U.S. sweeps six men’s freestyle golds to conclude 35th annual Wacław Ziolkowski Memorial

Updated: September 1, 2026

Photo: James Green (pictured at Final X in red) won the 74-kg gold medal in Poland. Photo by Matt Labelle.

By Richard Immel, USA Wrestling

WARSAW, Poland – It was a clean sweep for the U.S. men’s freestyle team on Sunday at the 35th annual Wacław Ziolkowski Memorial. Six weight classes took the mats in Warsaw, and six Americans emerged with gold medals—Luke Lilledahl, Marcus Blaze, CJ Composto, Zain Retherford, James Green and Levi Haines.

Blaze, Retherford, Green and Haines are all members of this year’s Senior World Team and used this event as a final tune-up for the World Championships being held in Astana, Kazakhstan, this October. Blaze was a U20 World champion last year, while the other three all have Senior World medals to their credit.

Retherford and Haines both earned late pins in the gold medal round after punishing their opponents with that trademark American pace.

Retherford took the 70 kg gold medal by pinning 2023 World bronze medalist Arman Andreasyan of Armenia from a single-leg attack at the buzzer, in what was a competitive one-point match before the fall sequence. This was Retherford’s first international appearance since the 2024 Olympic Games. He is a two-time World finalist and 2023 World champion.

It was a 3-3 match heading into the second period of the 79 kg final between Haines and Luka Chkhitunidze of Georgia, who earned bronze at two UWW Ranking Series events this year. Haines broke it open in the second period with a barrage of attacks and ended it with a near-side cradle at the 4:56 mark. Haines finished as runner-up at the 2025 World Championships and has reeled off three-straight international gold medals since, including a U23 World title.

Green, a two-time World medalist, earned the 74 kg title with a 2-0 win over fellow American Michael Caliendo, who was a two-time NCAA finalist at the University of Iowa. Green scored on a go-behind takedown in the first minute to notch the only points of the match. Green will compete at his eighth Senior World Championships this fall.

It was another all-U.S. showdown in the 61 kg finals. Blaze chipped away with strong underhooks and decisive attacks to down 2025 Bill Farrell Memorial International bronze medalist Kyle Burwick by 11-0 technical fall in the second period.

It was a 2-0 win for the three-time age-group World champion Lilledahl in the 57 kg finals over 2024 Olympian Darian Cruz. The only points were scored off of activity time, one in each period. Both men are 125-pound NCAA champions; Lilledahl is the reigning champion, while Cruz won his title a decade ago.

Composto won the takedown battle three to one against two-time age-group World medalist Andrii Dzhelep of Ukraine in the 65 kg finals to earn his first Senior-level gold medal. Composto was a U23 Pan American champion last year and earned three NCAA All-America honors at the University of Pennsylvania.

Battling to bronze medals were Austin DeSanto at 61 kg, Beau Bartlett at 65 kg, Cameron Amine at 74 kg and Patrick Kennedy at 79 kg. Additionally, Josh Rodriguez came in fifth place at 61 kg.

Three others finished on the outside looking in of a medal match—Dean Peterson at 57 kg, Julian Farber at 65 kg and Alec Pantaleo at 70 kg.

Complete results from the Wacław Ziolkowski Memorial are available at sportzona.pl. An archived live stream with every match can be found on the SportZona YouTube.

2026 Wacław Ziolkowski Memorial

At Warsaw, Poland, August 30

Men’s Freestyle Results

Team Ranking

1. United States, 809

2. Ukraine, 348

3. Germany, 295

4. Georgia, 267

5. Poland, 192

6. Armenia, 70

7. Hungary, 67

8. Canada, 45

T9. Puerto Rico, 40

T9. Switzerland, 40

Weight Class Ranking

57 kg

Gold – Luke Lilledahl (United States)

Silver – Darian Cruz (Puerto Rico)

Bronze – Nikoloz Botchorishvili (Georgia)

Bronze – Luka Gvinjilia (Georgia)

5^th – Niklas Stechele (Germany)

5^th – Thomas Epp (Switzerland)

7^th – Dean Peterson (United States)

8^th – Karamjeet Holstein (Germany)

9^th – Vladyslav Abramov (Ukraine)

10^th – Balazs Racz (Hungary)

Gold – Luke Lilledahl (United States) dec. Darian Cruz (Puerto Rico), 2-0

Bronze – Nikoloz Botchorishvili (Georgia) dec. Niklas Stechele (Germany), 5-3

Bronze – Luka Gvinjilia (Georgia) forfeit Thomas Epp (Switzerland)

61 kg

Gold – Marcus Blaze (United States)

Silver – Kyle Burwick (United States)

Bronze – Austin DeSanto (United States)

Bronze – Akito Mukaida (Japan)

5^th – Josh Rodriguez (United States)

5^th – Horst Lehr (Germany)

7^th – Yaroslaw Hurskyy (Ukraine)

8^th – Nika Zangaladze (Georgia)

9^th – Roberti Dingashvili (Georgia)

10^th – Nils Leutert (Switzerland)

Gold – Marcus Blaze (United States) tech. fall Kyle Burwick (United States), 11-0

Bronze – Austin DeSanto (United States) tech. fall Horst Lehr (Germany), 14-3

Bronze – Akito Mukaida (Japan) forfeit Josh Rodriguez (United States)

65 kg

Gold – CJ Composto (United States)

Silver – Andrii Dzhelep (Ukraine)

Bronze – Nico Megerle (Germany)

Bronze – Beau Bartlett (United States)

5^th – Mikheili Berdznishvili (Georgia)

5^th – Nika Zakashvili (Georgia)

7^th – Ayub Musaev (Belgium)

8^th – Julian Farber (United States)

9^th – Zoltan Mizsei (Hungary)

10^th – Nino Leutert (Switzerland)

Gold – CJ Composto (United States) dec. Andrii Dzhelep (Ukraine), 6-2

Bronze – Nico Megerle (Germany) dec. Nika Zakashvili (Georgia), 2-2

Bronze – Beau Bartlett (United States) fall Mikheili Berdznishvili (Georgia), 4:38

70 kg

Gold – Zain Retherford (United States)

Silver – Arman Andreasyan (Armenia)

Bronze – Vazgen Tevanyan (Armenia)

Bronze – Lachlan McNeil (Canada)

5^th – Marton Varga (Hungary)

5^th – Vasyl Shuptar (Ukraine)

7^th – Narek Pohosian (Ukraine)

8^th – Alec Pantaleo (United States)

9^th – Mykyta Honcharov (Ukraine)

10^th – Alexander Seiwald (Austria)

Gold – Zain Retherford (United States) fall Arman Andreasyan (Armenia), 5:59

Bronze – Vazgen Tevanyan (Armenia) forfeit Vasyl Shuptar (Ukraine)

Bronze – Lachlan McNeil (Canada) fall Marton Varga (Hungary), 0:54

74 kg

Gold – James Green (United States)

Silver – Michael Caliendo (United States)

Bronze – Saba Kobakhidze (Georgia)

Bronze – Cameron Amine (United States)

5^th – Kamil Rybicki (Poland)

5^th – Szymon Wojtkowski (Poland)

7^th – Rostislav Leicht (Germany)

8^th – Mykyta Morhun (Ukraine)

9^th – Vadym Kurylenko (Ukraine)

10^th – Jhoan Sebastian Serna Rodriguez (Colombia)

Gold – James Green (United States) dec. Michael Caliendo (United States), 2-0

Bronze – Saba Kobakhidze (Georgia) dec. Szymon Wojtkowski (Poland), 3-2

Bronze – Cameron Amine (United States) dec. Kamil Rybicki (Poland), 6-0

79 kg

Gold – Levi Haines (United States)

Silver – Luka Chkhitunidze (Georgia)

Bronze – Stas David Wolf (Germany)

Bronze – Patrick Kennedy (United States)

5^th – Giorgi Elbakidze (Georgia)

5^th – Bohdan Oliinyk (Ukraine)

7^th – Vitalii Honchar (Ukraine)

8^th – Gregor Eigenbrodt (Germany)

9^th – Vitalii Malenkov (Ukraine)

10^th – Mateusz Pędzicki (Poland)

Gold – Levi Haines (United States) fall Luka Chkhitunidze (Georgia), 4:56

Bronze – Stas David Wolf (Germany) dec. Bohdan Oliinyk (Ukraine), 5-2

Bronze – Patrick Kennedy (United States) dec. Giorgi Elbakidze (Georgia), 9-0

U.S. Men’s Freestyle Results

57 kg – Dean Peterson (Barnegat, N.J./Hawkeye WC), 7^th place

WIN Roman Hutsuliak (Ukraine), 7-1

LOSS Nikoloz Botchorishvili (Georgia), inj. def, 0:52

LOSS Luka Gvinjilia (Georgia), med. for.

57 kg – Luke Lilledahl (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC), gold medal

WIN Balazs Racz (Hungary), tech. fall, 10-0

WIN Thomas Epp (Switzerland), tech. fall, 11-0

WIN Darian Cruz (Puerto Rico), 2-2

61 kg – Marcus Blaze (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC), gold medal

WIN Yaroslaw Hurskyy (Ukraine), tech. fall, 11-0

WIN Austin DeSanto (United States), 5-0

WIN Josh Rodriguez (United States), inj. def., 3:58

WIN Kyle Burwick (United States), tech. fall, 11-0

61 kg – Austin DeSanto (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC), bronze medal

WIN Manvel Khndzrtsyan (Armenia), 8-5

LOSS Marcus Blaze (United States), 5-0

WIN Nika Zangaladze (Georgia), fall, 0:55

WIN Horst Lehr (Germany), tech. fall, 14-3

61 kg – Josh Rodriguez (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC), 5^th place

WIN Giorgi Goniashvili (Georgia), fall, 2:53

WIN Roberti Dingashvili (Georgia), 3-2

LOSS Marcus Blaze (United States), inj. def., 3:58

LOSS Akito Mukaida (Japan), med. for.

61 kg – Kyle Burwick (Hettinger, N.D./Bison WC), silver medal

WIN Nika Zangaladze (Georgia), 5-3

WIN Horst Lehr (Germany), 4-3

LOSS Marcus Blaze (United States), tech. fall, 11-0

65 kg – Beau Bartlett (Tempe, Ariz./New York City RTC/Titan Mercury WC), bronze medal

LOSS CJ Composto (United States), 7-4

WIN Bilal Bayduev (Poland), fall, 0:55

WIN Mykyta Abramov (Ukraine), tech. fall, 12-2

WIN Nino Leutert (Switzerland), tech. fall, 10-0

WIN Ayub Musaev (Belgium), tech. fall, 15-4

WIN Mikheili Berdznishvili (Georgia), fall, 4:38

65 kg – CJ Composto (Westfield, N.J./Pennsylvania RTC), gold medal

WIN Beau Bartlett (United States), 7-4

WIN Nico Megerle (Germany), 8-0

WIN Mikheili Berdznishvili (Georgia), tech. fall, 10-0

WIN Andrii Dzhelep (Ukraine), 6-2

65 kg – Julian Farber (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Panther WC RTC), 8^th place

WIN Ayub Musaev (Belgium), 12-9

WIN Mykyta Abramov (Ukraine), fall, 5:43

LOSS Nika Zakashvili (Georgia), tech. fall, 10-0

LOSS Nico Megerle (Germany), 8-6

70 kg – Zain Retherford (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC), gold medal

WIN Alec Pantaleo (United States), 8-2

WIN Narek Pohosian (Ukraine), tech. fall, 10-0

WIN Marton Varga (Hungary), fall, 0:40

WIN Arman Andreasyan (Armenia), fall, 5:59

70 kg – Alec Pantaleo (Canton, Mich./Cliff Keen WC/Titan Mercury WC), 8^th place

LOSS Zain Retherford (United States), 8-2

WIN Ismail Erzanukaev (Poland), tech. fall, 10-0

LOSS Vazgen Tevanyan (Armenia), 7-0

74 kg – James Green (Lincoln, Neb./Southeast RTC/Titan Mercury WC), gold medal

WIN Jorge Franco Gatica Hinricken (Chile), tech. fall, 11-0

WIN Mykyta Morhun (Ukraine), tech. fall, 10-0

WIN Szymon Wojtkowski (Poland), tech. fall, 10-0

WIN Michael Caliendo (United States), 2-0

74 kg – Michael Caliendo (Geneva, Ill./Hawkeye WC), silver medal

WIN Muhammad Abdurachmanov (Belgium), tech. fall, 11-0

WIN Lewis Langston (Canada), fall, 1:59

WIN Saba Kobakhidze (Georgia), tech. fall, 13-3

LOSS James Green (United States), 2-0

74 kg – Cameron Amine (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC), bronze medal

LOSS Saba Kobakhidze (Georgia), 8-2

WIN Muhammad Abdurachmanov (Belgium), 10-3

WIN Patryk Ołenczyn (Poland), tech. fall, 11-0

WIN Vadym Kurylenko (Ukraine), tech. fall, 10-0

WIN Rostislav Leicht (Germany), 4-2

WIN Kamil Rybicki (Poland), 6-0

79 kg – Levi Haines (Bellefonte, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC), gold medal

WIN Fabian Niedźwiedzki (Poland), fall, 0:29

WIN Patrick Kennedy (United States), tech. fall, 12-2

WIN Stas David Wolf (Germany), tech. fall, 11-0

WIN Luka Chkhitunidze (Georgia), fall, 4:56

79 kg – Patrick Kennedy (West Concord, Minn./Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC), bronze medal

WIN Bohdan Oliinyk (Ukraine), tech. fall, 13-2

LOSS Levi Haines (United States), tech. fall, 12-2

WIN Vitalii Honchar (Ukraine), tech. fall, 13-2

WIN Giorgi Elbakidze (Georgia), 9-0