University of Minnesota Athletics
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Photo by: Richard Immel
Gold Goes to McEnelly at U20 World Championships
8/20/2025 11:26:00 AM | Wrestling
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota's Max McEnelly won gold at the U20 World Championships Wednesday, posting his third shutout in four total matches to take the 86kg title in Samokov, Bulgaria.
Facing UWW athlete Bozigit Islamgereev in the finals, McEnelly dominated from start to finish in an 8-0 win. The Waconia, Minn., native earned the first point for inactivity by Islamgereev then led 2-0 at the break thanks to forcing a stepout. The second period was all McEnelly, scoring three takedowns to cruise to the victory.
McEnelly reached the finals after a thrilling semifinal victory over Abolfazl Rahmani Firouzjaei of Iran on Tuesday. McEnelly scored first thanks to inactivity from Rahmani and led 3-2 after the opening period. An inactivity call on McEnelly evened the match at 3-3 with less than 90 seconds to go, and Rahmani pulled ahead 4-3 on a stepout. Battling until the end, McEnelly got the go-ahead takedown with less than 20 seconds to go. He was called for fleeing to tie the match at 5-5 but McEnelly won on criteria with the most two-point sequences.
Prior to his semifinal match, McEnelly had not given up a point as he won each of his first two matches, 10-0, defeating Armenia's Razmik Yepremyan and then Georgia's Dachi Papinashvili.
Outscoring his opponents 33-5 in four total matches, McEnelly adds gold to the bronze he won at the U17 Championships in 2022.
Facing UWW athlete Bozigit Islamgereev in the finals, McEnelly dominated from start to finish in an 8-0 win. The Waconia, Minn., native earned the first point for inactivity by Islamgereev then led 2-0 at the break thanks to forcing a stepout. The second period was all McEnelly, scoring three takedowns to cruise to the victory.
Max McEnelly is a WORLD CHAMPION!
— The Barn Session - Wrestling Podcast (@TheBarnSession) August 20, 2025
The Minnesota Gopher ran through the 86kg field on his way to the top of the podium. After a 3rd place finish this year at NCAAs, Minnesota should feel great about him being the guy to beat at 184. pic.twitter.com/F7LD4RrMJI
McEnelly reached the finals after a thrilling semifinal victory over Abolfazl Rahmani Firouzjaei of Iran on Tuesday. McEnelly scored first thanks to inactivity from Rahmani and led 3-2 after the opening period. An inactivity call on McEnelly evened the match at 3-3 with less than 90 seconds to go, and Rahmani pulled ahead 4-3 on a stepout. Battling until the end, McEnelly got the go-ahead takedown with less than 20 seconds to go. He was called for fleeing to tie the match at 5-5 but McEnelly won on criteria with the most two-point sequences.
Prior to his semifinal match, McEnelly had not given up a point as he won each of his first two matches, 10-0, defeating Armenia's Razmik Yepremyan and then Georgia's Dachi Papinashvili.
Outscoring his opponents 33-5 in four total matches, McEnelly adds gold to the bronze he won at the U17 Championships in 2022.
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