TAMPERE, Finland – Behind a record year for the USA Wrestling Junior Freestyle Team, Arizona State wrestling's Zahid Valencia helped the United States bring home their first team title since 1984.
Valencia earned a silver medal, improving significantly from a 10th place finish in 2015 and a seventh-place finish in 2016. After making three straight Junior World Teams, he moves up to compete for a spot on the Senior World Team next summer.
"It feels good to win a medal and know that I've progressed every year – from 10th to 7th to 2nd – so it's just a learning experience," said Valencia.