Team USA is sending a group of 22 wrestlers to compete at United World Wrestling’s final ranking series event in Tunisia - The Zouhaier Sghaier. Check out a breakdown of the biggest stories to watch during this international tournament taking place from July 14-17.

Big Potential Rematch For Gilman

It’s not every weekend we get to see a rematch from last year’s world finals but that’s what could go down in Tunisia at 57kg for Thomas Gilman. Last year in Oslo, Gilman defeated Iran’s Alireza Sarlak, 5-3, to win the world championships. Both are entered at 57kg and, with a random draw, we could see this match as early as the first round. Set your alarms early Sunday morning as 57kg starts at 5:30 am.

Gilman's win over Sarlak in the 2021 world finals: 

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Iran’s World Team Will Be Finalized

Iran held world team trials last week that solidified 8 of 10 spots for the world championships in September. You can get a full recap with video of those results here. However, the other 2 spots could potentially be decided in Tunisia - 57kg and 79kg. Iran has two wrestlers at each of those weights that have proven potential to challenge for a world title.

While we already mentioned Alireza Sarlak as last year’s world silver medalist, Ahmad Javan just defeated Sarlak (3-2) last month to win the Takhti Cup. Javan is not without credentials and won a U23 world bronze medal last year where he defeated Patrick Glory (11-11) Should Javan defeat Sarlak again, or win gold in Tunisia, he’ll earn the world team spot. The same is true for Sarlak, however, if they are on opposite sides of the bracket, then a special wrestle-off will be held to determine the world team spot.

At 79kg, Ali Savadkoui (2022 Asian Champion) and Mohammad Nokhodi (2021 world silver) will battle for the world team spot in Tunisia. The same scenario at 57kg applies here at 79kg - whoever wins gold or a head-to-head match will earn the spot. However, if they’re not on the same side of the bracket and neither win gold, they will have a wrestle-off at a later date. Of note, Chance Marsteller will be in the bracket and, after defeating Jordan Burroughs at Final X, will have an opportunity to cement himself as a top 5 wrestler in the world against the Iranian competition.

Burroughs' win over Nokhodki in the 2021 world finals:

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Women’s Team On Display

While Team USA is sending 7 men to compete in Tunisia, 15 women will don the Stars and Stripes including 6 world team members. With that many competing, there are sure to be a number of incredible matchups, but a few stand-out that are worth mentioning. First, at 53kg, world team member Dom Parrish and Canada’s Karla Godinez are the two most notable entries. Godinez finished runner-up at Canada’s world team trials this year but notably won Pan-Ams by defeating Jacarra Winchester, 7-5. This will be a great test for Parrish and a preview of how she could perform at the world championships in September. 

Karla Godinez's win over Jacarra Winchester:

Tunisia will also be a proving ground for Amit Elor at 72kg. Not only is this her first senior-level international tournament, but she’ll also be in the bracket with 2-time world bronze medalist Buse Tosun (world bronze in 2018 and 2021). Elor was impressive in her victories over Skylar Grote at Final X, and if Elor comes away with gold from Tunisia, we should expect her to challenge for a medal at worlds. 

Finally, 76kg is intriguing on multiple levels for Team USA. World team member Dymond Guilford will be competing along with Final X runner-up Yelena Makoyed and Precious Bell. Makoyed has had an impressive run at international tournaments of late winning the Matteo Pellicone in June and the Grand Prix of Spain last week. In both tournaments, Makoyed defeated former world medalists and champions. Will Makoyed continue to roll or will Guilford prove to have the upper hand as she did at Final X? Along with the American contingent, 2018 world champ Justina Di Stasio and 2021 world bronze medalist Sama Hamza will be in the bracket as great tests for the Americans.

Highlights from Makoyed's win over world medalist Epp Mae at the 2022 Matteo Pellicone:

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The Rest Of Team USA’s #1’s

Along with the above-mentioned wrestlers, 2022 world team members Seth Gross, Yianni Diakomihalis, Zain Retherford, Kyle Snyder, Hayden Zillmer, Sarah Hildebrandt, Helen Maroulis, and Tamyra Mensah-Stock will all be in action in Tunisia. This will be a great test for Gross and Zillmer before worlds as they have limited international results. While registrations aren’t known yet for 61kg, Hayden Zillmer will be tested by the likes of #3 Geno Petriashvili (GEOi and #15 Yusup Batirmurzaev (KAZ). Petriashvili is obviously the favorite as a 3-time world champion but Batirmurzaev is a dangerous opponent who got out to an 8-0 lead last month against defending world champion Amir Zare before losing 21-10. If Zillmer can perform well against Petriashvili and Batirmurzaev, expect him to challenge for a medal at the world championships. 

Check out Team USA's full roster competing at the Tunisa Ranking's Series Tournament.