The Grow Greco Campaign of USA Wrestling was a much-needed initiative if you have been following the sport. Well, freestyle and folkstyle wrestling have been big scorers when it comes to medals in the international arena. Contrastingly enough, Greco-Roman wrestling has failed to showcase the USA as a credible championship medal prospect. After the poor showing at the 2023 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, hopes were that there would be a turnaround. Two years later, and it’s the same story.

FloWrestling’s Jon Kozak took to X to share the cumulative performance of Team USA at the 2025 World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb. The men’s freestyle team looks good – 5 medals (3 golds); also a decent showing from the women’s contingent – 3 medals (1 gold). But it was the Greco-Roman stats that fell flat for Team USA – 0 medals, with a total record of 8 wins and 14 losses. The Greco-Roman wrestlers were outscored 99-75 as they managed only 4 techs and 1 pin.

If this doesn’t take them to the drawing board, we don’t know what will. Clearly, the US wrestlers aren’t operating at a global standard. To put it in perspective, Cohlton Schultz had been the USA Wrestling’s Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year in 2024. And he was eliminated in the first round, 130 kg bout by Sergei Semenov.

And that’s been the case for other big names on Team USA. Kamal Bey, the 2024 Paris Olympian, could win only 1 match in his 77 kg class. After losing 2-1 in the R32 match against Makhlas Amoyan of Armenia, Bey did manage to win his first repechage match against Poland’s Mateusz Bernatek, 11-2. But in the next round, the American fell to Ahmet Yilmaz of Turkey 4-2.

There were positives, though, that would give Wrestling USA some hope. Jayden Raney, the 2024 U17 World champion, finished 7th in his 55kg weight class. So did Payton Jacobson in the 87 kg weights. Jacobson was the gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and the youngest ever to do so.

So, there are foundations to build on. But Wrestling USA would be worried with zero medal counts from the Greco-Roman team at back-to-back World Wrestling Championships. On the other hand, the wrestling division will celebrate the freestyle success.

Unlike Greco-Roman, Freestyle has World Champions to boast

In total, the USA brought home 4 golds (men’s and 1 women’s). It was Zahid Valencia who got it started in the 86 kg weight class. And he didn’t just win, he dominated his category, winning 49-0 en route to 4 techs. Can you see the contrast with the Greco-Roman team? Then came Trent Hidlay with his gold in the 92 kg category. His final win was contrasting to Valencia’s, coming from a 2-10 down to win 13-10, showing how freestyle wrestling is always ready to throw down the gauntlet.

The 3rd one came from Kyle Snyder, Team USA’s youngest-ever Worlds gold medalist. Besides this, Levi Haines got silver and Real Woods got bronze. And it could have been one more medal through Jax Forrest. Unfortunately, the controversial finish to his bronze match was a disappointing ending to a spirited campaign by the 18-year-old.

In the women’s freestyle team, Helen Maroulis was the winner in the 57 kg weight, getting 3 falls and a 3-2 win over Il Sim Son of the Republic of Korea in the final. Along with her, Kennedy Blades clinched a bronze to add to her 2024 Olympics silver. And Kylie Welker made it her 2nd bronze at the World Championships, continuing the medal tally soaring for Team USA. This is exactly what the Greco-Roman team will be hoping for in the next World Championships.