SSG McIntosh of the U.S. Army claims gold at CISM World Military Championships

BAKU, Azerbaijan – The U.S. effort at the 2023 CISM World Military Championships opened with a valiant gold medal effort from Staff Sergeant Morgan McIntosh of the U.S. Army WCAP.

McIntosh won three matches against international opposition at 86 kg in men’s freestyle to claim his first World Military title. His tournament concluded with a 5-5 criteria victory over Reza Ebrahim of Iran in the championship bout.

His path to the gold medal match included impressive wins over seasoned international competitors. McIntosh eased into his day with a 12-2 technical fall victory against Italy’s Aaron Caneva, who has competed at three Senior World Championships and owns a handful of international event medals. The semifinals saw McIntosh claim a 5-1 decision over up-and-comer Farid Jabbarov of Azerbaijan. Jabbarov finished in fifth place at the 2022 U20 European Championships and came in ninth place at the U23 Europeans this year.

McIntosh joined the U.S. Army in 2017 following a successful collegiate career at Penn State University where we was a three-time NCAA All-American and national finalist under coach Cael Sanderson. Baku marks McIntosh’s second Senior level international medal, adding to his silver medal from the 2022 Bill Farrell Memorial International. He finished in sixth place at the U.S. Open at 92 kg earlier this year.

The CISM World Military Championships resume tomorrow with Greco-Roman and women's freestyle action. A full report of the U.S. results will be provided at the conclusion of the competition.

2023 CISM World Military Championships

At Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 30

Men’s freestyle results

Team Ranking

1. Azerbaijan, 191

2. Iran, 174

3. Turkey, 144

4. Kazakhstan, 120

5. Russia, 108

6. Mongolia, 101

7. Romania, 32

8. Algeria, 29

9. Belarus, 28

10. United States, 25

57 kg

Gold – Mahdi Veisi (Iran)

Silver – Ysuf Demir (Turkey)

Bronze – Daulet Temirzhanov (Kazakhstan)

61 kg

Gold – Ahmet Duman (Turkey)

Silver – Allahverdiyev Ceyhun (Azerbaijan)

Bronze – Tuskaev Azamat (Russia)

Bronze – Enkhbold Enkhbat (Mongolia)

65 kg

Gold – Rahimzada Ali (Azerbaijan)

Silver – Tsogdarakh Tseweensuren (Mongolia)

Bronze – Adil Ospanov (Kazakhstan)

Bronze – Hassan Ebadi (Iran)

70 kg

Gold – Aliyev Haci (Azerbaijan)

Silver – Ali Akbar Zerudi (Iran)

Bronze – Chinzorig Tsermaa (Mongolia)

Bronze – Meirzhan Ashirov (Kazakhstan)

74 kg

Gold – Bayramov Turan (Azerbaijan)

Silver – Mohammad Bakhshi (Iran)

Bronze – Bizhoev Timur (Russia)

Bronze – Fazli Eryilmaz (Turkey)

79 kg

Gold – Abbasov Orxan (Azerbaijan)

Silver – Rustem Myrzagaliyev (Kazakhstan)

Bronze – Khatanov Idar (Russia)

Bronze – Shuldkhuu Olonbayar (Mongolia)

86 kg

Gold – Morgan McIntosh (United States)

Silver – Reza Ebrahim (Iran)

Bronze – Ismail Kucuk (Turkey)

Bronze – Farid Jabbarov (Azerbaijan)

92 kg

Gold – Yusifov Ibrahim (Azerbaijan)

Silver – Saadulaev Askhab (Russia)

Bronze – Arif Ozen (Turkey)

97 kg

Gold – Mustafa Sessiz (Turkey)

Silver – Ali Reza Rekabi (Iran)

Bronze – Rouabahfadi (Algeria)

125 kg

Gold – Mostafa Toghani (Iran)

Silver – Vitali Piasniak (Belarus)

Bronze – Nursultan Azov (Kazakhstan)

Bronze – Kostiev Znaur (Russia)

U.S. men’s freestyle results

86 kg – Morgan McIntosh (State College, Pa./U.S. Army WCAP/Nittany Lion WC), Gold

WIN Aaron Caneva (Italy), tech. fall, 12-2

WIN Farid Jabbarov (Azerbaijan), 5-1

WIN Reza Ebrahim (Iran), 5-5