The 2025 UWW Senior World Championships: A Glimpse at Team USA’s Greco-Roman Fighters
The excitement builds as the 2025 United States Greco-Roman national team prepares to compete in the UWW World Championships from September 18 to 21 in Zagreb, Croatia. This prestigious event promises to showcase some of the most skilled wrestlers in the world, and Team USA comes loaded with talent. Matches begin daily at 10:30 a.m. Zagreb time, with semifinals and finals slated for later in the day.
55 kg / 121 lbs — Jayden Raney (Union County HS)
Competing on September 18 and 19, 18-year-old Jayden Raney is making waves in the wrestling world. Born on March 1, 2007, in Sturgis, Kentucky, Raney is a standout athlete. In fact, he recently defeated Brady Koontz by forfeit at the U.S. Open.
International Experience: Raney made headlines by winning the 2024 U17 Greco World Championships and collecting a Senior Pan-Am gold in 2025. Known for his exceptional ability, he brings a wealth of experience despite his youth.
Other Notable Facts: Raney’s twin brother, Jordyn, took home a Junior National freestyle title in Fargo this summer. The duo previously dominated the 16U category, winning double Fargo titles in 2022 and 2023.
60 kg / 132 lbs — Max Black (NMU Training Center)
At 22 years old and hailing from Castle Rock, Colorado, Max Black steps onto the mat on September 19 and 20. He recently clinched a win against Zane Richards at the U.S. Open.
International Experience: Black boasts a bronze medal from the 2022 U20 Pan-Am Championships and will further represent Team USA at the U20 Greco World Championships. His strength continues into 2025, having earned a gold at the Senior Pan-Am Championships.
63 kg / 138 lbs — Ellis Coleman (U.S. Army WCAP)
Competing on September 20 and 21, 34-year-old Ellis Coleman is no stranger to high-stakes wrestling. A native of Oak Park, Illinois, he’s been a force in the sport for years.
International Experience: Coleman is a two-time U20 World bronze medalist and has represented Team USA in four previous Senior Worlds (2013, 2017, 2018, 2019), plus the 2012 Olympics. His record includes two silver medals from the Senior Pan-Am Championships in 2019 and 2025.
67 kg / 147 lbs — Alston Nutter (U.S. Army WCAP)
Born in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, Alston Nutter, 26, competes on September 20 and 21, recently besting Otto Black at the U.S. Open.
International Experience: Nutter earned a bronze medal at the 2019 U20 World Championships before representing Team USA in back-to-back U23 World Championships in 2021 and 2022.
Other Notable Facts: He joined the Army in July 2023 after competing for Northern Michigan.
72 kg / 158.5 lbs — Alejandro Sancho (U.S. Army WCAP)
Sancho, 31, will step onto the mat on September 19 and 20. Born on March 18, 1994, in Miami, Florida, he showcased his skills by defeating Aliaksandr Kikiniou at the U.S. Open.
International Experience: Sancho has had a varied international career. He represented Team USA at the 2022 Worlds, finishing 11th, and aimed for a better outcome in 2023, placing 12th. He also competed in the 2020 Olympics but went 0-1. Notably, he secured Pan-Am gold in 2024 and 2025.
Other Notable Facts: Sancho took up wrestling at age 15, attending Northern Michigan as part of the Greco-Roman program.
77 kg / 169.5 lbs — Kamal Bey (U.S. Army WCAP)
Kamal Bey, 27, was born on January 3, 1998, in Bellwood, Illinois. Competing on September 18 and 19, he recently defeated Aliaksandr Kikiniou at the Final X.
International Experience: This world championship marks Bey’s fourth appearance. He has had varied success, including a seventh-place finish in 2018 and a 10th place in 2023. Bey also competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics after winning a U20 World championship in 2017.
Other Notable Facts: Bey left high school to train full-time at the Olympic Training Center.
82 kg / 180.5 lbs — Beka Melelashvili (NYAC)
At just 23 years old, Melelashvili has already made waves in Greco-Roman wrestling. Competing on September 18 and 19, he was born on August 1, 2002, in Tbilisi, Georgia, and recently defeated Jesse Porter at the U.S. Open.
International Experience: Melelashvili was a 2024 U23 World silver medalist and finished fifth at the 2022 U23 Worlds. He earned a silver medal at the 2024 U23 Pan-Am Championships.
Other Notable Facts: As the son of a former World champion, Melelashvili has the spotlight on him, becoming the first American to medal at the U23 Worlds in 2024.
87 kg / 191.5 lbs — Payton Jacobson (NMU Training Center)
Competing on September 20 and 21, 22-year-old Payton Jacobson was born on September 12, 2002, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. He recently triumphed over Spencer Woods at the U.S. Open.
International Experience: Jacobson, a silver medalist at the 2021 U20 Pan-Am Championships, represented Team USA at the U20 Worlds and participated in both U23 Championships. He finished 15th at the 2024 Paris Olympics and clinched gold at the 2025 Pan-Am Championships.
97 kg / 213 lbs — Michial Foy (Army WCAP)
At 23 years old, Michial Foy, born on October 29, 2001, in Crete, Illinois, will compete on September 19 and 20, following a victory over Josef Rau at the U.S. Open.
International Experience: Foy has begun making a name for himself internationally, recently earning a bronze at the 2025 Pan-American Championships after achieving a title at the U.S. Open.
Other Notable Facts: Foy is the son of Michial Foy Sr., a two-time Olympian and World silver medalist, offering a legacy that inspires him.
130 kg / 286.5 lbs — Cohlton Schultz (Atreus WC)
Lastly, 24-year-old Cohlton Schultz, born on September 27, 2000, in Parker, Colorado, competes on September 18 and 19. He recently secured a win against Adam Coon at the U.S. Open.
International Experience: This will be Schultz’s fourth appearance at the Senior Worlds, with past records showing growth: 0-1 in 2021, 1-1 in 2022, and 10th place in 2023. He also has an impressive record from the U17 and U20 levels.
Other Notable Facts: Schultz had a stellar collegiate career at Arizona State, becoming a five-time NCAA All-American and clinching the Gorriaran Award for outstanding performances.
Team USA’s Greco-Roman squad is filled with promising talent, each athlete with their unique stories, aspirations, and achievements. As they prepare for the upcoming championships in Zagreb, wrestling fans worldwide eagerly await their performances on the international stage.