USA beats Russia 194-185 for men's freestyle team title
Nine medals, five champions and a 42-6 record in Astana, plus the first ever US sweep of both freestyle team titles in one year.
Team USA won the men's freestyle team title at the World Championships in Astana with 194 points, ahead of Russia at 185 and Iran at 133, per USA Wrestling. It is the sixth men's freestyle team title in US history and the fourth in the last 10 years. Pair it with the women's crown from earlier in the week and the United States swept both freestyle team titles in the same year for the first time ever, per Justin Basch.
The numbers behind it are the part that will get quoted for years. USA Wrestling counted nine medals out of 10 weights and five World champions, both new American records, off a 42-6 combined record in Astana. Six US men reached the finals, the second most in American history.
Five champs and two five-timers
Kyle Snyder and Kyle Dake both became five-time World champions in Astana. Before this year, only one American man had reached five-time status in men's freestyle, Jordan Burroughs with six, per USA Wrestling. Dake, at 35, became the oldest World champion in US history.
The other golds came from the younger end of the roster. Bo Bassett won 65kg and Spencer Lee won 57kg, two results that defined the week alongside the two veterans.
The margin
Nine points separated the US and Russia at the top, with Iran a distant third at 133. Trent Hidlay's 92kg final was one of the four non-gold finishes among the six Americans who made the championship match.
Justin Basch summed up the week as one of the greatest in Team USA men's freestyle history. The sweep of both freestyle team titles is the headline number, but the nine medals from 10 weights is the one that says how deep the American roster ran in Astana. Only one US man came home without a medal.
What to watch, whether the five champions all return to the senior level next season.
5 World champions. 9 medals out of 10 weights. A 42-6 record in Astana.
Dake became the oldest World champion in U.S. history at age 35
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