Hayden Hidlay, shown at the 2018 U23 World Team Trials, is entering his first World Championships event. Photo by Sam Janicki.

BUCHAREST, Romania – The first five U.S. men’s freestyle wrestlers have received their draws for the U23 World Championships. They begin their competition on Saturday. The U23 age-group is for athletes 23 years old and under.

2017 Junior World bronze medalist Kollin Moore opens up at 97 kg/213 lbs. against 2018 Russian Senior National bronze medalist Igor Ovsiannikov of Russia.

This is Moore’s third World appearance for Team USA. Moore was also on the 2016 Junior World squad, placing 12th.Moore is a two-time All-American and two-time Big Ten champion for Ohio State, now in his junior year for the Buckeyes.

2018 U.S. Senior Open runner-up Hayden Hidlay will compete at 70 kg/154 lbs., and will face 2018 Pan American Senior Championships bronze medalist Alexander Chaves of Canada in his first bout.

Last year, as a freshman at NC State, Hidlay was second in the NCAA Championships and an ACC champion. In freestyle, he made the U.S. Open finals and won the U23 World Team Trials.

David McFadden, a two-time NCAA All-American at Virginia Tech will start up at 79 kg/174 lbs. against 2018 University World bronze medalist Muhammet Lufti Kucukyildirim of Turkey. McFadden, who reached the NCAA podium twice for the Hokies in 2016 and 2018, is competing in his first major international event.

Jack Mueller, a 2017 NCAA All-American for Virginia has drawn 2018 Senior World team member Darthe Capellan of Canada in his first bout at 57 kg/125 lbs. This is Mueller’s first World appearance for the USA.

Also competing at his first World-level event is Colton McCrystal, a two-time NCAA qualifier for Nebraska. He is competing at 65 kg and opens against Nurgazy Abdurazakov of Kyrgyzstan, who was seventh in 2013 the Junior World Championships. McCrystal, who was third at the 2018 U23 World Team Trials, replaced 2017 Junior World silver medalist Mitch McKee on the team.

The USA men’s freestyle team will be the last of the three styles to compete, taking the mat on Saturday and Sunday.

Fans can keep up with the action by following @USAWrestling on Twitter, checking out reports from Taylor Miller from Bucharest on TheMat.co and watching a live broadcast on Trackwrestling.com. Bucharest is seven hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern time zone.

2018 U23 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Bucharest, Romania

U.S. men’s freestyle first-round pairings

57 kg: Jack Mueller (Dallas, Texas/Cavalier WC)
Vs. Darthe Capellan (Canada), 2018 Senior World Team, 5th in 2017 Commonwealth Championships, 10th in 2016 Junior Worlds

65 kg: Colton McCrystal (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa/Nebraska WTC)
Vs. Nurgazy Abdurazakov (Kyrgyzstan), 7th in 2013 Junior Worlds, 5th in 2014 Ali Aliev Tournament (RUS)

70 kg: Hayden Hidlay (Lewistown, Pa./Wolfpack WC)
Vs. Alexander Chaves (Canada), 3rd in 2018 Senior Pan American Championships

79 kg: David McFadden (West Milford, N.J./Southeast RTC)
Vs. Muhammet Lufti Kucukyildirim (Turkey), 3rd in 2018 University Worlds, 5th in 2017 Junior Worlds, 5th in 2014 Cadet World Championships

97 kg: Kollin Moore (Burbank, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)
Vs. Igor Ovsiannikov (Russia), 3rd in 2018 Russian Senior Nationals, 7th in 2017 and 2018 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix (Russia), 5th in 2016 Russian Senior Nationals