Skip to content
USA Wrestling
International
College
High School & Youth
USAW

U.S. Junior World men's freestyle team biographies

Share:

by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling

Gabriel Tagg celebrates his victory at the UWW Junior Nationals. Tagg will compete on the Junior World Team at 61 kg.

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.

Competition begins Monday with the first five weight classes. The second five weight classes begin on Tuesday

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.

57 kg:

VITALI ARUJAU

Hometown: Syosett, N.Y.
Club: Finger Lakes WC
College: Cornell
High School: Syosset, N.Y.
Born: June 1, 1999 (Age: 20)
Weight: 57 kg/125.5 lbs.

Career highlights
• Second in 2016 Cadet World Championships
• Fourth in 2019 U.S. Senior Open
• 2019 UWW Junior World Team Trials champion
• 2019 U23 World Team Trials champion
• Fourth in 2019 NCAA Championships for Cornell
• Four-time New York state high school champion

2019: UWW Junior World Team Trials champion… Fourth in U.S. Senior Open…
2018: U23 World Team Trials champion… Second in UWW Junior World Team Trials…. Fourth in UWW Junior Nationals…
2017: Second in UWW Junior World Team Trials… Second in UWW Junior Nationals…
2016: Second in Cadet World Championships… UWW Cadet Nationals champion…
2014: Cadet Nationals champion (Fargo)…
College: Fourth in 2019 NCAA Championships as a freshman for Cornell… Second in EIWA Championships…
High School: Four-time New York state high school champion for Syosset High School… Five-time Suffolk County (Section XI) champion…
Personal: His father Vougar Oruudjov was a two-time World champion and 1996 Olympic bronze medalist in freestyle wrestling for the Soviet Union… Vougar is a coach at Nassau Community College on Long Island… His older brother Nick Arujau also competed for Cornell…

Instagram: varujau_lgr
Twitter: @vArujau

Previous World Championship results

2016 Cadet World Championships - 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - SILVER
WIN Hector Candelaria Rivera (Puerto Rico), 10-0
WIN Ryuto Sakaki (Japan), 9-6
WIN Denys Borohan (Ukraine), 10-0
LOSS Amirhossein Maghsoudi (Iran), 12-8

61 kg:

GABRIEL TAGG
Hometown: Mayfield Heights, Ohio
Club: Elite Accelerator Program (EAP)
College: North Carolina (rising freshman)
High School: Brecksville, Ohio (Brecksville-Broadview Heights), AIM Global Academy, Colo.
Born: May 10, 2000 (Age: 19)
Weight: 61 kg/134 lbs.

Career highlights
• 2019 UWW Junior World Team Trials champion
• 2019 UWW Junior Nationals champion
• 2019 Flatz Open champion (Austria)
• Second in 2018 Junior Nationals
• 2018 Ohio state high school champion and three-time state medalist

2019: UWW Junior World Team Trials champion… UWW Junior Nationals champion… Flatz Open champion (Austria)… Fifth in Roman Dmitriev Memorial (Russia)
2018: Second in Junior Nationals (Fargo)… Sixth in UWW Junior Nationals…
2017: Fifth in 2017 UWW Cadet Nationals
2015: Third in Cadet Nationals (Fargo)
High School: 2018 Ohio state high school champion for Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School… Third in 2017 Ohio state championships… Second in 2016 Ohio state championships… Note: Tagg did not compete in folkstyle as a high school senior, joining the EAP program at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, where he completed his high school academics…

Instagram: gabe_tagg
Twitter: @gabrieltagg

65 kg:

YAHYA THOMAS
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Club: Wildcat WC/Chicago RTC
College: Northwestern
High School: Chicago, Ill. (Mount Carmel)
Born: February 11, 1999 (age: 20)
Weight: 65 kg/143 lbs.

Career highlights
• 2019 UWW Junior World Team Trials champion
• 2019 UWW Junior Nationals champion
• Fifth at 2015 Junior Nationals
• Third in 2016 and 2017 Illinois state championships

2019: UWW Junior World Team Trials champion…. UWW Junior Nationals champion…
2018: Seventh in UWW Junior Nationals…
2015: Fifth in Cadet Nationals (Fargo) … Eighth in Cadet Preseason Nationals…
College: Thomas is a rising redshirt sophomore for Northwestern…Third in 2018 Midlands Championships… Seventh in 2017 Midlands Championships….
High School: Third in 2016 and 2017 Illinois state championships for Mount Carmel High School… Team captain for Mount Carmel…

Instagram: yahya2020prime
Twitter: @yahya2020prime

70 kg

BRAYTON LEE
Hometown: Brownsburg, Ind.
Club: Minnesota RTC
College: Minnesota
High School: Brownsburg, Ind.
Born: May 25, 1999 (age: 20)
Weight: 70 kg/154 lbs.


Career highlights

• 2019 UWW Junior World Team Trials champion
• 2019 UWW Junior Nationals champion
• 2018 Junior Nationals champion
• Three-time Indiana state high school champion

2019: UWW Junior World Team Trials champion… Second in UWW Junior Nationals…
2018: Junior Nationals champion (Fargo)…
2017: Third in Junior Nationals (Fargo)…
2016: Third in Cadet Nationals (Fargo)… Third in UWW Cadet Nationals….
College: Redshirt freshman at the University of Minnesota…
High School: Three-time Indiana state champion for Brownsburg High School…

Instagram: brayton_lee
Twitter: @brayton_lee4

74 kg:

DAVID CARR
Hometown: Canton, Ohio
Club: Titan Mercury WC/Cyclone WC
College: Iowa State
High School: Massillon, Ohio (Perry)
Born: March 28, 1999 (Age: 20)
Weight: 74 kg/163 lbs.


Career highlights
• Third in 2016 Cadet World Championships
• 2019 UWW Junior World Team Trials champion
• 2019 UWW Junior Nationals champion
• 2017 Junior Nationals champion
• 2016 UWW Cadet Nationals champion
• Four-time Ohio state high school champion

2019: UWW Junior World Team Trials champion… UWW Junior Nationals champion… Third in Granma Cup (Cuba)…
2018: Second in UWW Junior World Team Trials… Fourth in UWW Junior Nationals…
2017: Junior Nationals champion… Fourth in Junior World Team Trials… Sixth in UWW Junior Nationals in freestyle…
2016: Third in Cadet World Championships… 2016 UWW Cadet Nationals champion…
2015: Second in UWW Cadet Nationals…
College: Redshirt freshman at Iowa State…
High School: Four-time Ohio state high school champion for Massillon Perry High School…
Personal: His father Nate Carr was a 1988 Olympic bronze medalist and three-time NCAA champion for Iowa State…

Twitter: @carrchamp

Previous World Championship results

2016 Cadet Worlds - 69 kg/152 lbs. - BRONZE
WIN Davud Alizalau (Belarus), 11-0
WIN Yevhenii Dubovyi (Ukraine), 10-2
LOSS Sajjad Gholami (Iran), 8-8
WIN Gegham Galstyan (Armenia), 7-2

79 kg

AARON BROOKS
Hometown: Hagerstown, Md.
Club: Titan Mercury WC/Elite Accelerator Program (EAP)
College: Penn State (rising freshman)
High School: Hagerstown, Md. (North Hagerstown)
Born: June 15, 2000 (Age: 19)
Weight: 79 kg/174 lbs.

Career highlights
• 2017 Cadet World champion
• Second in 2018 Junior World Championships
• 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
• 2018 and 2019 UWW Junior World Team Trials champion
• 2018 and 2019 UWW Nationals champion
• Three-time Fargo champion (two in freestyle, one in Greco-Roman)

2019: UWW Junior World Team Trials champion…. UWW Junior Nationals champion… Dave Schultz Memorial International champion… Flatz Open champion (Austria)…
2018: Second in Junior World Championships… Junior World Team Trials champion… UWW Freestyle Nationals champion…
2017: Cadet World champion… Second in Cadet Freestyle World Team Trials… Filled in for injured Travis Wittlake… Junior Freestyle national champion (Fargo)…
2016: Cadet Freestyle national champion (Fargo)… Cadet Greco-Roman national champion (Fargo)…
High School: Four-time Maryland state high school champion for North Hagerstown High School…
Note: Brooks spent a year after high school with the Elite Accelerator Program (EAP) at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, and starts his college career at Penn State in 2019-2020.

Instagram: 301_ab
Twitter: @aaronbrooks2000

Previous World Championship results

2018 Junior Worlds : 79 kg/174 lbs. - SILVER
WIN Daniar Meldebek (Kazakhstan), 12-1
WIN Andrian Grosul (Moldova), 9-4
WIN Orhan Abasov (Azerbaijan), win by cautions
LOSS Hayato Ishiguro (Japan), 11-10

2017 Cadet Worlds: 76 kg/167 lbs. – GOLD
WIN Lasha Bairamovi (Georgia), 12-2
WIN Alex Hoerner (Germany), 11-0
WIN Filip Jires (Czech Republic), 10-0
WIN Meysam Zaree (Iran), 12-1
WIN Arsamag Khostikoev (Russia), 12-7

86 kg:

TRENT HIDLAY
Hometown: Lewistown, Pa.
Club: Wolfpack WC
College: North Carolina State
High School: Highland Park, Pa. (Mifflin County)
Born: April 7, 1999 (Age: 20)
Weight: 86 kg/189 lbs.


Career highlights
• 2019 UWW Junior World Team Trials champion
• 2019 UWW Junior Nationals champion
• Third in 2019 UWW Junior World Team Trials
• Second in 2017 Junior Nationals in both freestyle and Greco-Roman
• Two-time Pennsylvania state high school champion

2019: UWW Junior World Team Trials champion… UWW Junior Nationals champion…
2018: Third in UWW Junior World Team Trials… Sixth in UWW Junior Nationals…
2017: Second in Junior Nationals in both freestyle and Greco-Roman (Fargo)…
2016: Seventh in Junior Nationals…Third in UWW Cadet Nationals…
2015: Eighth in UWW Cadet Nationals…
College: Redshirt freshman for North Carolina State… His brother Hayden is a two-time All-American and 2018 NCAA finalist for North Carolina State…
High School: Two-time Pennsylvania state high school champion for Mifflin County High School… Second in the Pennsylvania state championships as a sophomore…

Instagram: trent_hidlay
Twitter: @hoagieboyhidlay

92 kg:

LUCAS DAVISON
Hometown: Chesterton, Ind.
Club: Wildcat WC/Chicago RTC
College: Northwestern
High School: Chesterton, Ind.
Born: July 5, 2000 (Age: 19)
Weight: 92 kg/202 lbs.


Career highlights
• 2019 UWW Junior World Team Trials champion
• 2019 UWW Junior Nationals champion
• Third in 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial
• Third in 2018 Midlands Championships
• 2018 Junior Nationals champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman
• 2018 Indiana state high school champion

2019: UWW Junior World Team Trials champion… UWW Junior Nationals champion… Third in Dave Schultz Memorial International…
2018: Junior Nationals champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman (Fargo)… Third in UWW Junior Nationals… Seventh in UWW Junior Nationals…
2017: Third in Junior Nationals in freestyle and seventh in Greco-Roman (Fargo)… Fourth in UWW Cadet Nationals…
2016: Second in Cadet Nationals in freestyle and fifth in Greco-Roman (Fargo)… 2016 Cadet Folkstyle Nationals champion…
2015: Second in Cadet Folkstyle Nationals…
College: Redshirt freshman for Northwestern… Third in 2018 Midlands Championships…
High School: 2018 Indiana state champion for Chesterton High School… Second in 2017 Indiana state championships
Personal: His father Keith was a two-time All-American at Wisconsin, and serves as the USA Wrestling state chairperson in Indiana… His brother Andrew wrestles for Michigan…

Instagram: lewcas
Twitter: @LucasDavison

97 kg:

TANNER SLOAN
Hometown: Alburnett, Iowa
Club: Jackrabbit WC
College: South Dakota State
High School: Alburnett, Iowa
Born: November 25, 1999 (Age: 19)
Weight: 97 kg/213.75 lbs.

Career highlights
• 2019 UWW Junior World Team Trials champion
• Second in 2019 Pan American Junior Championships
• Second in 2019 UWW Junior Nationals
• Second in 2018 Midlands Championships
• Two-time Iowa state high school champion

2019: Second in Pan American Junior Championships… UWW Junior World Team Trials champion… Second in UWW Junior Nationals…
College: Sophomore at South Dakota State… Second in 2018 Midlands Championships…
High School: Two-time Iowa state champion for Alburnett High School… Also third in the Iowa state championships as a junior and sixth in the Iowa state championships as a freshman…

Instagram: tannersloan_23
Twitter: @T_Sloaner

125 kg:

MASON PARRIS
Hometown: Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Club: Cliff Keen WC
College: Michigan
High School: Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Born: October 9, 1999 (Age: 19)
Weight: 125 kg/275 lbs.


Career highlights
• 2019 UWW Junior World Team Trials champion
• Third in 2018 Junior Nationals
• NCAA qualifier as a freshman for Michigan
• Fifth in 2018 Midlands Championships
• Three-time Indiana state high school champion

2019: UWW Junior World Team Trials champion…
2018: Third in Junior Nationals (Fargo)…
College: NCAA qualifier as a freshman for Michigan… Fifth at 2018 Midlands Championships…
High School: Three-time Indiana state high school champion for Lawrenceburg High School… Third in the Indiana state championships as a freshman…

Instagram: mason_parris
Twitter: @Parris58

Read More#