Five advance to men’s freestyle semifinals, Team USA continues strong performance at U20 World Championships

PONTEVEDRA, Spain – Team USA had an outstanding preliminary session on the sixth day of the 2024 U20 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain, with a combined record of 13-0 and five athletes advancing to the semifinals in men's freestyle.

At 61 kg, Marcus Blaze began his tournament with a quick first-period pin against Dohyung Kim of Korea. Blaze executed a fireman’s carry, getting Kim to his back for the fall at 1:16. In the next round, Blaze controlled the pace against Amir Hamayun of Turkmenistan, pulling ahead for an 11-1 technical fall.

In the quarterfinals, Blaze bested Jamal Abbasov of Azerbaijan, taking an early 2-0 lead despite a passivity call against him. Abbasov responded with a step-out, but was unable to generate much offense against a powerful Blaze. His semifinal opponent is Masanosuke Ono of Japan, a 2024 Senior Asian Championships bronze medalist at 65 kg. Blaze is a 2023 U17 World Champion at 55 kg, and a Senior National Team member at 57 kg.

Ladarion Lockett, also a 2023 U17 World Champion, advanced to the semifinals after holding a 3-0 record through the first session. Lockett began his day by pinning Baitemir Tuleberdiev of Kyrgyzstan at 4:33. In his next bout, Lockett led 1-0 through the first period against individual neutral athlete Tamir Eshinimaev. In the second period, Lockett expanded his lead with a passivity point, then sealed the victory with a big four-point move on the edge.

Lockett’s quarterfinal match against Gaurav Gaurav of India ended with a technical fall, 11-0. In the semifinals, he is set to face Aghanazar Novruzoz of Azerbaijan.

Competing at 86 kg, Joshua Barr dominated his way through the first session, advancing to the semifinals with two technical falls. Barr’s impressive technique saw him outscore his opponents 20-0, spending a total of 2:22 on the mat between both matches. His first bout against Sachin Sachin of India took a single leg takedown for two, then a double leg transitioned to a leg lace for Barr to advance. He reached the semifinals with a 10-0 win in just 41 seconds over Ryogo Asano of Japan.

In the semifinals, Barr matches up against Ahmet Yagan of Turkiye, who placed fifth at the 2023 U20 World Championships in Amman, Jordan.

Connor Mirasola went 3-0 at 92 kg, with two technical falls and a decision. Mirasola opened with a 10-0 technical fall against Grigori Tomaili of Moldova, using a go-behind, a series of gut wrenches, and another takedown to finish the match. He then faced Soltan Begenjov of Turkmenistan and came out on top 14-4. Despite an early four-point throw by Begenjov, Mirasola responded with a series of doubles, a leg lace, and a go-behind to secure the victory.

In his quarterfinal match, Mirasola beat Oleh Kuzmenko Taison of Ukraine, 9-4. After building a 4-1 lead, Mirasola never looked back, getting to the legs of Kuzmenko Taison with ease and fending off any attacks. Kuzmenko Taison added a point on a step-out with seconds remaining, but it wasn’t enough, and Mirasola secured the win.

Mirasola’s semifinal opponent is Sali Saliev of Bulgaria. Saliev is a two-time U20 European Championships bronze medalist, and has competed at two U20 World Championships, with his highest finish at seventh in 2022.

At 125 kg, Ben Kueter made quick work of his opponents to reach the semifinals. In his opening match against Alikhan Kussainov of Kazakhstan, Kueter controlled the bout with a combination of three takedowns and a shot clock point to win 7-0. In the quarterfinals, Kueter needed just 28 seconds to pin Stsiapan Mandryk after catching him off-balance with a powerful single-leg attack.

In the semifinals, Kueter matches up against Nambardagva Batbayar of Mongolia, a 2023 U20 Asian Championships silver medalist. Kueter, the 2022 U20 World Champion at 97 kg, is no stranger to big matches at a World tournament, and is just one win away from returning to the World finals.

Action continues at 10:45 a.m. ET at the Pontevedra Municipal Sports Hall in Spain. A full set of brackets and match-by-match results are available on UWW Arena. A live broadcast of the event is available for the U.S. market at FloWrestling.com.

Stay tuned to TheMat.com and USA Wrestling’s social media platforms for complete coverage of the U20 World Championships.

61 kg

Abdinur Nurlanbek (Kazakhstan) vs. Ebrahim Khari (Iran)

Marcus Blaze (United States) vs. Masanosuke Ono (Japan)

74 kg

Ladarion Lockett (United States) vs. Aghanazar Novruzoz (Azerbaijan)

Shingo Ando (Japan) vs. Ali Rezaeiaghouzgeleh (Iran)

86 kg

Ahmet Yagan (Turkiye) vs. Joshua Barr (United States)

Abolfazl Rahmani Firouzjaei (Iran) vs. Ibragim Kadiev (AIN)

92 kg

Kamil Kurugliyev (Kazakhstan) vs. Mustafagadzhi Malachdibirov (AIN)

Connor Mirasola (United States) vs. Sali Saliev (Bulgaria)

125 kg

Nambardagva Batbayar (Mongolia) vs. Ben Kueter (United States)

Hakan Buyukcingil (Turkiye) vs. Amirezza Masoumi Valadi (Iran)

61 kg – Marcus Blaze (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg WC), in semifinals

WIN Dohyung Kim (Korea), pin 1:16

WIN Amir Hamayun (Turkmenistan), 11-1

WIN Jamal Abbasov (Azerbaijan), 7-1

VS Masanosuke Ono (Japan)

74 kg – Ladarion Lockett (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy WC), in semifinals

WIN Baitemir Tuleberdiev (Kyrgyzstan), pin 4:33

WIN Tamir Eshinimaev (AIN), 6-0

WIN Gaurav Gaurav (India), tech. fall, 11-0

VS Aghanazar Novruzoz (Azerbaijan)

86 kg – Josh Barr (Davison, Mich./Nittany Lion WC), in semifinals

WIN Sachin Sachin (India), 10-0

WIN Ryogo Asano (Japan), 10-0

VS Ahmet Yagan (Turkiye)

92 kg – Connor Mirasola (Jackson, Wis./Nittany Lion WC), in semifinals

WIN Grigori Tomaili (Moldova), tech. fall, 10-0

WIN Soltan Begenjov (Turkmenistan), 14-4

WIN Oleh Kuzmenko Taison (Ukraine), 9-4

VS Sali Saliev (Bulgaria)

125 kg – Ben Kueter (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC), in semifinals

WIN Alikhan Kussainov (Kazakhstan), 7-0

WIN Stsiapan Mandryk (AIN), pin, 0:28

VS Nambardagva Batbayar (Mongolia)