Miranda, LaMont, Bey and Hancock receive draws for Greco-Roman Junior World Championships

U.S. Junior World Team members G'Angelo Hancock, Kamal Bey, Taylor LaMont and Randon Miranda at weigh-ins in Macon, France. Photo: Matt Lindland, USA Wrestling.

MACON, France – Four U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers have weighed in and received their draws for the first day of competition at the 2016 Junior World Championships.


Kicking off the tournament for the U.S. are Randon Miranda (Palmdale, Calif./NMU-OTS), Taylor LaMont (Mapleton, Utah/Champions WC), Kamal Bey (Colorado Springs, Colo./Front Range WC) and G’Angelo Hancock (Colorado Springs, Colo./Front Range WC).


“I think the guys had great preparation,” said U.S. Greco-Roman coach Matt Lindland. “They acclimated here in Germany last week and just got in two days ago here to France, same time zone. The guys are excited. They made weight, the first four guys, and they’re all ready to go.”


Miranda is set to face Hideto Yamaguchi of Japan in the first round at 50 kg/110 lbs. In his first year at Northern Michigan Miranda has posted a solid season by earning a silver medal at the Austria Junior Open and making his first Junior World Team. He was a USA Wrestling Junior Greco-Roman Nationals champion in 2014.


After finishing in fifth place at the Cadet World Championships last year, LaMont is poised to make a solid run on his first Junior World Team. He will wrestle Madalin Bulgar of Romania to open his tournament at 60 kg/132 lbs. LaMont is a three-time Cadet World Team member and four-time Fargo champion.


Bey will face Ze Chen of China, who was fifth at the 2016 Junior Asian Championships, in his first match at 74 kg/163 lbs. Bey has shown a tremendous upside domestically with a fourth place finish at the Dave Schultz Memorial International this year and six top-three finishes at the USA Wrestling Cadet and Junior Nationals since 2013.


Hancock, who is third on the U.S. senior ladder, starts his second Junior Worlds journey at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. against 2016 Junior Asian Championships silver medalist Ravi Ravi of India. This year Hancock won a silver medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial International and bronze medals at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, U.S. Open and Austria Junior Open.


“Four guys that are really immersed in Greco-Roman. They’re all tough guys. They’re capable of going out there and competing with the best guys in the world. I don’t know if we’ve always had that. Tomorrow’s going to be a great test for those guys and we’ll see where we’re at,” Lindland added.


A live stream of the Junior World Championships will be provided by Flowrestling on unitedworldwrestling.tv. Viewers must purchase a FloPro membership to watch the competition live.


Tuesday’s competition will begin in France at 4 a.m. (ET) with the qualification rounds and repechage. Finals will be held at 1:30 p.m. (ET).

2016 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Aug. 30 – Sept. 4 in Macon, France


U.S. Greco-Roman draws for Tuesday

50 kg/110 lbs. – Randon Miranda, Palmdale, Calif. (NMU-OTS)

Vs. Hideto Yamaguchi (Japan)


60 kg/132 lbs. – Taylor LaMont, Mapleton, Utah (Champions WC)

Vs. Madalin Bulgar (Romania), 2014 Cadet World Team member


74 kg/163 lbs. – Kamal Bey, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Front Range WC)

Vs. Ze Chen (China), Fifth in 2016 Junior Asian Championships


96 kg/211.5 lbs. – G’Angelo Hancock, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Front Range WC)

Vs. Ravi Ravi (India), Second in 2016 Junior Asian Championships