Schoolboy

Wrestling to Participate in 2019 ISF Combat Games with World Level Schoolboy Event

Monday, June 25, 2018 - 15:17 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (June 25) -- United World Wrestling met the International School Sport Federation (ISF) met last week in Györ during the School European Championships in order to speak about the next Combat Games that will be organized by ISF and the Hungarian Sport School Federation.

The event was also an opportunity for the ISF to watch a School-level event as organized by United World Wrestling. With more than 600 athletes the participation showed that the age category is getting more popular.

The meeting was organized June 16 with Mr. Tzeno Tzenov, UWW Vice-President and UWW Europe President; Mr. Tibor Farkas and Peter Bacsa of the Hungarian Wrestling Federation; Mr. Francesco Fiorini, Sports and Development Manager of the ISF; Ms. Eszter Szollos, Events Dpt Manager at the Hungarian School Sport Federation; and Jean-Daniel Rey, UWW Sports Director.

During that meeting, Schoolboys were confirmed as the age category for the next ISF Combat Games. The 10 weight categories per style will be organized in Budapest. This event will be organized in the middle of June and will be composed with four Combat Sports (Judo, Karate, Taekwondo and Wrestling).

This age category was chosen in order to see if there is a big interest around the world as United World Wrestling doesn’t currently organize Schoolboys world-level event.

Mr. Tzenov said that he is very confident for this organization as the Hungarian Wrestling Federation knows how to organize great wrestling event. With a good collaboration between the National Wrestling Federation and the National School Sport Federation, there is no doubt that all sides will enjoy a great event.

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UWW Breakout Wrestlers of 2025: Hidlay, Farokhi, Onishi

Monday, December 15, 2025 - 12:24 By Eric Olanowski

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 14) -- The 2025 Breakout Wrestlers of the Year were not the ones anyone circled heading into the season. They weren’t the favorites, or the ones analysts picked to walk away from the season as world medalists.

They were the outsiders, largely unproven and underestimated. But that all changed in a single season when they smashed expectations, catapulting themselves into world-wide stardom with world-title runs that nobody saw coming.

Freestyle Breakout Performer of the Year: Trent HIDLAY (USA)

Before 2025, Hidlay had never climbed to the top of a podium at an international event. His  2025 season even began with more doubt than promise, dropping his second match of the year to rising Azeri phenom Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) at the Zagreb Open. But that loss lit a fuse. From that moment on, the 26-year-old didn’t just improve -- he transformed.

Hidlay unleashed a stunning 13-match win streak and collected gold medals at the Pan-American Championships, the Budapest Ranking Series and the World Championships. Along the way, he knocked off giants -- Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE), Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), and Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), just to name a few.

Then came the finale: a world finals comeback for the ages. Down and all but finished, Hidlay stormed back to defeat Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW). In one year, Hidlay didn’t just win -- he arrived.

Greco-Roman Breakout Performer of the Year: Gholemreza FAROKHI (IRI)

When opportunity knocked, Farokhi wasn’t just there to answer it, he was there to kick the door off its hinges. The 23-year-old stepped into Iran’s senior lineup for the first time in his career and tore through anyone in front of him -- whether it was at 82kg or 87kg.

Farokhi bulldozed his way to gold medals at the two World Championships he participated in. He racked up a perfect 17-0 record, including 11 technical superiority wins and six decisions, sweeping gold at the World Championships, U23 World Championships, the Islamic Solidarity Games, and the Zagreb Open Ranking Series.

Women’s Wrestling Breakout Performer of the Year: Sakura ONISHI (JPN)

At 19 years old, Onishi entered the senior circuit with massive goals but had zero experience and zero fear. In mere months, she became a problem no one had an answer for.

Onishi tore through the season with a flawless 15-0 record, capturing titles at the Senior and U20 World Championships, the Asian Championships, and the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series. Her dominance wasn’t subtle -- it was exactly what you’d expect from a Japanese women’s wrestler -- 11 tech falls, three pins, and a decision, outscoring opponents 158-17.