Lopes to Wrestle for Brazil at U23 World Championships Next Week in Las Vegas

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh sophomore Matty Lopes will represent Brazil at next week's UWW U23 World Championships, beginning Monday at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Lopes will be competing at 61 kg with his weight class set for Friday, Oct. 16.

Lopes deferred his eligibility in 2025-26, going 9-1 competing unattached in open tournament competition. He won titles at the Princeton Open and the Journeymen Collegiate Classic and was named Lehigh's Deferred Eligibility Wrestler of the Year at the annual Lewis Wrestling Dinner.

As a true first-year in 2024-25, Lopes was Lehigh's postseason starter at 133 pounds, finishing fourth at the EIWA Championships, capping a 10-4 season.

This marks the second straight year an active Lehigh men's wrestler will compete at an age group World Championship. Luke Stanich won an U20 World title representing the United State at 65 kg in August 2025 in Bulgaria.

Lopes is expected to be one of five current or recent Division I wrestlers in the 61 kg bracket.

Action at the U23 World Championships begins Monday, Oct. 12 and runs through Sunday, Oct. 18. All of the action will be streamed on FloWrestling.org.

Upcoming Event: Men's Wrestling at Princeton Open on November 1, 2026 at 9:00 AM

Upcoming Event: Men's Wrestling versus Virginia Tech on November 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Men's Wrestling versus Indiana on November 7, 2026 at 4:30 PM

Upcoming Event: Men's Wrestling versus Journeymen Collegiate Classic on November 8, 2026 at 9:00 AM

Upcoming Event: Men's Wrestling at Rutgers on November 15, 2026

Upcoming Event: Men's Wrestling at Pittsburgh on November 21, 2026 at 1:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Men's Wrestling versus Penn State on December 6, 2026 at 2:00 PM

Completed Event: Men's Wrestling at NCAA Championships on March 21, 2026 , , 16th, 26.5 pts.

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Completed Event: Men's Wrestling at NCAA Championships on March 19, 2026 , , 11th, 8.5 pts.

Completed Event: Men's Wrestling at EIWA Championships on March 7, 2026 , , 1st, 163.5 pts.

Lehigh University Athletics

Lopes to Wrestle for Brazil at U23 World Championships Next Week in Las Vegas

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