Nicholas Sahakian named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week

Photo: Nicholas Sahakian in the finals of the U17 World Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev. (Tony Rotundo, wrestlersarewarriors.com)

Nicholas Sahakian (Sherman Oaks, Calif./Sunkist Kids/Monster Garage) has been named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week on June 28, 2023.

The stalwart from California was one of three Americans to win double gold at the U17 Pan-American Championships held in Mexico City, Mexico, over the weekend. Sahakian went a combined 6-0 across the freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments in the 110 kg division, with four technical falls and two pins to his name. Joining him as double champions for the U.S. were Henry Aslikyan at 45 kg and Vince Bouzakis at 71 kg.

The tournament in Mexico City was a well-timed tune-up for Sahakian, who will compete at the U17 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, next month as a member of the U.S. Greco-Roman team. He won the U17 World Team Trials in Greco-Roman held as part of the U.S. Open Championships in Las Vegas last April to qualify for the U17 Worlds. Sahakian nearly made the U17 World Team in freestyle, coming in second place at the Trials event.

Sahakian is no stranger to All-American placements at USA Wrestling national events. He was the 16U Greco-Roman national champion out in Fargo, N.D. last summer, and was a double 16U All-American the previous year, placing sixth in freestyle and seventh in Greco-Roman. In 2022, he placed in both styles at the U17 World Team Trials.  

Now a rising junior at St. John Bosco (CA), Sahakian is the reigning CIF (California) high school state champion at 220 pounds, holding the No. 17 spot in the FloWrestling National High School Rankings at his weight class. He finished in third place at the state meet as a freshman in 2022.

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