Voelker takes fifth at U20 World Championships
8/19/2023 2:02:00 PM | Wrestling
AMMAN, Jordan --- UNI's Wyatt Voelker closed out his Greco-Roman season on Saturday representing the United States at the United World Wrestling (UWW) U20 World Championships with a fifth place finish in the 87-kilogram bracket.
Voelker, a Manchester, Iowa native entering his second year with the Panthers, opened the 31-man competition with a 10-0 win over Yhlas Abdurazakov (Turkmenistan) in the opening round before scoring a 6-3 victory against Mohit Khokhar (India). The first Greco-Roman loss of the year would come for Voelker in the quarterfinal round in a 7-1 loss to Abolfazl Choubani (Iran), but the Panther would bounce back in the consolations with a 3-2 win over Ivaylo Ivanov (Bulgaria) to advance to the bronze medal bout. Voelker would struggle to establish top position against Vigen Nazaryan (Armenia), dropping his final match of the championships to finish in fifth place.
Voelker finishes his summer on the Greco-Roman competition circuit with a 13-2 record and winner of three titles. In May, he clinched the U.S. Open title after a 4-0 performance in Las Vegas before earning his spot to Amman in the U.S. World Team Trials with a title in Geneva, Ohio in June. In his most recent outing, Voelker took home gold for the United States at the U20 Pan American Championships in July in Santiago, Chile with another 4-0 performance.
In his first collegiate season with UNI this past year, Voelker posted a 14-4 record with tournament titles at Grand View, Iowa State and UNI, as well as a title as an unattached wrestler at the Soldier Salute. Rattling off a 13-match win streak to begin his UNI career, he made his collegiate debut against No. 19 Luke Surber (Oklahoma State), finishing the year with two pins and three wins by major decision.
VOELKER U20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
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W - Yhlas Abdurazakov (Turkmenistan), 10-0 VSU
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W - Mohit Khokar (Indiana), 6-3 VPO1
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L - Abolfazl Choubani (Iran), 7-1 VPO1
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W - Ivaylo Ivanov (Bulgaria), 3-2 VPO1
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L - Vigen Nazaryan (Armenia), 7-0 VPO
Players Mentioned
