By Derik Schwanz
Special to TheMat.com

ATHENS, Greece — The first session of medal matches took place at the 2025 U17 World Championships, and Team USA Greco-Roman wrestlers fared well. Tuesday’s action ended with Michael (MJ) Rundell (48 kg) and Arseni Kikiniou (65 kg) standing on the podium with bronze medals, the first U.S. medals of the week.

In his bronze medal match against Kaisei Yamamoto of Japan, Rundell trailed 8-0 and appeared headed for defeat when a challenge from his corner overturned an exposure call, reducing the score to 6-0. He responded with urgency, countering an arm spin with a big 4-point throw to close the gap to 6-4 by the break. In the second period, he locked up a front head pinch to add another four points and went on to claim the bronze medal with a 12-6 victory.

In the morning session, Rundell beat Gurban Majnunov of Azerbaijan, 7-3 in repechage, to qualify for the bronze-medal bout.

Rundell made the most of his trip after finishing runner-up in Greco-Roman at this year’s U17 World Team Trials as part of the U.S. Open. When Ariah Mills elected to compete in freestyle only, MJ didn’t hesitate to accept the invitation to represent Team USA, one that ended with a medal around his neck.

Arseni Kikiniou also impressed in his repechage matches, showcasing excellent positioning and strong par terre defense throughout the tournament. He pinned Huseyn Isgandarov of Azerbaijan, then stopped Kyliane Eddough of France to reach the medal round.

In his bronze medal match, Kikiniou led 1-1 on criteria when Yehor Tarasenko of Ukraine launched a risky attack. Kikiniou capitalized, taking him from feet to back to seal a 5-1 win and secure his spot on the podium.

Two U.S. wrestlers in Group One who finished with 1-1 records were able to place in the top 10 of their weight classes and score team points for the USA. Alex Taylor (110 kg) placed ninth and Isai Fernandez (80 kg) placed 10th.

After the first day of Greco-Roman, which saw the completion of five weight classes, the United States stands in sixth place with 32 points. The top three after day one are Kazakhstan with 55 points, Uzbekistan with 50 points and Kyrgyzstan with 48 points.

Following the results of Group Two semifinals, David Calkins Jr. (92 kg) has been pulled back into repechage and will continue his quest for a world medal tomorrow. He opens the day in repechage against Raphael Drigues Duarte of Brazil.

Thales Silva (45 kg) has been eliminated from competition, after the opponent who beat him, Abdurrahman Huseynli of Azerbaijan, was beaten in the semifinals. Only athletes who lose to a gold-medal finalist qualify for repechage.

Greco-Roman action concludes Wednesday, as Women’s Freestyle kicks off with qualification rounds beginning at 10:00 a.m. local time. Women’s semifinal rounds at 43 kg, 49 kg, 57 kg, 65 kg, and 73 kg will begin at 5:00 p.m., followed by Greco-Roman championship finals and bronze medal matches at 45 kg, 51 kg, 60 kg, 71 kg, and 92 kg starting at 6:00 p.m.

For live results and updates from the tournament in Athens, follow along with USA Wrestling’s social channels and article updates on theMat.com.  Results, brackets, and mat assignments from the U17 World Championships are available on UWW Arena.  Fans in the U.S. can stream the event on FloWrestling.com.

U17 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Athens, Greece, July 29, 2025

Greco-Roman Group One Results

48 kg

Gold - Bunyod Hasanov (Uzbekistan)

Silver Nudaulet Kumaruly (Kazakhstan)

Bronze – MJ Rundell (USA)

Bronze – Amirmohammed Hajivandsavaki (Iran)

5th - Kasei Yamamoto (Japan), 12-6

5th - Baris Soylu (Turkey), 12-3, 2:26

7th - Zhanarbek Seiitov (Kyrgyzstan)

8th - Stanislav Ivanov (Bulgaria)

9th - Aditya Dileep Jadhav (India)

10th - Tsimafei Semianenka (UWW)

Gold - Bunyod Hasanov (Uzbekistan) dec. Nudaulet Kumaruly (Kazakhstan), tech fall 10-0, 3:53

Bronze – MJ Rundell (USA) dec.  Kasei Yamamoto (Japan), 12-6

Bronze – Amirmohammed Hajivandsavaki (Iran) tech fall Baris Soylu (Turkey), 12-3, 2:26

55 kg

Gold - Alkham Adbirasulov (Kyrgyzstan)

Silver - Nurali Askar (Kazakhstan)

Bronze – Amirreza Tahmasbpourmarzouni (Iran)

Bronze - Makhi Barotov (Tajikistan)

5th - Aditya Gupta (India)

5th - Nihat Bahmanov (Azerbaijan)

7th - Rakhman Gamidov (Ukraine)

8th - Zongyao Wu (China)

9th - Antoan Tsvetanov (Bulgaria)

10th - Lavozier Wadik Maruso (Brazil)

Gold - Alkham Adbirasulov (Kyrgyzstan) dec. Nurali Askar (Kazakhstan), 4-3

Bronze – Amirreza Tahmasbpourmarzouni (Iran) pin Aditya Gupta (India), 2:24

Bronze - Makhi Barotov (Tajikistan) dec. Nihat Bahmanov (Azerbaijan), 8-5

65 kg

Gold - Janes Nazaryan (Armenia)

Silver - Erekle Tavberidze (Georgia)

Bronze – Dosbol Shamil (Kazakhstan)

Bronze – Arseni Kikiniou (USA)

5th - Anuj (India)

5th - Yehor Tarasenko (Ukraine)

7th - Alessio Arancio (Italy)

8th - Kyliane Eddouh (France)

9th - Shohijahon Boboev (Tajikistan)

10th - Kristiyan Petkov (Bulgaria)

Gold - Janes Nazaryan (Armenia) dec. Erekle Tavberidze (Georgia), 5-4

Bronze – Dosbol Shamil (Kazakhstan) tech fall Anuj (India), 9-0, 2:48

Bronze – Arseni Kikiniou (USA) dec. Yehor Tarasenko (Ukraine), 5-1

80 kg

Gold - Abdulaziz Kholmirzaev (Uzbekistan)

Silver - Luka Martiashvili (Georgia)

Bronze - Ismail Bereket (Turkey)

Bronze - Nurislam Oskonbaev (Kyrgyzstan)

5th - Nijat Yeylagaliyev (Azerbaijan),

5th - Taha Nouri (Iran)

7th - Nestor Baran (Ukraine)

8th - Sora Tahara (Japan)

9th Stepan Danhel (Czech Republic)

10th Isai Fernandez (USA)

Gold - Abdulaziz Kholmirzaev (Uzbekistan) pin Luka Martiashvili (Georgia), 3:48

Bronze - Ismail Bereket (Turkey) tech fall Nijat Yeylagaliyev (Azerbaijan), 9-0, 1:09

Bronze - Nurislam Oskonbaev (Kyrgyzstan) dec. Taha Nouri (Iran), 3-1

110 kg

Gold - Hardeep (India)

Silver - Yazdan Reza Delrouz (Iran)

Bronze - Temuri Simsive (Georgia)

Bronze – Anatolli Novachenko (Ukraine)

5th - Hu Nuerlebieke (China)

5th - Emrulla Capkan (Turkey)

7th - Sayidamir Nematov (Uzbekistan)

8th - Baktur Sovetkhan (Kazakhstan)

9th - Alexander Taylor (USA)

10th - Umar Ormanov (Kyrgyzstan)

Gold - Hardeep (India) dec. Yazdan Reza Delrouz (Iran), 3-3

Bronze - Temuri Simsive (Georgia) dec. Hu Nuerlebieke (China), 1-1

Bronze – Anatolli Novachenko (Ukraine) dec. Emrulla Capkan (Turkey), 5-1

U.S. Greco-Roman Group One Results

48 kg – Michael (MJ) Rundell (Oak Park, Ill./The Wrestling Academy), Bronze Medal

WIN - Artem KOLOS (UKR), 10-0

LOSS - Nurdaulet KUMARULY (KAZ), 8-0

WIN - Gurban MAJNUNOV (AZE), 7-3

WIN - Kaisei YAMAMOTO (JPN), 12-6

55 kg – Alexander Pierce (Iowa City, Iowa/Big Game WC), 13th place

LOSS - Nurali ASKAR (KAZ), 8-4

LOSS - Lavozier MARUSO (BRA), 4-3

65 kg – Arseni Kikiniou (Escondido, Calif./Poway Wrestling), Bronze Medal

LOSS - Janes NAZARYAN (ARM), 4-1

WIN - Huseyn ISGANDAROV (AZE), Fall

WIN - Kyliane EDDOUH (FRA), 5-1

WIN - Yehor TARASENKO (UKR), 5-1

80 kg – Isai Fernandez (Sylmar, Calif./Titan Mercury WC), 10th place

WIN - Valentin Biserov VALENTINOV (BUL), 10-0

LOSS - Nurislam OSKONBAEV (KGZ), 8-0

110 kg – Alex Taylor (Howard, Ohio/Beast Mode Wrestling), 9th place

WIN - Essam Ibrahim Ramadan Anwar HUSSEIN (EGY), 10-1

LOSS - Denis Svetlozar LAZAROV (BUL), 3-3

Greco-Roman Team Standings (after five weight classes)

1. Kazakhstan, 55

2. Uzbekistan, 50

3. Kyrgyzstan, 48

4. Georgia, 40

5. Iran, 40

6. United States, 32

7. Ukraine, 26

8. Armenia, 25

9. Turkiye, 25

10. India, 24

Greco-Roman Group Two Finals matchups

45 kg - Kuanyshbek Zhangazhol (Kazakhstan) vs. Nurkerim Kumbarbekov (Kyrgyzstan)

51 kg - Otabek Tursunov (Uzbekistan) vs. Hikmat Hagverdiyev (Azerbaijan)

60 kg - Ali Nazarov (Iran) vs. Amangeldi Ysakbaev (Kyrgyzstan)

71 kg - Dimitrios Soulis (Greece) vs. Behruzbek Valiev (Uzbekistan)

92 kg - Kanstantsin Kasyan (UWW) vs. Amirsam Mohammadi (Iran)

Greco-Roman Group Two semifinals results

45 kg

Kuanyshbek Zhangazhol (Kazakhstan) dec. Benyamin Khezli (Iran), 8-6

Nurkerim Kumbarbekov (Kyrgyzstan) dec. Abdurrahman Huseynli (Azerbaijan), 7-0

51 kg

Otabek Tursunov (Uzbekistan) tech fall Polat Can Karadeniz (Turkiye), 10-1, 1:48

Hikmat Hagverdiyev (Azerbaijan) dec. Islam Kurbanov (Uzbekistan), 4-3

60 kg

Ali Nazarov (Iran) dec. Abolfazl Zare Eshaghi (Iran), 1-1

Amangeldi Ysakbaev (Kyrgyzstan) dec. Denys Seredin (Ukraine), 6-1

71 kg    

Dimitrios Soulis (Greece) dec. Marlen Meirbekuly (Kazakhstan), 9-8

Behruzbek Valiev (Uzbekistan) dec. Yusif Ahmadli (Azerbaijan), 9-5

92 kg

Kanstantsin Kasyan (UWW) dec. Ionut Patru (Romania), 3-1

Amirsam Mohammadi (Iran) dec. Ahmet Enes Uzun (Turkiye), 7-0

U.S. Greco-Roman Group Two Results

45 kg – Thales Silva (Clovis, Calif./SilvaBack Training Center) Eliminated

LOSS - Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE), 6-3

51 kg – Carter Shin (Fairfax, Va./Palm Wrestling Academy) Eliminated

LOSS - Pavlos TSENTIDIS (GRE), 4-2

60 kg – Will Detar (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Team Pennsylvania) Eliminated

WIN - Vlad DUMINICA (MDA), 8-7

LOSS - Humoyun ERKINOV (UZB), 7-1

71 kg – Dominic Wilson (Rockwall, Texas/Ranger 47 WC) Eliminated

LOSS - Vinit VINIT (IND), 5-1

92 kg – David Calkins Jr. (Brentwood, Calif./Liberty HS Wrestling) wrestling in Repechage

WIN - Zong Han WU (TPE), 9-0 TF

WIN - Andrija MIKULIC (CRO), 3-1

LOSS - Kanstantsin KASYAN (UWW), 7-5

Repechage - Raphael Drigues DUARTE (Brazil)