2019 UWW Worlds Preview: Sept. 14-15
The following is a closer look at the 2019 World Greco-Roman team that will compete Sept. 14-15 in the UWW World Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. Each weight will take place on two days; matches through semifinals on day 1, beginning at 1 a.m. EDT, and placement matches on day 2, repechage bouts beginning at 1 a.m. EDT and placement matches at 10 a.m. EDT. All matches can be found at Trackwrestling.com.
55 K / 121 pounds
Max Nowry
Max Nowry qualified for his first World by beating Brady Koontz at Rutgers Final X. Justin Hoch photo.
Bio: Age 29 (born March 16, 1990); native of Wheeling, Ill.; resident of Colorado Springs, Colo.; U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program; Member of USOEC in Northern Michigan
International Experience: First Senior World tournament; also competed in 2013 World University Games (dnp), 2012 University Worlds (gold), 2010 University Worlds (9th), 2010 Junior Worlds (5th), 2009 Junior Worlds (6th)
2019 Final X: defeated Brady Koontz (Ohio RTC) in best-of-three matches, 3-0, 11-5, at Rutgers.
Projected Top 4 Seeds by UWW: 1. Eldaniz Azizli (Azerbaijan), ’18 World gold; 2. Ilkhom Bakhromov (Uzebekistan), ’19 Asian gold; Nugzari Tsurtsumia (Georgia), ’18 World bronze; 4. Abelkarim Fergat (Algeria), ’19 African gold.
63 K / 138.75 pounds
Ryan Mango
Ryan Mango (top) joins his older brother Spenser, a former World Team member, as members of his family to compete at this level in Greco-Roman. (Tim Tushla photo)
Bio: Age 28 (born Aug. 17, 1991); native of St. Louis, Mo.; resident of Colorado Springs, Colo.; U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program; 2-time All-American at Stanford; younger brother of eight-time World/Olympic wrestler Spenser Mango.
International Experience: first Senior World tournament; also finished second in 2013 World Team Trials and third in 2016 Olympic Trials.
2019 Final X: defeated Xavier Johnson (U.S. Marine Corps) in best-of-three matches, 11-2, 6-5, in Lincoln.
Projected Top 4 Seeds by UWW: 1. Stepan Maryanyan (Russia), ’18 World gold; 2. Erbatu Tuo (China), ’19 Asian gold; Shinobu Ota (Japan), ’16 Olympic silver; 4. Slavik Galstyan (Armenia), ’18 World 8th.
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72 K / 158.5 pounds
Raymond Bunker
Raymond Bunker (left) is one of two Marines to compete on the Greco-Roman World Team this year. (Tim Tushla photo)
Bio: Age 25 (born April 26, 1994); native of Bensonville, Ill.; resident of Camp LeJeune, N.C., U.S. Marine Corps; attended Harper Junior College
International Experience: First Senior World tournament
2019 Final X: defeated Alex Mossing (Air Force RTC) in best-of-three matches, 3-1, 7-0, in Lincoln, Neb.
Projected Top 4 Seeds by UWW: 1. Aik Mnatsakanian (Bulgaria), ’18 World bronze; 2. Balint Korpasi (Hungary), ‘18 World silver, ’17 World bronze, ’16 World gold; 3. Abulazid Mantsigov (Russia), ’18 World fifth place; 4. Hujun Zhang (China), ’19 Asian silver.
82 K / 180.5 pounds
Jon Stefanowicz
Jon Stefanowicz beat Kendrick Sanders for a spot on the 2019 USA Greco-Roman World team. (Justin Hoch photo)
Bio: Age 27 (born Sept. 20, 1991); native of Fawn Grove, Pa.; resident of Camp LeJeune, N.C.; U.S. Marine Corps; attended Kennard-Dale High.
International Experience: First Senior World tournament
2019 Final X: defeated Kendrick Sanders (NYAC) in best-of-three matches, 8-5, 3-2, at Rutgers.
Projected Top 4 Seeds by UWW: 1. Emrah Kus (Turkey), ’18 World silver; 2. Viktar Sasunouski (Belarus), ’18 World bronze; 3. Saeid Abdvali (Iran), ’16 Olympic and ’17 World bronze; 4. Rajbek Bisultanov (Denmark), ’18 U23 World silver.
