Latest WIN features Final X, Fargo predictions & more

Determining the 30 wrestlers who will represent the United States this September for the 2022 UWW World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, is nearly completed and WIN Magazine was at the World Team Trials Challenge Tourney and both Final X locations in Stillwater, Okla., and New York City.

Plenty of great stories grew out this qualification process, including seeing Hayden Zillmer and Seth Gross upset former World medalists to earn their first World Team spot. And while some of the sport’s most experienced Senior-level wrestlers like Jordan Burroughs, David Taylor, Kyle Dake and Helen Maroulis earned another chance to shoot for a title at the World Championships, there will also be World Team rookies like Abigail Nette and teenager Amit Elor in women’s freestyle and Benji Peak in Greco-Roman.

In the latest issue of WIN, printed June 16, high school columnist Rob Sherrill makes his predictions for Fargo 2022, while WIN Editor Mike Finn examines the perspective on what a Worlds without Russia will be like, as the Russians are not allowed to participate this fall because of their invasion of Ukraine.

Check out some of the stories below and click here to subscribe to WIN Magazine by calling 888-305-0606.

Page 8 – GROWING INTO THE BIG TIME – Hayden Zillmer gained nearly 25 pounds over the past year and got plenty of advice from his former training partner and 2020 Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson to earn a spot on the 2022 World Team at heavyweight.

Russia’s Abdulrashid Sadulaev (left) and USA’s Kyle Snyder have met on the mat the past four years and have developed a strong friendship. This led to the Russian and some officials giving Snyder property in his home Republic of Dagestan. (Justin Hoch photo)

Page 10 – WRESTLING WITHOUT RUSSIA – As the invasion of Ukraine has jeopardized the sport’s most dominant country from competing in the 2022 Worlds, champion Kyle Snyder and former Olympian Andy Hrovat give perspective on Russia in the sport.

Page 12 – WASHINGTON NOTEBOOK  – Few wrestlers from this state had a better spring than Sienna Ramirez, who reached Final X in Stillwater, while Alexio Garcia is ready to take over the McKendree program.

Page 13 – ILLINOIS NOTEBOOK – There are nine wrestlers from the Land of Lincoln who will represent the United States in the many age-group World Championships, including Greco-veteran Max Nowry.

Page 21 – SPARTAN/WIN HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS – The Junior and 16U National Duals are over, so find out which wrestlers are ranked in the Top 25 of the 14 high school weight classes a month before the start of the freestyle/Greco nationals in Fargo, N.D.

Nik Bouzakis (left) and Jesse Mendez, who will be teammates at Ohio State, met in the 2022 U20 World Team Trials, with Mendez prevailing. Bouzakis, a native of Florida, is ranked No. 1 at 132 and Mendez of Indiana is No. 1 at 138 pounds. (Sam Janicki photo)

Page 26 – WIN’S 2022 NCAA DIV. I RECRUITING RANKINGS – Under the leadership of coach Tom Ryan, the Buckeyes’ future looks bright with the signing of three No. 1-ranked wrestlers: Nik Bouzakis, Jesse Mendez and Nicholas Feldman.

Page 28 – THE COMEBACK KID – Beginning with the World Team Trials, where Seth Gross lost his first match, the former NCAA champ from South Dakota State and Wisconsin earned his first World Team spot by rallying from big deficits.

Page 32 – RIVALRY & REDEMPTION – Jesse Thielke, who first made a name for himself by beating the likes of Spenser Mango and Ildar Hafizov in 2016, disappeared from the Greco scene until he joined them in the Army’s World Class Athlete Program.

Just 24 years old, G’Angelo Hancock (left), who beat Braxton Amos at 97 kilos in Final X NYC, has now qualified for five Worlds and one Olympics. (Justin Hoch photo)

Page 33 – GROW GRECO – Led by 2021 World bronze medalist Tracy G’Angelo Hancock, the 2022 Greco-Roman squad hopes to display a more offensive version of the style and get American fans more excited about Greco-Roman.

Page 38 – LOUISIANA COOKING – New Orleans-native Abigail Nette realizes that few wrestlers from this southern state have excelled on the international level, but is ready to make her mark at the 2022 Worlds.

Page 39 – WINNING UNDER A WATCHFUL EYE – Amit Elor may only be 18 years old, but the native of California hopes to make a big impact at the 2022 Worlds with the help of well-known coach Valentin Kalika, who helped Helen Maroulis to Olympic gold in 2016.

Page 44 – RMN EVENTS FEATURE: ADONIS LATTIMORE – Bill Barron takes a close look at this Virginia wrestler, who has embraced the meaning of his first name of “God’s Blessing” as he inspires others in winning a state title without legs.

Adonis Lattimore (left) of Landstown High School in Virginia Beach went head to head with Lake Braddock’s Korlan Tran before winning the 106-pound state title. (Funk Bullet Photography)

Also check out WIN’s columnists:

• Dan Gable points out how a new focus by Hayden Zillmer and Seth Gross led to their Final X victories;

• High school columnist Rob Sherrill makes his Fargo 2022 predictions;

• Maryland high school coach John Klessinger suggests that wrestlers need to make the most of today’s video technologies;

• Sandy Stevens points out all the special moments that made this year’s National Wrestling Hall of Fame Honors weekend memorable in Stillwater, Okla.;

• Bryan Van Kley reminds today’s coaches that they need to create opportunities for all levels of young wrestlers and not just the elite;

• Mike Finn believes Final X New York City provided a big payoff for the Beat The Streets program and showed how wrestling is a great sport for inner-city kids.