picture of Zahid Valencia

A native of Southern California, Zahid Valencia won three state championships at single class California at St. John Bosco High School.

  1. The College Fan Guide To USA Wrestling's 2024 Olympic Team Trials

    The College Fan Guide To USA Wrestling's 2024 Olympic Team Trials

    Apr 15, 2024

    Every four years, the Olympic Team Trials attracts one of the greatest collections of active American wrestlers under one roof. Just how great will the 2024 Trials in State College be? Keep reading and we will tell you!
  2. 92 kg Preview & Predictions - 2023 Senior World Championships

    92 kg Preview & Predictions - 2023 Senior World Championships

    Sep 8, 2023

    The 2023 Senior World Championships are set to go down in Belgrade, Serbia, September 16-24. The men’s freestyle portion of the tournament will take place from September 16-19. Check out the below article for a complete breakdown with predictions for the 92 kg weight class at the 2023 World Championships.
  3. A Realistic Look At Every MFS World Teamer's Chances Of Winning A Medal

    A Realistic Look At Every MFS World Teamer's Chances Of Winning A Medal

    Jun 14, 2023

    I would like to start off this article by saying that I hope Team USA goes 10 for 10 at Worlds and dominates the entire way and that USA Wrestling has become so good in the past handful of years that just making the team automatically makes you a medal threat at the World Championships. Look at how many medalists are sitting home this year. That being said, I’m trying to provide information to help fans set realistic expectations. At weights where I did not predict a gold medal, I’m not saying that wrestler isn’t capable, just looking at data including past results and international fields.
  4. World Team Trials Challenge Tournament 92 kg Preview

    World Team Trials Challenge Tournament 92 kg Preview

    May 10, 2023

    There will only be three weights contested in men’s freestyle at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament on May 20 and 21, but those three weights are going to be electric. In addition to 61 kg and 125 kg, 92 kg will be in action. With top talent coming both up and down from 86 and 97 to try and make Final X, you’re not going to want to miss it.
  5. Team USA's Results At The 2023 Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series Event

    Team USA's Results At The 2023 Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series Event

    Feb 26, 2023

    The second Ranking Series event of the year, the 2023 Ibrahim Moustafa, is underway in Alexandria Egypt. Some of Team USA’s best from the men’s and women’s freestyle squads are competing against the best in the world, on February 24-February 26. Wrestling starts at 3:30 am (ET) every morning with medal matches beginning at 11:00 am (ET). Check out the below article for real-time results with links to every match video.
  6. Valencia vs Yazdani Headlines Best Matches At The Zagreb Open

    Valencia vs Yazdani Headlines Best Matches At The Zagreb Open

    Jan 30, 2023

    The Zagreb Open is the first Ranking Series event of the year and will feature some of the world's best wrestlers on February 1-5. Check out the below article for a breakdown of some of the best potential men's freestyle matches for Team USA in Croatia.
  7. Ali Savadkhoui Stuns Jordan Burroughs At The World Cup

    Ali Savadkhoui Stuns Jordan Burroughs At The World Cup

    Dec 12, 2022

    Ali Savadkouhi becomes the first-ever Iranian to beat Jordan Burroughs at the 2022 World Cup.
  8. 2022 UWW Men's & Women's World Cup Match Notes - Day 2

    2022 UWW Men's & Women's World Cup Match Notes - Day 2

    Dec 11, 2022

    It's the medal matches of the 2022 UWW Men's and Women's Freestyle Wrestling World Cup from Coralville, Iowa. Team USA has a women's match at 12 noon eastern time against Mongolia for bronze, and a men's match at 7 pm eastern against Iran for gold.
  9. 2022 UWW Men's & Women's World Cup Match Notes - Day 1

    2022 UWW Men's & Women's World Cup Match Notes - Day 1

    Dec 10, 2022

    It's a great day for a premier international wrestling event and a great day for live blogging, and so we will do both here in the Xtreme Arena in Coralville, Iowa as we follow the men's and women's freestyle wrestling World Cup in real-time.
  10. 20 World Cup Fast Facts

    20 World Cup Fast Facts

    Dec 10, 2022

    1. The USA men’s freestyle team is in pursuit of its 15th World Cup title. In 2018 — the last time the tournament was held on American soil — the United States won its first World Cup title in 15 years.
  11. Hear From The U.S. Women's Freestyle Team In Advance Of the World Cup

    Hear From The U.S. Women's Freestyle Team In Advance Of the World Cup

    Dec 9, 2022

    Hear from athletes and coaches on the women's freestyle team as they prepare for the World Cup in Coralville, Iowa, on December 10-11.
  12. World Cup Rosters Are Set For USA

    World Cup Rosters Are Set For USA

    Nov 15, 2022

    The World Cup rosters are set for the United States.
  13. Final X Men's Freestyle Complete Scoring Breakdown

    Final X Men's Freestyle Complete Scoring Breakdown

    Jun 16, 2022

    Wrestling always has been and probably, given the nuanced and complicated nature of the sport, always will be lacking in the stats department. I'm doing my very small part to fix that. Below is a breakdown of all the scoring across the 24 matches men's freestyle matches at Final X Stillwater and New York.
  14. Early Predictions For Team USA At 2022 Worlds

    Early Predictions For Team USA At 2022 Worlds

    Jun 9, 2022

    Team USA’s world team is set and expectations are high for the men’s freestyle team. With 3 months remaining, it's time for some “way too early predictions” and give a brief outlook on every weight at the 2022 world championships in men’s freestyle.
  15. All The Scoring Action From Final X NYC

    All The Scoring Action From Final X NYC

    Jun 9, 2022

    If you're ready to re-live the best scoring action from Final X New York City, scroll through this compilation of scoring highlights from all 14 best-of-three series.