Saddoris, Bisek and Williams receive draws for first day of World Championships in Las Vegas

2014 World Bronze medalist Andy Bisek. Photo: Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com

VIDEO: U.S. Greco-Roman coach Matt Lindland reaction to day one draws at World Championships


LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The first three U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers have weighed in and received their draws at the 2015 World Championships in Las Vegas Nev.


Kicking off the competition for the U.S. are Bryce Saddoris (Camp Lejeune, N.C./U.S. Marines) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Andy Bisek (Colorado Springs, Colo./Minnesota Storm) at 75 kg/165 lbs. and Caylor Williams (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) at 98 kg/216 lbs.


Saddoris, a two-time U.S. World Team member, will square off against Hugo Miguel Da Silva Passos of Portugal in the opening round at 66 kg. At 35 years of age, Da Silva Passos has accumulated a large amount of international experience, competing at nine World Championships and one Olympic Games throughout his career. He has not medaled at either competition.


“That is a great matchup for Bryce coming out,” said U.S. Greco-Roman coach Matt Lindland. “He had a great win last year in the first round. He had an incredible weight cut. He’s a big 66-kilo guy. He’s going to be ready to go.”


2014 World bronze medalist Bisek will begin his bid for another World medal against familiar foe Luis Eduardo Avendano Rojas of Venezuela. Avendano Rojas finished in fifth place at the 2015 Pan American Games losing to Bisek 8-0 in the quarterfinals.


“Andy is another guy that has had an incredible training camp. I’m really excited to see him perform. We are putting some pressure on him because we know what he is capable of doing, but Andy is so calm, he’s just going to go out and compete and do what he does,” said Lindland.


Williams, a three-time U.S. World Team member, will begin his World Championships run against 2015 Pan American Games bronze medalist Davi Jose Albino.


“He lost to the Brazilian at the Pan American Championships down in Chile this year. He just didn’t have a great match. This is a very beatable guy. He is a big athletic guy, but so is Caylor,” said Lindland.


This group of three athletes will be tasked with getting the USA to a strong start on home soil in Las Vegas.


“I’m confident we are going to come out with three wins in the morning,” said Lindland. “I am so happy that Greco is going first. We want to lead it off, win some medals and get some guys on the stand.”


Full brackets for all three Greco-Roman weight classes wrestling on Monday at the World Championships can be found at unitedworldwrestling.org.

U.S. Greco-Roman draws


66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Bryce Saddoris, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)

Vs. Hugo Miguel Da Silva Passos (Portugal), Third in 2014 Mediterranean Championships


75 kg/165 lbs. – Andy Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)

Vs. Luis Eduardo Avendano Rojas (Venezuela), Fifth in 2015 Pan American Games


98 kg/216 lbs. – Caylor Williams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)

Vs. Davi Jose Albino (Brazil), Third at 2015 Pan American Games, Second at 2015 Pan American Championships