Joel Adams from Omaha, Nebraska, representing The Best Wrestler club, has rapidly ascended in the wrestling world. His dedication and skill have earned him recognition as a top athlete, marked by significant achievements both nationally and internationally.
Joel Adams in action.
Early Career and High School Success
Joel Adams is a Nebraska State Champion (138 lbs) and a fourth-place finisher (120 lbs) from Millard South High School. As a junior-to-be in 2021, Adams became a Fargo 16U freestyle champion at 138 pounds. He also won a second Fargo title that same week, this time in Greco-Roman at 138 pounds, and was named that tournament's Outstanding Wrestler.
Georgi Ivanov recognized Joel Adams's special talent when he started training at his club after his freshman year of high school. Adams, a senior at Millard South in Nebraska, crossed the border to train with Ivanov at The Best Wrestler in McClelland, Iowa.
World Champion Wrestler, Joel Adams | Mike Chuck Podcast
U17 World Championship Triumph
On August 5, 2022, Joel Adams was selected as the USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week. Last week, Adams became the 20th Greco-Roman wrestler in USA Wrestling history to earn a U17 World gold medal as he rolled through the 65 kg bracket without surrendering a single point. With the win, Adams became the first U17 World champ in Greco-Roman since Cohlton Schultz in 2017.
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In Rome, Italy, Joel Adams (65 kg, TBW) was the most seasoned international performer on the US roster. In a field boasting 28 competitors, Adams had little choice but to get started fast if a serious run were to be made.
Championship Matches
Adams opened with an 8-0 tech fall over Takaku Suzuki of Japan before cruising past Saya Brunner of Switzerland, 10-0. In the quarterfinals, the American overpowered U15 European runner-up Aleksandre Rusitashvili from Georgia, 6-0, to guarantee himself a medal match. In the semis, Adams shut down Ukraine’s Petro Shafranskiy, 6-0, punching his ticket to the finals.
For gold, Adams faced Iran’s Ahoura Bouveiri, who took seventh at the 2022 U17 Asian Championships. Adams rattled off three takedowns en route to a 6-0 victory and a World title.
Match Details
- Qualification Round: vs. Takaku Suzuki (JPN) - Won 8-0
- Round of 16: vs. Saya Brunner (SUI) - Won 10-0
- Quarterfinals: vs. Aleksandre Rusitashvili (GEO) - Won 6-0
- Semifinals: vs. Petro Shafranskyi (UKR) - Won 6-0
- Finals: vs. Ahoura Bouveiri (IRI) - Won 6-0
Joel Adams's path to the U17 World Championship.
Detailed Match Analysis
Following some preamble, Suzuki was rung up for passive, allowing Adams an opportunity from par terre top. It was all the American needed. The whistle blew and, after a slight adjustment on his lock, Adams stepped and planted to heave Suzuki through the air. Five points were logged, but more were on the way.
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Saya Brunner (SUI) was next in line, though not for long. A go-behind for Adams availed two before a lift tacked on four more. In the melee, Brunner’s left leg had intertwined between Adams’, resulting in an apparent caution-and-two - which would have iced the proceedings. But a challenge from Switzerland somehow kept the reel spinning with Adams instead holding a 6-0 lead.
A stiffer test it was by comparison even if the outcome stayed the same. Up 3-0 in the second period, the pair were jousting towards the edge with both equally interested in a score, while also trying to mind the bright orange line. Adams locked double-underhooks, thus coercing Rusitashvili out of bounds. Because he had managed to land on top on the back-end of the action, Rusitashvili and his corner were prompted to throw the challenge brick. A long review was surprisingly necessary in order to confirm the obvious, which was one point for Adams on the step-out along with an extra tick for the upheld call.
Adams removed part of that consternation by executing one of his more superlative techniques of the day. Shafranskyi had entered desperation mode with :30 remaining. He had to come with a meaningful multi-point attempt. What that looked like was a headlock. He reached and corkscrewed - but Adams was ready, and caught Shafranskyi ahead of covering for two additional points. 6-0 read the board, and Adams had earned the right to fight for gold tomorrow afternoon.
International Experience
Recent Pan-Am Championships gold Adams acquired relevant overseas experience prior to this year. In ’19, the Nebraskan secured bronze at the inaugural U15 World Combat Games (HUN). One year later, Adams made his Cadet debut at the Grehov Tournament in Moldova.
Other Achievements
Adams’ second-biggest domestic prize aside from winning the Cadet Trials this season came last year in Fargo, where he prevailed at the 16U Nationals and was subsequently voted that tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.
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Future Aspirations
Joel Adams, a senior at Millard South, is planning to take a gap year after graduation with the goal of wrestling in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Table of Achievements
| Achievement | Year |
|---|---|
| Nebraska State Champion (138 lbs) | N/A |
| Fargo 16U Freestyle Champion (138 lbs) | 2021 |
| Fargo Greco-Roman Champion (138 lbs) | 2021 |
| U17 World Gold Medalist (65 kg) | 2022 |
| U15 World Combat Games Bronze Medalist | 2019 |