Armenian-American wrestling rising star Grigor Cholakyan, one of the top young athletes in the country, will represent Team Armenia at the 2025 United World Wrestling U23 World Championships, taking place October 20–27 in Novi Sad, Serbia, reports Sportaran.
His name now appears with the Armenian flag on the United World Wrestling (UWW) website, confirming his registration in the 74 kg weight class.
“I consider it my duty to represent my Armenian culture at events because it’s part of my identity. There is power in being Armenian. Representing a nation that has persevered throughout its history gives me strength,” Cholakyan told The Armenian Weekly in 2024.
Cholakyan, a 2024 California State Champion from St. John Bosco, is now a sophomore at Stanford University, wrestling at 157 lbs on a full athletic scholarship. He captained his high school team as a junior and senior and finished as a three-time state placer (1st, 4th, 5th).
His career highlights are already stacked: California State Champion (2024), Fargo 2023 Freestyle Finalist, five-time Fargo All-American, two-time Reno Tournament of Champions Winner and Outstanding Wrestler, three-time Doc B placer, fourth at Super 32 (2022), seventh at the 2021 Cadet World Team Trials, and medalist at Super 32, Doc B, and Journeyman Fall Classic.
Heading into Stanford, he was ranked #5 nationally by MatScouts and #34 on the 2024 Big Board, placing him among the top 40 high school graduates in the country.
Born and raised in Burbank, California, Cholakyan grew up in an Armenian family and trained under Olympic veteran Martin Berberyan. He wrestles freestyle for Berberyan Wrestling Club at 74 kg, the same division he’ll compete in for Armenia.
At Stanford, he’s posted a 5–9 record this season at 157 lbs. WrestleStat lists his career record at 15–11 (57.7%), including appearances at the 2025 NCAA Championships, where he faced top-ranked opponents Ed Scott (NC State) and Ryder Downey (Northern Iowa).
His full name is Grigor Gregory Cholakyan. He’s the son of Sarkis and Mariana Cholakyan and has two older sisters, Elizabeth and Anahit.
According to Sportaran, Cholakyan is among the preliminary freestyle roster of the Armenian national wrestling team for the U23 World Championships in Serbia. The team includes Norik Harutyunyan (57 kg), Levik Mikaelyan (61 kg), Andranik Avetisyan (65 kg), Davit Margaryan (70 kg), Grigor Cholakyan (74 kg), Hayk Papikyan (79 kg), Mushegh Mkrtchyan (86 kg), Knyaz Iboyan (92 kg), Sergey Sargsyan (97 kg), and Khachatur Khachatryan (125 kg).
In Greco-Roman, Armenia’s lineup features Araik Topalyan (55 kg), Suren Aghajanyan (60 kg), Davit Jotyan (63 kg), Ruben Miranyan (67 kg), Gaspar Terteryan (72 kg), Samvel Terteryan (77 kg), Yurik Petrosyan (82 kg), Ruben Gevorgyan (87 kg), Arshak Geghamyan (97 kg), and Razmik Kurdian (130 kg).
Armenia remains one of the strongest nations in age-group wrestling, with recent world titles underscoring that reputation. Earlier this year, Armenian wrestlers captured gold at the U17, U20, and senior world championships: Gaspar Terteryan (U20 Greco-Roman World Champion), Janes Nazaryan (U17 Greco-Roman World Champion), and Malkhas Amoyan (Senior Greco-Roman World Champion).
The U23 World Championships will mark Cholakyan’s first major international tournament for Armenia, a proud milestone for a young wrestler already carrying both the flag and spirit of a nation known for its fighters.
