U.S. men's freestyle set for U23 World Championships in Bucharest, Romania, Nov. 12-18

Team USA is sending an exciting men’s freestyle lineup full of fresh faces to the international scene to the U23 World Championships in Bucharest, Romania, Nov. 16-18.

Leading the men’s freestyle team is 2017 Junior World bronze medalist Kollin Moore, who will compete at 97 kg/213 lbs.

The U23 World Championships will mark Moore’s third World appearance for Team USA. Prior to winning his Junior bronze medal last year, Moore was also on the 2016 Junior World squad, placing 12th.

Collegiately, Moore is a two-time All-American and two-time Big Ten champion for Ohio State. This year, he will be a junior for the Buckeyes.

Joining Moore is fellow Buckeye and 2016 NCAA champion Myles Martin, the U.S. representative at 86 kg/189 lbs.

Martin is a three-time All-American, with two trips to the NCAA finals (1st in 2016, 2nd in 2018) and a fifth-place finish in 2017. 

Last summer, Martin narrowly missed making the 2017 U23 World Team, taking second in the nation to Sammy Brooks. Other freestyle feats include a 2017 University Nationals title and a Junior Fargo title in 2014.

Another school with two World representatives is North Carolina State, which is sending Hayden Hidlay at 70 kg/154 lbs. and Sean Fausz at 61 kg/134 lbs.

Hidlay an incredible 2017-18 season in both folkstyle and freestyle. A redshirt freshman, Hidlay went 26-1 en route to winning an ACC title and earning a spot in the NCAA finals in his varsity-debut year and taking second in the nation.

Weeks later, Hidlay was back on the mat, competing at the U.S. Open, where he finished with silver. Shortly after, he made the U23 World Team, dominating the competition and earning a bid to his first World Championships.

Meanwhile, Fausz is making his second World trip as he was a member of the 2013 Cadet Freestyle World team.

Also a 2018 ACC champion, Fausz took fourth at the U23 World Team Trials, but was called into the lineup when U23 World Team Trials champion Vitali Arujau pulled from the competition.

In addition to Moore, Martin and Hidlay, there are two other NCAA All-Americans on the squad, including Jack Mueller of Virginia at 57 kg/125 lbs. and David McFadden of Virginia Tech at 79 kg/174 lbs.

Mueller earned AA honors for the Cavaliers in 2017, while McFadden has made the NCAA podium twice for the Hokies in 2016 and 2018.

The heavyweight slot will feature two-time NCAA qualifier and 2018 All-American Youssif Hemida of Maryland. After finishing second at last year’s U23 World Team Trials, Hemida dominated his way to the World Team spot this year, scoring technical falls in five of his seven matches.

Representing at 74 kg/163 lbs. is University of Buffalo student-athlete Alex Smythe, who defeated 2018 All-American Evan Wick, two matches to one, in the best-of-three Trials finals.

Besides 61 kg, there are two other lineup replacements for Team USA.

Colton McCrystal and Christian Brunner are answering the call at 65 kg/143 lbs. and 92 kg/202 lbs.

A two-time NCAA qualifier for Nebraska, McCrystal is taking over for World Team Trials champion and 2017Junior World silver medalist Mitch McKee at 65 kg. The Husker took third at the U23 Trials.

Entering his junior season at Purdue, Brunner is also a two-time NCAA qualifier, who took fourth at the U23 World Team Trials. He is replacing World Team Trials champion and 2018 NCAA champion Mike Macchiavello.

The USA men’s freestyle team will be the last of the three styles to compete, taking the mat Nov. 16-18 in Bucharest, Romania.

Fans can keep up with the action by following @USAWrestling on Twitter and watch live on Trackwrestling.com.

2018 U23 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

at Bucharest, Romania, Nov. 12-18

U.S. men’s freestyle roster
57 kg: Jack Mueller (Dallas, Texas/Cavalier WC)
61 kg: Sean Fausz (Alexandria, Ky./Wolfpack WC)
65 kg: Colton McCrystal (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa/Nebraska WTC)
70 kg: Hayden Hidlay (Lewistown, Pa./Wolfpack WC)
74 kg: Alex Smythe (Eden, N.Y./Univ. of Buffalo)
79 kg: David McFadden (West Milford, N.J./Southeast RTC)
86 kg: Myles Martin (Penns Grove, N.J./Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)
92 kg: Christian Brunner (East Dundee, Ill./Boilermaker RTC)
97 kg: Kollin Moore (Burbank, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)
125 kg: Youssif Hemida (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Terrapin WC)

Schedule (six hours ahead of U.S. ET)
Monday, Nov. 12
10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (GR 55 kg, 63 kg, 77 kg, 87 kg, 130 kg)
6 p.m. - Semifinals (GR 55 kg, 63 kg, 77 kg, 87 kg, 130 kg)

Tuesday, Nov. 13
10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (GR 60 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg, 82 kg, 97 kg)
10:30 a.m. – Repechage (GR 55 kg, 63 kg, 77 kg, 87 kg, 130 kg)
4:45 p.m. – Opening ceremonies
5:15 p.m. – Semifinals (GR 60 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg, 82 kg, 97 kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (GR 55 kg, 63 kg, 77 kg, 87 kg, 130 kg)

Wednesday, Nov. 14
10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (WFS 50 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg)
10:30 a.m. – Repechage (GR 60 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg, 82 kg, 97 kg)
5:15 p.m. – Semifinals (WFS 50 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (GR 60 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg, 82 kg, 97 kg)

Thursday, Nov. 15
10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (WFS 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, 72 kg)
10:30 a.m. – Repechage (WFS 50 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg)
5:15 p.m. – Semifinals (WFS 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, 72 kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (WFS 50 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg)

Friday, Nov. 16
10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (MFS 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg, 97 kg)
10:30 a.m. – Repechage (WFS 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, 72 kg)
5:15 p.m. – Semifinals (MFS 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg, 97 kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (WFS 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, 72 kg)

Saturday, Nov. 17
10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (MFS 61 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 125 kg)
10:30 a.m. – Repechage (MFS 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg, 97 kg)
5:15 p.m. – Semifinals (MFS 61 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 125 kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (MFS 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg, 97 kg)

Sunday, Nov. 18
4 p.m. – Repechage (MFS 61 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 125 kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (MFS 61 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 125 kg)