The 2023 U17 World Championships is live on FloWrestling from July 31-August 6. The men’s freestyle competition is August 4-6 at the Başakşehir Gençlik ve Spor İlçe Müdürlüğü Tesisleri in Istanbul, Turkey.

Below is the 10-member men's freestyle roster along with biographical information, results from the best-of-three World Team Trials series, and key credentials. The full men's schedule is listed below the biographies. 

Ignacio Villasenor
Weight: 45 kg
Hometown: Longmont, Colorado
High School: Pomona
Grade: Entering ninth
Club: Pomona Elite
Instagram: @ignaciovill4636

What you need to know: Villasenor is a three-time Kickoff champion and a three-time Reno World champ who has won eight Colorado state age-level titles. He is currently ranked #2 at 106 pounds nationally. 

Championship Series: Villasenor over Kavin Muyleart, 2-0
Match 1: Villasenor dec. Muyleart, 6-2
Match 2: Villasenor tech. fall Muyleart, 11-0

Paul Kenny
Weight: 48 kg
Home state: NJ
High School: Christian Brothers
Grade: entering ninth grade
Instagram: @paulkenny_1

What you need to know: He is currently ranked #1 at 106 pounds nationally. 

Championship series: Kenny over Grey Burnett, 2-0
Match 1: Kenny dec. Burnett, 5-3
Match 2: Kenny dec. Burnett, 7-2

Christian Castillo
Weight: 51 kg
Hometown: Glendale, Arizona
High School: Valiant Prep
Grade: entering eleventh
Club: Thorobred WC
Instagram: @crissy_day_kid

What you need to know: Castillo made both U17 World teams last year and won a silver in freestyle at 48 kg prior to winning the 113-pound Super 32 title. He is currently ranked #1 nationally at 113 pounds. 

Championship series: Castillo over Seth Mendoza, 2-0
Match 1: Castillo dec. Mendoza, 3-1
Match 2: Castillo dec. Mendoza, 8-5

Marcus Blaze
Weight: 55 kg
Hometown: Perrysburg, Ohio
High School: Perrysburg
Grade: entering eleventh
Club: Perrysburg WC
Instagram: @123marcus

What you need to know: Blaze is a two-time Ohio state champion, a 2022 16U National champion, a 2021 Ironman champion, and an eight-place finisher at 2022 Super 32. He is ranked #1 nationally at 126 pounds.

Championship Series: Blaze over Anthony Knox, 2-0
Match 1: Blaze dec. Knox, 3-2
Match 2: Blaze dec. Knox, 4-2

Benjamin Davino
Weight: 60 kg
Hometown: St. Charles, Illinois
High School: St. Charles East
Grade: entering twelfth grade.
Club: St. Charles WC
Instagram: @bdavino22

What you need to know: Davino won titles at Fargo, Who's Number One, Super 32, and Ironman last season, and is a three-time Illinois state champion. He is currently ranked #3 nationally at 132 pounds and has committed to Ohio State. 

Championship Series: Davino over Jax Forrest, 2-0
Match 1: Davino dec. Forrest, 5-1
Match 2: Davino dec. Forrest, 8-1

Brock Mantanona
Weight: 65 kg
Hometown: Palm Desert, California
High School: Palm Desert
Grade: entering twelfth grade.
Club: Coachella Valley WC
Instagram: @mock_brantanona 

What you need to know: Mantanona is a two-time Fargo finalist — placing second in the 16U division in 2021 and first in 2022 — and a 2022 Super 32 finalist. He is ranked #7 nationally at 145 pounds and is committed to Michigan. 

Championship Series: Mantanona over Kollin Rath, 2-0
Match 1: Mantanona dec. Rath, 12-4
Match 2: Mantanona tech. fall Rath, 10-0

Ladarion Lockett
Weight: 71 kg
Hometown: Stillwater, Oklahoma
High School: Stillwater
Grade: entering twelfth grade
Club: Cowboy WC
Instagram: @deemoneylockett

What you need to know: Lockett won a 2022 16U National title and a 2021 Ironman title. He is ranked #4 nationally at 152 pounds. 

Championship Series: Lockett over Vince Bouzakis, 2-0
Match 1: Lockett dec. Bouzakis, 3-3
Match 2: Lockett dec. Bouzakis, 7-2

Zack Ryder
Weight: 80 kg
Hometown: State College, Pennsylvania    
High School: Minisink Valley
Grade: entering twelfth grade
Club: M2 Training Center
Instagram: @zackryder.5

What you need to know: Ryder was a bronze medalist at the 2022 U17 World Championships and a 2021 16U National champion. He is currently ranked #2 at 182 pounds and is committed to Penn State. 

Championship Series: Ryder over De'alcapon Veazy, 2-0
Match 1: Ryder dec. Veazy, 4-1
Match 2: Ryder tech. fall Veazy, 10-0

Aeoden Sinclair
Weight: 92 kg
Hometown: Milton, Wisconsin
High School: Milton
Grade: entering twelfth grade
Club: Askren Wrestling Academy
Instagram: @aeoden_sinclair97

What you need to know: Sinclair won the 2022 16U Nationals following a third-place finish in 2021 and reached the finals of last year’s Super 32. Sinclair is currently ranked #4 nationally at 195 pounds and is committed to Missouri. 

Championship Series: Sinclair over Dreshaun Ross, 2-0
Match 1: Sinclair dec. Ross, 3-3
Match 2: Sinclair fall Ross, 1:08

Sampson Stillwell
Weight: 110 kg
Hometown: Centerview, Missouri
High School: St. Michael The Archangel
Grade: entering eleventh grade
Club: Kobra Kai Training
Instagram: @sampsonstillwell

What you need to know: Stillwell is a two-time Missouri state champion who won a 2022 16U Greco National title and finished third in freestyle. He is currently ranked #13 nationally at 285 pounds. 

Men's freestyle schedule (local time in Istanbul, 7 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone)

Friday, August 4

11:00 a.m. – Qualification Rounds (MFS 48-55-65-80-110 kg)

5:00 p.m. – Semifinals (MFS 48-55-65-80-110 kg)

Saturday, August 5

11:00 a.m. – Qualification Rounds (MFS 45-51-60-71-92 kg), Repechage (MFS 48-55-65-80-110 kg)

5:00 p.m. – Semifinals (MFS 45-51-60-71-92 kg)

6:00 p.m. – Championship Finals (MFS 48-55-65-80-110 kg)

Sunday, August 6

4:30 p.m. – Repechage (MFS 45-51-60-71-92 kg)

6:00 p.m. – Championship Finals (MFS 45-51-60-71-92 kg)