Graphic courtesy of The Compound - Johnstown).
Suppose you fancy yourself exclusively a NCAA Division I wrestling fan. In that case, you may not think you need to watch the 2021 UWW Cadet, 15U, and Futures Nationals World Team Trials for Men's Freestyle and Greco, in Delles, Wisconsin, this weekend, Friday-Sunday, April 23-25, 2021. However, you absolutely should watch the action. Here's why: This event is akin to a future NCAA Division I Championships and Olympic Team Trials scouting report.
Not only will these exceptional young grapplers go and represent Team USA at the Cadet World Championships later this summer – which is awesome – but there is a high probability many of these same studs will rise to the task of becoming college and Senior level stars when old enough. This very occurrence has happened multiple times over the last two decades.
Take a look at the 2021 NCAA champions
125: Spencer Lee - 2X champion, 2015 runner-up
133: Roman Bravo-Young - 2016 champion, 2X 3rd
141: Nick Lee - 2X runner-up
149: Austin O'Connor - NA
157: David Carr - 2016 champion, 2015 runner-up
165: Shane Griffith - NA
174: Carter Starocci - 5th, 3rd
184: Aaron Brooks - 2017 champion
197: AJ Ferrari - 2018 champion
285: Gable Steveson - 2X champion
As the above indicates, 80% of the 2021 NCAA champions competed in this event at least once, with 60% winning at least once.
Looking deeper, 12 total NCAA finalists placed top-eight at this weekend's event, and over 50% of All-Americans from 2021 competed in this event back in the day.
A Walk Down Memory Lane
2016 Cadet World Team
Kurt McHenry
Malik Heinselman
Aaron Cashman
Roman Bravo-Young
Vitali Arujau
Yianni Diakomihalis
David Carr
Travis Wittlake
Jacob Warner
Gable Steveson
1994 Cadet World Team
Mike Kulczycki
Eric Dunmire
Stephen Abas
Francisco Bermudez
Cael Sanderson
Joe Heskett
Scott Owen
Ronald Plienis
As history would have it, if you tune in this weekend, you'll be watching future NCAA champs and Senior World/Olympic Team hopefuls in the making.
Back to articles