World medalists Brooks, Arujau, Carr headline U.S. Junior World freestyle team competing in Estonia next week
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Aaron Brooks of the USA competing at the 2018 UWW Junior World Championships. UWW photo.
The U.S. will send a talented team of men’s freestyle wrestlers to compete at the UWW Junior World Championships in Tallinn, Estonia next week. The UWW Junior World age-group includes athletes who are 17-20 years old.
All 10 of the U.S. team members earned their spots on the team with victories at the 2019 UWW Junior World Team Trials in Raleigh, N.C. in May.
The U.S. team is led by 2018 Junior World silver medalist and 2017 Cadet World champion Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md./Titan Mercury WC/EAP) at 79 kg/174 lbs. Brooks will be competing at an age-group World Championships for Team USA for the third straight summer.
Brooks was a member of the Elite Accelerator Program (EAP) at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center (USOPTC) for a year after graduating as a four-time state champion from North Hagerstown High School in Maryland. He begins his college career at Penn State this season. Brooks won a gold medal at the Senior-level Dave Schultz Memorial International earlier this year. He won three Fargo titles, two as a Cadet and one as a Junior.
The team includes two other past age-group World medalists, 2016 Cadet World silver medalist Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y./Finger Lakes WC) at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. and 2016 Cadet World bronze medalist David Carr (Canton, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Cyclone WC) at 74 kg/163 lbs.
Arujau was fourth at the 2019 NCAA Championships as a freshman at Cornell University, and also placed an impressive fourth at the 2019 U.S. Senior Nationals in men’s freestyle. He won the 2018 U23 World Team Trials. Arujau captured four New York state high school titles for Syosset High School, and was a Cadet Nationals freestyle champion.
Carr won a bronze medal at the Senior-level Granma Cup in Cuba this winter, while taking a redshirt year at Iowa State. He won USA Wrestling age-group national titles at the UWW Cadet, Junior and UWW Junior levels. Carr won four Ohio state titles for Massillon Perry High School.
Both Arujau and Carr are the sons of Olympic wrestling medalists. Vitaly’s father Vougar Orudjev was a 1996 Olympic bronze medalist and a two-time World champion for the Soviet Union. David’s father Nate won a 1988 Olympic bronze medal for the United States, and won three NCAA titles for Iowa State.
There are two EAP athletes on the 2019 UWW Junior World Team, as Brooks is joined by Gabriel Tagg (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/EAP) at 61 kg/134 lbs. Tagg, a 2018 Ohio state high school champion and two-time state runner-up for Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, gave up his senior year of high school competition to join the EAP program at the USOPTC. He won a gold at the Senior-level Flatz Open in Austria this summer. Tagg was named Outstanding Wrestler at the UWW Junior Nationals in Las Vegas in April.
Another wrestler with previous international experience on the team is Tanner Sloan (Alburnett, Iowa/Jackrabbit WC) at 97 kg/213.75 lbs., who won a silver medal at the 2019 Pan American Junior Championships in freestyle. Sloan was second at the 2019 Midlands Championships while taking his redshirt year at South Dakota State. He won two Iowa state titles for Alburnett High School.
All 10 of the U.S. Junior World Team members are either competing for an NCAA Div. I wrestling team, or are incoming freshmen for an NCAA Div. I program.
Among this group is heavyweight Mason Parris (Lawrenceburg, Ind./Cliff Keen WC), who was an NCAA qualifier for Michigan this season as a true freshman. Parris, who won three Indiana state titles for Lawrenceburg High School, came out of redshirt for the Wolverines this year.
There are two members of the 2019 U.S. Junior World Team who compete for Northwestern University, Yahya Thomas (Chicago, Ill./Wildcat WC/Chicago RTC) at 65 kg/143 lbs. and Lucas Davison (Chesterton, Ind./Wildcat WC/Chicago RTC) at 92 kg/202 lbs. Both placed third at the 2018 Midlands Championships. Thomas competed for Mt. Carmel High School in Chicago, while Davison was a state champion for Chesterton High School in Indiana.
The other NCAA Div. I wrestlers who made the Junior World Team were Minnesota’s Brayton Lee (Brownsburg, Ind./Minnesota RTC) at 70 kg/154 lbs. and NC State’s Trent Hidlay (Lewistown, Pa./Wolfpack WC) at 86 kg/189 lbs.
Lee, who won the UWW Junior World Team Trials after taking second at the UWW Junior Nationals, was a 2018 Junior Nationals champion in Fargo. He won three state high school titles for Brownsburg High School in Indiana.
Hidlay was a two-time Pennsylvania state champion for Mifflin County High School. He was a 2017 Junior Nationals finalist in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.
With three past age-group World Team members, and one wrestler who has competed at an age-group Pan American Championships, this team has six team members who do not have World or Continental international experience. However, all have been successful in USA Wrestling’s age-group national tournaments, are affiliated with successful NCAA Div. I programs and have been active in the international styles for many years.
Men’s freestyle starts off the Junior World Championships, with three days of competition from August 12-14. Each weight class will compete over two days, with semifinals on the first day and medal matches on the second day.
Medal match finals for the five weight classes, will be on Tuesday, August 13. The U.S. athletes in those weight classes include 57 kg (Arujau), 65 kg (Thomas), 70 kg (Lee), 79 kg (Brooks), 97 kg (Sloan).
Medal match finals for the final five weight classes will be on Wednesday, August 14, in these weight classes: 61 kg (Tagg), 74 kg (Carr), 86 kg (Hidlay), 92 kg (Davison), 125 kg (Parris).
The entire competition will be broadcast in the USA by Trackwrestling. Tallinn is seven hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern time zone.
The U.S. won five men’s freestyle medals in 2018, including a Junior World champion (Mehki Lewis), two silver medalists and two bronze medalists. The USA finished second in the team race last year, behind only Russia. In 2017, the USA won the team title in men’s freestyle at the UWW Junior Worlds.
2019 UWW JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Tallinn, Estonia, August 12-18
U.S. Men's Freestyle roster
57 kg/125.5 lbs.: Vitali Arujau, Syosset, N.Y. (Finger Lakes WC)
61 kg/134 lbs.: Gabriel Tagg, Mayfield Heights, Ohio (EAP)
65 kg/143 lbs.: Yahya Thomas, Chicago, Ill. (Wildcat WC/Chicago RTC)
70 kg/154 lbs.: Brayton Lee, Brownsburg, Ind. (Minnesota RTC)
74 kg/163 lbs.: David Carr, Canton, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Cyclone WC)
79 kg/174 lbs.: Aaron Brooks, Hagerstown, Md. (Titan Mercury WC/EAP)
86 kg/189 lbs.: Trent Hidlay, Lewistown, Pa. (Wolfpack WC)
92 kg/202 lbs.: Lucas Davison, Chesterton, Ind. (Wildcat WC/Chicago RTC)
97 kg/213.75 lbs.: Tanner Sloan, Alburnett, Iowa (Jackrabbit WC)
125 kg/275 lbs.: Mason Parris, Lawrenceburg, Ind. (Cliff Keen WC)
USA Wrestling Freestyle Developmental Coach: Kevin Jackson, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Junior World Men’s Freestyle Coach: Shawn Charles, Columbia, Mo.
Personal/Club Coaches: Mike Grey, Ithaca, N.Y.; Josh Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich.; Luke Becker, Minneapolis, Minn.; Cael Sanderson, State College, Pa.; Cody Caldwell, Brooking, S.D.; Nate Carr, Ames, Iowa; Kevin Jack, Raleigh, N.C.
Medical:
Dr. Mike Baria, Powell, Ohio
Judi Tekautz, Rushford, Minn.
Referees:
Nicholas Kindred, Wildomar, Calif.
Drew Hayes, Tempe, Ariz.
Kevin Maxwell, Utica, N.Y.
James Speelman, Ashland, Ohio
Junior Worlds Event Schedule for Men’s Freestyle
(seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone)
Monday, August 12
10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Qualification rounds for 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg, 97 kg
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Semifinals for 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg, 97 kg
Tuesday, August 13
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. - Qualification rounds for 61 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 125 kg
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Repechage for 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg, 97 kg
5:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Semifinals for 61 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 125 kg
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Finals for 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg, 97 kg
Wednesday, August 14
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Repechage for 61 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 125 kg
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Finals for 61 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 125 kg
The U.S. will send a talented team of men’s freestyle wrestlers to compete at the UWW Junior World Championships in Tallinn, Estonia next week. The UWW Junior World age-group includes athletes who are 17-20 years old.
All 10 of the U.S. team members earned their spots on the team with victories at the 2019 UWW Junior World Team Trials in Raleigh, N.C. in May.
The U.S. team is led by 2018 Junior World silver medalist and 2017 Cadet World champion Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md./Titan Mercury WC/EAP) at 79 kg/174 lbs. Brooks will be competing at an age-group World Championships for Team USA for the third straight summer.
Brooks was a member of the Elite Accelerator Program (EAP) at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center (USOPTC) for a year after graduating as a four-time state champion from North Hagerstown High School in Maryland. He begins his college career at Penn State this season. Brooks won a gold medal at the Senior-level Dave Schultz Memorial International earlier this year. He won three Fargo titles, two as a Cadet and one as a Junior.
The team includes two other past age-group World medalists, 2016 Cadet World silver medalist Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y./Finger Lakes WC) at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. and 2016 Cadet World bronze medalist David Carr (Canton, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Cyclone WC) at 74 kg/163 lbs.
Arujau was fourth at the 2019 NCAA Championships as a freshman at Cornell University, and also placed an impressive fourth at the 2019 U.S. Senior Nationals in men’s freestyle. He won the 2018 U23 World Team Trials. Arujau captured four New York state high school titles for Syosset High School, and was a Cadet Nationals freestyle champion.
Carr won a bronze medal at the Senior-level Granma Cup in Cuba this winter, while taking a redshirt year at Iowa State. He won USA Wrestling age-group national titles at the UWW Cadet, Junior and UWW Junior levels. Carr won four Ohio state titles for Massillon Perry High School.
Both Arujau and Carr are the sons of Olympic wrestling medalists. Vitaly’s father Vougar Orudjev was a 1996 Olympic bronze medalist and a two-time World champion for the Soviet Union. David’s father Nate won a 1988 Olympic bronze medal for the United States, and won three NCAA titles for Iowa State.
There are two EAP athletes on the 2019 UWW Junior World Team, as Brooks is joined by Gabriel Tagg (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/EAP) at 61 kg/134 lbs. Tagg, a 2018 Ohio state high school champion and two-time state runner-up for Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, gave up his senior year of high school competition to join the EAP program at the USOPTC. He won a gold at the Senior-level Flatz Open in Austria this summer. Tagg was named Outstanding Wrestler at the UWW Junior Nationals in Las Vegas in April.
Another wrestler with previous international experience on the team is Tanner Sloan (Alburnett, Iowa/Jackrabbit WC) at 97 kg/213.75 lbs., who won a silver medal at the 2019 Pan American Junior Championships in freestyle. Sloan was second at the 2019 Midlands Championships while taking his redshirt year at South Dakota State. He won two Iowa state titles for Alburnett High School.
All 10 of the U.S. Junior World Team members are either competing for an NCAA Div. I wrestling team, or are incoming freshmen for an NCAA Div. I program.
Among this group is heavyweight Mason Parris (Lawrenceburg, Ind./Cliff Keen WC), who was an NCAA qualifier for Michigan this season as a true freshman. Parris, who won three Indiana state titles for Lawrenceburg High School, came out of redshirt for the Wolverines this year.
There are two members of the 2019 U.S. Junior World Team who compete for Northwestern University, Yahya Thomas (Chicago, Ill./Wildcat WC/Chicago RTC) at 65 kg/143 lbs. and Lucas Davison (Chesterton, Ind./Wildcat WC/Chicago RTC) at 92 kg/202 lbs. Both placed third at the 2018 Midlands Championships. Thomas competed for Mt. Carmel High School in Chicago, while Davison was a state champion for Chesterton High School in Indiana.
The other NCAA Div. I wrestlers who made the Junior World Team were Minnesota’s Brayton Lee (Brownsburg, Ind./Minnesota RTC) at 70 kg/154 lbs. and NC State’s Trent Hidlay (Lewistown, Pa./Wolfpack WC) at 86 kg/189 lbs.
Lee, who won the UWW Junior World Team Trials after taking second at the UWW Junior Nationals, was a 2018 Junior Nationals champion in Fargo. He won three state high school titles for Brownsburg High School in Indiana.
Hidlay was a two-time Pennsylvania state champion for Mifflin County High School. He was a 2017 Junior Nationals finalist in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.
With three past age-group World Team members, and one wrestler who has competed at an age-group Pan American Championships, this team has six team members who do not have World or Continental international experience. However, all have been successful in USA Wrestling’s age-group national tournaments, are affiliated with successful NCAA Div. I programs and have been active in the international styles for many years.
Men’s freestyle starts off the Junior World Championships, with three days of competition from August 12-14. Each weight class will compete over two days, with semifinals on the first day and medal matches on the second day.
Medal match finals for the five weight classes, will be on Tuesday, August 13. The U.S. athletes in those weight classes include 57 kg (Arujau), 65 kg (Thomas), 70 kg (Lee), 79 kg (Brooks), 97 kg (Sloan).
Medal match finals for the final five weight classes will be on Wednesday, August 14, in these weight classes: 61 kg (Tagg), 74 kg (Carr), 86 kg (Hidlay), 92 kg (Davison), 125 kg (Parris).
The entire competition will be broadcast in the USA by Trackwrestling. Tallinn is seven hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern time zone.
The U.S. won five men’s freestyle medals in 2018, including a Junior World champion (Mehki Lewis), two silver medalists and two bronze medalists. The USA finished second in the team race last year, behind only Russia. In 2017, the USA won the team title in men’s freestyle at the UWW Junior Worlds.
2019 UWW JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Tallinn, Estonia, August 12-18
U.S. Men's Freestyle roster
57 kg/125.5 lbs.: Vitali Arujau, Syosset, N.Y. (Finger Lakes WC)
61 kg/134 lbs.: Gabriel Tagg, Mayfield Heights, Ohio (EAP)
65 kg/143 lbs.: Yahya Thomas, Chicago, Ill. (Wildcat WC/Chicago RTC)
70 kg/154 lbs.: Brayton Lee, Brownsburg, Ind. (Minnesota RTC)
74 kg/163 lbs.: David Carr, Canton, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Cyclone WC)
79 kg/174 lbs.: Aaron Brooks, Hagerstown, Md. (Titan Mercury WC/EAP)
86 kg/189 lbs.: Trent Hidlay, Lewistown, Pa. (Wolfpack WC)
92 kg/202 lbs.: Lucas Davison, Chesterton, Ind. (Wildcat WC/Chicago RTC)
97 kg/213.75 lbs.: Tanner Sloan, Alburnett, Iowa (Jackrabbit WC)
125 kg/275 lbs.: Mason Parris, Lawrenceburg, Ind. (Cliff Keen WC)
USA Wrestling Freestyle Developmental Coach: Kevin Jackson, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Junior World Men’s Freestyle Coach: Shawn Charles, Columbia, Mo.
Personal/Club Coaches: Mike Grey, Ithaca, N.Y.; Josh Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich.; Luke Becker, Minneapolis, Minn.; Cael Sanderson, State College, Pa.; Cody Caldwell, Brooking, S.D.; Nate Carr, Ames, Iowa; Kevin Jack, Raleigh, N.C.
Medical:
Dr. Mike Baria, Powell, Ohio
Judi Tekautz, Rushford, Minn.
Referees:
Nicholas Kindred, Wildomar, Calif.
Drew Hayes, Tempe, Ariz.
Kevin Maxwell, Utica, N.Y.
James Speelman, Ashland, Ohio
Junior Worlds Event Schedule for Men’s Freestyle
(seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone)
Monday, August 12
10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Qualification rounds for 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg, 97 kg
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Semifinals for 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg, 97 kg
Tuesday, August 13
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. - Qualification rounds for 61 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 125 kg
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Repechage for 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg, 97 kg
5:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Semifinals for 61 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 125 kg
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Finals for 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg, 97 kg
Wednesday, August 14
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Repechage for 61 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 125 kg
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Finals for 61 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 125 kg
