Preview of stacked U17 Men’s Freestyle World Team set to compete in Rome, July 25-31

Koy Hopke, the U17 World Team rep in freestyle and Greco-Roman. Photo by Tony Rotundo.

Team USA is sending a men’s freestyle roster loaded with international experience and talent to the U17 World Championships in Rome, Italy, July 25-31.
Luke Lilledahl of St. Charles, Missouri brought home a silver medal at last year’s U17 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary at 48 kg. This year, he will look to medal again up a weight at 51 kg. Lilledahl attends Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania and had success on the international stage as a 2021 U17 Pan American champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman.
Three athletes on the roster made waves during their international debuts in June at the 2022 U17 Pan American Championships in Buenos Aires.
At 45 kg, Domenic Munaretto won both the freestyle and Greco-Roman U17 Pan American titles. The wrestler from Barrington, Illinois dominated at the World Team qualifier, the USMC U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nevada taking first in freestyle and third in Greco-Roman.

Koy Hopke will have a busy week in Rome as the 110 kg rep in both styles. The Amery, Wisconsin native took home two gold medals at the 2022 Pan American Championships and was a double USMC 16U Nationals champion in 2021.

Joining Hopke on both U17 World Teams is Christian Castillo of Glendale, Arizona at 48 kg. Castillo proved to be a force at the international level after pocketing freestyle and Greco-Roman golds at the Pan American Championships.

Those on the squad who will make their international debuts next week in Rome, have already established themselves nationally.

Kyler Larkin at 60 kg was the 2021 USMC U16 National Champion and named Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament. 2022 New York state champion Zack Ryder at 80 kg, and three-time Minnesota state champion Max McEnelly at 92 kg, were both 2021 USMC national champions.

Rounding out the star-studded roster is Jax Forrest at 55 kg, Tyler Kasak at 55 kg and Joesph Sealey at 71 kg.

From Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Forrest is another top wrestler in the nation. He placed fourth at the USMC 16U national tournament in freestyle and sixth in Greco-Roman, earning him double All-American status.

Kasak also comes from Pennsylvania and was the 2021 USMC 16U Nationals runner-up at 138 pounds and owns a Pennsylvania state title. Sealy, a native of High Point, North Carolina, carries a North Carolina state title and now attends Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania.

Men’s freestyle action will close out the tournament and begins on Friday, July 29.

All action will be live on FloWrestling. USA Wrestling will live tweet the matches and provide daily updates on TheMat.com. 
U17 World Championships

Rome, Italy | July 25-31
U.S. U17 men’s freestyle roster
45 kg: Domenic Munaretto (Barrington, Ill./Toss Em Up Wrestling Academy)
48 kg: Christian Castillo (Glendale, Ariz./Thorobred Wrestling Club)
51kg: Luke Lilledahl (St. Charles, Mo./Xtreme Training)
55 kg: Jax Forrest (Johnstown, Pa./)
60 kg: Kyler Larkin (Gilbert, Ariz./Thorobred Wrestling Club)
65 kg: Tyler Kasak (Doylestown, Pa./)
71 kg: Joseph Sealey (High Point, N.C./Darkhorse Wrestling)
80 kg: Zack Ryder (Westtown, N.Y. /KD Training Center)
92 kg: Max McEnelly (Waconia, Minn./Waconia Wrestling Club)
110 kg: Koy Hopke (Amery, Wis./Pinnacle Wrestling Club)
Schedule (7 hours ahead of U.S. EST)
Monday, July 25
11:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (GR 48, 55, 65, 80, 110kg)
6 p.m. – Semifinal (GR 48, 55, 65, 80, 110kg)
Tuesday, July 26
11:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (GR 45, 51, 60, 71, 92kg), repechage (GR 48, 55, 65, 80, 110kg)
6 p.m.
4:15 p.m. – Opening Ceremony
5 p.m. – Semifinal (GR 45, 51, 60, 71, 92kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (GR 48, 55, 65, 80, 110kg)
Wednesday, July 27
11:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (WFS 43, 49, 57, 65, 73kg), repechage (GR 45, 51, 60, 71, 92kg)
5 p.m. – Semifinal (WFS 43, 49, 57, 65, 73kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (GR 45, 51, 60, 71, 92kg)
Thursday, July 28
11:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (WFS 40 46 53 61 69kg), repechage (WFS 43, 49, 57, 65, 73kg)
5 p.m. – Semifinal (WFS 40 46 53 61 69kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (WFS 43, 49, 57, 65, 73kg)
Friday, July 29
11:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (FS 48 55 65 80 110kg), repechage (WFS 40 46 53 61 69kg)
5 p.m. – Semifinal (FS 48 55 65 80 110kg)
6 p.m. – (WFS 40 46 53 61 69kg)
Saturday, July 30
11:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (FS 45 51 60 71 92kg), repechage (FS 48 55 65 80 110kg)
5 p.m. – Semifinals (FS 45 51 60 71 92kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (FS 48 55 65 80 110kg)

Sunday, July 31
4:30 p.m. – Repechage (FS 45 51 60 71 92kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (FS 45 51 60 71 92kg)