Aydin Rix McElhinney named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare

Aydin Rix McElhinney (South Berwick, Maine/Northern Colorado WC) has been named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week, presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare, on October 8, 2025.

Rix McElhinney was the highest placing American at the second annual Valamar Cup Greco-Roman competition held on October 4 in Poreč, Croatia. He finished with a 3-2 record at 77 kg to earn a silver medal.

Rix McElhinney, a 2025 U23 World Team member, earned decision wins over Dominik Botos of Hungary, Zalan Toplak of Hungary and Temuri Orjonikidze of Georgia during the competition. His win over Orjonikidze, who was fifth at the 2024 U23 Worlds and a U20 European bronze medalist, stands out as signature.

His only two losses came to the same opponent, Albania’s veteran competitor Kevin Kupi. Kubi took the group play match over Rix McElhinney by technical fall, 10-0, but Rix McElhinney made sound adjustments for the gold medal round to narrow the gap in a close, 4-2, final.

Rix McElhinney collected a gold medal from the 2025 Junior Pan American Games held in Asuncion, Paraguay, in August. He is one of the top up-and-coming Greco-Roman prospects for the U.S. with a U20 World Championships appearance already under his belt, plus an eighth-place finish in the Senior division at the 2025 CLAW U.S. Open on his ledger.

He competed collegiately the past three seasons at the University of Northern Colorado under head coach Troy Nickerson.

To nominate a wrestler for this honor please email the athlete's name, wrestling program, weekly accomplishments, and career accolades to communications@usawrestling.org.