The UWW junior 120kg bracket is getting a boost of talent. Jordan Wood, former cadet world silver medalist at 100kg, has registered to compete this weekend.

A few weeks ago, Rylee Streifel of Minnesota won the UWW Junior Nationals bracket. Streifiel backed up Minnesota All-American Mike Kroells this year.  

The bracket was widely recognized as lacking the upper-echelon talent it had seen in the past. Hammers like Adam Coon, Austin Marsden and Dom Bradley made the Junior World Team at 120kg. Last year, the less-heralded Nathan Butler won a junior world bronze medal at 120kg. Though guys like Streifel and Grayson have shown promise, some are skeptical about how well they can perform on the international stage. 

Wood has won just about everywhere: Fargo and FloNationals, as well as a Pennsylvania state title. Wood, who will wrestle for Lehigh next year, did not compete in April at UWW Junior Nationals.

Wood may be a tad undersized at 120kg, but he could have the skills to compensate for being an undersized, first-year UWW junior.  

Wood’s misdirection single is top-notch and he also has a great high crotch. Whether Wood can win the spot remains to be seen, but he’ll be an entertaining shot in the arm for the 120kg field.

Wood and Streifel met in the Fargo finals last summer. Wood won 10-0 off of four different takedowns.