Incoming recruit Otto Black captured the silver at 63kg/138 lbs. at the U20 Greco-Roman World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain. Black defeated Dejan Berkec of Serbia, 5-1 in the Round of 16. In the quarterfinals Black won a hard fought 7-6 decision over Enes Ulku of Turkey.
Black advanced to the finals when he topped Yurik Hoveyan of Armenia, 7-2 in the semifinals. In the finals Black dropped an 8-0 match to Erzu Zakriev who was an Individual Neutral Athlete.
This was an impressive tournament for Black against the best competition in the world in Greco-Roman in the U20 category.
Black, from Park, Colorado, won a 138 lbs. 4A Colorado state title last season with a 52-0 record. He was a Junior Greco-Roman national champion at 126 in 2022 and 132 in 2023.
Black won U20 Greco-Roman Nationals in April and the U20 World Team Trials in May. He also won Gold at 63kg/138 lbs. at the U20 Pan American Championships in Lima, Peru.
As a member of the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024 Black is not currently not on the roster. He is taking a grey shirt this semester and will join the team in the second semester. Black committed to Iowa in April and is projected to compete at 141/149 for the Hawks.
I am looking forward to seeing Otto Black in the Black and Gold of Iowa Wrestling.
U20 World Greco-Roman Championships – 63kg/138 lbs.
Rd of 16: Otto Black (United States) dec Dejan Berkec (Serbia), 5-1
Quarterfinals: Otto Black (United States) dec Enes Ulku (Turkey), 7-6
Semifinals: Otto Black (United States) dec. Yurik Hoveyan (Armenia), 7-2
Finals: Erzu Zakriev (Individual Neutral Athlete) dec Otto Black (United States) 8-0
Five Hawks will be competing in the Freestyle portion of U20 Worlds starting tomorrow.
U20 World Freestyle Championships in Pontevedra, Spain September 4-8
50kg: Brianna Gonzalez
62kg: Cadence Diduch
65kg: Reese Larramendy
76kg: Naomi Simon
125kg: Ben Kueter
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
