Zahid Valencia named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare on Sept. 17, 2025

Zahid Valencia (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC) has been named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week, presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare, on September 17, 2025.

Valencia won the gold medal at 86 kg in men’s freestyle at the 2025 Senior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, on September 14. Valencia shut out all five of his opponents during the two days of his competition, outscoring the competition 49-0, and securing four technical falls.

In the gold-medal finals, Valencia scored five takedowns against Japan’s Hayato Ishiguro for a decisive 12-0 technical fall victory. In the semifinals, he was in control in his 7-0 decision over two-time World champion Kamran Ghasempour of Iran.

Valencia won his first three matches in dominant 10-0 technical falls, dispatching Mukul Dahiya of India, Fateh Benferdjallah of Algeria and Ivars Samusonok of Latvia in order.

Valencia was one of three U.S. individual champions and five total medalists in the men’s freestyle competition, helping lead the United States to a second-place team trophy behind only Iran.

It was Valencia’s second career Senior World medal, to go with a bronze medal at 92 kg in 2023. He also won a 2017 U20 World silver medal. Valencia was a two-time NCAA champion for Arizona State and is a native of California. He currently trains at the Cowboy RTC, where he is mentored by 2020 Olympic champion David Taylor.

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