Wrestling in his eighth World Championships for Team USA, former Husker wrestler and coach James Green fell short of the medal stand this weekend in a stacked 74 kg field. Wrestling in their first Worlds, former Huskers Caleb Smith and Mikey Labriola each failed to find the medal stand as well while wrestling for Puerto Rico.
Team USA came away with the team title, edging out both Russia and Iran in the team race.
Here’s what happened:
James Green
James Green won his qualifier match against Kyrgystan’s Orozobek
Toktomambetov, a former U23 World silver medalist, 5-0 by decision. Green scored a second-period takedown to secure the win.
Moving into the second round, Green took on Russia’s Inalbek Sheriev — who beat four-time World and Olympic Champion Zaurbek Sidakov in Russia’s wrestle-off. Sheriev proved to be too much for Green, beating him 10-0 by technical superiority.
With Inalbek reaching the finals and eventually winning the gold medal, Green was pulled back into repechage where he had a dominant win over Narek Harutyunyan of Armenia via 15-2 tech. Green scored five takedowns — one being a four-point feet-to-back — and a turn on a leg lace to earn the early stoppage.
Just 20 minutes later in the next repechage match with a spot in the bronze-medal match on the line, Green faced three-time World medalist Amir Yazdani of Iran. Green was able to score a takedown in the first period when he shot a double leg and transitioned to a single leg for the finish.
In the second period, Yazdani scored three takedowns and a gut-wrench turn for the 8-2 win over Green, ending his tournament. Yazdani went on to win a bronze medal.
With his only losses to eventual medalists, the 33-year-0ld Green will again compete next year for the 74 kg World Team spot for Team USA. The fact that Green has had such longevity in the sport, even coming out of retirement after a partial hip replacement, is incredible. He’s really been a great representative of the sport and Team USA.
Caleb Smith
With Darian Cruz holding down the 57 kg spot for Puerto Rico this year, Caleb Smith elected to move up to 61 kg to compete at the World Championships.
Things started off well for the former two-time All-American for Nebraska as he downed Australia’s Georgii Okorokov 12-2 by tech. Facing the native-born Russian Okorokov, Smith scored 12 unanswered points after giving up the first takedown.
In the second round, Smith faced Gulomjon Abdullaev of Uzbekistan. In that match, Abdullaev scored a takedown in the first period and two more in the second for the 6-2 win over Smith. Abdullaev then dropped a close 3-2 match to eventual silver-medalist Zavur Uguev of Russia, ending Smith’s hopes of being pulled back into repechage.
A Pan-American silver-medalist this year, Smith will return to 57 kg as he looks to earn that spot for Puerto Rico next year. In fact, he’s registered at 57 kg for the 2026 Bill Farrell Memorial International in just five days in New York City.
Mikey Labriola
Former four-time All-American for Nebraska, Labriola is currently an assistant coach for Rutgers.
This weekend, Labriola represented Puerto Rico at 79 kg. In the first round, Labriola faced off against former All-American for Columbia University Cesar Alvan who was wrestling for Brazil.
Alvan scored four points in the first period when he tripped Labriola to his back and held a 5-0 lead at the break. After trading step-outs, Labriola scored a takedown and an exposure from the crotch lock position, cutting the deficit to 6-5. Labriola then took the lead when the two rolled backwards across the mat with Labriola in a backpack position — they gave Labriola four points and Alvan two in the sequence, giving Labriola the 9-8 lead with 26 seconds left.
Alvan was able to get into Labriola’s legs late, scoring a last-second exposure for the 10-9 win, ending Labriola’s tournament.
Also a Pan-American silver medalist this year, Labriola will again be in the hunt to represent Puerto Rico next year at the World Championships.
