Hokies Wrestling trio shine at U20 World ChampionshipHokies Wrestling trio shine at U20 World Championship
Wrestling

Hokies Wrestling trio shine at U20 World Championship

More history for Virginia Tech Wrestling as the Hokies led Team USA with two gold medal performances from Aaron Seidel and Bo Bassett. Ryan Burton also finds the podium to earn bronze in Bratislava.

BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA – History was made once again as Hokies Wrestling went three for three on medals on Sunday, August 23 at the 2026 U20 World Championships. Aaron Seidel and Bo Bassett claimed were crowned world champions as Ryan Burton garnered bronze for the Hokies to help Team USA lock up the team title – the third team championship in a row for the red, white, and blue. The trio scored 65 out of Team USA’s 205 which would have placed the Hokies seventh in the world among the final team standings.

Seidel showing the world why he’s the Savage
Sophomore sensation Aaron Seidel was in vintage form all weekend with three tech falls, a fall, and one controlling decision to take the 61-kilogram crown. In his signature fashion living up to his “Savage” moniker, Siedel was a point scoring machine in his international debut – outscoring the opposition 54-8 to the tune of two tech falls, two falls, and one decision. He defeated three continental championship medalists including Iran’s world champion and returning finalist Ahora Khetari as his opening draw.

Bassett returns to atop of the mountain with second world title
Incoming freshman and phenom Bo Bassett continued to not only light the world on fire with his signature style while defeating three former world medalists en route to the 65-kilogram title. The Bo Bassett run was electric over the two-day tournament with a tech fall, two pins, and a lone decision which was the only bout of his weekend to go beyond the first period. Bassett blitzed the field 37-6 including an emphatic pin in the semifinals over Russia to advance to the finals. To finish off his world title run, Bassett would meet Japan’s Takuto Usedo in what would be the only match to go the distance for the Hokie all weekend – a dominant 8-2 decision to win his second world title.

Burton bursts onto international scene with podium finish
Ryan Burton announced his name to the world with a podium finish in just his second international tournament in what was regarded as the toughest bracket of the weekend. Beginning his world championship in style, Burton would finish a controlling opening round match with a fall to punch his ticket into the quarterfinals. The Hokie then wrestled a savvy, stingy bout to take out Kazakhstan’s Asian world medalist to set up the biggest match of his career – a semifinal bout against senior Asian champion and Japan’s U20 and senior world championship representative Keyvan Gharehdaghi. In an extremely close match, Burton would push the world’s No. 5 ranked 79-kilogram competitor to the brink but would fall short at the buzzer to drop to the bronze medal bout. Burton found himself down early in his medal bout but would battle back to a 10-4 victory to add world bronze medalist to his name.

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2026 U20 World Championships
Official Results

Aaron Seidel, Champion, 61-Kilograms
Qualification Round: TECH FALL Ahora Khateri, Iran, 15-4
Round of 16: FALL Marian Kret, Slovakia, 12-2, 0:46
Quarterfinals: TECH FALL Jamal Abbasov, Azerbaijan, 13-1
Semifinals: TECH FALL Moses Mendoza, Mexico, 10-0
Finals: DEC Bekassyl Assambek, Kazakhstan, 7-0

Bo Bassett, Champion, 65-kilograms
Qualification: Yeraly Askerbek, Kazakhstan, 11-0
Round of 16: FALL Bashir Verdiyev, Azerbaijan, 5-0, 0:40
Quarterfinals: TECH FALL Haci Zade, Turkey, 12-2
Semifinals: FALL Zalimkhan Umarov, Russia, 5-2, 1:26
Finals:  DEC Takuto Usedo, Japan, 8-2

Ryan Burton, Bronze, 79-kilograms
Round of 16: FALL Luka Margvelidze, Georgia, 5-0, 5:12
Quarterfinals: DEC Aibek Kalyakhmet, Kazakhstan, 3-1
Semifinals: loss via dec Keyvan Gharehdaghi, Japan, 2-5
Bronze: DEC Eljan Ismayilzada, Azerbaijan, 10-4