BUDAPEST, Hungary – Four U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers weighed in and received their first-round draws at the FILA Junior World Championships on Monday. All four will be competing Tuesday.

Jimmy Chase (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) will be competing in his third career Junior World Championships. At 60 kg/132 lbs., Chase will face Asian Junior bronze medalist Hyung-Min Kim of Korea in his opening match. Chase is a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete.

“Jimmy is experience. He’s been there and done that,” said U.S. coach Gary Mayabb. “This is his third trip here. He has the directions down. He knows where he is going. He had a workmanlike approach and got it done. Jimmy is a competitor, whether is playing soccer, handball or wrestling. It doesn’t matter; he just wants to win. He will look for every avenue to get the job done. 

At 50 kg/110 lbs., Max Nowry (Wheeling, Ill./New York AC) drew Khasan Suliamanov of Kyrgyzstan. Nowry is with the U.S. Olympic Education Center program at Northern Michigan Univ.

“Max’s preparation was solid. He’s quiet and doesn’t say much. He just does his job. He is very coachable. Whatever (coach) Ike Anderson has asked of him, he does it. Max practices to the best of his ability every day,” said Mayabb.

At 74 kg/163 lbs., Alec Ortiz (Grand Ronde, Ore./Minnesota Storm) will open against Toghrul Yunuslu of Azerbaijan. Ortiz attends the Univ. of Minnesota.

“He is a great kid and is very coachable,” said Mayabb. “I did some one-on-one instruction with him in Colorado Springs. Alec is very hungry to learn. He wants to see what it is all about at this level. He has worked towards it at the best of his ability. He has the same attitude every day. There are no ups and downs with him. He is very level. And he is excited. He is very meticulous. Alec wants to get it right.”

On the first round at 96 kg/211.5 lbs., Robert Barbour (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) will face Christakis Polianidis of Greece. Barbour is a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete.

“Robert is interesting. He is a great kid, and he has many sides to him. He is very approachable. He has a great heart and smiles all the time,” said Mayabb. “For the talents he has, Robert has maximized his abilities for his body type. He is low, compact and has good footwork. I don’t know if he has compensated for his height, or has created an advantage because of his height. He has an unbelievably low center of gravity and his legs are incredible. If he wrestles his style, he will create dynamics that people may not be able to handle on short notice.”

The second four weight classes will have weigh in on Tuesday, with competition on Wedneday.

“This team has worked hard and had a great training camp,” said Mayabb. “With this group as a whole, I can’t think of a Junior World Team which has had more experience. Plus, four of the eight competed together in Bulgaria this year. They know what they are getting into. Someone will come into this unknown and will make the finals. It happens every year. The unknown is part of the process. This group has managed that before. If they rely on themselves, we have a better shot at success.”

JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Budapest, Hungary, July 19

U.S. Greco-Roman first round draws

50 kg/110 lbs. - Max Nowry, Wheeling, Ill. (New York AC)
vs. Khasan Suliamanov (Kyrgyzstan)

60 kg/132 lbs. - Jimmy Chase, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
vs. Hyung-Min Kim (Korea)

74 kg/163 lbs. - Alec Ortiz, Grand Ronde, Ore. (Minnesota Storm)
vs. Toghrul Yunuslu (Azerbaijan)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Robert Barbour, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
vs. Christakis Polianidis (Greece)