By Zack Chavez
USA Wrestling

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Ridge Lovett, who was the Idaho winner of the National Wrestling Wrestling Hall of Fame's Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award in 2019, and Will Lewan reached the podium on day one of the 2026 Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial, the fourth United World Wrestling Ranking Series event of the year. Lovett won gold at 70 kg, while Lewan claimed bronze at 74 kg, closing Wednesday’s men’s freestyle action at BOK Hall in Budapest, Hungary.

Lovett cruised through the 70 kg bracket, earning shutouts in two of his three wins on the way another international title. After two wins in the opening session, he turned his attention to Georgia’s Akaki Kemertelidze, a 2026 European bronze medalist, in the finals. Lovett controlled Kemertelidze from the opening whistle, quickly building a 4-0 lead in the first minute with a takedown and a turn. He added another takedown with 30 seconds left in the opening period, giving him the 6-0 lead that he carried to the final whistle.

Lewan made quick work of Türkiye’s Muhammed Besir in his medal match, earning a fall in just under two minutes. After locking up a tight headlock, Lewan took Besir down for a 2-0 lead. Besir countered the position and wrapped up Lewan’s legs in an attempt to turn him, but Lewan calmly  sat into the position, reversed it and finished the pin to secure the bronze.

Lovett’s gold medal marks his second international gold medal of the year, following his Pan American Championships title in May, and his first title at a Ranking Series event. Lewan’s bronze medal marks his second international medal of 2026 and his first since the Grand Prix de France Henri Deglane in January.

The U.S. men’s freestyle team returns to action on Thursday, with four athletes—Dustin Plott (92 kg), Jacob Cardenas (97 kg), Mason Parris (125 kg) and Demetrius Thomas (125 kg)—taking the mats. Women’s freestyle also begins on Thursday with the 50 kg and 55 kg weight classes. Qualification rounds begin at 10:30 a.m. local time/4:30 a.m. ET.

A live stream of the Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial will be available to the U.S. audience through FloWrestling. Brackets and updated results will be hosted on UWW Arena.

2026 Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial Ranking Series 

At Budapest, Hungary, July 15-19 

Quick Links   

Events Website

Brackets and Results

Live Stream

Men’s Freestyle Results 

Weight Class Rankings  

57 kg  

Gold – Aman (India)

Silver – Roberti Dingashvili (Georgia)

Bronze – Nurdanat Aitanov (Kazakhstan)

Bronze – Meirambek Kartbay (Kazakhstan)

5th – Timothy Levine (Canada)

5th – Islam Bazarganov (Azerbaijan)

7th – Rahul (India)

8th – Merey Bazarbayev (Kazakhstan)

9th – Wanhao Zou (China)

10th – Aryan Tsiutryn (Belarus)

Gold – Aman (India) tech. fall Roberti Dingashvili (Georgia), 13-3

Bronze – Nurdanat Aitanov (Kazakhstan) dec. Timothy Levine (Canada), 6-2

Bronze – Meirambek Kartbay (Kazakhstan) dec. Islam Bazarganov (Azerbaijan), 6-1

61 kg  

Gold – Assyl Aitakyn (Kazakhstan)

Silver – Tolga Ozbek (Türkiye)

Bronze – Deepak (India)

Bronze – Adilet Almukhamedov (Kazakhstan)

5th – Nuraddin Novruzov (Azerbaijan)

5th – Giorgi Goniashvili (Georgia)

7th – Assylzhan Yessengeldi (Kazakhstan)

8th – Georgii Okorokovv (Australia)

9th – Ramaz Turmanidze (Georgia)

10th – DOM Maximilian Leete Benzan (Dominican Republic)

Gold – Assyl Aitakyn (Kazakhstan) dec. Tolga Ozbek (Türkiye), 2-2

Bronze – Deepak (India) dec. Nuraddin Novruzov (Azerbaijan), 9-8

Bronze – Adilet Almukhamedov (Kazakhstan) dec. Giorgi Goniashvili (Georgia), 6-5

65 kg  

Gold – Shamil Mamedov (Bulgaria)

Silver – Abbas Ebrahimzadehsavadkouhi (Iran)

Bronze – Vishal Kaliramana (India)

Bronze – Nachyn Kuular (Kazakhstan)

5th – Ossimzhan Dastanbek (Kazakhstan)

5th – Kumar Mohit (India)

7th – Peiman Biabani (Canada)

8th – Khamzat Arsamerzouev (France)

9th – Rashid Babazade (Azerbaijan)

10th – Stefan Coman (Romania)

Gold – Shamil Mamedov (Bulgaria) tech. fall Abbas Ebrahimzadehsavadkouhi (Iran), 12-0

Bronze – Vishal Kaliramana (India) dec. Ossimzhan Dastanbek (Kazakhstan), 8-2

Bronze – Nachyn Kuular (Kazakhstan) tech. fall Kumar Mohit (India), 12-2

70 kg  

Gold – Ridge Lovett (United States)

Silver – Akaki Kemertelidze (Georgia)

Bronze – Ebrahim Elahichouran (Iran)

Bronze – Tulga Tumur Ochir (Mongolia)

5th – Kanan Heybatov (Azerbaijan)

5th – Sanzhar Doszhanov (Kazakhstan)

7th – Maiis Aliyev (Kazakhstan)

8th – Iszmail Muszukajev (Hungary)

9th – Islam Dudaev (Albania)

10th – Ahmet Duman (Türkiye)

Gold – Ridge Lovett (United States) dec. Akaki Kemertelidze (Georgia), 6-0

Bronze – Ebrahim Elahichouran (Iran) dec. Kanan Heybatov (Azerbaijan), 6-5

Bronze – Tulga Tumur Ochir (Mongolia) dec. Sanzhar Doszhanov (Kazakhstan), 8-2

74 kg  

Gold – Feng Lu (China)

Silver – Nurkozha Kaipanov (Kazakhstan)

Bronze – Murad Kuramagomedov (Hungary)

Bronze – William Lewan (United States)

5th – Ibragim Veliev (Belgium)

5th – Muhammed Besir (Türkiye)

7th – Giorgi Elbakidze (Georgia)

8th – Sagar Jaglan (India)

9th – Magomedrasul Asluev (Bahrain)

10th – Taimuraz Salkazanov (Slovakia)

Gold – Feng Lu (China) dec. Nurkozha Kaipanov (Kazakhstan), 3-3

Bronze – Murad Kuramagomedov (Hungary) tech. fall Ibragim Veliev (Belgium), 11-0

Bronze – William Lewan (United States) fall. Muhammed Besir (Türkiye), 1:55

86 kg  

Gold – Vladimeri Gamkrelidze (Georgia)

Silver – Rakhim Magamadov (France)

Bronze – Alperen Atar (Türkiye)

Bronze – Tornike Samkharadze (Georgia)

5th – Nan Cao (China)

5th – Abylaikhan Uzembayev (Kazakhstan)

7th – Joshua Morodion (Germany)

8th – Rustem Myrzagaliyev (Kazakhstan)

9th – Lucas Kahnt (Germany)

10th – Krisztian Biro (Romania)

Gold – Vladimeri Gamkrelidze (Georgia) med. forfeit Rakhim Magamadov (France)

Bronze – Alperen Atar (Türkiye) dec. Nan Cao (China), 5-3

Bronze – Tornike Samkharadze (Georgia) tech. fall Abylaikhan Uzembayev (Kazakhstan), 12-2

U.S. Men’s Freestyle Results  

65 kg – Beau Bartlett (Hoboken, N.J./New York City RTC)  

LOSS Nika Zakashvili (Georgia), dec., 5-2

70 kg – Ridge Lovett (Post Falls, Idaho/Nebraska WTC/Titan Mercury WC), gold medal  

WIN Ebrahim Elahichouran (Iran), dec., 9-4

WIN Kanan Heybatov (Azerbaijan), fall, 2:36

WIN Akaki Kemertelidze (Georgia), dec., 6-0

74 kg – Will Lewan (Naperville, Ill./Cliff Keen WC/Titan Mercury WC), bronze medal 

WIN Asluev Magomedrasul (Bahrain), dec., 4-4

LOSS Nukozha Kaipanov (Kazakhstan), dec., 4-0

WIN Darkhan Yessengali (Kazakhstan), dec. 7-5

WIN Muhammed Besir (Türkiye), fall, 1:55