Emmitt Sherlock has his arm raised after winning the U17 Men's Freestyle Nationals at the 2024 U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Talented U.S. men’s freestyle team aims for gold at 2024 U17 World Championships in Jordan
by Savannah Asmann, USA Wrestling
The 2024 U17 World Championships at the Princess Sumaya Bint al-Hasan Arena in Amman, Jordan, begins on August 19. Team USA’s men’s freestyle athletes are gearing up for a strong showing, with their sights set on gold. Led by a pair of past U17 World Champions, and a lineup loaded with the nation’s top age-group talents, the United States has a skilled team ready to compete in Jordan.
Three athletes will be competing in the Greco-Roman tournament held earlier in the week before taking the mat to compete in men’s freestyle. Jordyn Raney, Domenic Munaretto and Emmitt Sherlock will be in action in the first and last sections of the tournament.
Raney, competing at 60 kg, is a young star from Union County High School in Kentucky. This is Raney’s second trip to a U17 World Championship tournament. Last year, in Istanbul, Turkey, Raney clinched the title in the U17 Greco-Roman tournament. With victories at the U.S. Open in both 2023 and 2024, along with a top finish at the 2022 USMC 16U Nationals in Greco-Roman, Raney has proven himself a versatile force.
Joining him is Munaretto, another past World Champion, set to compete at 51 kg. In 2022, Munaretto won gold at the U17 World Championships in freestyle. He has proven success in both styles, and will look to continue his streak of finishing on the podium in Jordan.
Sherlock, a dual medalist from the 2024 U17 Pan-American Championships, where he earned gold in freestyle and bronze in Greco-Roman, will battle it out at 80 kg in Amman. Sherlock secured U.S. Open titles in both men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman, claiming spots on both rosters for the U17 World Championships.
In the 48 kg bracket, Henry Aslikyan enters the 2024 U17 World Championships aiming for gold. This is Aslikyan’s second trip to the tournament, as he finished 16th in Greco-Roman in 2023. He was a champion at the 2024 U.S. Open in freestyle. Aslikyan also captured gold in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the 2023 U17 Pan American Championships.
Among the rising stars, Melvin Miller stands out at 71 kg. His recent victories at the 2024 U.S. Open and the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals in freestyle have solidified his position as a top contender. Miller’s top finishes at national tournaments have primed him for the world stage in Amman.
At 110 kg, Michael Mocco enters the U17 World Championships with an impressive resume. The 2024 U.S. Open U17 freestyle champion, Mocco has also claimed titles at the U.S. Marine Corps 16U Nationals in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. His size, strength, and consistent performances at national tournaments make him a top contender for gold next week.
Elijah Diakomihalis, competing at 92 kg, will make his international debut in Jordan. A runner-up at the 2024 U.S. Open U17 Nationals and the 2023 U.S. Marine Corps 16U Freestyle Nationals champion, Diakomihalis has had consistent success on the national stage.
Samuel Sanchez has become standout at 45 kg, with back-to-back U.S. Open titles in 2023 and 2024 and a win in freestyle at the 2022 U15 Pan American Trials. He will look to continue his upward momentum, and is a top contender heading into the U17 World Championships.
At 55 kg, Keanu Dillard was the 2024 U.S. Open freestyle champion. Dillard has shown his resilience by finishing fifth at the U17 Nationals in 2023, then securing a spot on this year’s World Team. His podium finishes at numerous national and regional tournaments highlight his consistency, and he's ready to make an impact in Amman.
Nathaniel Askew, competing at 65 kg, captured the 2024 U.S. Open U17 freestyle title, adding to his growing list of accomplishments. With experience in both freestyle and Greco-Roman, Askew enters the 2024 U17 World Championships well-prepared to compete at the highest level.
The 2024 U17 World Championships begin action on August 19. The men’s freestyle competition will be held on the final three days of the tournament. The full schedule for the tournament is listed below. Visit the event page on the United World Wrestling website here for more information.
The event will be broadcast live on FloWrestling, and a subscription is required for viewing. Follow all of the action on the USA Wrestling social channels and TheMat.com for regular updates of the 2024 U17 World Championships.
2024 U17 World Championships
At Amman, Jordan, August 19-25, 2024
U.S. Men’s Freestyle roster
45 kg: Samuel Sanchez (Whittier, Calif./Rough House Wrestling/TMWC)
48 kg: Henry Aslikyan (Panorama City, Calif./ Birmingham Community Charter HS Wrestling)
51 kg: Domenic Munaretto (St. Charles, Ill.)
55 kg: Keanu Dillard (Bethlehem, Pa./Steller Trained Wrestling)
60 kg: Jordyn Raney (Sturgis, Ky./Union County HS Wrestling)
65 kg: Nathaniel Askew (Fayetteville, N.C./Tar Heel WC)
71 kg: Melvin Miller (Windber, Pa./Bishop McCort HS)
80 kg: Emmitt Sherlock (Linthicum, Md./HeadHunters WC)
92 kg: Elijah Diakomihalis (Rochester, N.Y.)
110 kg: Michael Mocco (Parkland, Fla./ ATT/Mocco Wrestling Academy)
Coach: Joe Russell, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach: J’den Cox, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach: Zo El Ouarraque, Stillwater, Okla.
Coach: John Meyers, San Diego, Calif.
Personal Coach: Ilias Diakomihalis, Rochester, N.Y.
Personal Coach: Steve Mocco, Parkland, Fla.
Personal Coach: Bill Bassett, Windber, Pa.
Personal Coach: Chance Marsteller, Breinigsville, Pa.
Personal Coach: John Azevedo, Templeton, Calif.
Personal Coach: James Medeiros, Granada Hills, Calif.
Personal Coach: Lachlan McNeil, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Personal Coach: Travis Paulson, Charlottesville, Va.
Athletic Trainer: Judi Tekautz, Rushford, Minn.
Medical Doctor: Jeremy Stanek, Orinda, Calif.
Officials:
Cindy Mosconi, Indianapolis, Ind.
Peter Kuisle, Rochester, Minn.
Nolan Meadors II, Atlanta, Ga.
NF Secretary General - Rich Bender, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Team Leader - Christina Hargrove, Colorado Springs, Colo.
MFS Chaplain - Tim Hess, Beaverton, Ore.
NF Media - Mike Malinconico, Poway, Calif.
Schedule of Events
*all times are listed local to Amman, Jordan, seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time
Monday, August 19
10:30 a.m. - Greco-Roman Qualification rounds: 48 kg, 55 kg, 65 kg, 80 kg, 110 kg
5:00 p.m. - Opening Ceremony
6:00 p.m. - Greco-Roman Semifinals: 48 kg, 55 kg, 65 kg, 80 kg, 110 kg
Tuesday, August 20
10:30 a.m. - Greco-Roman Repechage: 48 kg, 55 kg, 65 kg, 80 kg, 110 kg and Qualification rounds: 45 kg, 51 kg, 60 kg, 71 kg, 92 kg
5:00 p.m. - Greco-Roman Semifinals: 45 kg, 51 kg, 60 kg, 71 kg, 92 kg
6:00 p.m. - Greco-Roman Finals and Awards: 48 kg, 55 kg, 65 kg, 80 kg, 110 kg
Wednesday, August 21
10:30 a.m. - Greco-Roman Repechage: 45 kg, 51 kg, 60 kg, 71 kg, 92 kg and Women’s freestyle Qualification rounds: 43 kg, 49 kg, 57 kg, 65 kg, 73 kg
5:00 p.m. - Women’s freestyle Semifinals: 43 kg, 49 kg, 57 kg, 65 kg, 73 kg
6:00 p.m. - Greco-Roman Finals and Awards: 45 kg, 51 kg, 60 kg, 71 kg, 92 kg
Thursday, August 22
10:30 a.m. - Women’s freestyle Repechage: 43 kg, 49 kg, 57 kg, 65 kg, 73 kg and Women’s freestyle Qualification rounds: 40 kg, 46 kg, 53 kg, 61 kg, 69 kg
5:00 p.m. - Women’s freestyle Semifinals: 40 kg, 46 kg, 53 kg, 61 kg, 69 kg
6:00 p.m. - Women’s freestyle Finals and Awards: 43 kg, 49 kg, 57 kg, 65 kg, 73 kg
Friday, August 23
10:30 a.m. - Women’s freestyle Repechage: 40 kg, 46 kg, 53 kg, 61 kg, 69 kg and Men’s freestyle Qualification rounds: 48 kg, 55 kg, 65 kg, 80 kg, 110 kg
5:00 p.m. - Men’s freestyle Semifinals: 48 kg, 55 kg, 65 kg, 80 kg, 110 kg
6:00 p.m. - Women’s freestyle Finals and Awards: 40 kg, 46 kg, 53 kg, 61 kg, 69 kg
Saturday, August 24
10:30 a.m. - Men’s freestyle Repechage: 48 kg, 55 kg, 65 kg, 80 kg, 110 kg and Men’s freestyle Qualification rounds: 45 kg, 51 kg, 60 kg, 71 kg, 92 kg
5:00 p.m. - Men’s freestyle Semifinals: 45 kg, 51 kg, 60 kg, 71 kg, 92 kg
6:00 p.m. - Men’s freestyle Finals and Awards: 48 kg, 55 kg, 65 kg, 80 kg, 110 kg
Sunday, August 25
4:30 p.m. - Men’s freestyle Repechage: 45 kg, 51 kg, 60 kg, 71 kg, 92 kg
6:00 p.m. - Men’s freestyle Finals and Awards: 45 kg, 51 kg, 60 kg, 71 kg, 92 kg
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