2022 U17 Greco-Roman world champion Joel Adams (photo courtesy of Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com)This afternoon, in a live broadcast on the NEWrestle Facebook page, 2022 U17 Greco-Roman world champion Joel Adams made his collegiate decision. He will attend the University of Michigan. Adams is ranked #22 overall in the Class of 2023, prior to his announcement, was one of only three uncommitted wrestlers in the top-50.
At the World Championships, Adams outscored the competition 36-0 and became the first American since Joshua Etu in 1997 to capture a gold medal at the Cadet/U17 event.
While making the U17 world team in Greco, Adams also was a finalist in freestyle. He lost in three matches to Tyler Kasak who ended up getting silver at worlds. A year ago, he was a runner-up at UWW Greco WTT's as well. Recently, Joel placed at the Super 32 for the second time. In 2021, Adams was a finalist, while this year he defaulted to sixth after falling in the semifinals. Last summer, Adams was a double national champion in Fargo, winning both styles at the 16U level at 138 lbs.
After the Super 32, Adams went to #7 in MatScouts national rankings of 145 lbers.
Adams noted in his announcement that he will take a gap year and train Greco-Roman full-time with hopes of making the 2024 Olympic Team.
Adams is another cog in an absolutely loaded recruiting Class of 2023 for the Wolverines. Sean Bormet's team now has commitment's from six of the top 35 seniors in the country. Adams will join #10 Beau Mantanona (CA), #11 Sergio Lemley (IN), #25 Caden Horwath (MI), #26 Dylan Gilcher (MI), and #35 Hayden Walters (OR) in the Class of 2023.
He projects as a 149 lber at the next level. Michigan currently has redshirt freshman Chance Lamer as their starter at the weight; however, it will be another two years before Adams hits Ann Arbor. With a redshirt year in play, either Adams or Lamer could grow into 157, a weight class inhabited by All-American Will Lewan, who has two years of eligibility left.
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