James falls 5-3 to Baitukaev, takes U23 silver at 74kg
Second World silver in two months for an 18-year-old who has yet to wrestle a college match.
Jayden James led the U23 World final at 74kg 3-0 and lost it 5-3 to Russia's Magomed Baitukaev. The Penn State freshman takes silver in freestyle after Baitukaev mounted a second period comeback, per @globalwresorder. It is James' second World silver in two months, after U20 silver in August, and he still has not wrestled a college match.
The run
James opened qualification with a pin of Kyrgyzstan's Adilet Akylbekov, then beat Uzbekistan's Fazliddin Nasritdinov 8-0 in the round of 16. He handled Moldova's Ion Marcu 7-4 in the quarterfinal and pinned Iran's Ali Karampour in the semifinal to reach the final. Four matches, two falls, one decision allowed.
The final is the only match all tournament where anyone built a lead on him and kept it. @globalwresorder gave Baitukaev credit for the way he closed, noting the Russian has been notorious for gassing out in high stakes moments and had no conditioning issues this time.
Why it matters
James is 18 and, as @globalwresorder points out, has five more years of U23 eligibility. He has now medaled at two age-group World events in two months without a college dual on his record. @justinjbasch summed the week up as "Stock up JJ."
The silver also gives the US men's freestyle team one of its few bright spots in Las Vegas, where the age-group results drew sharp words from the coaching staff earlier in the week.
What to watch, whether James is in the Penn State lineup this season or takes a redshirt, and whether he moves up from 74kg on the senior ladder.
Also an incredible tournament for James, who at only 18 years old has 5 more years of U23 eligibility.
He’s been notorious for gassing out in high stakes moments - but that wasn’t the case here.
That's two World silver medals in two months, after U20 silver in August, and he hasn't wrestled a college match yet.
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