The Cadet World Championships begin Monday in Sofia, Bulgaria. Freestyle starts the action off on Monday with five USA wrestlers taking the mats. Earlier today, the opening draws and brackets were released.

Below is the schedule for the week followed by the paths for our first group.

Team USA Cadet Men's Freestyle Schedule

48KG - Stevo Poulin, NY

Opening Bout - Nurdaulet Bazarbaev (KAZ)

Bazarbaev has just one entry in a UWW major. He took 2nd at this weight at the Asian Championships to Iran's Rahman Amouzadkhalil. Because they are young and light, there is little data on most of the other guys in the field.

Also in Poulin's Half - Poulin would hit Amouzadkhalil in a potential quarterfinal. He won Cadet Worlds last year at 45kg. Amouzadkhalil opens with a tough Georgian in Niko Santaladze. Asian Champ Yuno Nishiuchi (JPN) is also up top.

Bottom Half - Although neither have posted results from major UWW events, Russia and Azerbaijian meet in the first round and figure to have strong reps. 

55KG - Robert Howard, NJ

Opening Bout - Making his third straight Cadet Worlds appearance, Howard opens Norik Harytunyan (ARM) who was 5th in Howard's bracket last year. 

Also in Howard's Half - Iran's Mahdi Veisi is also making his third Cadet World appearance. He placed 7th at 42kg before taking 5th at 48kg last year. But Howard wouldn't hit him toll semi's. Howard's likely second round bout will be Bulgaria's Ruhan Rasim was 0-1 in his bracket last year. 

Bottom Half - All four Euro medalist are down below. Simone Piroddou (ITA) won it this year and was Bronze at Worlds last year. Turkey's Karavus (Euro Silver) and Georgia's Abulashvili (Euro Bronze) meet first round. Piroddou would have the winner in round 3 providing he gets past the other Euro Bronze, Bayramov (AZE) in the second round.

Also down below is Asian Champ Aman (IND). Piroddou is the only one with previous world experience.

65KG - Ryan Sokol, MN

Opening Bout - Ryan opens with Moldova's Vintila who is making his UWW major debut. He didn't wrestle at Euros.

Also in Sokol's Half - Outside of Russia, most of the power nation's are down on the bottom with Sokol - Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and Mongolia. Amir Motaghi (IRI) was the Asian Champ. Gadhizev (AZE), who was Silver at Euro's behind Russia's #2, will have Motaghi in R2. 

Sokol should cruise in R1 and have Georgia's Euro Bronze medalist Davit Patsinashvili. That's the big one. Get by that and his path to semi's is favorable before getting Motaghi or Gadzhiev. 

Top Half - BatyrbekTskhovrebov of Russia is the man to beat up top. Though he lost at the Euro Youth Olympic Festival to Gadzhiev. No one else up top has much of a resume.

80KG  - Clayton Ulrey, PA

Opening Bout - Farid Jabbarov (AZE) last wrestled at a UWW major in 2017 where he was U15 Euro Bronze.

Also in Ulrey's Half - Although there are many power countries down below, many don't have pertinent medal results. It's mostly young an unproven. 

Two Euro Bronzes - Rakhim Magamodov (FRA) and Davit Kogoushvili (GEO) meet in first round with Russia's Arlan Bagaev awaiting.

Ulrey's second round match would likely be against Bekzat Amangali (KAZ), the Asian runner-up.

Top Half - Iran's Asian Champ Amir Firouzpoour is the head honcho up top. Canada's Ismail Ayyoub, who won Pan Am's is also up there. 

110KG - Hunter Catka, PA

Opening Bout - Misirci (TUR) who didn't wrestle at Euro's.

Also in Catka's Half - Catka's second bout will be Marius Uja (MDA) who was 5th at Euro's or Chikhradze (GEO) who was 8th there. The contenders for the other semi slot include the Asian Runner-Up Islam Tagirov (KAZ) and Euro 5th Wisniewski (POL).

Top Half - Really tough group in the top four pairing. Asian Champ Salar Habib (IRI) plus both Euro Bronze's - Nasibli (AZE) and Mchedlidze (UKR). Russia's rep is also in the top bracket.