Forrest Delivers Gold Medal, Men’s Freestyle Wins U23 World Team Title

NOVI SAD, Serbia – Team USA ended the 2025 U23 World Championships with fireworks. High school sensation Jax Forrest emerged with a highlight reel, 17-14, win in the 61 kg gold medal match to collect his first age-group World gold and propel the U.S. men’s freestyle team to first place in the team ranking.

Men's College Notebook: Five Teams Looking To Rise Up This Season

Not only are these teams looking to make a push into the top 10 this upcoming year, but they could also vie for a team trophy by placing in the top four.

Forrest Reaches U23 World Championships Men's Freestyle Finals

NOVI SAD, Serbia – A fourth finalist in men’s freestyle is on the board for Team USA at the 2025 U23 World Championships. Jax Forrest picked up his third technical fall of the day to advance to the 61 kg gold medal final.

Two-time age-group World champion Marcus Blaze at 65 kg, Rocco Welsh at 86 kg and Garavous Kouekabakilaho at 97 kg were dealt a bad hand in the semifinal round and were not pulled back into the tournament. Forrest will be the only group three wrestler for Team USA to advance to Monday’s medal round.

Olympic Champions Maroulis, Varner Among RAF 02 Winners at Penn State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The second Real American Freestyle card delivered 10 top-tier bouts featuring past and present U.S. wrestling icons, international headliners and even some influencer flavor on Saturday night at Bryce Jordan Center on the campus of Penn State University.

Mesenbrink Strikes Gold, Janiak Bronze

NOVI SAD, Serbia – The U.S. secured its second individual title of the week at the 2025 U23 World Championships with Mitchell Mesenbrink’s remarkable run through the 74 kg men’s freestyle field.

Also scoring a medal for Team USA was Alexis Janiak, who kept her cool throughout a 17-17 win in the 59 kg women’s freestyle bronze medal match against returning bronze medalist Olha Padoshyk of Poland.

Lilledahl, Haines to Men's Freestyle Finals at U23 World Championships

NOVI SAD, Serbia – After a flawless morning session, Team USA punched two athletes through to the men’s freestyle finals on Saturday night at the U23 World Championships—two-time age-group World champion Luke Lilledahl at 57 kg and World silver medalist Levi Haines at 79 kg. 

Team USA Sweeps Saturday Morning Session at U23 World Championships

NOVI SAD, Serbia – Team USA stood out on every front during the Saturday morning session at the 2025 U23 World Championships. The six Americans in action went undefeated, building an 11-0 record as a unit, with four men’s freestylers advancing to the semifinals and two women qualifying for the bronze medal round. 

Mesenbrink Stuns World champ to Reach U23 World Finals; Barr, Gonzalez, Janiak to Repechage

NOVI SAD, Serbia – Wisconsin native Mitchell Mesenbrink continued his hot streak on Friday evening at the U23 World championships with a memorable last-second win over Senior World champion Yoshinosuke Aoyagi of Japan to book a spot in the 74 kg men’s freestyle final. 

Three Americans were granted new life following the semifinal round, getting pulled into tomorrow’s repechage—Brianna Gonzalez at 53 kg and Alexis Janiak at 59 kg in women’s freestyle, plus Josh Barr at 92 kg in men’s freestyle. All three need one win tomorrow morning to qualify for the bronze medal round.