wrestleOaxtepec

Sampson of Cuba and Michaelson of USA Win Golden Boots on Day Two of #WrestleOaxtepec

Friday, June 11, 2021 - 01:28 By Taylor Miller

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Photo of Jeisser SAMPSON SANCHEZ (CUB). Photo by Osvaldo Aguilar. 

 

OAXTEPEC, Mexico – 12 new champions across four different styles were crowned on the second day of the Cadet and Junior Pan American Championships in Oaxtepec, Mexico. The four divisions contested on Thursday included Junior Greco-Roman, Junior women’s freestyle, Cadet men’s freestyle and Cadet women’s freestyle.

This week, the top-eight in the Olympic weights of the Junior division will earn bids to the 2021 Junior Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, in December.

Representatives from three different countries earned gold medals in Junior Greco, including Noah WACHSMUTH (USA) at 77 kg, James BURKS (USA) at 82 kg, Igor ALVES DE QUEIROZ (BRA) at 97 kg and Jeisser SAMPSON SANCHEZ (CUB) at 130 kg. Thanks to his outstanding performance, which featured four wins with two technical superiorities and two pins, Sampson received the Golden Boot.

In the Greco-Roman team race, the USA captured the crown with three champions and 177 points. Mexico came in second with 151 points and Venezuela rounded out the top-three with 102 points.

Photo of Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU). Photo by Osvaldo Aguilar. 

There were only two weights wrestled today in Junior women’s freestyle. At 50 kg, Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) defeated Greili BENCOSME CARVAJAL (CUB) for the gold, and at 53 kg, Laura HERIN AVILA (CUB) took Jaslynn GALLEGOS (USA) in the finals.

The USA claimed gold at the remaining four weight classes in Cadet men’s freestyle to sweep the division. Picking up titles on Thursday were Thor MICHAELSON (USA) at 71 kg, Ryder ROGOTZKE (USA) at 80 kg, Peter CASALE (USA) at 92 kg and James MULLEN (USA) at 110 kg. With four wins on the day and a dominant performance, Michaelson won the Golden Boot.

With 10 gold medals, USA won the team title with 250 points. Mexico took silver with 170 points and Peru earned bronze with 80 points.

In Cadet women’s freestyle, USA won the two weight classes with golds from Gabrielle BRAGG (USA) at 40 kg and Emilie GONZALEZ (USA) at 43 kg.

Wrestling continues Friday at 9 a.m. CT live on uww.org.

Photo of Thor MICHAELSON (USA). Photo by Osvaldo Aguilar.

 

En español
OAXTEPEC, México – El segundo día del campeonato panamericano en Cadete y Juvenil terminó con 12 campeones nuevos entre cuatro estilos: Grecorromana juvenil, estilo libre femenino juvenil, estilo libre masculino cadete y estilo libre femenino cadete.

En los torneos juveniles, los ocho mejores luchadores en las clases de peso olímpico califican para los Juegos Panamericanos Juveniles en diciembre en Cali, Colombia.

Luchadores de tres países diferentes ganaron títulos en Grecorromana juvenil, incluyendo a Noah WACHSMUTH (USA) en 77 kg, James BURKS (USA) en 82 kg, Igor ALVES DE QUEIROZ (BRA) en 97 kg y Jeisser SAMPSON SANCHEZ (CUBA) en 130 kg. Sampson usó dos victorias de puesta espalda y dos de superioridad técnica para asegurar el botín de oro.

En la carrera del equipo en estilo grecorromano, USA ganó con tres campeones y 177 puntos. México fue segundo con 151 puntos y Venezuela fue tercero con 102 puntos.

Photo of the medalists at 53 kg in women's freestyle. Photo by Osvaldo Aguilar. 

Solo se disputaron dos categorías en el estilo libre femenino juvenil. En 50 kg, Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) derrotó a Greili BENCOSME CARVAJAL (CUB). Para ganar el título en 53 kg, Laura HERIN AVILA (CUB) superó a Jaslynn GALLEGOS (USA).

En estilo libre masculino cadete, USA capturo los cuatro pesos restantes para terminar el torneo con 10 medallas de oro en la división. Los campeones del jueves fueron Thor MICHAELSON (USA) en 71 kg, Ryder ROGOTZKE (USA) en 80 kg, Peter CASALE (USA) en 92 kg y James MULLEN (USA) en 110 kg. Michaelson, quien recogió cuatro victorias, recibió el botín de oro.

Con diez medallas de oro, USA ganó el título del equipo cadete con 250 puntos. México fue segundo con 170 puntos y Peru fue tercero con 80 puntos.

En el estilo libre femenino cadete, USA ganó las dos categorías con victorias de Gabrielle BRAGG (USA) en 40 kg y Emilie GONZALEZ (USA) en 43 kg.

Acción sigue mañana a las 9 a.m. CT en uww.org.

JUNIOR GRECO-ROMAN RESULTS
72 kg
GOLD - Noah WACHSMUTH (USA)
SILVER - Wilfredo LOPEZ (PAN)
BRONZE - Leag GUZMAN PADILLA (MEX)

82 kg
GOLD - James BURKS (USA)
SILVER - Christian MEDINA NUNEZ (MEX)
BRONZE - Augusto NIEVA (ARG)

97 kg
GOLD - Igor ALVES DE QUEIROZ (BRA)
SILVER - Daniel Alejandro VELIZ PEREZ (MEX)
BRONZE- Liober BETANCOURT HECHAVARRIA (CUB)
BRONZE - Max MADRID DE LEON (PAN)

130 kg
GOLD - Jeisser SAMPSON SANCHEZ (CUBA)
SILVER - Peter CHRISTENSEN (USA)
BRONZE - Juan CANTILLO TORRES (PAN)
BRONZE - Jami GRUESO NUNEZ (VEN)

JUNIOR WOMEN’S FREESTYLE RESULTS
50 kg
GOLD - Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU)
SILVER - Greili BENCOSME CARVAJAL (CUB)
BRONZE - Gloria ASCA VILCAPOMA (PER)
BRONZE - Yusmy CHAPARRO URREGO (COL)

53 kg
GOLD - Laura HERIN AVILA (CUB)
SILVER - Jaslynn GALLEGOS (USA)
BRONZE - Mariana ROJAS DIAZ (VEN)
BRONZE - Zeltzin HERNANDEZ GUERRA (MEX)

CADET MEN’S FREESTYLE RESULTS
71 kg
GOLD - Thor MICHAELSON (USA)
SILVER - Carlos SERRANO LOPEZ (MEX)
BRONZE - Darío CUBAS CASTILLO (PER)

80 kg
GOLD - Ryder ROGOTZKE (USA)
SILVER - Alexander CUSINGA GOMEZ (PER)
BRONZE - Miguel Angel GONZALEZ GOMEZ (MEX)

92 kg
GOLD - Peter CASALE (USA)
SILVER - Alan Yahir PEREZ URIBE (MEX)

110 kg
GOLD - James MULLEN (USA)
SILVER - Rhian CAVALINI ENGEL (BRA)
BRONZE - Angel RAMIREZ NAVARRO (MEX)

CADET WOMEN’S FREESTYLE RESULTS
40 kg
GOLD - Gabrielle BRAGG (USA)
SILVER - Veronica AMARO GARCIA (MEX)

43 kg
GOLD - Emilie GONZALEZ (USA)
SILVER - Vicky LEON GOMEZ (ECU)
BRONZE- Ana PALACIOS HERNANDEZ (MEX)

#JapanWrestling

Ozaki denies Onishi in 62kg semis, sets up clash with Motoki

Saturday, December 20, 2025 - 08:01 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO (December 20) -- Nonoka OZAKI gave Sakura ONISHI a less-than-cordial welcome to the women’s 62kg weight class.

Ozaki, a two-time former world champion who has hit a wall of late amid Japan’s incredible depth in women’s wrestling, defeated world 59kg champion Onishi 4-1 in the semifinals at 62kg at the Emperor’s Cup All-Japan Championships on Saturday.

That earned Ozaki yet another shot at reigning world and Olympic champion Sakura MOTOKI, who advanced with an 8-2 victory over Yuzuka INAGAKI.

The Olympic weight classes are being contested over two days, and organizers saved a bevy of world and Olympic champions and medalists for the third day of the four-day tournament at Tokyo’s Komazawa Gym.

In other semifinals, a clash of champions from this year’s World Championships in Zagreb was set up at freestyle 74kg, in which reigning champion Kota TAKAHASHI will square off with Yoshinosuke AOYAGI, the victor at 70kg who has moved up to the Olympic division.

Takahashi easily disposed of Toki OGAWA by 11-0 technical fall, while Aoyagi posted a 7-1 victory over Hikaru TAKATA.

Meanwhile, Paris Olympic champions Akari FUJINAMI, Kotaro KIYOOKA and Nao KUSAKA all advanced to their respective finals with varying degrees of ease or difficulty, along with Paris bronze medalist Yui SUSAKI.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)Nonoka OZAKI will wrestle Sakura MOTOKI in the 62kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Ozaki had been forced to watch the World Championships from the sidelines after losing out Motoki at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships, which, along with Emperor’s Cup, serves as a domestic qualifier for major international competitions.

The last thing Ozaki needed was another interloper in the weight class, and she determinedly fended off the challenge from the 19-year-old Onishi.

“It was my first time facing her,” Ozaki said. “She’s a young, upcoming wrestler who hasn’t yet experienced the Olympics, just like I had been. But this is not a weight class that can be taken lightly.”

After giving up an activity point, Ozaki scored a late takedown in the first period, then added another in the second to earn a spot in Sunday’s final.

“There are many videos of her out there that I have watched, so I had an image of how she wrestles in mind,” Ozaki said. “I had to think of what form my wrestling should take.”

Asked if she has come up with a strategy to handle Motoki, Ozaki said, “I’ve faced her twice now, and I watched her at the World Championships. There is a ‘Motoki way’ of wrestling, and that’s implanted in my mind.”

Takara SUDA (JPN)Takara SUDA, left, works for a takedown in the first period against Kaisei TANABE during their 65kg semifinal. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Suda spoils Tanabe’s bid for two-style double

The stacked freestyle 65kg division saw the match of the day, in which Takara SUDA spoiled Kaisei TANABE’s bid for a historic Greco-freestyle title double with dramatic last-second takedown in their semifinal.

Suda had taken the lead with a takedown with 1:10 left, only to see Tanabe come back with a takedown of his own with five seconds left. But Suda shot for all he’s
worth and managed to score in time for a 5-4 victory.

“There was still five seconds left and I just kept calm,” Suda said. “I thought if I kept cool, I could score.”

Tanabe had won the Greco 63kg gold on Thursday, and was aiming to become the first to double in two styles at the same tournament since 1973.

“I had lost to him twice before, both by technical fall,” Suda said. “This time I just wanted to avoid losing by technical fall. But those matches were two years ago, and I think I’ve gotten better over these two years.”

Suda’s victory earns him a shot at Paris gold medalist Kiyooka, who managed to hold on for a 3-2 victory over Kaiji OGINO that ended with a wild scramble in
the final 15 seconds.

“He’s an opponent on another level,” Suda said of Kiyooka. “I’ll have to keep moving and give everything I got."

Yui SUSAKI (JPN)Yui SUSAKI throws Mako ONO en route to a technical fall in their 50kg semifinal. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Susaki stormed into the women’s 50kg final with three straight technical falls without surrendering a point, the last one a 10-0 rout of Mako ONO. In the final, she will face world U23 53kg champion Haruna MORIKAWA.

Susaki’s path to a fourth national title and first since 2022 was made slightly easier by the absence of rival Remina YOSHIMOTO and the late withdrawal of
Umi ITO.

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)Akari FUJINAMI, left, squares off with Sara NATAMI in the 57kg semifinals. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Fujinami, the Paris champion at 53kg, continued her transition to 57kg with solid victories, although with all of her points being scored from her feet, save
for an activity point.

In the semifinal, she built up a 7-0 lead over defending champion Sara NATAMI before her opponent twice countered single-leg attempts to score exposures, leaving Fujinami with a 7-4 victory. She will face Himeka TOKUHARA in the final.

Kusaka was clearly the most dominant of the Olympians on the day, winning his two matches by 11-0 scores -- both topped off with 4-point throws. He will face
Isami HORIKITA in the final.