U.S. receives men’s freestyle draw for Polyak Imre & Varga Janos Memorial Ranking Event in Budapest
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
BUDAPEST, Hungary – The U.S. men’s freestyle team received its draw for the Polyak Imre & Varga Janos Memorial Ranking Event, which begins on Thursday.
Three 2025 U.S. Senior World Team members are competing in Budapest: David Carr (74 kg), Levi Haines (79 kg), and Trent Hidlay (92 kg).
Carr has a tough opening opponent, two-time Olympian and 2019 U23 World champion Turan Bayramov of Azerbaijan. Carr, a past U20 World champion, could face 2021 and 2022 World silver medalist Tajmuraz Salkazanov of Slovakia in his half-bracket.
Haines opens against 2025 Asian Championships silver medalist Khidir Kurban Saipudinov of Bahrain. If he wins, he could face 2016 Olympian Zelimkhan Khadjiev of France in the quarterfinals. Also in his half-bracket is 2025 Asian bronze medalist Magomed Evloev of Tajikistan.
Hilday will have a challenging opening bout against 2021 World bronze medalist Abubakr Abakarov of Azerbaijan. If Hilday wins, he win draw Krisztian Angyal of Hungary in the semifinals, who was fifth in the 2022 U20 World Championships.
2022 Senior World Team member Seth Gross received his 61 kg draw, and will open against 2022 European bronze medalist Arman Eloyan of France.
Other current Senior National Team members on the tour are Jay Aiello (97 kg) and Trent Hillger (125 kg). Aiello faces two-time Olympian Zbigniew Baranowski of Poland in his first match. Hillger opens against 2024 Oil Capital Cup champion Nursultan Azov of Kazakhstan.
Also competing for the USA in men’s freestyle are Brandon Cannon (61 kg) and Demetrius Thomas (125 kg).
On Thursday, there are seven men’s freestyle weight classes being contested (57 kg, 61 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg). The final three men’s freestyle weights follow on Friday (74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg). The USA will also have talented women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman athletes in the event later in the week.
The event will be broadcast live by FloWrestling, with results on UWW Arena.
POLYAK IMRE & VARGA JANOS MEMORIAL RANKING SERIES EVENT
At Budapest, Hungary
U.S. men’s freestyle first round draw
57 kg: Luke Lilledahl, St. Charles, Mo. (Nittany Lion WC/TMWC)
Vs. winner of Abzal Okenov (Kazakhstan) vs. Niklas Stechele (Germany)
Okenov – 2024 Muhamet Malo champion (Albania), 5th 2018 U20 Asians
Stechele – 5th 2022 and 2025 Europeans, 5th 2023 U23 Worlds,
61 kg: Seth Gross, Bismarck, N.D. (MATPAC WC)
Vs. Arman Eloyan (France), 5th 2023 Europeans, 8th 2021 World Championships, 3rd 2022 Europeans,
70 kg: Brandon Cannon, Centennial, Colo. (Ohio RTC)
Vs. Akaki Kemertelidze (Georgia), 2nd 2024 Europeans, 3rd 2025 Europeans, 5th 2024 World Championships,
74 kg: David Carr, Ames, Iowa (Cyclone RTC/TMWC)
Vs. Turan Bayramov (Azerbaijan), 2020 and 2024 Olympian, 3rd 2024 Europeans, 5th 2023 World Championships, 2019 U23 World champion
79 kg: Levi Haines, Arendtville, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC/TMWC)
Vs. Khidir Kurban Saipudinov (Bahrain), 2nd 2025 Asian Championships, 3rd 2024 Asian Championships, 2023 Stepan Sargsyan champion (Armenia)
92 kg: Trent Hidlay, Raleigh, N.C. (Wolfpack WC/TMWC)
Vs. Abubakr Abakarov (Azerbaijan), 2021 World bronze medalist, 3rd 2023 Europeans, 2022 European U23 champion, 2nd 2023 U23 Worlds
97 kg: Jay Aiello, Philadelphia, Pa. (Pennsylvania RTC/TMWC)
Vs. Zbigniew Baranowski (Poland), 2016 and 2024 Olympian, 3rd 2022 Europeans,
125 kg: Demetrius Thomas, Providence, R.I. (New York AC)
Vs. Efi Anil Al (Turkey), 3rd 2023 U23 Europeans, 5th 2025 U23 Europeans,
125kg: Trent Hillger, Minneapolis, Minn. (Gopher WC/TMWC)
Va. Nursultan Azov (Kazakhstan), 2nd 2023 and 2024 DA Kunaev Tournament (Kazakhstan), 2024 Oil Capital Cup champion (Kazakhstan)
Event Schedule
Thursday, July 17
(Men’s Freestyle 57 kg, 61 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg)
10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds
1:30 p.m. – Semifinals
2:30 p.m. – Repechage
5:00 p.m. – Finals
Friday, July 18
(Men’s Freestyle 74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg; Women’s Freestyle 50 kg, 53 kg, 57 kg, 59 kg, 72 kg)
10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds
1:30 p.m. – Semifinals
2:30 p.m. – Repechage
5:00 p.m. – Finals
Saturday, July 19
(Women’s Freestyle 55 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg, Greco-Roman 72 kg, 87 kg, 130 kg)
10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds
1:30 p.m. – Semifinals
2:30 p.m. – Repechage
5:00 p.m. – Finals
Sunday, July 20
(Greco-Roman 55 kg, 60 kg, 63 kg, 67 kg, 77 kg, 82 kg, 97 kg)
10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds
1:30 p.m. – Semifinals
2:30 p.m. – Repechage
5:00 p.m. – Finals
Read More#
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