The U.S. Junior Team is in Tallin, Estonia for the World Championships, which begin tomorrow at 3:30 AM ET.

The freestylers bat lead off with former World Medalists Vito Arujau (2016 Cadet Silver) and Aaron Brooks ('17 Cadet World Champ, '18 Junior World Silver) going on Day 1 with Yahya Thomas, Brayton Lee, and Tanner Sloan also in action.

On Tuesday, 2016 Cadet Bronze Medalist David Carr takes the mat with teammates Gabe Tagg, Trent Hidlay, Lucas Davison, and Mason Parris.

U.S. Junior freestyle has experience great results over the last five years, medaling as a team in three of them and within the Top 5 every year.

Recent US Freestyle Placings

2019 Estonia World Championship Freestyle Schedule

Day 1 Opening Mat Assignments

Bracket Breakdowns

57 KG - Vito Arajau, NY

Opening Bout - Giorgi Gegelashvili (GEO)

Gegalshvili was bronze at Cadets in 2016 in the 42kg bracket won by Kurt McHenry and then runner-up at Worlds to McHenry the next year. 

Also in Arajau's Half - Vito will likely have Patil (IND), the Asian Runner-Up in the next round. The semi's will almost certainly present Vito with the returning Junior World Champ Akhmed Idrisov (RUS).

65KG - Yahya Thomas, IL

Opening Bout - Adilet Zhaparkulov (KGZ)

Kyrgyzstan often sends wrestlers to Juniors as their first international experience, so not much is known about him. KGZ sent another rep to Asians. 

Also in Thomas' Half - Yahya is in the loaded bottom half. Bayramov (AZE), who Yayha would have in the second round, is among the biggest favorites in the bracket. He won Cadets last year, was a runner-up in Cadets in 2017, and won Euro's this year. Also down below is returning Junior Silver medalist at this same weight, Amir Maghsoudi (IRI), who Yahya would see in the quarters. 

70KG - Brayton Lee, IN

Opening Bout - TBD

Lee will await the winner of AZE and ISR. Ashraf Ashirov (AZE) was 8th at Cadet Worlds last year.

Also in Lee's Half - Brayton is probably looking at Diacon of Moldova in the quarters. He was Bronze at this weight in last year's Junior Worlds (Brady Berge was the other Bronze) and backed it up with a Euro title this summer. 

The likely semi's opponent from the bottom quad is Firouzpour (IRI) who won Euros.

79KG - Aaron Brooks, MD

Opening Bout - Abubakr Abakarov (AZE) 

Great opening round bout. Abakarov was the Cadet World Champ in 2016 in the bracket where Carr was Bronze. Last year, Abakarov was the Junior World Runner-Up to Mekhi Lewis. He was also 8th at SR Worlds last year and 5th at this year's Dogu.

Also in Brooks' Half - Brooks' second round bout would be Tashukhahdzhi (RUS) who Abakarov beat in Euro finals. It's a daunting opening, but Brooks should be looking pretty thereafter. Iran's Asian Chamo, Sheikhazami is up top with the Georgian as favorites to reach the finals from that half.

97KG - Tanner Sloan, IA

Opening Bout - Feyzullah Akturk (TUR)

Akturk has been Bronze and 5th in the last two Junior Worlds, was Top 3 in the last three JR Euro's winning the title this year. 

Also in Sloan's Half - The next match (quarterfinals) would likely be Stasiuk (UKR) who was Cadet Bronze in 2017. 

In the top quad is Yaroslav Slavikouski (BLR) who goes to high school in the US and won NHSCA's this year. He faces Georgia and then Iran's Foroutanrami, who is the bracket favorite. He's the returning World Champ and a Cadet World Silver.