Leydecker back in U20 World finals, Fowler to bronze medal match

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia – Arizona’s own Everest Leydecker booked a return trip to the U20 World finals on Wednesday evening with a methodical shutout win against 2026 U20 Asian silver medalist Meilin Zhou of China. Leydecker became the first American to reach the finals in Slovakia this week.

Leydecker took a 3-0 lead to the break from a shot clock point and a high-level single-leg finish with 17 seconds left in the period. She broke things open in the second period with a pair of takedowns and a step-out to earn the 8-0 decision over Zhou.

Earlier in the day, Leydecker pinned both 2025 U23 World silver medalist Hansika Lamba of India and 2021 U17 World silver medalist Valeryia Mikitsich of Belarus. She will defend her 55 kg women’s freestyle title against 2024 U17 World silver medalist Nana Kozuka of Japan.

2023 U17 World champion Piper Fowler ran into buzzsaw Kajal of India in the 76 kg semifinals. Kajal struck fast with a knee pick in the opening stanza and controlled the ties with a seatbelt position for the duration of the match. It was a 6-0 Kajal win.

Fowler slots into a bronze medal match against either Miyu Takayama of Japan or three-time age-group World medalist Elmira Yasin of Türkiye. In the preliminary rounds, Fowler scored technical falls against 2026 U20 European bronze medalist Evelin Ujhelji of Serbia and 2026 U20 Pan American silver medalist Sophia Perez Bassino of Brazil.

Bella Williams was on the right side of the repechage draw. She gets a chance to wrestle back for bronze, needing a win over either Barbara Bager of Hungary or Miranda Kapanadze of Georgia tomorrow morning to qualify for the bronze medal match at 62 kg.

Not as fortunate was Riley Hanrahan, who was eliminated from medal contention after the semifinal results were logged. Hanrahan finished 1-1 at 65 kg in her first World Championships appearance.

Read More: U20 World Championships Day Four Match Notes

The action continues from A4 Studio at 6 p.m. local time with the Greco-Roman group three (60-82 kg) and women’s freestyle group one (50-53-72 kg) medal matches. Bratislava, Slovakia, is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.

Fans can watch the U20 World Championships live or on-demand at FloWrestling.org. Brackets and live results are available through UWW Arena.

USA Wrestling will provide continued updates from the U20 World Championships on TheMat.com and its social media platforms.