image courtesy of Ulug Han Degirmenci, UWW
Wyatt Hendrickson Captures U23 World Championship Gold
10/24/2023 3:18:00 PM | Wrestling
Hendrickson, joins O'Toole and Brooks as World Champion
courtesy of Savannah Asmann, USA Wrestling
TIRANA, Albania – The United States has more than one U23 World Champion in men's freestyle for the first time in history. Wyatt Hendrickson (Air Force), Keegan O'Toole (Missouri) and Aaron Brooks (Penn State) are 2023 U23 World Champions. Jacob Cardenas won a bronze medal, and the men's freestyle team can capture eight World medals in Tirana, Albania.
Wyatt Hendrickson became a U23 World Champion after besting Adil Misirci of Turkey in the finals at 125 kg. Hendrickson took a quick lead in the first period before unleashing an explosion on offense in the second period that led to a 13-3 technical fall. Hendrickson medals in just his second trip to an age-group World Championships. He is the Air Force Academy's first World Champion and medalist.
Keegan O'Toole is a two-time age-group World Champion. In his finals match, O'Toole snagged two first period takedowns to lead 4-1 at the break. He added a takedown in the second period to defeat Imam Ganishov of (Individual Neutral Athlete) in the finals at 74 kg.
At 86 kg, Aaron Brooks was commanding in his finals match, dominating his opponent and winning by 10-0 technical fall. Brooks used three takedowns, one four-point move and tied up a leg lace to end it early. He returns to the top of the podium at an age-group World Championships, a place he knows all too well.
It was a bronze medal for Jacob Cardenas as the United States went four-for-four in medal matches today. Cardenas scored the go-ahead takedown with just 33 seconds left in the contest. He is the first two-time U23 medalist in men's freestyle for the United States.
2023 U23 World Championships
At Tirana, Albania, October 23-29
U.S. Group One Men's Freestyle Results
61 kg – Julian Chlebove (Northampton, Pa./Sunkist Kids WC)
WIN Antonio Margiotta, tech. fall 11-0
LOSS Bashir Magomedov (AIN), tech. fall 14-3
LOSS Mezhlum Mezhlumyan (Armenia), tech. fall 11-0
74 kg – Keegan O'Toole (Hartland, Wis./Tiger Style WC)
WIN Vadim Kurylenko (Ukraine), tech. fall 10-0
WIN Krisztian Biro (Romania), tech. fall, 12-2
WIN Hikaru Takata (Japan), dec. 10-1
WIN Sonny Santiago (Puerto Rico), pin 3:32
WIN Imam Ganishov (AIN), dec. 6-1
86 kg – Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)
WIN Ismail Kucuksol (Turkey), dec. 7-1
WIN Owen Martin (Canada), tech. fall 10-0
WIN Ivan Ichizli (Moldova), dec. 7-1
WIN Arslan Bagaev (AIN), dec. 5-4
WIN Tatsuya Shirai (Japan), dec. 10-0
92 kg – Jacob Cardenas (Kearny, N.J./Spartan Combat RTC/Titan Mercury WC)
WIN Alan Bagaev (AIN), dec. 4-3
LOSS Muhammed Gimri (Turkey), dec. 10-1
WIN Satoshi Miura (Japan), dec. 6-0
WIN Pruthviraj Patil (UWW), dec. 4-3
125 kg – Wyatt Hendrickson (Newton, Kan./Air Force RTC)
WIN Abdulla Kurbanov (AIN), pin 5:15
WIN Nicolae Stratulat (Moldova), tech. fall 14-1
WIN Azamat Khosonov (Greece), dec. 4-2
WIN Adil Misirci (Turkey), tech. fall 13-3
TIRANA, Albania – The United States has more than one U23 World Champion in men's freestyle for the first time in history. Wyatt Hendrickson (Air Force), Keegan O'Toole (Missouri) and Aaron Brooks (Penn State) are 2023 U23 World Champions. Jacob Cardenas won a bronze medal, and the men's freestyle team can capture eight World medals in Tirana, Albania.
Wyatt Hendrickson became a U23 World Champion after besting Adil Misirci of Turkey in the finals at 125 kg. Hendrickson took a quick lead in the first period before unleashing an explosion on offense in the second period that led to a 13-3 technical fall. Hendrickson medals in just his second trip to an age-group World Championships. He is the Air Force Academy's first World Champion and medalist.
Keegan O'Toole is a two-time age-group World Champion. In his finals match, O'Toole snagged two first period takedowns to lead 4-1 at the break. He added a takedown in the second period to defeat Imam Ganishov of (Individual Neutral Athlete) in the finals at 74 kg.
At 86 kg, Aaron Brooks was commanding in his finals match, dominating his opponent and winning by 10-0 technical fall. Brooks used three takedowns, one four-point move and tied up a leg lace to end it early. He returns to the top of the podium at an age-group World Championships, a place he knows all too well.
It was a bronze medal for Jacob Cardenas as the United States went four-for-four in medal matches today. Cardenas scored the go-ahead takedown with just 33 seconds left in the contest. He is the first two-time U23 medalist in men's freestyle for the United States.
2023 U23 World Championships
At Tirana, Albania, October 23-29
U.S. Group One Men's Freestyle Results
61 kg – Julian Chlebove (Northampton, Pa./Sunkist Kids WC)
WIN Antonio Margiotta, tech. fall 11-0
LOSS Bashir Magomedov (AIN), tech. fall 14-3
LOSS Mezhlum Mezhlumyan (Armenia), tech. fall 11-0
74 kg – Keegan O'Toole (Hartland, Wis./Tiger Style WC)
WIN Vadim Kurylenko (Ukraine), tech. fall 10-0
WIN Krisztian Biro (Romania), tech. fall, 12-2
WIN Hikaru Takata (Japan), dec. 10-1
WIN Sonny Santiago (Puerto Rico), pin 3:32
WIN Imam Ganishov (AIN), dec. 6-1
86 kg – Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)
WIN Ismail Kucuksol (Turkey), dec. 7-1
WIN Owen Martin (Canada), tech. fall 10-0
WIN Ivan Ichizli (Moldova), dec. 7-1
WIN Arslan Bagaev (AIN), dec. 5-4
WIN Tatsuya Shirai (Japan), dec. 10-0
92 kg – Jacob Cardenas (Kearny, N.J./Spartan Combat RTC/Titan Mercury WC)
WIN Alan Bagaev (AIN), dec. 4-3
LOSS Muhammed Gimri (Turkey), dec. 10-1
WIN Satoshi Miura (Japan), dec. 6-0
WIN Pruthviraj Patil (UWW), dec. 4-3
125 kg – Wyatt Hendrickson (Newton, Kan./Air Force RTC)
WIN Abdulla Kurbanov (AIN), pin 5:15
WIN Nicolae Stratulat (Moldova), tech. fall 14-1
WIN Azamat Khosonov (Greece), dec. 4-2
WIN Adil Misirci (Turkey), tech. fall 13-3
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