USA leads Russia 180-145 with three golds left in Astana
Two American golds Sunday clinches the men's freestyle World team title, per Justin Basch.
Team USA takes a 180-145 lead over Russia into the final day of men's freestyle at the World Championships in Astana, and Justin Basch says Russia can only reach 185 at most. Two US golds Sunday ends it. So does one gold plus a Russian loss, or two Russian losses.
The Wrestling Nomad posted the full standings with one day left: USA 180, Russia 145, Iran 110, Azerbaijan 63, Japan 42, Kyrgyzstan 39, Kazakhstan 38.
Three finals, one of them head to head
Three Americans wrestle for gold Sunday morning ET, per Basch. Levi Haines meets Nokhodilarimi of Iran at 79kg, Spencer Lee faces Roman Bravo-Young of Mexico at 57kg, and Trent Hidlay draws Gadzhimagomedov of Russia at 92kg. Basch notes the Hidlay bout could settle the team race on its own, since a Russian loss in the final is one of the three clinching paths.
Basch frames the stakes plainly. The US is on the verge of its first men's freestyle World team title since 2022.
Nine medal matches
Bloodround Wrestling counted nine weights in which US men's freestyle is wrestling in a medal match, with James Green able to make it ten on the final day.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but USA Men's Freestyle is wrestling in a medal match in 9 weights and James Green could make it 10 tomorrow. Something clearly never done before and actually insane."
The American gold run in Astana already includes Bo Bassett at 65kg, who beat Tevanyan 9-1 in his senior World final (earlier).
What to watch Sunday morning ET: Hidlay against Gadzhimagomedov, the one match that can decide the team title directly, and whether Green adds a tenth US medal match.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but USA Men's Freestyle is wrestling in a medal match in 9 weights and James Green could make it 10 tomorrow. Something clearly never done before and actually insane.
Team USA is on the verge of its first Men's Freestyle World team title since 2022
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