Photo by: United World Wrestling
Cruz Set To Compete at UWW World Championships in Serbia
9/14/2023 11:16:00 AM | Men's Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh wrestling will be represented when the UWW World Championships, Sept. 16-24 in Belgrade, Serbia. Former NCAA Champion Darian Cruz '18 will be competing in freestyle at 57 kg for Puerto Rico. This will be Cruz's second consecutive World Championship appearance. He reached the quarterfinals last year on the way to a ninth place finish.
Competition in the 57 kg freestyle bracket will begin with qualification rounds on Sunday, Sept. 17 with repechage and medal matches scheduled for Sept. 18.
Several years ago Cruz switched over to Puerto Rico after competing previously for the United States. He made the U.S. national team in 2019 following a runner-up finish at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.
The 2017 NCAA Champion at 125 and a three-time NCAA All-American, Cruz has continued training in the Caruso Complex with the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club. The three-time EIWA Champion also spent three seasons (2019-22) as a volunteer assistant coach on the Mountain Hawks' staff while training with the LVWC.
Cruz has brought first-year Ethan Smith along to Serbia to serve as a training partner for his upcoming World Championships appearance.
Streaming video of the 2023 UWW World Championships will be available on FloWrestling.org.
Like Lehigh Wrestling on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Competition in the 57 kg freestyle bracket will begin with qualification rounds on Sunday, Sept. 17 with repechage and medal matches scheduled for Sept. 18.
Several years ago Cruz switched over to Puerto Rico after competing previously for the United States. He made the U.S. national team in 2019 following a runner-up finish at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.
The 2017 NCAA Champion at 125 and a three-time NCAA All-American, Cruz has continued training in the Caruso Complex with the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club. The three-time EIWA Champion also spent three seasons (2019-22) as a volunteer assistant coach on the Mountain Hawks' staff while training with the LVWC.
Cruz has brought first-year Ethan Smith along to Serbia to serve as a training partner for his upcoming World Championships appearance.
Streaming video of the 2023 UWW World Championships will be available on FloWrestling.org.
Like Lehigh Wrestling on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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