#WrestleRome

Mohammadian Mauls Snyder En Route to Matteo Pellicone Title

Friday, January 17, 2020 - 20:06 By Eric Olanowski

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ROME, Italy (January 17) --- Even before bulldozing Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) in the 97kg finals on Friday night, Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) outscored his four pre-final opponents 32-0 and pancaked Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) while shutting him out 8-0 at the time of the fall. 

He ended up outscoring his five Friday opponents 41-0, but his pin over Snyder minimized the seismic day that he had, which saw him defeat an Olympic champion, a U23 world champion, a world bronze medalist and a world fifth-place finisher.

Mohammadian kickstarted his day by walloping Alisher YERGALI (KAZ), a fifth-place finish in Nur-Sultan. The Iranian downed the man who qualified Kazakhstan for the 2020 Olympic Games, 11-0. He followed up that hot start with a second technical superiority victory. This time, he thumped reigning U23 world champion Bo NICKAL (USA), 10-0.

In the quarterfinals, Mohammadian picked up arguably the biggest win of his career when he flattened Olympian champion, Kyle Snyder, while commanding an 8-0 lead. An 11-0 showing against 2018 world bronze-medal finisher Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA) inserted the Iranian into the finals, where he met Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) for the 97kg title. He capped off his dominant run to a Matteo Pellicone gold medal, where he outscored his five opponents 41-0, with a 9-0 blanking of Hushtyn and brought home his first career Rankings Series title.

At 125kg, Amir ZARE (IRI) celebrated his 19th birthday by showing the Italian friendly crowd how youth prevails, even against a 13-year veteran like Bilial MAKHOV (RUS). Zare, who was just six years old when Makhov won his first of three world titles, weathered the upper body threat from the Russian big man and scored the go-ahead takedown with 32 seconds left to win the 125kg gold medal, 5-3. 

Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) peaks at the clock while she was looking for the match-deciding takedown in the 50kg finals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Women’s Wrestling
If there were any questions surrounding Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) moving down to 50kg coming into Rome – they’ve been answered on Friday night. Hildebrandt scored a takedown with two seconds left and stole the gold medal from Emilia VUC (ROU) in the 50kg finals battle that featured a pair of past world silver medalists. With a smile on her face from ear-to-ear, Hildebrandt said, “I like the sound of that, 50kg champ!” 

The American, who was down 2-1 with under 10 seconds left, said she told herself, “You’re not going to win because I'm not going to lose.” And that’s exactly what happened. 

The 2018 world silver medalist used an underhook throw by with under ten seconds left to get to the body of her Romanian opponent. Then, she snaked her left arm out, and barley scored the takedown as time expired to win her second Ranking Series title, 4-2.

Vinesh VINESH (IND) scored two takedowns in the 53kg finals and defeated Luisa Elizabeth VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU), 4-0. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

In the 53kg finals, Vinesh VINESH (IND) locked up a takedown in each period and shutout Luisa Elizabeth VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU), 4-0. 

“I feel very good because this is the first competition of the year, and the Olympics are very near,” said Vinesh. “This was my first match with Ecuador, and I didn’t know how she wrestles and what techniques she uses.”

The 2019 world bronze medalist added, “It’s my one year in this weight category (53kg) is finished, and I need more matches.” And for her will come next in March at the 2020 Asian Championships in New Delhi, India. “We’ve waited for a competition in India, and now (that’ll be) the Asian Championships.” She continued by saying, “When you (wrestle) in your hometown, this feeling is incredible.” 

Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR), Inna TRAZHUKOVA  (RUS) and Maria SELMAIER (GER) claimed the 55kg, 65kg, and 72kg Nordic style bracket gold medals, respectively.

RESULTS
Freestyle

97kg
GOLD - Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) df. Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR), 9-0 
BRONZE - Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA) df. Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA), 12-1 
BRONZE - Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR) df. Pavel OLEJNYIK (HUN), 8-4

125kg
GOLD - Amir ZARE (IRI) df. Bilial MAKHOV (RUS), 5-3
BRONZE - Amarveer DHESI (CAN) df. Daniel LIGETI (HUN), 8-4
BRONZE - Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) df. Nick MATUHIN (GER), 8-3

Women’s Wrestling 
50kg 
GOLD - Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Emilia Alina VUC (ROU), 4-2 
BRONZE - Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Whitney CONDER (USA), 10-2
BRONZE - Victoria Lacey ANTHONY (USA) df. Devi NIRMALA (IND), 4-1 

53kg
GOLD - Vinesh VINESH (IND) df. Luisa Elizabeth VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU), 4-0 
BRONZE - Katherine Grace SHAI (USA) df. Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE), 10-0 
BRONZE - Qianyu PANG (CHN) df. Lannuan LUO (CHN), 10-0 

55kg 
GOLD – Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) 
SILVER – Iryna HUSYAK (UKR)
BRONZE – Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) 

65kg
GOLD – Inna TRAZHUKOVA  (RUS) 
SILVER – Oksana KUKHTA HERHEL (UKR)
BRONZE –  Hsin Ping PAI (TPE)

72kg
GOLD – Maria SELMAIER (GER) 
SILVER – Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR)
BRONZE – Enrica RINALDI (ITA)

#WrestleSamokov

Onishi repeats as U20 world champ; Blaze wins 61kg gold

Wednesday, August 20, 2025 - 21:52 By Vinay Siwach

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SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 20) -- Four bouts, a combined score of 40-0, and a total time on the mat of five minutes and 24 seconds -- all matches finished inside the first period.

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) put on one of the most dominant performances at the World U20 Championships, becoming a two-time world champion by winning the 59kg gold in Samokov, Bulgaria, on Wednesday.

The Japanese wrestling phenom spent less time on the mat than a full six-minute wrestling match and won all bouts with a 10-0 score, just like she did in 2024. Onishi has now outscored her opponents 80-0 over the two tournaments.

After three wins on Tuesday, Onishi faced Karin SAMUELSSON (SWE) in the final. She locked Samuelsson's legs around her head, turning her four times after the takedown. She used the technique on three of her four wins.

"I didn't want to finish quickly. I wanted to focus on winning each point and play the match with that focus," Onishi said.

Onishi feels that she has improved technically since last year, especially after winning the senior Asian Championships in which she faced stiff competition.

"I've been working on improving in various ways," she said. "I wanted to aim even higher in terms of technique and physical strength. The fact that I wasn't defeated in the senior category boosted my confidence. Winning the Asian Championships and Ranking Tournament in Tirana also boosted my confidence."

Sakura ONISHI (JPN)Sakura ONISHI (JPN) uses her trademark lace against Karin SAMUELSSON (SWE) in the 59kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Next for Onishi is the senior World Championships in September as she prepares to win the world title in Zagreb as well. To prepare for that she wanted to test herself again in this age group.

"The World Championships are coming up, and I think this category is just one step in the process," she said. "I think I've taken a good step forward, and I definitely want to win the senior World Championships."

Ray HOSHINO (JPN)Ray HOSHINO (JPN) works on a takedown against SRISHTI (IND) in the 68kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Japan won its second gold medal through Ray HOSHINO (JPN), who also won her second World U20 title. Hoshino, the 2023 world U20 champion, showed no signs of rust in her 7-0 hammering of SRISHTI (IND) in the 68kg final in Samokov.

Srishti, a returning bronze medalist, tried to score on Hoshino, but the Japanese wrestler overpowered her and clearly had a better game plan for the final bout.

Hoshino scored the first takedown of the final and then added a step-out to take a 3-0 lead. She then scored a go-behind to extend her lead to 5-0 at the break. An ankle pick during Srishti's attack gave Hoshino her third takedown of the match and a 7-0 lead she kept until the end.

India crowned one champion on Wednesday when TAPSYA (IND) defeated the European U20 champion, Felicitas Domajeva (NOR), 5-2, to win the 57kg gold medal.

In a match decided by a single move, Tapsya scored a takedown and used an arm-bar to pin Domajeva, who survived the attempt but fell behind 5-0 as she had already conceded a point for passivity.

In the final seconds of the bout, Domajeva scored a takedown, but it was harmless to Tapsya, who defended any turn attempts to win 5-2 and India's first gold in Samokov.

The loss ended hopes for Domajeva to win the first world U20 gold medal for Norway in 37 years. She had became the first Norway wrestler to enter the World U20 Championships final in Women's Wrestling in 15 years.

Marcus BLAZE (USA)Marcus BLAZE (USA) celebrates, like his roommate at Penn State Masanosuke ONO (JPN), after winning the 61kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

U.S. defends Freestyle title

Marcus BLAZE (USA) upgraded his bronze medal from last year to a gold medal, and Maxwell MCENELLY (USA) won the gold medal in the 86 kg weight class as the United States successfully defended its freestyle team title at the World U20 Championships. With five gold medals, the U.S. had its best showing in the competition's history since 1984.

Blaze, who lost to the Japanese world champion Masanosuke ONO (JPN) last year, defeated a former world U17 champion Ahora KHATERI (USA), 10-0, in the final, his fourth win via technical superiority.

With his gold medals at the World U17 and U20 Championships, Blaze joins an elite group of wrestlers who have won world titles at both the U17 and U20 levels.

In Samokov, Blaze demonstrated that he will be a formidable opponent at the senior level as well. He wrestled with solid positioning and scored with various techniques. In the final match, he wrestled Khateri patiently, scoring five stepouts in the first period. A caution against Khateri made it 6-0, and then a go-behind and turn by Blaze made it 10-0.

"I feel good," Blaze said. "I wrestled pretty well. Throughout the tournament, I just kept getting better and better. I feel good about it. Our coaches gave me a game plan, and I stuck to it."

Before the final match, Blaze received a text message from his high school coach, Scott BURNETT, who explained Khateri's wrestling style and told Blaze to "suffocate" his opponent.

"When I was really young, my coach always said to be in a great position the whole time," he said. "Before the final, he told me to suffocate my opponent, and I feel like that's what I did out there."

Marcus BLAZE (USA)Marcus BLAZE (USA) is now a world U17 and U20 champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In his international career, Blaze has lost only once — to Ono in 2024 — but now, both wrestlers train at Penn State in the United States. After winning the gold medal, Blaze imitated Ono's 2024 celebration after the Japanese had won gold at the U20 World Championships.

"I live with Ono; he's my roommate," Blaze said. "He's a great person. At that time, he was just way better. I'm thankful to be able to wrestle with him every single day."

The second gold medal for the U.S. came from McEnelly, who defeated Bozigit ISLAMGEREEV (UWW) 8-0 at 86 kg.

McEnelly prevented Islamgereev from attacking his legs and wrestled at a fast pace throughout the final. He scored four takedowns to shut out Islamgereev.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

57kg
GOLD: TAPSYA (IND) df. Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR), 5-2

BRONZE: Dolzhon TSYNGUEVA (UWW) df. Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Anna STRATAN (KAZ) df. Tindra DALMYR (SWE), 9-3

59kg
GOLD: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) df. Karin SAMUELSSON (SWE), 10-0

BRONZE: Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) df. Ella FINDING (CAN), 4-1
BRONZE: Yifan ZHU (CHN) df. Aubre KRAZER (USA), 5-3

68kg
GOLD: Ray HOSHINO (JPN) df. SRISHTI (IND), 7-0

BRONZE: Eduarda RODRIGUES BATISTA (BRA) df. Laura KOEHLER (GER), via fall
BRONZE: Odzaya ERDENEBAT (MGL) df. Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR), 9-8

Freestyle

61kg
GOLD: Marcus BLAZE (USA) df. Ahora KHATERI (IRI), 10-0

BRONZE: Omar AYOUB (PUR) df. Adlan SAITIEV (UWW), 8-6
BRONZE: Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (UWW) df. Sargis BEGOYAN (ARM), 12-11

86kg
GOLD: Maxwell MCENELLY (USA) df. Bozigit ISLAMGEREEV (UWW), 8-0

BRONZE: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) df. Razmik YEPREMYAN (ARM), 4-2
BRONZE: Ahmet YAGAN (TUR) df. Ryogo ASANO (JPN), 9-3