Snyder Clinches USA's First World Cup Title Since 2003

Monday, April 9, 2018 - 01:08 By United World Wrestling Press

IOWA CITY (April 8) - Seven and half months ago, Kyle SNYDER clinched a world title for the United States of America. On Sunday, the Olympic champion and multiple-time world champion clinched a Freestyle World Cup title for USA.

With USA leading 5-3 against Azerbaijan in the gold-medal match, Snyder came through with a dominant 14-3 victory over Roman BAKIROV (AZE) at 97kg. After Snyder built his lead to 4-1 with two takedowns he blew the match wide open with several consecutive tilts. He led 12-3 at the break and put the match away early in the second period with another takedown.

"It was another opportunity to seal it up for the United States," said Snyder. "I would always pick myself to go out there and wrestle when it comes down to a team win. We have a lot of good guys, but I feel real confident in my ability to wrestle under those kinds of circumstances."

It is USA's 14th World Cup title and first since 2003.

"This is a great team and they performed really well this weekend," USA freestyle coach Bill Zadick said. "It was really exciting to win a heated finals match against a very good team from Azerbaijan."

USA won two of the first three matches, highlighted by 2016 world champion Logan STIEBER (USA) knocking off three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE) 6-3 at 65kg. Stieber led 2-1 at the break after a first-period takedown. He added to his lead early in the second period with another takedown. Aliyev responded with a takedown of his own to make the score 4-3. Stieber then closed out the victory with a takedown in the final 10 seconds to win by three.

At 70kg, Joshgun AZIMOV picked up a key win for Azerbaijan, edging multiple-time world bronze medalist James GREEN (USA) 4-4 on criteria at 70kg.

But Jordan BURROUGHS, a 2012 Olympic champion and four-time world champion, would help ignite a string of three consecutive wins for the Americans. Burroughs, who is now 27-0 in World Cup competition, earned a second-period fall over U23 European champion Gadzhimurad OMAROV (AZE) at 74kg.

Kyle DAKE followed up Burroughs' victory with a 5-3 win over Olympic bronze medalist Jabrayil HASANOV to put USA up 4-2 after six matches.

American David TAYLOR gave the United States its fifth victory by beating world fifth-place finisher Aleksandr GOSTIYEV 12-2 at 86kg. Taylor built a 6-2 lead after the opening period, and then added two more takedowns and a late exposure to get the technical fall.

World bronze medalist Aslanbek ALBOROV kept Azerbaijan's hopes alive by edging another world bronze medalist, J'den Cox, 4-4 on criteria.

After Snyder clinched the title for the United States at 97kg, Azerbaijan won the final match as Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV used a late takedown to defeat returning world bronze medalist Nick GWIAZDOWSKI 4-3 at 125kg.

Japan captured the bronze medal by defeating Cuba 6-4. Japan won five of the first six matches, before Cuba had late surge, winning three consecutive matches from 86kg to 97kg. Japan led by one going into the final match before Taiki YAMAMOTO topped Yudenny ALPAJON ESTEVEZ 6-5 in a back-and-forth match at 125kg to give Japan the victory.

Georgia came in fifth place with a 6-4 victory over Mongolia. After Mongolia won the first two matches, Georgia reeled off four consecutive wins to go up 4-2. Mongolia picked up a win at 86kg, but wins by Dato MARSAGISHVILI (92kg) and Givi MATCHARASHVILI (97kg) sealed the victory for Georgia.

Kazakhstan finished in seventh place by shutting out India 10-0.

1st place: United States 6, Azerbaijan 4
57kg: Giorgi Edisherashvili (Azerbaijan) dec. Thomas Gilman (USA), 8-7
61kg: Kendric Maple (USA) dec. Afghan Khashalov (Azerbaijan), 6-2
65kg: Logan Stieber (USA) dec. Haji Aliyev (Azerbaijan), 6-3
70kg: Joshgun Azimov (Azerbaijan) dec. James Green (USA), 4-4
74kg: Jordan Burroughs (USA) pin Gasjimurad Omarov (Azerbaijan), 3:15
79kg: Kyle Dake (USA) dec. Jabrayil Hasanov (Azerbaijan), 5-3
86kg: David Taylor (USA) tech. fall Aleksander Gostiev (Azerbaijan), 12-2
92kg: Aslanbek Alborov (Azerbaijan) dec. J’den Cox (USA), 4-4
97kg: Kyle Snyder (USA) tech fall Roman Bakirov (Azerbaijan), 14-3
125kg: Jamaladdin Magomedov (Azerbaijan) dec. Nick Gwiazdowski (USA) 4-3

3rd place: Japan 6, Cuba 4
57kg: Yuki Takahashi (Japan) dec. Reineri Andreeu Ortega (Cuba), 7-5
61kg: Kazuya Koyanagi (Japan) dec. Yowlys Bonne Rodriquez (Cuba), 9-6
65kg: Daichi Takatani (Japan) dec. Alejandro Enrique Valdes Tobier (Cuba), 10-8
70kg: Franklin Maren Castillo (Cuba) dec. Keisuke Otoguro (Japan), 8-4
74kg: Yuhi Fujinami (Japan) tech. fall Livan Lopez Azcuy (Cuba), 16-5.
79kg: Sohsuke Takatani (Japan) tech. fall Yoan Zulueta Morales (Cuba), 10-0
86kg: Yurieski Torreblanca Queralta (Cuba) dec. Shota Shirai (Japan), 4-1
92kg: Lazaro Hernandez Luis (Cuba) dec. Takashi Ishiguro (Japan), 4-4
97kg: Reineris Salas Perez (Cuba) tech. fall Taira Sonoda (Japan), 12-0
125kg: Taiki Yamamoto (Japan) dec. Yudenny Alapajon Estevez (Cuba), 6-5

5th place: Georgia 6, Mongolia 4
57kg: Bekhbayar Erdenebat (Mongolia) dec. Teimuraz Vanishvili (Georgia), 4-0
61kg: Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (Mongolia) tech. fall Lasha Lomtadze (Georgia), 11-0
65kg: Magomed Saidovi (Georgia) by forfeit
70kg: Levan Kelekhsashvili (Georgia) dec. Ganbayar Sanjaa (Mongolia), 2-1
79kg: Tarzan Maisuradze (Georgia) dec. Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (Mongolia), 7-1
79kg: Tariel Gaphrindashvili (Georgia) dec. Gantulga Iderkhuu (Mongolia), 22-17
86kg: Uitumen Orgodol (Mongolia) dec. David Khutsishvili (Georgia), 12-5
92kg: Dato Marsagishvili (Georgia) inj. dft. over Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (Mongolia), 0:45
97kg: Givi Matcharashvili (Georgia) tech. fall Batzul Ulziisaikhan (Mongolia), 10-0
125kg: Zolboo Natsagsuren (Mongolia) dec. Zviadi Metreveli (Georgia), 6-0

7th place: Kazakhstan 10, India 0
57kg: Mukhambed Kuatbek (Kazakhstan) by forfeit
61kg: Rassul Kaliyev (Kazakhstan) dec. Sandeep Tomar (India), 10-6
65kg: Sayatbek Okassov (Kazakhstan) tech. fall Sharvan (India), 10-0
70kg: Meirzhan Ashirov (Kazakhstan) dec. Arun Kumar (India), 6-0
74kg: Daniyar Kaisanov (Kazakhstan) dec. Vinod Kumar Omprakash (India), 13-7
79kg: Saken Aitzhanov (Kazakhstan) pin Sachin Giri (India), 1:31
86kg: Elkhan Assadov (Kazakhstan) dec. Pawan Kumar (India), 3-0
92kg: Iliskhan Chilayev (Kazakhstan) dec. Deepak Punia (India), 10-3
97kg: Mamed Ibragimov (Kazakhstan) tech. fall Viky (India), 10-0
125kg: Daulet Shabanbay(Kazakhstan) tech. fall Pushpender Singh (India), 10-0

#WrestleAthens

U17 Worlds 2025: Iran, U.S. put two each in Freestyle finals

Friday, August 1, 2025 - 14:57 By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (August 1) -- Iran and the United States emerged as the best performers on day one of Freestyle competition at the World U17 Championships in Athens, Greece after placing two wrestlers each in the gold medal bouts.

Five Freestyle weight classes were in action on Friday, as the tournament entered its final three days.

Iran and the U.S. will face off in the 48kg final after Ariah MILLS (USA) and Sina BOUSTANI (IRI) won their respective semifinals.

Mills defeated European U17 champion Ravan HASANZADE (AZE) 7-2 using his attacking style. After being put on the activity clock, Mills began his attacks and though he was not able to score in the 30-second, he hit a single leg for four points that gave him a 4-1 lead going into the break.

Hasanzade got on the leg attacks but Mills was quick to counter and scored an exposure for two points which was challenged by Azerbaijan. On review, it was given only two points for Mills and Azerbaijan lost the challenge and Mills reached the final 7-2.

Boustani had to stop some serious attacks from Masamune USHIMADO (JPN) in the second period. After taking a 6-0 lead, Boustani was put in danger by Ushimado as he scored a takedown. He then made it 6-3 with a stepout. With 13 seconds remaining, he hit another big throw but it was scored just two points as Boustani won 6-5.

The second finalist for the U.S. was Pan-Am U17 champion Arsenii KIKINIOU (USA) who came from behind to beat Morteza HAJ (IRI), 3-2, in the 65kg semifinals. Trailing 2-0, Kikiniou first scored a stepout and then managed to transition a leg attack into takedown with 13 seconds left. He held on to his lead to win.

For the gold, he will face 2024 silver medalist from 60kg, Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) who barely went past Yeraly ASKERBEK (KAZ), 3-1, in the other semifinal. Ismayilov was down 1-1 on criteria but scored point just in time to win the match.

Mohammadparsa KARAMI (IRI) was the second finalist for Iran after he dominated Dinmukhammed KASSYMBEK (KAZ) and beat him 11-4 in the 80kg semifinals. For the gold, he will take on European U17 champion Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) after the Ukrainian earned himself a chance to win a world U17 goldm reaching the final with a 2-1 win over Issa ZANGIEV (UWW).

At 55kg, returning bronze medalist from 51kg Jinnosuke OKONOGI (JPN) denied Greyton BURNETT (USA) after beating him 8-2 in the semifinal. Okonogi never let Burnett to settle down and scored three takedowns in his win.

Having already upgraded his medal, Okonogi will look to win the gold over Asian U17 silver medalist Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UWW) who scored a late stepout to win his semifinal against Chingis SARYGLAR (UWW), who was a bronze medalist from 48kg last year.

At 110kg, it will be a battle of continental champions as European U17 champion Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) defeated Stefan STEFANOV (BUL), 2-0, after getting both passivity points.

He will take on Asian U17 champion LACKY (IND) who defeated European U17 champion Amirhossein NAGHDALIPOUR (IRI), via fall, with a comeback.

Naghdalipour led 5-0 when he got a par terre and as he tried the gut-wrench, Lacky blocked him and scored two points. A double-leg takedown made it 5-4.

Lacky was called passive in the second period and Naghdalipout got another point and led 6-4. That is when Lacky got hold of the Iranian and sent him for four points. Iran challenged and lost, making the score 9-6 for Lacky.

Naghdalipour scored a stepout to cut the lead to 9-7 but as he tried another takedown, Lacky slammed him for four and a turn before securing the fall just as the time expired.

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Ariah MILLS (USA) vs. Sina BOUSTANI (IRI)

SF 1: Ariah MILLS (USA) df. Ravan HASANZADE (AZE), 7-2
SF 2: Sina BOUSTANI (IRI) df. Masamune USHIMADO (JPN), 6-5

55kg
GOLD: Jinnosuke OKONOGI (JPN) vs. Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UZB)

SF 1: Jinnosuke OKONOGI (JPN) df. Greyton BURNETT (USA), 8-2
SF 2: Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UZB) df. Chingis SARYGLAR (UWW), 2-1

65kg
GOLD: Arseni KIKINIOU (USA) vs. Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE)

SF 1: Arseni KIKINIOU (USA) df. Morteza HAJ (IRI), 3-2
SF 2: Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) df. Yeraly ASKERBEK (KAZ), 3-1

80kg
GOLD: Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) vs. Mohammadparsa KARAMI (IRI)

SF 1: Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) df. Issa ZANGIEV (UWW), 2-1
SF 2: Mohammadparsa KARAMI (IRI) df. Dinmukhammed KASSYMBEK (KAZ), 11-4

110kg
GOLD: LACKY (IND) vs. Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW)

SF 1: LACKY (IND) df. Amirhossein NAGHDALIPOUR (IRI), via fall (15-7)
SF 2: Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) df. Stefan STEFANOV (BUL), 2-0

Snyder Clinches USA's First World Cup Title Since 2003

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U17 Worlds 2025: Iran, U.S. put two each in Freestyle finals