About an hour ago, Team USA officially announced its lineup for the upcoming U23 World Championships - set for October in Las Vegas:
Olympic Champion Elor, Returning Champions Welker, Lilledahl Highlight U.S. Roster At 2026 Galaxy U23 World Championships | USA Wrestling
And there are several notable nuggets.
On the Men's Freestyle side, Jordan Williams (70kg) had already confirmed his inclusion. Meanwhile, in Women's Freestyle, Reese Larramendy (65kg) was all but a lock to accept her spot as well - earned by placing true-third at Final X.
But it's three other Hawkeye women that caught my eye.
Incoming freshman Everest Leydecker (55kg) has made three different World Teams (U20/U23/SR) and will apparently compete for each of them. U20's are next month in Slovakia, so that's no big deal. But U23's (Oct. 14-16) and SR's (Oct. 27-30) are less than two weeks apart - the latter being around the world in Kazakhstan.
And that U23/SR double could potentially be on tap for Kennedy Blades (68kg) and Kylie Welker (76kg) as well.
Both still have to contest delayed Final X series to secure their SR team spots - which I've been told will likely take place in Columbus, Ohio in late September.
Regardless of the result there, back-to-back U23 World champ Welker will be on this year's U23 squad. Conversely, Blades' inclusion sounds like it'll be dependent on her winning Final X.
Olympic Champion Elor, Returning Champions Welker, Lilledahl Highlight U.S. Roster At 2026 Galaxy U23 World Championships | USA Wrestling
And there are several notable nuggets.
On the Men's Freestyle side, Jordan Williams (70kg) had already confirmed his inclusion. Meanwhile, in Women's Freestyle, Reese Larramendy (65kg) was all but a lock to accept her spot as well - earned by placing true-third at Final X.
But it's three other Hawkeye women that caught my eye.
Incoming freshman Everest Leydecker (55kg) has made three different World Teams (U20/U23/SR) and will apparently compete for each of them. U20's are next month in Slovakia, so that's no big deal. But U23's (Oct. 14-16) and SR's (Oct. 27-30) are less than two weeks apart - the latter being around the world in Kazakhstan.
And that U23/SR double could potentially be on tap for Kennedy Blades (68kg) and Kylie Welker (76kg) as well.
Both still have to contest delayed Final X series to secure their SR team spots - which I've been told will likely take place in Columbus, Ohio in late September.
Regardless of the result there, back-to-back U23 World champ Welker will be on this year's U23 squad. Conversely, Blades' inclusion sounds like it'll be dependent on her winning Final X.
