U.S. draws set for CISM World Military Championships in Yerevan, Armenia

YEREVAN, Armenia – The draws have been released for the 37^th CISM World Military Wrestling Championships in Yerevan, Armenia, November 20-22. This event features athletes from around the world who are military personnel in active duty. It is a traditionally strong event with a number of past World medalists.

The United States will have a full team of 10 wrestlers in Greco-Roman, plus six in women’s freestyle and one in men’s freestyle. The draw was released in all three Olympic disciplines. All of the U.S. athletes this year are members of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program.

U.S. athletes competing on Wednesday include Greco-Roman athletes SPC Dalton J. Roberts (60 kg), SGT Ildar S. Hafizov (63 kg), SGT Xavier T. Johnson (67 kg) and SPC Justus R. Scott (77 kg) plus women’s freestyle athlete SPC Nina Pham (50 kg).

Wrestling on Thursday will be Greco-Roman athletes SPC William D. Sullivan (55 kg), SGT Alejandro Sancho (72 kg), SPC Kamal A. Bey (82 kg), plus women’s freestyle athletes SGT Areana L. Villaescusa (55 kg), SPC Abigail E. Nette (59 kg) and SPC Adaugo Nwachuchkwu (62 kg).

CPT Jeremiah B. Imonode will compete in both freestyle at 125 kg and Greco-Roman at 130 kg on Friday. Also wrestling on Friday for the USA are Greco-Roman wrestlers SPC Spencer Woods (87 kg) and SPC Timothy Young (97 kg) plus women’s freestyle athletes SPC Sienna Ramirez (65 kg) and SPC Tristan Kelly (76 kg).

The U.S. Greco-Roman effort is led by Olympians Hafizov, Sancho and Bey, plus past Senior World Team members Roberts, Johnson and Woods.

The women’s freestyle team includes past Senior World Team members Villaescusa and Nette, plus age-group World Team member Nwachukwu, Ramirez and Kelly. All six U.S. women will compete in round robin brackets, and will have three or more matches in their weight class.

37^th CISM World Military Wrestling Championships

At Yerevan, Armenia, November 20-22

U.S. Greco-Roman draw

55 kg – SPC William D. Sullivan, U.S. Army

Vs. S Kiyanoush (Iran), no information available

60 kg – SPC Dalton J. Roberts, U.S. Army

Vs. Aidos Sultangali (Kazakhstan), 2024 Olympian, 2018 and 2022 World bronze medalist, 2021 Asian champion

63 kg – SGT Ildar S. Hafizov, U.S. Army

Vs. Rayan Hawsawi (Saudi Arabia), 3^rd in 2023 Arab Championships, 3x U23 World Team member

67 kg – SGT Xavier T. Johnson, U.S. Army

Vs. Faisal Aldossory (Saudi Arabia), 6^th in 2024 Asian U23 Championships, 6^th in 2023 Arab Championships, 2^nd 2023 World Combat Games

72 kg – SGT Alejandro Sancho, U.S. Army

Vs. Jose Luis O (Colombia), no information available

77 kg – SPC Justus R. Scott, U.S. Army

Vs. Yunus Basar (Turkey), 2022 World bronze medalist, 2024 European silver medalist, 2016 U23 European champion

82 kg – SPC Kamal A. Bey, U.S. Army

Vs. Winner of Burhan Akbudak (Turkey) and R Rahul (India)

Akbudak – 2022 World champion, 2021 World silver medalist, 2024 Olympian, 5^th 2023 World Championships, 2023 European champion, 2017 U23 World champion

Rahul – 3^rd 2019 Asian U20 Championships,

87 kg – SPC Spencer Woods, U.S. Army

Vs. K. Marjan (Albania), no information available

97 kg – SPC Timothy Young, U.S. Army

Vs. Muhitdin Sorlaicek (Turkey), 3^rd in 2023 European U23s, 2018 U20 World bronze medalist

130 kg -CPT Jeremiah B. Imonode, U.S. Army

Group B Round robin opponents

Davit Ovasapyan (Armenia) – 2^nd 2021 CISM Military Worlds, 3^rd 2019 U23 World Championships

Alimkhan Sydzykov (Kazakhstan) -8^th in 2024 Olympics, 3^rd in 2023 Asian Games, 2022 Asian champion,

U.S. Women's freestyle draw

50 kg – SPC Nina Pham, U.S. Army

Roundrobin opponents

Byambasuren Munkhnaran (Mongolia) – 5^th 2020 Asian Championships, 2014 U17 World bronze medalist

Svetlana Ankicheva (Kazakhstan) – 2019 Asian U23 silver medalist, 2016 U20 World silver medalist

Svenja Jungo (Switzerland) – 2024 U20 World bronze medalist, 2024 European U20 silver medalist

55 kg – SGT Areana L. Villaescusa, U.S. Army

Roundrobin opponents

Munkhbolt Dulguun (Mongolia) – 2021 Asian champion, 2^nd 2014 Youth Olympic Games

Jyoti (India) – 5^th 2024 U20 Worlds, 2^nd in 2023 Asian U20 Championships

Marina Sedneva (Kazakhstan) – 2023 Asian bronze medalist, 2019 U23 World bronze medalist, 2016 U20 World silver medalist

59 kg – SPC Abigail E. Nette, U.S. Army

Roundrobin opponents

Batorshikh Bolor Erdene (Mongolia) – 5^th 2019 CISM World Military Games

Kateryna Zhydachevska (Romania) – 5^th 2024 European Championships, 5^th 2018 World Championships

Erika Bognar (Hungary) – 2023 European silver medalist, 2019 European U20 silver medalist

Ae Jhon Jun (North Korea) – no information available

62 kg – SPC Adaugo Nwachuchkwu, U.S. Army

Roundrobin opponents

Ameline Douarre (France) – 2024 Olympian, 2023 European U23 silver medal

Annatina Lippuner (Switzerland) – 7^th 2023 U20 Worlds, 2^nd 2023 European U20s

Tuliya Pisarenka (Belarus) – 5^th 2019 U23 Worlds,

Amina Roxsana Capezan (Romania) -2023 European U23 champion

65 kg – SPC Sienna Ramirez, U.S. Army

Roundrobin opponents

Kateryna Zelenykh (Romania) – 2024 World silver medalist, 2021 U23 World silver medalist, 2022 and 2024 U23 World bronze medalist

Laura Godino (Italy) – 5^th 2024 European U23 Championships, 7^th 2022 U23 Worlds

Bhateri (India) – 2021 U20 World silver medalist,  2^nd 24 Asian U23 Championships, 3^rd 2022 Aisan U23 Championships,

Bayaraa Maitsetseg (Mongolia) – 10^th 2021 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix

76 kg – SPC Tristan Kelly, U.S. Army

Roundrobin opponents

Enkhmar Davaansan (Mongolia) – no information available

Gulmaral Yerkebayeva (Kazakhstan) – 2018 U23 World bronze medalist, 2022 Asian bronze medalist, 2013 CISM Military World Games bronze medalist,

Reetika (India) – 7^th 2024 Olympics, 2021 U23 World champion, 2022 U20 World bronze medalist

U.S. Men’s Freestyle draw

125 kg -CPT Jeremiah B. Imonode, U.S. Army

Vs. Jan Morteza (Iran) – no information available

Competition schedule

Wednesday, November 20

Men’s Freestyle: 57 kg, 61 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg

Greco-Roman: 60 kg, 63 kg, 67 kg, 77 kg

Women’s Freestyle: 50 kg, 53 kg

Thursday, November 21

Men’s Freestyle: 74 kg, 79 kg, 86 kg

Greco-Roman: 55 kg, 72 kg, 82 kg

Women’s Freestyle: 55 kg, 57 kg, 59 kg, 62 kg

Friday, November 22

Men’s Freestyle: 92 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg

Greco-Roman: 87 kg, 97 kg, 130 kgWomen’s Freestyle: 65 kg, 69 kg, 72 kg, 76 kg