Would y'all like some stats/facts? My records go back to 2003:
- Nine medals is a modern record for the US U20 men, surpassing the eight won last year. In 2017, with only eight weights, Team USA won seven medals with three golds.
- Luke Lilledahl became the third wrestler to win U17s and U20, after a couple guys named Spencer Lee and Mark Hall. Both obviously became NCAA champs and Lee won Olympic silver this year.
- Lilledahl also won his fourth age-group medal (silver/gold at both U17s and U20). Daton Fix I think is the only other man to do that, with a U17 bronze and 1 gold, 2 bronze at U20s.
- Last but not least, Lilledahl also became the third Missourian to win U20s after Rocky Elam (2021) and Dom Bradley (2009)
- Both 70kgs and 97kgs have had a US medalist the last four years, the longest active streak for any weight.
- Rademacher is the first medalist with Oregon listed as his hometown.
- Keuter is the first man to go gold and then silver in his two appearances. Lilledahl and Mesenbrink did the opposite in their appearances.
Honestly, what a fantastic team. Nine medals with a fifth, five finalists, and I think seven of the ten guys eligible for another year of U20s. If I was a betting man, I'd put a couple bucks on one of these 10 men being a 2028 Olympian and more than a couple on one being a 2032 Olympian.
Going through the list who could make the Olympic teams in years to come, looking at 2028:
57: Luke Lilledahl - Interested to see if he stays at 57 for life or not. I imagine he's got some growing left to do, so hopefully he can break the 65 KG curse for us at the olympics, but in 2028 he'll most likely have to compete against the next guy. Also Spencer would only be 29 by 2028 and honestly after his olympic run it's his weight to lose
61: Marcus Blaze - Blaze will more than likely be 65KG by the time 2028 rolls around and there's a good chance he grows into that weight and makes some noise. Could he break the 65KG Curse? Blaze Making the National Team is impressive!
65: Bo Bassett - At 20/21 Years old could he make the olympic team at 65KG ?... Man 65KG for 2028 is starting to look interesting... Along the same lines as the others though, I just can't pick him to beat Yianni or Zain by 2028.
70KG: PJ Duke - He's going to be in the most congested weight class for America at 74KG in 2028. I just don't see how he navigates past our current 74KG Reps, let alone adding in Carr and O'Toole.
74KG: Ladarion Lockett- He's going to have the same problem as Duke, but I'd give him the edge over a match with Duke. Still don't think he makes it in 2028 just because of his weight class.
79KG: Zack Ryder - If he cuts to 74 he runs into the same problem as the last 2. If he bulks to 86 he runs into olympic bronze medalist Aaron Brooks... Either way he's not making it out in 2028
86KG: Josh Barr - Oh look, a Penn State Guy who's good ar 86KG, never seen that before. Now that would be interesting to see if he could replicate what Brooks did to Taylor, to Brooks, but again just don't see that happening from a guy who will be 24 in 2028... could be wrong though.
92KG: Connor Mirasola - Dude will be 22 in 2028 and also has that fun choice of cutting down to 86 or bumping up to 97. Either way you're more than likely wrestling an olympic medalist to make the team. He'll for sure medal at World's for U20's the next couple of years (unless this year he turns 19), but again don't think he makes 2028
97KG: Justin Rademacher - What a great weekend for the young beaver! Kollin Moore won a bronze medal at U20's and that ultimately propelled him into being one of Ohio State's better wrestlers. I wonder if the same happens for Rademacher. I see the same thing happening for him in 2028 at the OTT as it has for Kollin where he just can't get past Snyder
125: Ben Keuter- Ben has to put on some pretty good size to be able to hang with Parris and Gwiz. I don't see him beating Parris, and in fact I see Kerkvliet being our 125KG rep in LA
I think unfortunately for these guys, the next generation of US Greats is ready for 2028, and these guys won't crack it until 2032
