By Taylor Gregorio
USA Wrestling
BELGRADE, Serbia – The USA had a perfect morning, sending all three of today’s men’s freestylers to the semifinals of the 2022 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, on Friday, including Thomas Gilman, Kyle Dake and J’den Cox, all past World champions and Olympic bronze medalists. Three-time World champion Kyle Dake collected three wins this morning, including a 44-second pin in the 74 kg quarterfinals, where he used a massive five-point throw to secure the fall.

In the semis, Dake will face 2019 World bronze medalist and 2017 U23 World bronze medalist Yones Emamichoghaei from Iran.

Two-time World champion J’den Cox, who won bronze at last year’s Worlds, began his quest to the top of the 92 kg podium with back-to-back shutout technical falls over opponents from China and Poland, 10-0 and 11-0.

Tonight, Cox will take on the other returning World bronze medalist at the weight, Osman Nurmagomedov of Azerbaijan, who also won gold at the 2021 U23 Worlds.

Reigning World champion Thomas Gilman collected an 11-0 tech fall over 2016 European champion Georgii Okorokov, who transferred to Australia, followed by a 5-1 win against 2017 Asian silver medalist Zanabazar Zandanbud from Mongolia.

For a spot in the 57 kg finals, Gilman will battle 2018 U23 World bronze medalist Wanhao Zhou of China.

Semifinals begins at 5 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET) followed by medal matches at 6 p.m. (noon ET) live on FloWrestling. Follow along for live updates on Twitter @USAWrestling.

For more information on the 2022 Senior World Championships, visit USA Wrestling’s Special Section.

SENIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sept. 10-18, 2022 | Belgrade, Serbia

Men’s freestyle draws
57 kg: Thomas Gilman (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC) – semifinals
WIN Georgii Okorokov (Australia), 11-0
WIN Zanabazar Zandanbud (Mongolia), 5-1
vs. Wanhao Zhou (China), 2018 U23 World bronze medalist

74 kg: Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y./Spartan Combat RTC/Titan Mercury WC) – semifinals
WIN Islambek Orozbekov (Kyrgyzstan), 10-0
WIN Suldkhuu Olonbayar (Mongolia), 12-2
WIN Sagar Jaglan (India), fall 0:44
vs. Yones Emamichoghaei (Iran), 2019 Senior World bronze medalist, 2017 U23 World bronze medalist

92 kg: J’den Cox (Ann Arbor, Mich./Michigan RTC/Titan Mercury WC) – semifinals
WIN Yuxiang Bi (China), 10-0
WIN Radoslaw Marcinkiewicz (Poland), 11-0
vs. Osman Nurmagomedov (Azerbaijan), 2021 Senior World bronze medalist, 2021 U23 World champion

Schedule (local time is 6 hours ahead of U.S. ET)
Friday, Sept. 16
10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (MFS 57, 74, 92 kg)
10:30 a.m. – Repechage (MFS 70, 79, 86, 125 kg)
4:45 p.m. – Semifinals (MFS 57, 74, 92 kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (MFS 70, 79, 86, 125 kg)

Saturday, Sept. 17
10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (MFS 61, 65, 97 kg)
10:30 a.m. – Repechage (MFS 57, 74, 92 kg)
4:45 p.m. – Semifinals (MFS 61, 65, 97 kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (MFS 57, 74, 92 kg)

Sunday, Sept. 18
4:30 p.m. – Repechage (MFS 61, 65, 97 kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (MFS 61, 65, 97 kg)