Back to the Worlds! Isaiah Cortez Makes U20 57 kg FS World Team!

For the third time, Isaiah Cortez will be representing the United States of America at the U20 World Championships!

In 2024 and 2025, he competed in Greco Roman, earning a silver medal. He will return to the world stage in 2026, this time in freestyle at 57 kg.

Isaiah defeated Grey Burnett in two straight matches, by 5-1 and 10-0 scores, on Friday at the U20 World Team Trials in Ohio to earn the Team USA spot. He had beaten Burnett in the US Open finals as well.

Elijah Cortez also won the US Open title in Freestyle (at 61 kg) and took second at the World Team Trials at that weight on Friday. He was topped by NCAA third placer Aaron Seidel in consecutive bouts.

Cash Henderson notched fourth at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament at 125 kg, opening with a 9-2 victory over Rylan Kuhn and adding a first period pin over Jacob Levy. Henderson took third at the US Open.

The U20 World Championships are August 16-23 in Slovakia.

Photo: Yianni Diakomihalis