Claudio Torres holds the stop sign award after winning the Junior Boys 165-pound title at the 2025 Air Force Special Warfare 16U and Junior Folkstyle Nationals.
Claudio Torres named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare
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by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
Claudio Torres (Orlando, Fla./Spartan RTC at LHP) has been named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week, presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare, on March 19, 2025.
Torres put on an exceptional performance in one of the deepest weight classes at the 2025 Air Force Special Warfare 16U and Junior Folkstyle Nationals held at MidAmerican Energy Complex RecPlex in West Des Moines, Iowa, over the weekend. He posted a 6-0 record with several impressive wins to claim the 165-pound title in the Junior Boys division.
The first day of wrestling in Iowa went through the quarterfinal round, with Torres winning four bouts, three of which came by bonus points. He capped the day with a 4-1 sudden victory win over three-time Iowa state champion and 2023 USA Wrestling Triple Crown winner Kyler Knaack of Iowa.
Torres had to go through two returning champions on the second day of competition to finish the job. In the semifinals, Torres edged up-and-comer Steel Meyers of Texas, who took top prize at 16U last year, by 4-1 decision. The championship match saw Torres control returning Junior champion Taye Wilson of Kansas, 10-4. Wilson is a three-time Kansas high school state champion.
The standout representing Spartan RTC at Lake Highland Preparatory School in Orlando, is a four-time All-American at the 16U and Junior Nationals held annually in Fargo, N.D., twice at the Junior level and twice in the 16U division. Last summer he was seventh in Junior freestyle at 157 pounds. Torres also owns a seventh-place finish from the 2023 U17 Freestyle Nationals in Las Vegas.
To browse every result from the 2025 Air Force Special Warfare 16U and Junior Folkstyle Nationals, please visit USA Bracketing.
To nominate a wrestler for this honor please email the athlete's name, wrestling program, weekly accomplishments, and career accolades to communications@usawrestling.org.
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