#WrestleGuatemalaCity

Cuatro Países Recogen Múltiples Campeonas de Estilo Libre Femenina

By Taylor Miller

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – Cuatro países ganaron más que una campeona en la acción de jueves del Campeonato Panamericano Juvenil en la Ciudad de Guatemala.

USA tuvo tres campeones en el estilo libre femenina, mientras Brasil, Colombia y Cuba ganaron dos campeonas cada uno.

Los Estados Unidos ganó el título del equipo con 210 puntos. En segundo lugar fue Canadá con 134 puntos y Brasil terminó en tercer lugar con 102 puntos.

Final team standings
1. USA – 210
2. Canada – 134
3. Brazil – 102
4. Ecuador – 72
5. Cuba – 70
6. Colombia – 50
7. Peru – 42
8. Panama – 31
9. Guatemala – 24
10. Argentina – 22

50 kg: Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) fue impresionante con tres victorias de puesta espalda y una victoria por decisión. En los finales Yépez derrotó a la Campeona Olímpica Juvenil y Campeona Mundial en la categoría cadetes Emily SHILSON (USA), 5-4. Es su tercer título panamericano y primero en el nivel juvenil.

GOLD – Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) df. Emily SHILSON (USA), 5-4
BRONZE – Evelyn MATOS SANTOS (BRA) df. Alexia SEAL (CAN), fall 2:27

53 kg: Laura HERIN AVILA (CUB) ganó el oro en 53 kg. Derrotó a la medallista de bronce mundial Tiare IKEI (USA) en su final combate, 10-0.

GOLD – Laura HERIN AVILA (CUB)
SILVER – Tiare IKEI (USA)
BRONZE – Becky CORNEJO MUNOZ (ECU)

55 kg: Alisha HOWK (USA) fue la primera campeona de los Estados Unidos de la noche. Dos de sus cuatro victorias fueron por puesta espalda.

GOLD – Alisha HOWK (USA)
SILVER - Nathaly HERRERA HUACRE (PER)
BRONZE - Virginie KAZE GASCON (CAN)

57 kg: Ana PEREIRA FRANCA (BRA) gano el primer oro del noche para Brasil. Nadie pudo marcarle puntos durante todo el torneo.

GOLD – Ana PEREIRA FRANCA (BRA)
SILVER – Gabrielle SKIDMORE (USA)
BRONZE – Jolie BRISCO (CAN)

59 kg: Katherine RENTERIA CUERO (COL) repitió como campeona panamericana juvenil. Ella recibió la bota de oro por ser la luchadora más destacada del torneo. Ganó cuatro combates con dos puestas espaldas y dos superioridades técnicas.  

GOLD – Katherine RENTERIA CUERO (COL)
SILVER – Emma PARKER (CAN)
BRONZE – Mia MACALUSO (USA)

62 kg: Dayselis RODRIGUEZ GARCIA (CUB) ganó el oro en su primera competencia panamericana. En su final lucha, Rodríguez ganó contra Meiriele CHARAMBA SANTOS HORA (BRA) por puesta espaldas.

GOLD – Dayselis RODRIGUEZ GARCIA (CUB)
SILVER – Alex LILES (USA)
BRONZE – Meiriele CHARAMBA SANTOS HORA (BRA)

65 kg: Cara BROADUS (CAN) tuvo un día fuerte con dos victorias por puesta espalda para ganar su primer título panamericano. Ella fue la segunda campeona de USA.

GOLD – Cara BROADUS (USA)
SILVER – Jamilex CUMBICOS CASTILLO (ECU)
BRONZE – Katie MULKAY (CAN)

68 kg: La segunda campeona brasileña fue Thamires MARTINS MACHADO (BRA). Todas de sus victorias fueron por superioridad técnica. Ha mejorado mucho desde su último torneo panamericano, donde resulto en el sexto lugar en 2017.

GOLD – Thamires MARTINS MACHADO (BRA)
SILVER – Alma MENDOZA (USA)
BRONZE – Berit JOHNSON (CAN)

72 kg: Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) ganó el segundo oro para Colombia. En su final combate, derrotó a Dymond GUILFORD (USA) con una acción de cinco puntos.

GOLD – Tatiana RENTERIA (COL)
SILVER – Dymond GUILFORD (USA)
BRONZE – Lily FRENCH (CAN)

76 kg: Kenya-Lee SLOAN (USA) fue la tercera campeona estadounidense. En camino a su medalla de oro, Sloan derrotó a la Campeona Olímpica Juvenil Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) en la cuarta ronda por puesta espalda.

GOLD – Kenya-Lee SLOAN (USA)
SILVER – Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB)
BRONZE – Jasmine THEBEAU (CAN)

#WrestleBratislava

On 14th attempt, Prevolaraki wins historic European gold for Greece

By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 11) -- Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) made her first trip to the European Championships in 2011 when she was 19 years old. She competed in 14 European Championships and returned home with eight medals -- four silvers and four bronzes -- over the last 13 years.

Now 33 and competing at her 14th European Championships, Prevolaraki won her first gold medal with a thrilling win over Andreea ANA (ROU), ending a 24-year wait for Greece to have a champion in Women's Wrestling at the continental event. Former world champion Sofia POUMPOURIDOU (GRE) was the last and only other European champion for Greece in Women's Wrestling.

"I am very happy that I managed to earn the gold medal," Prevolaraki said. "I was waiting so many years to be the European champion and I am 33 years old but I managed to do it."

Over the years, Prevolaraki has lost four finals, all to different opponents. But Friday, she managed to keep her composure in a close bout for the win.

"This time I am more experienced and I did not feel any pressure," she said.  I played freely and good things happen when you have no pressure."

Wrestling in Bratislava in the 53kg weight class, Prevolaraki was hit with passivity first and put on the 30-second clock which expired without Prevolaraki scoring to give Ana 1-0 lead.

Ana extended her lead to 3-0 when Prevolaraki tried to hit a cut-back but was unsuccessful in the move. With more than two minutes remaining, Ana tried defending her 3-0 lead but was put on the activity clock when 1:10 were left.

During the 30-second period, Prevolaraki went for the leg-attack but Ana moved and tried getting behind Prevolaraki which she almost did and tried throwing the Greek with a cradle. But Prevolaraki was alerted and did not land in danger and scored a takedown. The activity clock against Ana expired which added another point for Prevolaraki, making the score 3-3 with the Greece wrestler leading on criteria of last point scored.

Romania decided to challenge, a strategic one. Even a lost challenge would need Ana to score a point to win from 4-3 with Prevolaraki lead and 3-3 with criteria to Prevolaraki.

On review, Romania lost the challenge and Prevolaraki led 4-3. Ana hit a sweep single and tried forcing Prevolaraki out of bounds but the Greece wrestler turned it around to get Ana's head out first and get another point to lead 5-3 which she defended and won the gold medal.

Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) at the medal ceremony of the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

"I think I have had a good career," she said. "I am sad that I don't have an Olympic medal but I have many European medals and world Championships medals."

Prevolaraki, a four-time Olympian, a rare feat in wrestling, paid tribute to three-time Olympic champion Buvaisar SAITIEV, by wearing a shirt with his photo and message. Saitiev had passed away in March at the age of 49 years.

"The legend [Saitiev] is for all wrestler all over the world and his legend has no bounds. I wanted to pay a tribute to this legend," she said.