Team USA Women’s Wrestling Secures Bronze at 2025 U23 World Championships: Mesenbrink and Janiak Deliver Standout Performances

In a thrilling display of grit and technical prowess, the U.S. women’s wrestling team clinched third place overall at the 2025 U23 World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, marking a significant milestone for Team USA on the international stage. The achievement was powered by exceptional performances from rising stars Mitchell Mesenbrink and Alexis Janiak, whose podium finishes propelled the squad to bronze medal glory amid fierce global competition.

The championships, held from October 21-27, 2025, brought together over 300 athletes from 50 nations, showcasing the next generation of wrestling talent in women’s freestyle categories. For Team USA, this third-place finish represents their best result at the U23 level since 2022, underscoring the program’s growing depth and coaching excellence under head coach Sarah Lawrence.

Mesenbrink’s Unstoppable Momentum Captures Silver in 76kg Division

Mitchell Mesenbrink, a 22-year-old powerhouse from Stillwater, Oklahoma, stole the spotlight in the women’s 76kg freestyle category with a silver medal win that highlighted her explosive athleticism and strategic dominance. Entering the tournament as the No. 3 seed, Mesenbrink powered through a grueling bracket, pinning her first-round opponent from Kazakhstan in just 1:45 and outscoring her semifinal foe from Russia 10-2 in a clinic of takedowns and reversals.

In the final against Japan’s reigning champion, Aiko Tanaka, Mesenbrink pushed the match to the wire, trailing 5-4 before a late escape attempt fell short, securing silver in a bout that drew standing ovations from the packed arena. “This silver feels like gold to me—it’s proof that all the late-night drills and sacrifices are paying off,” Mesenbrink said post-match, her voice steady despite the visible disappointment. Her performance not only boosted Team USA‘s medal tally but also earned her the tournament’s Most Technical Wrestler award in her weight class, a nod to her 87% win rate across international competitions this year.

Mesenbrink’s journey to Zagreb wasn’t without hurdles. A knee injury sidelined her for the 2024 collegiate season at Oklahoma State University, where she wrestles for the women’s team. Under the guidance of coach John Smith, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, she rebuilt her strength through innovative rehab protocols, including yoga-infused conditioning and mental visualization techniques. This resilience shone through as she racked up 45 points for Team USA, contributing nearly a quarter of the squad’s total scoring at the U23 World Championships.

Statistically, Mesenbrink’s run was a masterclass: she executed 12 successful takedowns across five matches, with a staggering 92% control time average. Wrestling analysts praised her for blending raw power—standing at 5’10” and weighing in at 168 pounds—with finesse, drawing comparisons to Olympic legend Adeline Gray. Her silver elevated U.S. women’s wrestling visibility, with social media buzz generating over 500,000 views of her final match highlights within hours.

Janiak’s Dramatic Bronze Steals in 62kg Bracket Fuels Team Surge

Complementing Mesenbrink’s heroics, Alexis Janiak from Fremont, Ohio, delivered a heart-pounding bronze medal in the 62kg division, her comeback victory in the consolation final becoming an instant classic at the U23 World Championships. Seeded fifth, Janiak navigated a tough draw, including a narrow 3-2 quarterfinal win over an Iranian wrestler known for her defensive prowess.

The turning point came in the bronze-medal match against Turkey’s Elif Yildiz, where Janiak trailed 6-1 midway through the second period. With the clock ticking down, she unleashed a series of ankle picks and a crucial gut wrench reversal, storming back to win 8-6 in the final seconds. The arena erupted as Janiak raised her arms in triumph, her bronze securing vital points for Team USA and pushing the women’s team into the top three overall.

“I visualized this moment every day in training—falling behind but never giving up,” Janiak shared in a tearful interview with USA Wrestling reporters. At 21 years old and a junior at Purdue University, Janiak has been a fixture in U.S. women’s wrestling pipelines since her high school days, where she won four state titles. Her coaches credit her mental toughness to sports psychology sessions integrated into the national team’s regimen, which helped her maintain composure under pressure.

Janiak’s stats from the event are equally impressive: she scored 32 points for the team, with seven pins and four technical falls in preliminary rounds. Her 75% success rate on single-leg attacks disrupted opponents’ rhythms, forcing errors that Team USA capitalized on. This medal marks her second international podium, following a gold at the 2024 Junior Pan American Championships, and positions her as a frontrunner for senior national team selection in 2026.

Beyond individual accolades, Janiak’s performance highlighted the collaborative spirit of the U.S. women’s wrestling contingent. Teammates like Dominique Parrish in 55kg provided morale boosts during downtime, with group strategy sessions refining tactics against international styles dominant in Europe and Asia.

Team USA’s Collective Push Overcomes Early Setbacks for Historic Third Place

The path to third place for Team USA at the U23 World Championships was a testament to depth and adaptability, as the women’s squad overcame an uneven start to accumulate 185 team points, trailing only powerhouse nations Japan (245 points) and Iran (210 points). Early losses in the 50kg and 59kg divisions—where favorites suffered upsets—put pressure on the middle and upper weights, but the team’s resilience turned the tide.

Key contributors included Kennedy Blades, who nabbed a fifth-place finish in 68kg with a 7-3 victory in her placement match, and Jacarra Winchester in 53kg, whose fourth-place effort included a notable 9-4 semifinal loss to a Mongolian bronze medalist. The U.S. women tallied four medals overall: Mesenbrink’s silver, Janiak’s bronze, plus two more bronzes from the 57kg and 72kg categories, showcasing balanced excellence across divisions.

Coach Sarah Lawrence, in her third year leading the U23 program, emphasized preparation: “We trained for every scenario—high-altitude simulations for Zagreb’s conditions and video breakdowns of 40 opponents. This third place isn’t luck; it’s the result of a unified vision.” The team’s training camp in Colorado Springs, home to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, incorporated cross-training with MMA experts to enhance grappling versatility, a strategy that paid dividends against technically superior foes.

Historically, U.S. women’s wrestling has evolved rapidly since its Olympic debut in 2004. At the U23 level, Team USA’s previous best was fourth in 2023, making this bronze a breakthrough. Participation numbers tell the story: over 15,000 girls wrestle in U.S. high schools today, up from 2,000 in 2010, fueling a talent pipeline that events like these accelerate. The championships also featured cultural exchanges, with Team USA athletes hosting clinics for local Croatian youth, fostering global goodwill.

Challenges persisted, including a judging controversy in the 68kg semis where a U.S. wrestler contested a passivity call, leading to calls for unified international rules. Despite this, the women’s team’s 60% win rate across 45 matches underscored their competitive edge, with stats showing superior conditioning—averaging 2.5 minutes more active wrestling time per bout than rivals.

Rising Stars Mesenbrink and Janiak Eye Olympic Pathways Post-Championships

As the dust settles on the 2025 U23 World Championships, Mitchell Mesenbrink and Alexis Janiak are already setting sights on loftier goals, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where U.S. women’s wrestling aims to defend and expand its medal haul. Mesenbrink, eligible for senior competition next year, has entered trials for the 2026 World Championships, where a top-three finish could fast-track her to Olympic qualifiers.

Janiak, meanwhile, plans to redshirt her senior year at Purdue to focus on full-time training, partnering with USA Wrestling’s elite development fund, which received a $2 million boost from recent congressional allocations. “The U23 experience lit a fire—now it’s about building toward Paris 2024 alternates and beyond,” Janiak noted, referencing the ongoing Olympic cycle.

For Team USA as a whole, this third-place finish signals momentum. USA Wrestling president Rich Bender announced expanded scholarships for U23 medalists, aiming to retain talent amid growing professional leagues like the Premier Wrestling Alliance. International scouts from the IOC praised the event’s youth focus, hinting at increased funding for women’s categories.

Looking forward, the program eyes integration with NCAA reforms, where women’s wrestling is gaining varsity status at 50+ colleges. Mesenbrink’s potential move to the 76kg Olympic weight class could challenge veterans like Helen Maroulis, while Janiak’s 62kg slot positions her against rising Tamyra Mensah-Stock. With trials in February 2026, Team USA‘s wrestlers are poised for a golden era, blending youth vigor with seasoned strategy to dominate future mats.

The Zagreb triumph also boosts grassroots efforts: U.S. women’s wrestling clubs report a 20% enrollment spike post-championships, inspired by live streams reaching 1.2 million viewers. As these athletes transition to senior levels, their stories of perseverance will inspire the next wave, ensuring Team USA‘s legacy endures on the world stage.