The U.S. held a record of 12-1 in men’s freestyle in the first session of the day on Friday at the 2024 U17 World Championships in Amman, Jordan. Four athletes advanced to the semifinals, while one remains eligible for repechage as all five men’s freestyle athletes are in medal contention.

At 48 kg, Henry Aslikyan was a force in all three of his preliminary matches, opening his tournament with a 10-0 win over Eren Yalcin of Turkey. He continued his dominance against Individual Neutral Athlete Tsimur Selachnik, capitalizing on an attack to score a takedown, then locking up the leg lace to lead 6-0. A scramble ended with Aslikyan on top, and he rolled through Selachnik to secure another 10-0 technical fall.

Aslikyan then faced Armen Papikyan of Armenia in the quarterfinals. After taking an early lead, Aslikyan took full control in the second period, earning a 12-2 technical fall and advancing to the semifinals.

Keanu Dillard's journey to the semifinals was marked by grit at 55 kg. In a thrilling opening match against Ryenchinpeljee Bavuudorj of Mongolia, Dillard ultimately pulled ahead 5-4 after a crucial challenge from the U.S. corner in the final seconds of the match reversed a call that scored a takedown in Bavuudorj’s favor.

Dillard carried that momentum into his next match against Zorab Aloiev of Ukraine, where he pinned Aloiev with just eight seconds left on the clock. He then faced Individual Neutral Athlete Tundzhai Verdiev in a tense quarterfinal bout. Dillard secured a 4-1 victory, earning a spot in the semifinals.

In the 80 kg bracket, Emmitt Sherlock began his tournament with an 11-0 technical fall victory over Takeharu Nishihara of Japan, a match highlighted by an impressice five-point move on the edge that set the tone for the rest of the match.

Sherlock’s strength continued in his quarterfinal against Individual Neutral Athlete Aldat Kesaev. In a narrow match, Sherlock scored a crucial step out in the final seconds to win 2-2 on criteria, advancing to the semifinals and keeping himself in the hunt for gold.

Michael Mocco, competing at 110 kg, displayed two dominant performances to advance to the semifinal round. He began with a high-scoring 16-6 technical fall over Mukhamad Gantemirov of Azerbaijan. Despite a back-and-forth start, Mocco’s relentlessness saw him pull ahead to secure the victory.

Mocco then battled Individual Neutral Athlete Yaraslau Kokhan, where he continued his ways with an 11-0 technical fall. Mocco’s combination of strength and technical precision has been essential to his success in the first session of the day.

Nathaniel Askew's day saw him hold a 2-1 record at 65 kg. He began strong, grinding out a 4-3 victory over Yeghishe Mosesyan of Armenia, applying late pressure that secured the win. Askew then advanced to the quarterfinals with a 4-0 win over David Boicea of Romania, where he controlled the pace throughout the match.

However, in the quarterfinals, Askew faced Bakdaulet Akimzhan of Kazakhstan in a tough match. Akimzhan’s defense held strong in the bout, and Askew fell 3-0. Though his path was cut short, Askew remains in contention if Akimzhan wins the semifinal and reaches the gold medal match.

Action in Amman continues at 10 a.m. ET, with men’s freestyle semifinals, followed by women’s freestyle medal matches. All the action will be broadcast live on FloWrestling.

2024 U17 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Amman, Jordan, August 23

Men’s freestyle Semifinal Pairings

48 kg

Henry Aslikyan (United States) vs. Amirabbas Alizadeh (Iran)

Chingis Saryglar (AIN) vs Ulugbek Rashidov (Uzbekistan)

55 kg

Keanu Dillard (United States) vs. Kursantbek Isakov (Kyrgyzstan)

Huseyn Huseynov (Azerbaijan) vs. Joseph Bachmann (Puerto Rico)

65 kg

Bakdaulet Akimzhan (Kazakhstan) vs. Rustamzhan Kakharov (Kyrgyzstan)

Umut Uslu (Turkiye) vs. Ramazan Abdulkadyrov (AIN)

80 kg

Emmitt Sherlock (United States) vs. Reza Afshar (Iran)

Nikoloz Maisuradze (Georgia) vs. Artur Kostiuk (Ukraine)

110 kg

Michael Mocco (United States) vs. Gigia Lukunidze (Georgia)

Abolfazl Nezhad (Iran) vs. Yedige Kassimbek (Kazakhstan)

U.S. Men’s Freestyle Results

48 kg: Henry Aslikyan (Panorama City, Calif./ Birmingham Community Charter HS Wrestling), in semifinals

WIN Eren Yalcin (Turkey), 10-0

WIN Tsimur Selachnik (AIN), 10-0

WIN Armen Papikyan (Armenia), 12-2 tech. fall

Vs. Amirabbas Alizadeh (Iran)

55 kg: Keanu Dillard (Bethlehem, Pa./Steller Trained Wrestling), in semifinals

WIN Ryenchinpeljee Bavuudorj (Mongolia), 5-4

WIN Zorab Aloiev (Ukraine), 3:52

WIN Tundzhai Verdiev (AIN), 4-1

Vs. Kursantbek Isakov (Kyrgyzstan)

65 kg: Nathaniel Askew (Fayetteville, N.C./Tar Heel WC), eligible for repechage

WIN Yeghishe Mosesyan (Armenia), 4-3

WIN David Boicea (Romania), 4-0

LOSS Bakdaulet Akimzhan (Kazakhstan), 3-0

80 kg: Emmitt Sherlock (Linthicum, Md./HeadHunters WC), in semifinals

WIN Takeharu Nishihara (Japan), 11-0 tech. fall

WIN Aldat Kesaev (AIN), 2-2

Vs. Reza Afshar (Iran)

110 kg: Michael Mocco (Parkland, Fla./ ATT/Mocco Wrestling Academy), in semifinals

WIN Mukhamad Gantemirov (Azerbaijan), 16-6 tech. fall

WIN Yaraslau Kokhan (AIN), 11-0

Vs. Gigia Lukunidze (Georgia)

Aslikyan, Dillard, Sherlock, Mocco advance to semifinals; Askew eligible for repechage in men’s freestyle at U17 World Championships

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