#Rome2018

Russia Squeaks past Azerbaijan, Wins Freestyle Euro Team Title

Sunday, August 5, 2018 - 19:04 By Eric Olanowski

Share this article

ROME, Italy (August 5) - Thanks to impeccable performances by Akhmed SHOKUMOV (RUS) and Azamat ZAKUEV (RUS), Russia added two additional European Championship gold medals and brought their overall tournament total to thirteen gold medals. In addition to the thirteen individual gold medals, Russia also obtained team titles in freestyle, Greco-Roman and women’s wrestling. 

Shokumov and Zakuev, Russia’s third and fourth freestyle champions each cruised to victories in their gold-medal matches, ending their bouts early by fall and technical superiority, helping Russia (141 points) squeak past second place Azerbaijan (136 points) and third place Armenia (135 points).

Akhmed SHOKUMOV (RUS) won one of Russia's two gold medals on the final day of wreslting at the Junior European Championships. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne)

Akhmed Shokumov was manhandling Dzhemal Rushen ALI (BUL) in the 74kg title match before picking up the second-period fall. 

Shokumov grabbed a pair of opening period takedowns, shutting out Ali while controlling the 4-0 lead after the first three minutes. 

In the second period, a deflated Ali got to his offense and spun behind Shokumov, but was unable to get the Russian’s knee to touch, and the wrestlers were brought back up to their feet. 

Shortly after, the frustrated Ali looked for a homerun throw, but Shokumov pancaked him to his back and scored the fall, picking up Russia’s third freestyle title and their twelfth overall Junior European Championship gold medal. 

Azamat ZAKUEV (RUS) crused to a 10-0 win in the 92kg gold-medal bout. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

Returning European champion, Azamat Zakuev crushed Askhab HAMZATOV (AZE), 10-0 in the 92kg gold medal bout. 

Zakuev blazed out to an eight-point lead in the opening period, transitioning to a pair of gut wrenches from two separate takedowns. 

The Russian capped off his title run with a second period cross-ankle-pick, giving him the ten-point advantage and back-to-back junior continental championships.

Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) flexes after winning his first European title since 2016. (Photo by Max-Rose Fyne) 

Russia wasn’t the only nation busy winning a pair of gold medals on the seventh and final day competition , as Armenia’s Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) and Hovhannes MAGHAKYAN (ARM) were also crowned European champions. 

Vazgen Tevanyan, last year’s Cadet European Championship runner-up defeated Intigam VALIZADA (AZE), 5-2 in the extremely slow 61kg gold-medal bout. 

The opening period was filled with underhooks and fake shots, but Tevanyan was able to score the periods only point with a step-out that gave him the 1-0 lead into the break. 

Tevanyan added another step-out to open the second period but fell behind 2-2 on criteria after forfeiting a deep two-point double leg. 

The Armenian wrestler regained the lead with 90 seconds left, scoring his third step-out point of the match. He closed out the bout by stopping Valizada's throw attempt, scoring his first offensive points of the bout and winning his first European title since claiming the gold back in 2016.  

Hovhannes MAGHAKYAN (ARM) gave Armenia their second gold medal of the day after winning the 125kg weight class. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

In the 125kg gold medal bout, Hovhannes used a left-side underhook to slow down Yurii IDZINSKYI (UKR) and won the bout, 4-2. 

Maghaky gave up an early takedown and trailed 2-0 right out of the gate. The two-time age-level runner-up rebounded before the period ended and threw the Ukranian wrestler with a monstrous four-point throw, taking the 4-2 lead into the final three minutes. 

After a scoreless second period, the match ended 4-2 and Armenia, who finished one point behind Azerbaijan walked away with the third place team trophy. 

RESULTS 
TEAM SCORES 
GOLD – Russia (141 points)
SILVER –Azerbaijan (136 points)
BRONZE - Armenia (135 points)
Fourth –Turkey (126 points)
Fifth – Ukraine (109 points)

61kg 
GOLD - Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Intigam VALIZADA (AZE), 5-2

BRONZE - Ramaz TURMANIDZE (GEO) df. Leomid COLESNIC (MDA), 10-0 
BRONZE - Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR) df. Arman ELOYAN (FRA), via fall 

74kg 
GOLD - Akhmed SHOKUMOV (RUS) vs. Dzhemal Rushen ALI (BUL), via fall 

BRONZE -  Ismail ABDULLAEV (AZE) df. Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM), 10-5 
BRONZE -  Piotr CARASENI (MDA) df. Kevin LUCHT (GER), 10-6 

86kg
GOLD - Arif OZEN (TUR) df. Patrik SZUROVSZKI (HUN), 4-2 

BRONZE - Uri KALASHNIKOV (ISR) df. Ivan NEDEALCO (MDA), 6-3 
BRONZE - Demur MEGENEISHVILI (GEO) df. Mher MARKOSYAN (ARM), 8-4 

92kg 
GOLD - Azamat ZAKUEV (RUS) df. Askhab HAMZATOV (AZE), 10-0 

BRONZE - Ertugrul AGCA (GER) df. Beka NADASHVILI (GEO), 8-7 
BRONZE - Erhan YAYLACI (TUR) df. Gheorghe ERHAN (MDA), 14-4 

125kg
GOLD - Hovhannes MAGHAKYAN (ARM) vs. Yurii IDZINSKYI (UKR), 4-2 

BRONZE - Oktay GUNGOR (TUR) df. Samhan JABRAILOV (MDA), 4-4 
BRONZE - Rahid HAMIDLI (AZE) df. Jakub BRYLEWSKI (POL), 7-4

#WrestleCoralville

Griman, 34, Wins Elusive Pan-Am Gold to Spoil U.S. Party

Saturday, May 9, 2026 - 09:50 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

CORALVILLE, IOWA, United States (May 8) -- Nathali GRIMAN (VEN), 34, made her Pan-American debut in 2013, finishing fifth at 59kg in Panama City. 13 years later and wrestling at her 11th Pan-American Championships on Friday, Griman finally won the elusive gold medal.

At the Xtream Arena, Coralville, Griman's gold also spoiled what could have been a perfect day for the United States as it won the remaining five golds in Women's Wrestling.

UWW Plus

Greco-Roman also closed out with the remaining two weight classes on Friday at the Pan-American Championships as the United States won the team title with 216 points. Cuba finished second with 115 points and Brazil was third with 99 points.

The one Greco gold for the U.S. on Friday was won by Benjamin PEAK (USA) at 72kg while Olympic bronze medalist Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) gave Cuba its third Greco gold of the tournament by reigning supreme at 97kg.

 

In the final at 62kg, Griman was up against former U20 world champion Jasmine ROBINSON (USA), who had dominated her way to the final, winning four bouts 11-1, 12-1, 10-0 and 11-0, and was clearly the favorite.

Robinson opened the final with a takedown for two points, tripping Griman at the edge of the zone. Griman was put on the activity clock soon after and as she failed to score, Robinson got a point and led 3-0 at the break. However, Griman used over-under set-up to throw Robinson and score four points 23 seconds into the second period.

Robinson scored a reversal and then a gut-wrench to quickly reclaim the lead 6-4 with 2:16 remaining in the final. Griman remained unfazed and hit a double-leg attack, lifted Robinson before slamming her on the mat for two points and a 6-6 criteria lead, thanks to her superior scoring sequence of four points earlier in the mat.

After a longish medical timeout, Robinson returned to the center but was not able to break the defense of Griman who held on and ended her wait for the gold medal.

Griman has six other medals in the tournament's history -- two silvers won in 2025 and 2023 and four bronze medals won in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019. It was also the first time ever that Griman won a gold medal at a United World Wrestling championships.

Amanda MARTINEZ (USA)Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) won the 57kg gold medal to be one of the five champions for the U.S. on Friday. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

The five gold-medal run for the U.S. began at 50kg as Katie GOMEZ (USA) won the final against Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU), 5-3. The two were in a tangle and rolled through with both wrestlers getting two points each and Mollocana leading 2-2 on criteria.

But the Ecuador wrestler was put on activity clock in the second period and Gomez picked up a takedown during that period to lead 5-2. Mollocana kept the pressure and managed a stepout with 16 seconds remaining but could not get a takedown to win the bout.

At 55kg, U20 world champion Everest LEYDECKER (USA) won her first Pan-Am title in just 52 seconds. With only three wrestlers in the bracket, Leydecker won both her bouts with ease. She used a takedown against Josefina RAMIREZ (MEX) and then transitioned into a lace, finishing the bout.

Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) added the third gold for the U.S. by beating Luisa VALVERDE (ECU), 6-1, in the 57kg final. She scored a stepout to open the scoring and then doubled her lead with another. Valverde scored a stepout of her own just before the break, making the score 2-1.

Valverde was put on the activity clock in the second period and Martinez managed another stepout, though it was Valverde who just backpedaled out of bounds. Leading 4-1, Martinez countered a leg-attack from Valverde and scored a takedown to confirm her winning score with more than a minute left in the final.

In a low scoring final at 62kg, Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) held off Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX), 3-1, to claim the fourth gold of the night for the U.S. Nwachukwu was the first to go on the activity clock and she did not score in the 30-second window, giving a point to Jimenez. But the scores reversed in the second period when Jimenez was put on the activity clock and Nwachukwu also scored a stepout to lead 2-1 with 1:58 remaining.

Jimenez challenged at the end for Nwachukwu's fleeing but it was not confirmed on review, adding another point to the U.S. wrestler's score.

Precious BELL (USA) won both her bouts at 72kg via technical superiority to claim the gold medal in the three-wrestler bracket. She first defeated Michelle OLEA (MEX) and then Ellise DAYNES (CAN), winning the fifth gold for the host nation.

Rosillo Wins 3rd Pan-Am Title

In the two Greco-Roman weight categories that were competed on Friday, former world champion Rosillo defended his Pan-Am gold medal at 97kg while Peak gave the U.S. its seventh Greco gold of the tournament.

The 97kg final went on for only 2:15 but it was an action-packed bout with Rosillo securing a fall over Paris Olympian Kevin MEJIA (HON) to win the gold medal. Rosillo got the par terre position in the first period and turned Mejia to lead 3-0.

As he was trying another gut-wrench, Mejia blocked him and scored two points for exposure. He then lifted Rosillo to set up a big throw but the Cuban turned to face Mejia who, instead of a suplex, managed a bodylock throw.

Rosillo fell on top of Mejia and then held him on the mat to secure the fall with 3:45 remaining in the final. Rosillo joined Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) at 60kg and Luis ORTA (CUB) at 67kg as Pan-Am champions for Cuba.

Peak at 72kg was in a three-wrestler bracket and won both his bouts to claim the gold medal, seventh for U.S. Greco team in Coralville. He first defeated Mauri VICENTE (BRA), 8-0, and then held on to a 4-2 win over Emerson FELIPE (GUA) to secure the title. 

Photo

RESULTS

Greco-Roman

72kg
GOLD:  Benjamin PEAK (USA)
SILVER: Emerson FELIPE (GUA)
BRONZE: Mauri VICENTE (BRA)

97kg
GOLD: Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) df. Kevin MEJIA (HON), via fall (6-2)

BRONZE: Carlos ADAMES (DOM) df. Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG), 12-11
BRONZE: Timothy YOUNG (USA) df. Jhonny ARIAS (COL), 7-2

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Katie GOMEZ (USA) df. Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU), 5-3

BRONZE: Thalia OLIVEIRA (BRA) df. Nohalis LOYO (VEN), 7-6
BRONZE: Madison PARKS (CAN) df. Nathaly HERRERA (PER), 8-0

55kg
GOLD: Everest LEYDECKER (USA)
SILVER: Josefina RAMIREZ (MEX)
BRONZE: Amber WIEBE (CAN)

57kg
GOLD: Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) df. Luisa VALVERDE (ECU), 6-1

BRONZE: Bertha ROJAS (MEX) df. Yocleidy RAMIREZ (DOM), 5-2
BRONZE: Yaynelis SANZ (CUB) df. Giullia PENALBER (BRA), 4-0

62kg
GOLD: Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) df. Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX), 3-1

BRONZE: Astrid MONTERO (VEN) df. Lais NUNES (BRA), 2-1

68kg
GOLD: Nathali GRIMAN (VEN) df. Jasmine ROBINSON (USA), 6-6

BRONZE: Virginia JIMENEZ (CHI) df. Maria CEBALLOS (COL), 9-0

72kg
GOLD: Precious BELL (USA)
SILVER: Ellise DAYNES (CAN)
BRONZE: Michelle OLEA (MEX)