Vietnam Youth Traditional Wrestling Championship Draws 126 Athletes

Vietnam’s National Youth and Junior Traditional Wrestling Championship was held from September 17 to 26 at the Dong Anh Commune Gymnasium and was jointly organized by the Vietnam Department of Physical Education and Sports, the Vietnam Traditional Wrestling Federation, and the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The Hawkeye Wrestling Club is a nonprofit regional training center in Iowa City closely aligned with the University of Iowa, allowing athletes to train alongside collegiate wrestlers while preparing for international freestyle and Greco-Roman competition.
Titan Mercury Wrestling Club uses a national, multi-hub model based in Newport Beach, California, sponsoring athletes at senior world championships and Olympic trials while coordinating with university-affiliated training centers across different weight classes.
Analu Woode will be the first Hawaiian wrestler to compete at Who’s Number One. He earned the invitation by winning one of Fargo’s deepest brackets and finishing the tournament with a fall in the final.
Evan Restivo has not wrestled an official high school match but reached No. 2 after defeating 20% of the wrestlers ranked at 113 pounds across the U17 World Team Trials and Elite 8 Duals, in addition to representing the United States at the U17 World Championships.
Vietnam's 2026 National Youth and Junior Traditional Wrestling Championship brought together 126 young athletes from eight provinces and cities to showcase the country's wrestling heritage. Vietnam Traditional Wrestling Federation organized the event from September 17 to 26 at the Dong Anh Commune Gymnasium in Hanoi, aiming to develop future talent and strengthen traditional wrestling across the nation.
The National Youth and Junior Traditional Wrestling Championship was jointly organized by the Vietnam Department of Physical Education and Sports, the Vietnam Traditional Wrestling Federation, and the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The 10-day competition served as a critical pathway for identifying young talent and promoting traditional wrestling throughout Vietnam. Official Sources noted that participants came from eight different provinces, cities, and sectors across the country.
In the United States, regional training centers support wrestlers beyond college competition. The Open Mat reports that the Hawkeye Wrestling Club in Iowa City operates as a nonprofit center aligned with the University of Iowa. Athletes there train alongside collegiate wrestlers while preparing for freestyle and Greco-Roman competitions at world championships and Olympic trials.
The Titan Mercury Wrestling Club uses a different model based in Newport Beach, California. It sponsors post-collegiate athletes at senior world championships and Olympic trials while coordinating with university-affiliated training centers across multiple weight classes. Both centers provide elite coaching, training partners, and financial support to develop competitive wrestlers.
The upcoming Who's Number One event will showcase a highly anticipated 113-pound matchup between two rising stars. Analu Woode, a Hawaiian wrestler, earned his invitation by winning one of Fargo's deepest brackets and finishing with a fall in the final. Wrestling Rankings reports that Woode will be the first Hawaiian wrestler to compete at Who's Number One, marking a historic moment for the state.
His opponent, Evan Restivo from State College, holds the No. 2 ranking despite never wrestling an official high school match. Restivo defeated 20% of wrestlers ranked at 113 pounds across the U17 World Team Trials and Elite 8 Duals. He also represented the United States at the U17 World Championships, building an impressive resume through elite competition alone.
The 150-pound matchup at Who's Number One was shaped by recent upsets in the rankings. Jason Dube defeated Clinton Shepherd, a previously favored wrestler, in a surprise result that shifted expectations for the weight class. Wrestling Rankings indicates this upset has created momentum heading into the major event and opened new possibilities for the 150-pound bracket.
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