United World Wrestling Hub

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Fighting Illini redshirt freshman Zac Braunagel will wrestle for Team USA at Junior World Wrestling Championships this weekend in Tallinn, Estonia. Braunagel will compete in the 82 kg Greco Roman bracket. 

Braunagel earned his spot on the U.S. Junior World team by winning the Greco Roman U.S. Open title at 82 kg on April 25 in Las Vegas. He defeated Max Wohlabaugh, 2-0, in the best-of-three series for the spot on the Junior World Team.  

Braunagel also competed this summer in Freestyle at the Pan-Am Junior Championships in Guatemala, placing first at 86 kg. He finished fourth in Freestyle at 86 kg at Junior World Team Trials in May. Braunagel went 11-4 competing unattached during his redshirt season in his first year at Illinois. A native of Belleville, Ill., Braunagel was a two-time IHSA Class 1A State Champion for Althoff Catholic High School. He also was a two-time Illinois Greco Roman State Champion.

The Junior World Championships is a yearly event that features the world's best wrestlers between the ages of 18 and 20 years old. Categories include Greco-Roman, Freestyle and Women's. A recap of Braunagel's participation at the Championships will be released at the conclusion of competition. 

For complete coverage of Fighting Illini Wrestling, visit FightingIllini.com, follow the Illini on Twitter (@illiniwrestling) and Instagram (illiniwrestling) and like Fighting Illini Wrestling on Facebook.