Senior World Championships preview/thread

[Tanner Lafever]

My preview for Iowa's entries at the World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan:

Hawkeye trio heads to Kazakhstan for World Championships

At long last, the culmination of the 2026 international wrestling season has arrived – and with it, a trio of Hawkeyes are set to compete at its most

www.on3.com

Kennedy Blades (68kg) and Everest Leydecker (55kg) will get things started in Women's Freestyle. And Spencer Lee (57kg) will round things out in Men's Freestyle.

Here's the schedule for week ahead:

Wednesday, October 28

• 12:30 a.m. – Qualification Rounds (Blades)
• 6:30 a.m. – Semifinals (Blades)

Thursday, October 29

• 12:30 a.m. – Qualification Rounds (Leydecker), Repechage (Blades)
• 6:30 a.m. – Semifinals (Leydecker)
• 8:00 a.m. – Medal Matches (Blades)

Friday, October 30

• 12:30 a.m. – Repechage (Leydecker)
• 8:00 a.m. – Medal Matches (Leydecker)

Saturday, October 31

• 12:30 a.m. – Qualification Rounds (Lee)
• 6:30 a.m. – Semifinals (Lee)

Sunday, November 1

• 6:30 a.m. – Repechage (Lee)
• 8:00 a.m. – Medal Matches (Lee)

 

[HollisterHawk]

Friday night west coast time?! Bout to get the house rockin!! My poor wife with her lame husband.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Friday night west coast time?! Bout to get the house rockin!! My poor wife with her lame husband.

#WorldChampionshipsAfterDark

 

[OklahomaChief32]

Serious question, why should people think what happened last year in the below with Spencer is unlikely to happen again/believe he will win worlds this year?

 

[sdvike]

Bring it home Spencer.

 

[Corby2]

Serious question, why should people think what happened last year in the below with Spencer is unlikely to happen again/believe he will win worlds this year?

Anything can happen it's a wrestling match. He's the #2 seed with the points system. And he's one the few guys who could win it. I like his chances. Looks like you made a new name to post that not sure it's the dig you seem to think

 

[LIV4GOD]

Serious question, why should people think what happened last year in the below with Spencer is unlikely to happen again/believe he will win worlds this year?

This is your first message? Get out of here.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Serious question, why should people think what happened last year in the below with Spencer is unlikely to happen again/believe he will win worlds this year?

If you have to preface something with "Serious question", why should people think that you're actually asking a serious question?

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Blades wins with ease in the Round of 16 against an overmatched German foe:



She advances to the quarters, where she'll faced 2021 World champ (and 2x Olympic medalist) Meerim Zhumanazarova (Kyrgyzstan).

Meanwhile, on the topside of Blades' half of the bracket, 2x reigning champ Ami Ishii (Japan) gets pinned in her first match - which really opens things up for everyone in the field.

(Ishii beat Blades 12-1 a year ago at this event.)

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Blades loses in the quarters, squandering a 3-0 lead in the final minute:



Zhumanazarova didn't sniff a score for the first five minutes of action, but Blades got a little sloppy on a go-behind attempt - allowing her opponent to re-shoot a double, followed by a pair of exposures that flipped the entire match.

She'll need Zhumanazarova to win in the semis later this morning (~6:30am CT) in order to be pulled into repechage.

 

[HawkeyeInOlathe]

Serious question, why should people think what happened last year in the below with Spencer is unlikely to happen again/believe he will win worlds this year?

Really you’re gonna make your first post here to bump your chest? Just like every other insecure red earth person I know.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Blades catches a break as her quarterfinal opponent uses another late scoring sequence to reach the 68kg final:



She now needs two wins tomorrow to secure back-to-back World bronze - starting with a bout against a 4x age-level medalist from India.

 

[vhsalum]

Serious question, why should people think what happened last year in the below with Spencer is unlikely to happen again/believe he will win worlds this year?

 

[Corby2]

World Championships 2026 Freestyle Brackets | United World Wrestling

World Wrestling Championships 2026 Freestyle brackets were released for all 10 weight categories in Astana.

uww.org

 

[Corby2]

Spencer will have Iran early round 2

Blaze should win 2 then Iran 1/4

I like Bassett spot he can beat Biabani then 1/4 with russia

Zain has Muskaev round 2 I like his spot

Green has Russian round 2 and Iran 1/4

Levi 1/4 Khaniev Russia

Dake 1/4 Ghasempour or Ramazonov Olympic champ

Trent tough 1/4 Tcokaev but should win and Iran in semi

Snyder 1/4 Sadulaev

Wyatt has #3 Sharipov if he wins he can make semis against zare

We have so many good 1/4 matches that will be the make or break round for team USA.

7 tough 1/4 plus

Spencer sees Iran before 1/4
Zain sees Muskaev before 1/4
Wyatt has #3 right away

 

[HawkAlum2002]

RBY teched the Iranian at Zagreb before he lost to Spencer in the final via injury (but in the spin cycle to get teched at the time), so hopefully Spencer takes care of business. But styles make fights so transitive property doesn't mean much all the time in wrestling.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Here’s the path for Spencer:


It’s Worlds - so nothing is a given (as we’ve seen already this week). But there’s nothing about this draw that strikes immediate fear.

Asian champion Valizadeh (Iran) in the R16 is notable. But his World showings since placing 8th at SRs in 2023 are U23 bronze last year and U20 8th in 2024.

Next up, a QF vs either Vladimir Egorov (Macedonia) or Abubabkar Mutaliev (Russia) is likeliest.

Egorov was 5th a year ago, but got teched quickly by Spencer back in 2024. He’s also never medalled in eight previous World/Olympic trips - including a 13-3 loss to Mutaliev in 2021.

Mutaliev took 5th that year, losing 6-4 in the bronze medal match after getting pinned in the 1st period by Thomas Gilman. He hasn’t competed at a major international tournament since.

As for the favored semifinal matchup(s):

Lee has crushed #6 Darian Cruz (former NCAA champ) before in freestyle, and #3 seed Islam Bazarganov (Azerbaijan) was the European champ this year after going bronze/bronze in 2024-25.

Bazarganov has never placed better than 12th at SR Worlds, however - doing so at 61kg in 2022 before taking 15th at 57kg last year.

 

[dtripp26]

Here’s the path for Spencer:
View attachment 1505675

It’s Worlds - so nothing is a given (as we’ve seen already this week). But there’s nothing about this draw that strikes immediate fear.

Asian champion Valizadeh (Iran) in the R16 is notable. But his World showings since placing 8th at SRs in 2023 are U23 bronze last year and U20 8th in 2024.

Next up, a QF vs either Vladimir Egorov (Macedonia) or Abubabkar Mutaliev (Russia) is likeliest.

Egorov was 5th a year ago, but got teched quickly by Spencer back in 2024. He’s also never medalled in eight previous World/Olympic trips - including a 13-3 loss to Mutaliev in 2021.

Mutaliev took 5th that year, losing 6-4 in the bronze medal match after getting pinned in the 1st period by Thomas Gilman. He hasn’t competed at a major international tournament since.

As for the favored semifinal matchup(s):

Lee has crushed #6 Darian Cruz (former NCAA champ) before in freestyle, and #3 seed Islam Bazarganov (Azerbaijan) was the European champ this year after going bronze/bronze in 2024-25.

Bazarganov has never placed better than 12th at SR Worlds, however - doing so at 61kg in 2022 before taking 15th at 57kg last year.

Not gonna feed the troll, but curious what happened to Hartunayan that he's not in the field this year...

 

[Corby2]

Not gonna feed the troll, but curious what happened to Hartunayan that he's not in the field this year...

61kg

 

[BroncHawk]

Here’s the path for Spencer:
View attachment 1505675

It’s Worlds - so nothing is a given (as we’ve seen already this week). But there’s nothing about this draw that strikes immediate fear.

Asian champion Valizadeh (Iran) in the R16 is notable. But his World showings since placing 8th at SRs in 2023 are U23 bronze last year and U20 8th in 2024.

Next up, a QF vs either Vladimir Egorov (Macedonia) or Abubabkar Mutaliev (Russia) is likeliest.

Egorov was 5th a year ago, but got teched quickly by Spencer back in 2024. He’s also never medalled in eight previous World/Olympic trips - including a 13-3 loss to Mutaliev in 2021.

Mutaliev took 5th that year, losing 6-4 in the bronze medal match after getting pinned in the 1st period by Thomas Gilman. He hasn’t competed at a major international tournament since.

As for the favored semifinal matchup(s):

Lee has crushed #6 Darian Cruz (former NCAA champ) before in freestyle, and #3 seed Islam Bazarganov (Azerbaijan) was the European champ this year after going bronze/bronze in 2024-25.

Bazarganov has never placed better than 12th at SR Worlds, however - doing so at 61kg in 2022 before taking 15th at 57kg last year.

Lots of -ovs/-evs

 

[HollisterHawk]

No Aman Aman at 61. What's with that guy?!

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Not gonna feed the troll, but curious what happened to Hartunayan that he's not in the field this year...

As @Corby2 said, he ‘fed’ himself all the way up to 61kg.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

No Aman Aman at 61. What's with that guy?!

Not sure, but he’s Out Out for this tournament.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Lots of -ovs/-evs

Yes, indeed.

 

[HollisterHawk]

Amen missed weight at worlds last year, wins the Asian Games at 57 kg beating the reigning world champ. Is listed to go 61 then disappears. Fascinating lol. Aman Aman, Man of Mistery.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Alright, estimated start times for tomorrow are as follows:

At 12:30am (CT), Kennedy Blades leads off the session on Mat A against 4x age-level medalist Srishti Srishti (India). With a win, Blades will secure a spot in the bronze medal match.

And at ~2:10am, Everest Leydecker (also on Mat A) begins her first World Championships with a match against 2022 bronze medalist Karla Godinez Gonzalez (Canada).

Here’s everyone who will be competing for Team USA on Thursday:

 

[Corby2]

Amen missed weight at worlds last year, wins the Asian Games at 57 kg beating the reigning world champ. Is listed to go 61 then disappears. Fascinating lol. Aman Aman, Man of Mistery.

Saw something recently about him losing 7kg after asians and needing to gain weight and he was gonna take worlds off to get healthy. Said 2027 and 2028 Olympics were the focus.

Found it

Aman Sehrawat to Miss World Championships, Coach Says He is Over 7Kg Down

Asian Games champion Aman Sehrawat will skip the World Wrestling Championships in Astana after losing over 7kg during his gold medal-winning campaign in Nagoya, with coach Shako Bentinidis prioritising recovery ahead of the Olympic qualification cycle., Sports, Times Now

www.timesnownews.com

 

[HollisterHawk]

Saw something recently about him losing 7kg after asians and needing to gain weight and he was gonna take worlds off to get healthy. Said 2027 and 2028 Olympics were the focus.

Found it

Aman Sehrawat to Miss World Championships, Coach Says He is Over 7Kg Down

Asian Games champion Aman Sehrawat will skip the World Wrestling Championships in Astana after losing over 7kg during his gold medal-winning campaign in Nagoya, with coach Shako Bentinidis prioritising recovery ahead of the Olympic qualification cycle., Sports, Times Now

www.timesnownews.com

Damn! Nice pull!! You're the man!!

 

[Corby2]

Damn! Nice pull!! You're the man!!

Crazy he was 54kg (119) he better see a DR

 

[HollisterHawk]

Crazy he was 54kg (119)

That's was definitely a quality X-Lax job. He was NOT missing weight believe you me!

 

[WillieTheBrain]

Serious question, why should people think what happened last year in the below with Spencer is unlikely to happen again/believe he will win worlds this year?

well, primarily because Arsen is at 61kg. any more brainbusters?

 

[sdvike]

Welp, Blades in a couple hours, hope I can make it.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Blades gets the easy TF win to start her day:



She’ll wrestle for bronze later this morning (8:00am CT session) against 2023 World silver medalist Delgermaa Enkhsaikhan (Mongolia).

 

[Boomhawk52]

Bo being Bo. Pins the 3 seed Canadian

 

[Boomhawk52]

Watching high level matches, it's all effective go behinds so far

 

[Boomhawk52]

Kadeuv(sp?) nice leg lift scramble to win by TF. Fun to watch.

 

[Boomhawk52]

Here comes Ev!

 

[Boomhawk52]

World bronze against her. She is long and hand fighting. Her dad in corner. 2 passivity on her. Point against her.

 

[Boomhawk52]

Red passivity. End of first. Not us

 

[Boomhawk52]

She hasn't shot yet. Pushing now. Russian tie... nothing. Red on clock. Fighting and EV gets one. Russian tie. Another call on red. Still on our side. Red shoots, under EV. Fresh start. Red in on shot and defends and wins!