Rising senior Jayden James '26 continues to cement his reputation as one of the brightest young talents in American wrestling today. The Penn State commit delivered a dominant performance this weekend at the U17 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, capturing double gold in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling at 71 kilograms.

James started his run by winning the Greco-Roman title with a gritty 11-8 decision, showcasing his toughness and composure in a tightly contested final. But it was in freestyle where he left no doubt. The reigning state champion rolled through the bracket with four consecutive 10-0 technical falls, dismantling every opponent in sight and not surrendering a single point.

His double-gold performance was part of a dominant showing by Team USA, which swept three team titles and brought home 15 gold medals across the men's freestyle and Greco-Roman competitions.

James's success in Rio is just the latest chapter in a remarkable 2024 season. Earlier this spring, he went 6-0 at the U17 U.S. Open, outscoring his opponents by a combined 64-1, with five technical falls. That performance earned him a spot on the U.S. team for the U17 World Championships this summer in Athens, Greece.

With his senior year still ahead and a future at wrestling powerhouse Penn State already locked in, James is clearly a rising force on both the national and international stage.