By Savannah Asmann
USA Wrestling
AMMAN, Jordan – The U.S. men’s freestyle team had a stellar day at the U17 World Championships in Amman, Jordan, as one gold and two bronze medals were secured during the medal matches. Team USA currently leads in the team standings with 67 points after day two.

Michael Mocco delivered an outstanding performance against Yedige Kassimbek of Kazakhstan in the gold medal match at 110 kg. Mocco wasted no time, immediately securing a single leg takedown and transitioning into a leg lace, turning Kassimbek four times for the 10-0 technical fall. This win secured Mocco the gold medal, and he celebrated his first World gold medal with a back flip. Mocco’s tournament saw him win all four matches by technical fall.

At 48 kg, Henry Aslikyan battled Vladyslav Kaidakov of Ukraine in the bronze medal match. Aslikyan started the match aggressively, chasing down Kaidakov and earning a 2-0 lead going into the break. In the second period, Kaidakov managed to score a point from a step out, narrowing the lead to 2-1. Despite the pressure, Aslikyan maintained defensive strength, fending off Kaidakov’s attacks as time expired. Aslikyan went 4-1 en route to a bronze medal.

Keanu Dillard, competing at 55 kg, displayed strength and control in his bronze medal match against Yukiya Kitade of Japan. Dillard took the lead early, scoring six points with a precise ankle pick that transitioned smoothly into a leg lace. He continued to build on his advantage, adding a takedown and finishing the match with a turn to secure a 10-0 technical fall.

Emmitt Sherlock faced Darius Sas of Romania in the bronze medal match at 80 kg. Sherlock started strong, scoring a takedown on the edge for a 2-0 lead. He then made a big move that initially gave him a 6-0 advantage, but after a successful challenge from the Romanian corner, the score was adjusted to 2-1. In the second period, Sas responded with a front headlock throw for four points, followed by Sherlock's counter for an exposure. However, Sas regained control, and the score moved to 8-4. Sherlock scored another takedown to close the gap to 8-6, but time ran out, and he finished in fifth place.

The United States sits atop the standings with 67 points, Iran is in second with 66 points, Kyrgyzstan sits in third place with 60 points, followed by Georgia and Kazakhstan rounding out the top five.

The action continues in Amman, Jordan, with the repechage for this final group of athletes. The day is slated to begin at 10 a.m. ET, and the medal matches will following the repechage round. All of the action can be broadcast live on FloWrestling.

For the full match-by-match results, visit UWW Arena.

2024 U17 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Amman, Jordan, August 24, 2024

Team Standings

1. United States, 67 points

2. Iran, 66 points

3. Kyrgyzstan, 60 points

4. Georgia, 52 points

5. Kazakhstan, 43 points

6. Azerbaijan, 40 points

7. Ukraine, 35 points

8. Turkiye, 29 points

9. Uzbekistan, 25 points

10. Puerto Rico, 24 points

U.S. Men’s Freestyle Results

48 kg: Henry Aslikyan (Panorama City, Calif./ Birmingham Community Charter HS Wrestling), bronze medalist

WIN Eren Yalcin (Turkey), 10-0

WIN Tsimur Selachnik (AIN), 10-0

WIN Armen Papikyan (Armenia), 12-2 tech. fall

LOSS Amirabbas Alizadeh (Iran), 6-4

WIN Vladyslav Kaidakov (Ukraine), 2-1

55 kg: Keanu Dillard (Bethlehem, Pa./Steller Trained Wrestling), bronze medalist

WIN Ryenchinpeljee Bavuudorj (Mongolia), 5-4

WIN Zorab Aloiev (Ukraine), 3:52

WIN Tundzhai Verdiev (AIN), 4-1

LOSS Kursantbek Isakov (Kyrgyzstan), 10-2

WIN Yukiya Kitade (Japan), 10-0

65 kg: Nathaniel Askew (Fayetteville, N.C./Tar Heel WC), eliminated

WIN Yeghishe Mosesyan (Armenia), 4-3

WIN David Boicea (Romania), 4-0

LOSS Bakdaulet Akimzhan (Kazakhstan), 3-0

80 kg: Emmitt Sherlock (Linthicum, Md./HeadHunters WC), fifth place

WIN Takeharu Nishihara (Japan), 11-0 tech. fall

WIN Aldat Kesaev (AIN), 2-2

LOSS Reza Afshar (Iran), 8-0

LOSS Darius Sas (Romania), 8-6

110 kg: Michael Mocco (Parkland, Fla./ ATT/Mocco Wrestling Academy), gold medalist

WIN Mukhamad Gantemirov (Azerbaijan), 16-6 tech. fall

WIN Yaraslau Kokhan (AIN), 11-0

WIN Gigia Lukunidze (Georgia), 10-0

WIN Yedige Kassimbek (Kazakhstan), 10-0

Final Rankings

48 kg

Gold – Ulugbek Rashidov (Uzbekistan)

Silver – Amirabbas Alizadeh (Iran)

Bronze – Chingis Saryglar (AIN)

Bronze – Henry Aslikyan (United States)

5 – Temuri Tutarashvili (Georgia)

5 – Vladyslav Kaidakov (Ukraine)

7 – Armen Papikyan (Armenia)

8 – Harsh Harsh (India)

9 – Andre Huarcaya Lopez (Peru)

10 – Erbol Bolotov (Kyrgyzstan)

11 – Hajihuseyn Ahmadzada (Azerbaijan)

12 – Yuki Maeda (Japan)

13 – Abderrezak Chenini (Algeria)

14 – Damir Kali (Kazakhstan)

15 – Amartuvshin Tsetsegee (Mongolia)

16 – Tsimur Selachnik (AIN)

17 – Eren Yalcin (Turkey)

18 – Daniel Negru (Moldova)

55 kg

Gold – Kursantbek Isakov (Kyrgyzstan)

Silver – Joseph Ivan Bachmann (Puerto Rico)

Bronze – Huseyn Huseynov (Azerbaijan)

Bronze – Keanu Dillard (United States)

5 – Gagik Ghazaryan (Armenia)

5 – Yukiya Kitade (Japan)

7 – Tundzhai Verdiyev (AIN)

8 – Efe Ramazan Karatas (Turkey)

9 – Yeraly Askerbek (Kazakhstan)

10 – Mate Tsinadze (Georgia)

11 – Azatberdi Ashyrgulyyev (Turkmenistan)

12 – Mokbel Sahli (Tunisia)

13 – Mohammad Musleh (Jordan)

14 – Catalin Curecheri (Moldova)

15 – Ryenchinpeljee Bavuudorj (Mongolia)

16 – Jaiveer Singh (India)

17 – Abdelghani Aid (Algeria)

18 – Arian Mehralizadeh (Iran)

19 – Zorab Aloiev (Ukraine)

20 – Shata Er Yushan (China)

21 – Artsiom Pauliuchenka (AIN)

22 – Jon Ramadani (Kosovo)

65 kg

Gold – Rustamzhan Kakharov (Kyrgyzstan)

Silver – Ramazan Abdulkadyrov (AIN)

Bronze – Umut Uslu (Turkey)

Bronze – Bakdaulet Akimzhan (Kazakhstan)

5 – Roman Pronak (Ukraine)

5 – Rati Revazashvili (Georgia)

7 – Artsiom Hohinashvili (AIN)

8 – Yasin Tayebi (Iran)

9 – Yandro Omar Soto Rivera (Puerto Rico)

10 – Nathaniel Askew IV (United States)

11 – Ahmad Arszunkaev (Hungary)

12 – Tristan Forsman Mendez (Costa Rica)

13 – Sagar Sagar (India)

14 – Khangaibayar Ganbold (Mongolia)

15 – Markus Le Roux (South Africa)

16 – Yeghishe Mosesyan (Armenia)

17 – Riccardo Bonanno (Italy)

18 – Doniyor Ibragimov (Uzbekistan)

19 – Kira Yoshida (Japan)

20 – Liam Gorton (Canada)

21 – Cristi Ceban (Moldova)

22 – David Boicea (Romania)

23 – Isa Yusibov (Azerbaijan)

24 – Keze Li (China)

24 – Mobin Zarei (Australia)

80 kg

Gold – Reza Afshar (Iran)

Silver – Nikoloz Maisuradze (Georgia)

Bronze – Darius Adrian Sas (Romania)

Bronze – Artur Kostiuk (Ukraine)

5 – Emmitt Sherlock (United States)

5 – Mahammad Abaszada (Azerbaijan)

7 – Samidullo Alimzhanov (Kyrgyzstan)

8 – Vevik Vevik (India)

9 – Beibarys Yergali (Kazakhstan)

10 – Aldat Kesaev (AIN)

11 – Omer Memedi (North Macedonia)

12 – Bunyod Rufatov (Uzbekistan)

13 – Felix Schmitt (Germany)

14 – Sahak Hovhannisyan (Armenia)

15 – Aliaksei Kuryla (AIN)

16 – Ganbat Tserenpuntsag (Mongolia)

17 – Mohamed Amine Ferchichi (Tunisia)

18 – Selahattin Can (Turkey)

19 – Yesikeer Nuerheisha (China)

20 – Takeharu Nishihara (Japan)

110 kg

Gold – Michael Mocco (United States)

Silver – Yedige Kassimbek (Kazakhstan)

Bronze – Mukhamad Gantemirov (Azerbaijan)

Bronze – Abolfazl Mohammad Nezhad (Iran)

5 – Gigia Lukunidze (Georgia)

5 – Singh Jaspooran (India)

7 – Ugur Irtegun (Turkey)

8 – Yaraslau Kokhan (AIN)

9 – Jagroop Singh Dhinsa (Canada)

10 – Yuki Yamamoto (Japan)

11 – Jaehyuk Lee (South Korea)

12 – Ali Bairamukov (AIN)

13 – Gyoergy Juhasz (Hungary)

14 – Andranik Jaghetyan (Armenia)

15 – Kyrylo Ternovyi (Ukraine)

16 – Rui Gao (China)

17 – Kareem Sheikh Yasin (Jordan)