#WrestleNarita

Host Japan Rides Close Early Wins to Top China, Gain Place in Final Against U.S.

Saturday, November 16, 2019 - 14:25 By Ken Marantz

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NARITA, Japan (Nov. 16)---The two former world champions got the ball rolling with knife-edge victories, starting a run of six straight that propelled host Japan over rival China and into the final of the Women’s World Cup. 

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and Haruna OKUNO (JPN), who had to settle for age-group titles this year after failing to make Japan’s team to the senior World Championships, came through in tight matches as Japan defeated China 6-4 in the final session to win its three-team group.

In the championship match on Sunday at Nakadai Sports Park Gym in Narita, east of Tokyo, Japan will aim for a fifth straight title and 11th overall when it faces the United States, who will get a shot at adding to the lone crown it won back in 2003.

China and Mongolia will clash for the bronze medal, while Russia and Ukraine will face off in the fifth-place playoff. 

The United States, which handily beat Russia 8-2 in the early session, clinched the other group by topping Mongolia by the same 6-4 score, getting victories by fall from two of its three reigning world champions, while overcoming a loss by fall from the other. 

Japan showed its vulnerability in the upper weights when it lost the final four matches to China, although it is difficult to say if the outcome of any of those matches would have different had victory been on the line.

But in retrospect, it made Susaki’s 3-2 victory over Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medalist SUN Yanan (CHN) at 50kg and Okuno’s last-second 4-3 win over PANG Qiangyu (CHN) all the more vital. 

Susaki is still feeling the pangs of the missing out on a chance for a third straight senior world title after losing a playoff for the Japan team spot to Yuki IRIE (JPN)---which at the time, she believed, as did most, ended her chances to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

But when Irie failed to finish in the top six at the Nur-Sultan World Championships, it reopened the door for Susaki, who will get a second chance by triumphing at the All-Japan Championships in December.

“I was really down, and it was the first time I felt I was at rock bottom,” said Susaki, who won a second straight world junior gold in August in Tallinn. “But it was not over yet, and as long as there was still a 0.01 percent chance, I would believe in the possibility, and I kept working hard with the encouragement of others.”

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) works on finishing a shot against world champ and Rio Olympic bronze medalist, SUN Yanan (CHN). Susaki won the match, 3-2. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Susaki last faced Sun in 2017, when she beat her twice. And while their match was ostensibly one of 10 in a team event, it seemed there was more at stake, that this would reaffirm where Susaki stood against the world’s best. 

“I’ve long wanted to face Sun, and beating her gives me confidence and momentum,” Susaki said.

Against the lankier Sun, Susaki found it difficult to finish off her takedowns, and trailed 2-1 after the Chinese scored on a counter crotch lift. Early in the second period, Susaki finally broke through the defenses for a takedown and a 3-2 lead. 

“I found many points that I need to work on,” Susaki said. “Like finishing off my tackles, adding variation and creating more openings for attacks, and coming up with more moves that I can rely on. I want to fix this going into the All-Japan Championships.” 

With a half-minute to go, Sun seemed on the way to scoring with a single-leg takedown, but the effort went in vain when the action was stopped because a hold on Susaki’s leg was in a dangerous position.

“I’m really puzzled,” Sun said. “I did not do any illegal action on purpose. I just continued the action and the referee stopped it. It’s a pity.”

Okuno, who added this year’s world junior and U-23 titles in lieu of getting a shot at third career senior gold, cut it as close as possible in beating Pang, a bronze medalist in Nur-Sultan.

Pang held a 3-2 lead in the final seconds when Okuno went on the attack and got behind in the standing position. Just as the clock was about to tick zero, Okuno forced Pang to the mat for the winning points.

Three-time world champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) picked up a 6-0 win over FENG Yongxin (CHN) in Japan's win over China. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Japan followed with a pair of 6-0 victories from Akie HANAI (JPN) at 55kg and three-time world champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) at 57kg.

“Looking at it as individual match, part of me felt I was a bit too tight,” Kawai said of her win over FENG Yongxin (CHN) in which she scored four of her points in the second period. 

“But the World Cup is a team event and the most important thing is to win and not lose the momentum for the next match, so that was good.”  

The hosts then got another big win when stocky high schooler and world junior champion Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) held world 57kg silver medalist RONG Ningning (CHN) at bay, winning their 59kg bout 2-0, with both points coming with the Chinese on the activity clock.

World silver medalist Yukako KAWAI (JPN) ended the suspense when she scored a victory by fall at 62kg over KANG Juan (CHN) to give Japan an unassailable 6-0 lead. 

The Chinese finished up with consolation victories from WU Yaru (CHN) at 65kg, ZHOU Feng (CHN) at 68kg, WANG Juan (CHN) at 72kg and ZHOU Qian (CHN) at 76kg. The latter’s win was a one-sided 7-0 affair over world silver medalist Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN) that avenged a loss in the quarterfinals at Nur-Sultan.

America's five-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) scored a pair of wins on the opening day of wrestling at the Women's World Cup, including an 11-6 victory over Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS). (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

In the other group, Adeline GRAY (USA), who captured a national-record fifth world gold in Nur-Sultan, only to needed to avoid losing by a technical fall in the final bout at 76kg to clinch the victory over Mongolia.

She did that and more, scoring a victory by fall in 2:40 over Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL). Gray had built up a 10-0 lead and could have settled for a technical fall herself, but she had an underlying reason for going for the pin.

“We actually lost to Mongolia a few years ago in the same position; I won the match by a couple of points, [but] I needed the pin,” Gray said. “This was more of a revenge, that I wanted that pin from last time. I’m happy we got it.”

Whitney CONDOR (USA) at 50kg and 2018 world silver medalist Sarah HIDEBRANDT (USA) at 53kg staked the U.S. to a 2-0 lead, but Mongolia came back with three straight wins, starting with Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) decking newly crowned world champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) at 55kg.

BAT OCHIR Bolortuya (MGL) scored a fall over reigning world champion Jacarra Gwenisha WINCHESTER (USA). (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Bat Ochir, who lost to Winchester in the quarterfinals at Nur-Sultan before battling back for a bronze medal, gave up an early takedown before scoring two stepouts to make it 2-2 going into the second period.

Winchester scored another takedown with a trip off a single-leg, and looked on the way to another when she lost her balance while on the attack. Bat Ochir pounced on the miscue, catching the American in a headlock and securing the fall in 4:18.

Macey KILTY (USA) ended Mongolia’s win streak with a victory at 62kg, and Forrest MOLINARI (USA) followed suit at 65kg. World champion Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA) showed her dominance at 68kg with a victory by fall after building up a 10-0 lead.

When Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) defeated Victoria FRANCIS (USA) 13-7 at 72kg to cut the Americans’ lead to 5-4, that placed the outcome on the final bout at 76kg, where Gray lived up to her billing.  

“I’m really proud of my team, they stepped up in the middle there,” Gray said. “We had a few athletes who just got done with some World Championships, coming off they were supposed to be on vacation, and we had some injuries last minute. 

“For those athletes to step up and win matches, that turned the door right there, that made it possible for Tamyra and I to come out and get our jobs done. It takes a team for us to really be able to compete in this event. And it’s fun to do it when the pressure’s off a little bit.”

Looking ahead to the clash with Japan in the final, Gray said that while the Americans match up well in the upper weights, the team is going to need some mighty efforts early on to have a chance.

“I think especially in the upper weight classes, we’re going to do really well,” she said. “It’s just going to be those key matches early on.

“They have so much depth, and medals, just real talent down at those lower weight classes. But we’ve got that depth, too. We’ve got talent. It’s just going to be about bringing that heart at the right moment and winning those key points, and I think we can do that.

“But Japan is the best, and has been the best. I think it’s a good thing to let them know that we’re coming. Winning this World Cup would be definitely a great thing headed into Tokyo 2020. 

BAT OCHIR Bolortuya (MGL) helped Mongolia earn the 6-4 win over Russia after defeating fellow world bronze medalist Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS), 4-4. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

In the early sessions, Mongolia’s Bat Ochir came out on top in the Battle of World Bronze Medalists over Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS), providing the key victory in Mongolia’s well-earned 6-4 win over Russia. 

“It was a match between bronze medalists, and I planned all my tactics and concentrated on this match,” Bat Ochir said. “I watched her videos last night and talked to my coach about strategy.” 

Bat Ochir trailed Khoroshavtseva 4-2 late in the match when she tried to come out through the back door, but the Russian fought to avoid conceding control. 

As the final seconds ticked down, Bat Ochir freed a trapped leg and locked up a cradle at the buzzer, which by itself gave her a 2-point takedown, although it took a challenge to receive the points that gave her the 4-4 victory on last-point criteria.

“When I got the hold with the head and leg, then I thought I got the points,” Bat Ochir said, adding she was surprised by the non-call and “worried” when it went to the challenge. 

That victory proved crucial, as Russia would have prevailed on classification points had the team score ended up 5-5.  

The young Ukraine squad, overwhelmed 9-1 by the two Asian giants China and Japan, had one bright spot in Alla BELINSKA (UKR), who gave the European nation its only win in both matches. 

She scored a victory by fall over world U-23 bronze medalist Mei SHINDO (JPN), then topped WANG Juan (CHN) by slamming her down for 4 points in the final seconds for a 9-6 win. 

Day 1 Results

1st Session

JAPAN 9, UKRAINE 1
50kg: Kika KAGATA (JPN) df. Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), 2-1
53kg: Ibuki TAMURA (JPN) df. Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR), 14-5
55kg: Saki IGARASHI (JPN) df. Anastasiya KRAVCHENKO (UKR) by TF, 13-3, 3:35
57kg: Sae NANJO (JPN) df. Olena KREMZER (UKR) by TF, 10-0, 2:55
59kg: Yumeka TANABE (JPN) df. Sofiia BODNAR (UKR) by TF, 10-0, 4:25
62kg: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) by Fall, 5:46 (10-2)
65kg: Naomi RUIKE (JPN) df. Oksana CHUDYK (UKR), 5-2
68kg: Naruha MATUYUKI (JPN) df. Alina RUDNYSTSKA LEVYTSKA (UKR), 6-0
72kg: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) df. Mei SHINDO (JPN) by Fall, 1:50 (6-1) 
76kg: Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) df. Romana VOVCHAK (UKR) by TF, 10-0, 2:40

MONGOLIA 6, RUSSIA 4
50kg: Chimgee BUYANDALAI (MGL) df. Daria LEKSINA (RUS) by Fall, 4:41 (10-2) 
53kg: Milana DADASHEVA (RUS) df. Anudari NANDINTSETSEG (MGL), 10-1
55kg: Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) df. Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS), 4-4
57kg: Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) df. Marina SIMONYAN (RUS), 12-5
59kg: Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) df. Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) by TF, 14-1, 6:00
62kg: Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL) df. Uliana TUKURENOVA (RUS), 8-2
65kg: Natalia FEDOSEEVA (RUS) df. Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL), 7-3
68kg: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Anastasiia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS), 5-0 
72kg: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) df. Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS), 2-1
76kg: Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS) df. Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL) by TF, 10-0, 2:59

2nd Session

CHINA 9, UKRAINE 1
50kg: SUN Yanan (CHN) df. Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) by Fall, 1:57 (8-0)
53kg: LUO Lannuan (CHN) df. Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR), 8-0
55kg: XIE Mengyu (CHN) df. Anastasiya KRAVCHENKO (UKR) by TF, 15-4, 3:02 
57kg: FENG Yongxin (CHN) df. Olena KREMZER (UKR), 6-4
59kg: RONG Ningning (CHN) df. Sofiia BODNAR (UKR) by TF, 13-0, 3:38
62kg: KANG Juan (CHN) df. Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) by DEF. 
65kg: WU Yaru (CHN) df. Oksana CHUDYK (UKR) by TF, 10-0, 2:10
68kg: ZHOU Feng (CHN) df. Alina RUDNYSTSKA LEVYTSKA (UKR) by Fall, :51 (8-0)
72kg: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) df. WANG Juan (CHN), 9-6
76kg: ZHOU Qian (CHN) df. Romana VOVCHAK (UKR) by Fall, 1:09 (4-0) 

UNITED STATES 8, RUSSIA 2
50kg: Whitney CONDER (USA) df. Daria LEKSINA (RUS), 7-0 
53kg: Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Milana DADASHEVA (RUS), 10-7
55kg: Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) df. Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS), 5-4
57kg: Marina SIMONYAN (RUS) df. Kelsey CAMPBELL (USA) by TF, 10-0, 5:26 
59kg: Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) df. Desiree ZAVALA (USA) by TF, 10-0, 2:12 
62kg: Macey KILTY (USA) df. Uliana TUKURENOVA (RUS) by Inj. Def., :35
65kg: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) df. Natalia FEDOSEEVA (RUS) by Fall, 4:49 (3-2)
68kg: Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA) df. Anastasiia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS), 8-0
72kg: Victoria FRANCIS (USA) df. Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS) by Fall, 4:26 (8-5) 
76kg: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS), 11-6 

3rd Session

JAPAN 6, CHINA 4
50kg: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. SUN Yanan (CHN), 3-2
53kg: Haruna OKUNO (JPN) df. PANG Qianyu (CHN), 4-3
55kg: Akie HANAI (JPN) df. CHEN Jiawei (CHN), 6-0 
57kg: Risako KAWAI (JPN) df. FENG Yongxin (CHN), 6-0
59kg: Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) df. RONG Ningning (CHN), 2-0
62kg: Yukako KAWAI (JPN) df. KANG Juan (CHN) by Fall, 4:46 (8-0) 
65kg: WU Yaru (CHN) df. Misuzu ENOMOTO (JPN), 4-2
68kg: ZHOU Feng (CHN) df. Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN), 2-0
72kg: WANG Juan (CHN) df. Yuka KAGAMI (JPN), 7-1
76kg: ZHOU Qian (CHN) df. Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN), 7-0

UNITED STATES 6, MONGOLIA 4
50kg: Whitney CONDER (USA) df. Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL), 4-3
53kg: Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Anudari NANDINTSETSEG (MGL) by Fall, 1:32 (5-0)
55kg: Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) df. Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) by Fall, 3:18 (4-4) 
57kg: Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) df. Kelsey CAMPBELL (USA), 8-0 
59kg: Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) df. Desiree ZAVALA (USA) by TF, 12-2, 3:00 
62kg: Macey KILTY (USA) df. Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL), 4-2
65kg: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) df. Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL) 6-2
68kg: Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA) df. Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) by Fall, 4:51 (10-0)
72kg: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) df. Victoria FRANCIS (USA) 13-7 
76kg: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL) by Fall, 2:40 (10-0)

#JapanWrestling

Olympic champ Higuchi on fact-finding mission to get grasp on American folkstyle

Thursday, March 6, 2025 - 11:32 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO (March 6) -- The conventional wisdom is that domestic folkstyle hampers American wrestlers trying to make the transition to the international stage. Paris Olympic champion Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), however, finds the opposite to be true, saying his toughest matches have come against opponents with such a background.

And the Japanese star has been on a fact-finding mission to find out why. Higuchi has been spending the winter learning American folkstyle while training at Lehigh University in the eastern U.S. in an attempt to find out what makes that version of the sport tick, and how he might be able to integrate its techniques into his own reportoire.

"When I face opponents who had done American style, I always have a hard time," Higuchi said in an interview last year prior to departing on his journey.

Higuchi, the freestyle 57kg gold medalist in Paris, cites the difficulty he had in the final with Spencer LEE (USA), the American sparkplug whom he defeated 4-2 with a late takedown off a scramble -- the aspect of the sport that Higuchi notes Americans are particularly adept at.

"It was the same with Seth GROSS [USA]," he added, referring to his opponent in a wild 15-7 semifinal victory en route to the 61kg world title in 2022. "It's a different culture, isn't it? The difference in styles, what makes them strong, that's something I haven't yet figured out. By not knowing, I feel I still have room for growth and that's exciting."

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) wrestling at the Lehigh University. (Photo: Courtesy of Lehigh University)

The biggest difference between American folkstyle and the freestyle used around the globe is the emphasis on control in the former. Takedowns are generally the same, but what comes after that is how the two styles greatly differ.

In a loose equivalent of par terre, there is no returning the wrestlers to their feet after an allotted time for gaining exposure points, and the bottom wrestler is obligated to be on the move and try to escape or reverse. And there are no points for just exposing the back; the opponent must be held down on the mat for a certain count for points to be given.

"In college style, on the ground, they don't use the body lock, so their forearms are incredibly strong," Higuchi noted. "Maybe it was just Spencer Lee, but I feel like I have to train harder to get that strength in my forearms.

"Instead of a body lock, I think I can raise my level by learning how to maintain control [on top], how to get takedowns and how to use my body. I want to practice a lot."

Regarding his first impression of the differences, Higuchi said in a message earlier this winter, "I feel that in folkstyle, there are a lot of scramble situations. In freestyle, you wrestle trying to keep your legs from getting touched. But these guys don't seem to care if someone gets in on a tackle.

"From the time the leg is touched, they are thinking about how to get control of the opponent. In that way, the American wrestlers are far superior in scrambles then those from other countries."

Lehigh UniversityLehigh University wrestling training room.

Lehigh comes calling

While it was Higuchi who would go off in search of enlightenment, it was actually Lehigh that came to him and proferred an invitation to practice with the team in the middle of the U.S. collegiate wrestling season.

The 29-year-old Higuchi, who defeated Lehigh alumnus Darian CRUZ (PUR) in the quarterfinals in Paris, said he was approached in September after the Olympics. He needed little persuasion.

"For them to think so highly of me, I was really happy," said Higuchi, who was allowed to bring his wife and baby daughter. "I want to help them produce NCAA champions."

The final arrangements were made by Sanshiro ABE (JPN), a former NCAA champ at Penn State currently living in Pennsylvania where Lehigh is located, via Shingo MATSUMOTO (JPN), the head coach at Nippon Sports Science University, Higuchi's alma mater where he continues to train.

From the start, Lehigh coach Pat SANTORO (USA), along with Kerry MCCOY (USA), the head coach of the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club, were on board with Higuchi's coming.

"When Kerry McCoy and I were approached we were obviously very excited," Santoro said in an interview by email. "Kerry spent some time in Japan last year with Darian Cruz and learned so much. I have been a huge fan of Rei's for many years, so it was an easy decision."

Lehigh's timing was just right, because soon after other teams came calling for Higuchi. But he said he had already made a commitment and would stick to it.

"Actually, from [Tadaaki] HATTA I heard that Oklahoma [State] definitely wanted me to come," Higuchi said. "But I had already decided to accept Lehigh's offer, so I thought maybe I could go after that had finished. Oklahoma [State], Penn State, Iowa. Well, Iowa, I'm not sure, with the connection with Spencer Lee," he said with a grin.

Lehigh, which has a traditionally strong wrestling program, is an academically select private university with an enrollment of 5,800 located in the town of Bethlehem, about 90 kilometers north of Philadelphia and 130 kilometers west of New York City.

Higuchi is one of a number of top Japanese who have taken "sabbaticals" at U.S. universities this winter, after the country's wrestlers suddenly became hot commodities when they came away from Paris with a stunning haul of eight gold medals, a silver and two bronzes.

Reigning world 61kg champion Masanosuke ONO has been training at No. 1-ranked Penn State, while Paris 74kg silver medalist Daichi TAKATANI and Tokyo Olympic 65kg champion Takuto OTOGURO mixed it up at Ohio State.

But unlike Higuchi, the others went for exposure to American training methods, not to learn folkstyle. "I think it can be applied to freestyle," Higuchi said. "When we tied up, Seth was really strong in that position. His ability to be in control is higher than in freestyle now. I want to be able to do that part of it."

Higuchi said he knew going into the venture that, while his aim was to learn the American style, his hosts were not going to let the opportunity to pick the brain of an Olympic champion go to waste. As such, it natually evolved into a mutually beneficial arrangement for both sides, one in which Higuchi has already participated in a clinic for local wrestlers.

"I want to share the techniques I have with the Lehigh students, and conversely, I want to learn and absorb much from the Lehigh students that I can take back with me," Higuchi said. "I want it to be a fruitful three months."

Said coach Santoro: "Our staff and team ask a lot of questions about his training, learning new techniques and his mindset.

"I believe that freestyle and folkstyle are very similar and making a few minor adjustments will allow you to adapt to each style. At the end of the day, wrestling is wrestling and fundamentals are what wins at the highest level."

Higuchi said one thing he has he noticed is that American training sessions feature more live wrestling, while Japan's lean toward a more drill-oriented approach. "It's not a matter of which way is better, but the difference in culture seems to come out in the wrestling styles."

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) with wife Yuki and daughter Nagi at the airport before flying to the United States. (Photo: Rei Higuchi / X)

Longest stay abroad

Aside from international tournaments and overseas training camps, it marks the longest time Higuchi has spent overseas. "The longest up to now has been about three weeks," he said.

"I've been on extended practice tours to Russia, Mongolia and other places. But the max has been three weeks."

Ever since he attended the 2017 NCAA Championships in the midwestern city of St. Louis in 2017 ("They had massive crowds. Everyone eats popcorn as they watch," he recalls), Higuchi has been enamored with the fervor that Americans show for the sport.

He plans to stay through this year's NCAA Championships, to be held in nearby Philadelphia on March 20-22, and might consider a future stay in the States if the opportunity arises.

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)Posing with Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and others at the 2017 NCAA Championships in St. Louis. (Photo courtesy of Rei Higuchi)

"I've always wanted to go [to America]," Higuchi said. "But it was dependent on my putting up good results...In the future, I may be a coach in Japan, or perhaps a coach of a wrestler in America. I don't know how many years I will continue as an athlete.

"But I want to find a future work place that values the skills I have acquired, the passion I have for wrestling and my way of thinking."

In Japan, Higuchi has earned a reputation for being professional, polite and, for a Japanese athlete, outgoing in his own way. Coach Santoro said that that description fits the wrestler who has shown up in the wrestling room.

"Rei is extremely polite and friendly, what I noticed right away is how much he really enjoys wrestling," Santoro said. "He works extremely hard, but he often is smiling or laughing after a great scramble.

"His technique is some of the best I've seen in the world, he is fundamentally sound in so many positions. He is also very good at explaining his thought process of positional wrestling and technique."

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)Playing the role of the typical tourist at the Statue of Liberty in New York in February. (Photo courtesy of Rei Higuchi)

Higuchi preceded his Lehigh adventure with a short stay at Cornell University, the alma mater of four-time world champion and two-time Olympic bronze medalist Kyle DAKE (USA) in upstate New York.

He arrived at Lehigh in December, but returned to Japan in early January to attend the wedding ceremony of fellow Olympic gold medalist and Nippon Sports Science alumnus Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN). When he returned to Lehigh, he was accompanied by his wife Yuki and daughter Nagi, who turned 1 in February.

The family, which took a sightseeing trip to New York City last month, has been staying at the home of Lehigh junior Ryan CROOKHAM (USA), who finished third at last year's NCAAs at 133lbs (60.3kg). Crookham is a local star from Hellertown, a neighboring town of Bethlehem.

"Our team loves having Rei around, they understand how elite he is and all of his accomplishments," Santoro said. "Seeing how well he prepares and how his mind works is very valuable for our guys. Some of the wrestlers on our team aspire to be World and Olympic champions, too."

Overcoming setbacks

Higuchi's determination enabled him to bounce back stronger from several devastating setbacks and ascend to the apex of the sport, the Olympic gold.

A native of Osaka in central Japan, Higuchi was pushed into the sport at age 3 by his mother, who was concerned he would be bullied because of his small size. His own stubbornness soured him on team sports, but was a good fit for an individual sport like wrestling.

"I was the type who would say, 'We lost because that guy stinks,'" Higuchi said in a 2019 interview with The Japan News. "In that way, wrestling is great. Everything depends on you. If you lose, it's you own fault. I think that is way it suits me."

His first setback came as an elementary school first-grader in 2002, when he lost in the final of that age group at the national championships. It's a loss that left a lifetime impression on him and solidified a distaste for losing that continued throughout his career. He went on to win his age group for the next five years.

He won his first senior national title in 2015 and qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he was dealt his second big disappointment. In the 57kg final, he suffered a heart-breaking and frustrating 3-3 criteria loss to Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) in a match he had led 3-0.

Higuchi's bid to make amends for that loss led to perhaps the most devastating calamity of his career. After an unsuccessful bid to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at 65kg, he moved back down to 57kg, only to infamously fail to make weight at the Asian Qualifying Tournament. He then lost a playoff for the Japan team spot to Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN).

Getting married -- his wife was a former national high school champion, and they had a long-distance relationship starting as high schoolers -- helped add structure to his life, and enabled him to better manage his nutrition and weight control. From there, there was no stopping him as he stormed to the gold in Paris.

The path ahead

So, what lies ahead for Higuchi? Like the vast majority of Japan's Paris medalists, he has not seen action since the Olympics, spending the time recovering and taking advantage of invitations to take part in TV variety shows and other frivolities.

Higuchi had toyed with the idea of entering the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships in June, which will serve as the second of two qualifiers for this year's World Championships, but has indicated he will give that a pass.

His more immediate aim is to make the team to the 2026 Asian Games, a tournament that he has yet to compete in and which Japan will host in the fall of that year. He would likely have to begin the qualifying process for that at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships in December.

"The next objective is to win a tournament that I haven't won before, which is the Asian Games," Higuchi said. "That's what I'm shooting for."

Beyond that, including defending his Olympic title, remains undecided. "As an athlete, I think I'll want to keep going up to Los Angeles," he said. "I still don't know about that."