#WrestleBudapest19

Four Junior World Champions Seek Second World Gold of the Season at #WrestleBudapest

Friday, November 1, 2019 - 08:07 By Taylor Miller

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Photo of Haruna OKUNO (JPN) by Kadir Caliskan.

BUDAPEST, Hungary – The second group of women’s freestyle finals are set with seven countries represented and four 2019 Junior World champions in the mix in Budapest, Hungary, at the 2019 U23 World Championships.

Those seeking their second World titles for the 2019 season are Haruna OKUNO (JPN), Sae NANJO (JPN), Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) and Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB).

Okuno advanced to the 53 kg finals, where she will face 2017 Junior Asian champion Pooja GEHLOT (IND).

Okuno looks to win her sixth overall World championship. In addition to her Junior World title from earlier this year, Okuno has two Senior World gold medals from 2017 and 2018, a U23 World gold from 2017 and a Cadet World gold from 2016.

Wrestling for the title at 57 kg, Nanjo will take on Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) in a rematch of the 2019 Junior World finals. This will be the third time Nanjo and Akobiia have met up in a World tournament.

The last time they wrestled, Nanjo won with a 9-0 decision to pick up her second Junior World gold medal. Nanjo also owns a 7-0 win over Akobiia in the 2017 U23 World quarterfinals. Nanjo went on to win gold at the tournament, and Akobiia scored a bronze medal.

Photo of Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) by Kadir Caliskan.

At 62 kg, Inagaki looks to add to her successful year with another World finals bid.

Looking to challenge her is Kayla MIRACLE (USA), who avenged a loss from last year’s U23 World Championships to Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) in the semifinals on Thursday.

The other 2019 Junior World champion in the U23 World finals is Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB), who pinned her way into the gold-medal match.

For the title Marin Potrille will face 2019 Senior World bronze medalist and 2018 U23 World bronze medalist Xiaoqian WANG (CHN).

The other final on Friday night will feature 2019 U23 Asian champion Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL) and 2019 Ivan Yariguin silver medalist Misuzu ENOMOTO (JPN) battling for the gold medal at 65 kg.

The finals will take place Friday at 6 p.m. local time live on unitedworldwrestling.

Semifinals results
53 kg
Haruna OKUNO (JPN) df. Anudari NANDINTSETSEG (MGL), 4-0
Pooja GEHLOT (IND) df. Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), 8-4

57 kg
Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) df. Marina SIMONYAN (RUS), fall
Sae NANJO (JPN) df. Hannah TAYLOR (CAN), 14-4

62 kg
Kayla MIRACLE (USA) df. Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR), fall
Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) df. Irina RINGACI (MDA), 13-2

65 kg
Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL) df. Madina BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), 7-0
Misuzu ENOMOTO (JPN) df. Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU), 4-0

72 kg
Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), fall
Xiaoqian WANG (CHN) df. Mei SHINDO (JPN), 5-2

Finals matchups
53 kg: Haruna OKUNO (JPN) vs. Pooja GEHLOT (IND)
57 kg: Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) vs. Sae NANJO (JPN)
62 kg: Kayla MIRACLE (USA) vs. Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN)
65 kg: Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL) vs. Misuzu ENOMOTO (JPN)
72 kg: Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) vs. Xiaoqian WANG (CHN)

#WrestleMonterrey

Yepez adds third Pan-Am gold; U.S. wins WW team title

Sunday, May 11, 2025 - 08:06 By Vinay Siwach

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MONTERREY, Mexico (May 10) -- Paris Olympics silver medalist Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) completed a hat-trick of Pan-Am golds while the United States added two more gold medals to its tally in Women's Wrestling at the Pan-American Championships in Monterrey, Mexico. Canada, which won two golds on Friday, got another one through Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) at 59kg.

Overall, the United States won the team title with 207 points with Canada finishing second with 170 points. Hosts Mexico was third with 131 points.

Yepez, wrestling for the first time since the Paris Olympic final, won the gold medal at 53kg after a 7-0 win in the final against Mariana ROJAS (VEN). This was Yepez's third straight gold medal at the Pan-Ams.

Two stepout and a activity clock point against Rojas helped Yepez get a 3-0 lead before a double-leg takedown and turn made it 7-0 in the first period. Surprisingly, there was no more scoring in the final as Yepez was happy to hold the center and the lead to win the top medal.

Kylie WELKER (USA)Kylie WELKER (USA) tries to score against Thamires MARTINS (BRA) in the 76kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

The United States, which won three gold medals on Friday, added two more through world bronze medalists Macey KILTY (USA) at 65kg and Kylie WELKER (USA) at 76kg.

Kilty was in a four-wrestler round-robin bracket and won her three bouts effortlessly. Kilty defeated Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN) 10-0 in Round 1, secured a fall against Leticia DE OLIVERIA (BRA) in Round 2 and another 10-0 win in Round 3 against Alexis GOMEZ (MEX).

Welker, up against a tough bracket in 76kg, stepped and impressed with her performance to win her first Pan-Am gold. Olympic bronze medalist Milaimy MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) and defending champion Genesis REASCO (ECU), who has a win over Welker, were in the bracket.

But it was Welker and Thamires MARTINS (BRA) who reached the final. Welker defeated Reasco 10-0 while Martins stopped Potrille 9-7, both in the semifinals.

In the final, it took little effort for Welker to see off Martins, 8-1. The first period saw only a point for Welker as Martins was put on the 30-second activity clock but failed to score.

Both wrestlers put on the activity period in the second period and Welker's lead adjusted to 2-1. The only scoring scramble of the match was when Martins tried an outside trip but had no control of Welker's upper body. Welker swiftly got her head out and then scored a takedown to lead 4-1.

Martins shot for Welker's legs quiet a few times but failed to score any points. In the final five seconds, Martins drove Welker to the edge before the American countered with a whizzer and scored four points for the win.

At 59kg, Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) added her fourth Pan-Am title by winning both her bouts, in a three-wrestler bracket, in with ease. She defeated Abigail NETTE (USA) 6-3 in Round 1 and scored a 12-1 victory over Alma VALENCIA (MEX), 12-1, in Round 2.

Jaxen FORREST (USA)Jaxen FORREST (USA) celebrates after winning the 61kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

Three Freestyle golds for U.S.

The Freestyle competition also began at the Pan-Am Championships on Saturday and the U.S. made a strong start. The country swept all three weight class, winning gold medals at 61kg, 74kg and 86kg.

At 61kg, 18-year-old Jaxen FORREST (USA) made his senior debut and won the gold without giving up a single point in three bouts. He defeated Joseph SILVA (PUR) in the final bout.

Silva was put on the activity clock in the first period and he failed to score which gave Forrest a 1-0 lead at the break. The second period saw more action as Forrest switched gears. He scored a takedown to lead 3-0 before blasting a double-leg attack for four points. He finished the bout with a takedown for two points and exposure which gave him two more points.

Ladarion LOCKETT (USA)Ladarion LOCKETT (USA) won the 74kg final 11-0 against Anthony MONTERO (VEN). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

Another youngster, world U20 silver medalist Ladarion LOCKETT (USA) won gold for the U.S. Lockett was also making his senior debut and defeated Anthony MONTERO (VEN), 11-0, in the final.

Lockett built a 5-0 lead with a big four-pointer in the first period and then exhibited how quick he is on the mat. Montero hit a snapdown to which Lockett lost momentum but pounced on Montero's left ankle in a blink. He scored a takedown and turn via lace to lead 9-0.

Montero tried a couple more attacks but Lockett saw them off before finishing the bout with a takedown and an 11-0 win.

Zahid VALENCIA (USA)Zahid VALENCIA (USA) won his second Pan-Am title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

Zahid VALENCIA (USA), wrestling at the Pan-Am Championships after three years, reclaimed the 86kg title that he previously won in 2022. Just like his younger compatriots, Valencia had no trouble seeing off the 86kg field without giving up any points.

He defeated Jorge LLANO (ARG) 11-0 in the final in two minutes and 44 seconds. Valencia scored his two points via stepouts and Llano was hit with a point penalty for fleeing to make it 3-0 for Valencia. A takedown later, it became 5-0.

Llano was again hit with fleeing as Valencia scored a stepout and the score became 7-0. Valencia's takedown and gut-wrench finished the bout 11-0.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) df. Mariana ROJAS DIAZ (VEN), 7-0

BRONZE: Adrianny CASTILLO (ARG) df. Josefina RAMIREZ (MEX), via fall
BRONZE: Jaslynn GALLEGOS (USA) df. Serena DI BENEDETTO (CAN), 16-4

59kg
GOLD: Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
SILVER: Abigail NETTE (USA)
BRONZE: Alma VALENCIA (MEX)

65kg
GOLD: Macey KILTY (USA)
SILVER: Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN)
BRONZE: Alexis GOMEZ (MEX)

76kg
GOLD: Kylie WELKER (USA) df. Thamires MARTINS (BRA), 8-1

BRONZE: Genesis REASCO (ECU) df. Linda MACHUCA (ARG), 6-0
BRONZE: Milaimy MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) df. Neirili BANGUERO (VEN), 10-0

Freestyle

61kg
GOLD: Jaxen FORREST (USA) df. Joseph SILVA (PUR), 11-0

BRONZE: Joshua KRAMER (ECU) df. Esteban PEREZ (GUA), 10-0
BONZE: Garette SAUNDERS (CAN) df. Peter HAMMER (CRC), 14-8

74kg
GOLD: Ladarion LOCKETT (USA) df. Anthony MONTERO (VEN), 11-0

BRONZE: Adam THOMSON (CAN) df. Geannis GARZON (CUB), via disqualification
BRONZE: Cristian SANTIAGO (MEX) df. Luis BARRIOS (HON), 14-3

86kg
GOLD: Zahid VALENCIA (USA) df. Jorge LLANO (ARG), 11-0

BRONZE: Kevin DE LEON (MEX) df. Cesar UBICO (GUA), 9-4
BRONZE: Steven RODRIGUEZ (VEN) df. Taran GORING (CAN), 11-0