Ben Davino wins U23 World gold at 61kg
Ben Davino outscored four opponents 32-2 to win 61kg gold in Las Vegas, Team USA's first men's freestyle title of the tournament. Jayden James took silver at 74kg and Coby Merrill bronze at 125kg.
Read the whole week in one goWelker goes 38-0 at U23s, US men's 74kg melts down
The one that matters
Davino wins U23 World gold at 61kg in Las Vegas
Ben Davino is a U23 World champion at 61kg, beating Kyrgyzstan's Iukhan Dokturbek Uulu in the final for Team USA's first men's freestyle gold in Las Vegas. Justin Basch reported the final as a 4-1 decision, while FloWrestling says Davino won by fall, so the exact finish is unclear.
That's 32-2 on the scoreboard across four matches.
Why it matters: The 2026 NCAA runner-up at 133 now carries World gold into the college season.
On the mat
Jayden James falls 5-3 in 74kg final, takes U23 silver
Penn State's Jayden James led 3-0 and lost 5-3 to Russia's Magomed Baitukaev in the U23 World final at 74kg. He pinned Iran's Ali Karampour in the semifinal and beat Moldova's Ion Marcu 7-4 in the quarters. It is his second World silver in two months after U20 silver in August, and he has not wrestled a college match yet.
Also an incredible tournament for James, who at only 18 years old has 5 more years of U23 eligibility.
Why it matters: James enters Penn State's lineup as a two-time age-group World medalist at 18.
Merrill teches Gellen 10-0 for U23 bronze at 125kg
Iowa State's Coby Merrill teched Hungary's Milan Gellen 10-0 to take bronze at 125kg in Las Vegas. He lost in the quarterfinals and came back through repechage, teching Canada's Karanveer Singh Mahil 10-0 on the way. Three of his four matches ended in tech falls.
Why it matters: Iowa State's heavyweight brings a World medal into the college folkstyle season.