The 2021 Cadet World Championships are LIVE from Rome on FloWrestling July 25-31. Here are five reasons you should watch.

Will Team USA Repeat As Team Champions?

The United States won its first U17 women’s freestyle title in 2021 thanks to a seven-medal haul, including golds from Erica Pastoriza (40 kg), Katie Gomez (53 kg), and Amit Elor (69 kg). Pastoriza bumped up to 43 kg this year while returning bronze medalist Audrey Jimenez will stay at 49 kg. The remaining eight wrestlers are fresh faces on the U.S. squad. 

World power Japan was noticeably absent last year due to strict COVID protocols imposed by the country. This year’s tournament will be a good test for a good U.S. team that continues to make strides at the international level. 

The United States won its first U17 World title in 2021. Pastoriza (second from left) and Jimenez (far right) are on this year's team.

Will Luke Lilledahl Turn Silver Into Gold?

Luke Lilledahl had to defeat a returning U17 World champion just to make this year’s team. Lilledahl won silver at 48 kg while teammate Bo Bassett won gold at 45 kg. The two met in the 51 kg World Team Trials finals with Lilledahl winning in straight matches — 6-1 and 10-0 — to earn the spot. He fell to India’s Aman Aman, 5-2, in the 2021 finals and has vindication on his mind this year. 

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Watch Lilledahl and Bassett battle it out to make this year's 51-kilogram spot.

Two Teams, Two Dreams

Audrey Jimenez might be the best age-level wrestler in the country right now. She made U17 and U20 teams and defeated solid wrestlers in the finals. She won the U17 trials by outlasting returning bronze medalist Ava Ward and she made the U20 trials by defeating King College All-American Sage Mortimer.

Did we mention that she just completed her sophomore year of high school? The future is bright for U.S. women with Jimenez leading the way. 

Audrey Jimenez made Cadet and Junior World teams this year. Learn how she won 13 matches over one weekend to represent the United States twice.

Double Time

You’re in luck if you want to watch Christian Castillo (48 kg) and Koy Hopke (110 kg) wrestle at the U17 World Championships. They qualified for Greco and freestyle so you get to see them in two separate competitions. 

Don’t Play Koy

As mentioned above, heavyweight Koy Hopke is wrestling two styles. USA Wrestling’s developmental coach James Green calls him a non-stop workaholic, which could mean trouble for the rest of the world. Hopke is always on the attack and he’s always looking to score. He hasn’t made his college decision yet so his stock could soar even higher based on results from this year’s U17 World Championships.

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FloWrestling's Mike Malinconico goes over the potential team race and what he thinks could be a showdown at this year's Cadet World Championships.