Gwiazdowski Set for Third Straight World Championships

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RALEIGH, N.C. – Former NC State national champion Nick Gwiazdowski is no stranger to success on wrestling's biggest stages.

While a member of the Wolfpack, Gwiazdowski made three straight NCAA finals (2014-16) and won back-to-back national championships at heavyweight in 2014 and 2015.

Now post-college on the freestyle circuit, while still training in Raleigh at the Wolfpack Regional Training Center (RTC), Gwiazdowski has solidified himself as the top U.S. wrestler at 125 kg and will once again be representing the United States at his third straight World Championships.

Gwiazdowski will be in action at the 2019 World Championships Friday and Saturday (Sept. 20-21) in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. Not only has he reached his third straight World Championships, he is also looking to bring home a medal for the third straight time.

"I feel good going in. I'm excited, and prepared for it," said Gwiazdowski. "I feel like I have prepared both physically and mentally, and I'm just looking forward to competing."

On the biggest stage of international wrestling, Gwiazdowski has claimed back-to-back bronze medals in both 2017 (recap) and 2018 (recap).

This year, he enters as the No. 4 seed at 125 kg after going 13-3 during 2019 in various international tournaments. He has claimed gold this year at both the Pan American Championships and the Pan Am Games, and silver at the Yasar Dogu.

"He has the same mindset, anything less then wining it is a disappointment for him," said NC State head coach Pat Popolizio. "It's a tall task, he has some really good competition out there. No matter what weight you are at, you dealing with the best guys.

"He is extremely focused. Its fun to watch him continue to grow, as he is working extremely hard. He is doing everything he can do to go out and win the gold."

It will not be an easy task this year, as six different wrestlers at 125 kg have previously won World or Olympic medals.

Two-time defending World champion Geno Petriashvili of Georgia is the top seed and will be in Gwiazdowski's half of the bracket, while 2016 Olympic champion Taha Akgul of Turkey is the third seed and highlights the bottom portion.

"There are a ton of tough wrestlers in the world, the brackets are tough," said Gwiazdowski. "I've learned a couple of different ways of looking at things this year. You have to be consistent from start to end finish hard. I just want to go out and wrestle my style."

Gwiazdowski is trying to become just the 10^th American (in all weight classes) to win a World or Olympic medal in each of his first three tries.

This year's World Championships will not only determine the best wrestler in the world in each weight class, but with the 2020 Olympics next year in Tokyo, the top five placers this weekend will qualify their weight for the Olympics.

U.S. fans can watch the live broadcast on Trackwrestling. NBCSN will have replay coverage on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

125-KG COMPETITION SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 20
1 a.m. – 6 a.m. ET | Qualification rounds
6:45 a.m. – 11 a.m. ET | Semifinals

Saturday, Sept. 21
1 a.m. – 6 a.m. ET | Repechage
6:45 a.m. – 11 a.m. ET | Finals

North Carolina State University Athletics

Gwiazdowski Set for Third Straight World Championships

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