LINCOLN, Neb. – For the third consecutive year, All-American Zahid Valencia will represent the United States on the USA Wrestling Junior World Freestyle Team, following World Team Trials Friday evening.
Valencia earned a spot in the best-of-three finals at 84 kg by virtue of a UWW Junior Freestyle title in April in Las Vegas. In the finals, he earned a pair of dominating wins vs. NC State's Nick Reenan, 11-0 in the first and 12-1 in the second. Notably, Valencia also defeated Reenan in the UWW championship this spring.
In 2016, Valencia competed with the Junior World Team in Macon, France and two years ago in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil.
Last season in France, Valencia advanced to the quarterfinals at 84 kg, winning a 11-1 technical fall victory over 2014 Cadet World Team member Mark Markarian from Ukraine before a second straight tech fall win vs. Georgia's Meki Simonia.
Incoming Sun Devil Brandon Courtney also competed in World Team Trials at 55 kg, earning an alternate position on the World Team.
Valencia will represent the United States in Tampere, Finland at the Junior World Championships July 30-Aug. 2.
Valencia earned a spot in the best-of-three finals at 84 kg by virtue of a UWW Junior Freestyle title in April in Las Vegas. In the finals, he earned a pair of dominating wins vs. NC State's Nick Reenan, 11-0 in the first and 12-1 in the second. Notably, Valencia also defeated Reenan in the UWW championship this spring.
In 2016, Valencia competed with the Junior World Team in Macon, France and two years ago in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil.
Last season in France, Valencia advanced to the quarterfinals at 84 kg, winning a 11-1 technical fall victory over 2014 Cadet World Team member Mark Markarian from Ukraine before a second straight tech fall win vs. Georgia's Meki Simonia.
Incoming Sun Devil Brandon Courtney also competed in World Team Trials at 55 kg, earning an alternate position on the World Team.
Valencia will represent the United States in Tampere, Finland at the Junior World Championships July 30-Aug. 2.