOLD

87 kg:  Kahlan O'Hara, GOLD

>87.0 kg:  Randy Taylor, GOLD

1980 - Stockholm, Sweden (2nd)

38 kg:  Hans Hauser, GOLD

40 kg:  Keith Stewart, 4th

42 kg:  Christopher Cramer, SILVER

45 kg:  Charles Brooks, 4th

48 kg:  Keith Massey, 6th

51 kg:  Chris Luttrell, 6th

55 kg:  William Taylor, SILVER

59 kg:  Mark Sprague, GOLD

63 kg:  Jim Hefferman, SILVER

68 kg:  Rico Chiapparelli, SILVER

73 kg:  John Monaco, SILVER

78 kg:  Michael Davies, GOLD

78 kg:  Dean Hall, GOLD

1979 - Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (8th)

48 kg:  J. Kelly, 5th

52 kg:  R. Willingham, BRONZE

57 kg:  J. Kerber, 4th

68 kg:  C. Frizzel, BRONZE

82 kg:  David Schultz, 6th

90 kg:  T. Blackman, 6th

>100.0 kg:  K. Chamberlain, 4th

1979 - Colorado Springs, United States (1st)

48 kg:  Dave Flores, GOLD

52 kg:  Bruce Malinowski, GOLD

56 kg:  Tim Timok, GOLD

60 kg: Moser, GOLD

65 kg: Grasinger, GOLD

70 kg: Coffing, GOLD

75 kg: Grisson, GOLD

81 kg: Kalski, GOLD

87 kg: Glasder, GOLD

>87.0 kg: Vavrosky, GOLD

1978 - Colorado Springs, United States (1st)

48 kg: Kistler, GOLD

52 kg: Riley, GOLD

60 kg: Dogden, SILVER

70 kg: Jones, SILVER

75 kg: Hall, SILVER

81 kg: Tufto, GOLD

87 kg: Wiklund, SILVER

>87.0 kg: Sherlock, GOLD

1977 - Las Vegas, United States (2nd)

48 kg:  Robert Weaver, SILVER

52 kg: DePaoli, SILVER

57 kg: Lewis, GOLD

62 kg: Metzger, BRONZE

74 kg:  Mark Churella, GOLD

90 kg:  Dan Severn, GOLD

100 kg:  Jeffrey Blatnick, BRONZE

1975 - Haskovo, Bulgaria (9th)

100 kg:  Larry Bielenburg, BRONZE

1973 - Miami Beach, United States (4th)

48 kg: Brighton, BRONZE

52 kg:  Brown, SILVER

57 kg:  Carr, GOLD

68 kg:  Chuck Yagla, SILVER

74 kg:  Carr (II), SILVER

82 kg: Jackson (II), BRONZE

>100.0 kg: Coryea, BRONZE

1971 - Tokyo, Japan (4th)

48 kg:  Paul Bartlett, BRONZE

56 kg:  Ron Glass, BRONZE

60 kg:  Andr Allen, 6th

65 kg:  Dennis Graham, BRONZE

70 kg:  Robert Hoffman, 5th

75 kg:  Alan Albright, BRONZE

81 kg:  Ed Vatch, BRONZE

87 kg:  Tony Sidoti, BRONZE

>87.0 kg:  Mark Bittick, GOLD

1969 - Colorado Springs, United States (1st)

48 kg:  Jim Bissel, SILVER

52 kg:  Bill Martin, GOLD

57 kg:  Larry Morgan, GOLD

62 kg:  Larry Little, SILVER

74 kg:  Roger Duty, BRONZE

82 kg:  Richard Binek, GOLD

90 kg:  Bill Bragg, GOLD

100 kg:  Mike Brundage, GOLD

>100.0 kg:  Jeff Jackson, BRONZE