#WrestleGuatemala

USA Sweeps Gold Medals at Day Two of #WrestleGuatemala as Honduras' Mejia Earns OW

Saturday, May 29, 2021 - 01:24 By Taylor Miller

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GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – The USA won gold medals in all seven weights contested on Friday, including three titles in Greco-Roman and four titles in women’s freestyle at the 2021 Pan American Championships in Guatemala City.

Providing an outstanding performance that outshone the rest, Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON) was named awarded the Golden Boot as the Greco-Roman Outstanding Wrestler for his Thursday-night gold-medal win at 97 kg. 

Winning in Greco-Roman was Peyton WALSH (USA), Ben PROVISOR (USA) and John STEFANOWICZ (USA).

At 77kg, Walsh defeated two-time Senior Pan Am finalist Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA) in a hotly contested match. Walsh led 5-0 at the break, but de Brito Ramos Junior fought back hard in the second period, scoring five points. Ultimately, Walsh held on for a 5-5 win on criteria as de Brito Ramos Junior had a caution against him.

Two-time Olympian Provisor recorded two technical superiority wins, 9-0 and 8-0, in his three-man round robin to claim the 82kg title. This is Provisor’s third Pan Am gold medal with his first coming in 2017 in Greco-Roman and his second coming in 2018 in men’s freestyle.

Tokyo Olympian Stefanowicz took home the gold after a dramatic finals match at 87kg. Wrestling against Ariel ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ (HON), Stefanowicz trailed 1-0 at the break. To start the second period, Stefanowicz scored a step out and in the flurry of action, Alfonso Rodriguez exhibited unsportsmanlike conduct and was disqualified from the match.

USA won the Greco-Roman team title, earning 205 points. Brazil placed second with 95 points and Mexico rounded out the top-three with 94 points.

Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) finishes a shot on Neidy Lizeth VASQUEZ GOMEZ (GUA) on her way to the 10-0 shutout opening-round win. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

The U.S. women’s freestyle champions were Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), Maya NELSON (USA), Jennifer ROGERS PAGE (USA) and Alexandria GLAUDE (USA).

2019 World champion and Tokyo Olympian Winchester absolutely dominated the 55kg bracket, collecting a 4-0 record, including three technical superiorities and one pin. This marks her first Pan American gold medal, but she also owns a bronze medal from the 2018 Pan Am Championships.

At 59kg, 2017 Junior World champion Nelson clinched the title with two wins on the day, including an impressive win in which she knocked off 2019 Senior World champion Linda MORAIS (CAN), 5-5. To secure the title, Nelson dominated Karoline SILVA DE SANTANA (BRA) with a 12-2 victory.

Rogers Page earned her second Pan Am title, winning four matches in a Nordic bracket. In the final, she took on Ashley ZARATE CAMPBELL (PAN), who she defeated earlier in the day. For gold, Rogers Page dominated the Panamanian with pin in 52 seconds. She adds to her 2015 Pan Am gold medal.

To win gold at 72kg, U23 World bronze medalist Glaude went 2-0 on the day. To start her tournament, Glaude dominated 2020 Pan Am champion Yanet SOVERO NINO (PER) with a fall in only 25 seconds. To secure the title, Glaude beat Brenda AGUIAR DOS SANTOS (BRA), 10-0.

The competition continues tomorrow with the remaining women’s freestyle weights and the beginning of men’s freestyle. Wrestling begins at 12 p.m. local time. Fans can watch all the action live at uww.org.

En español
CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA – Los Estados Unidos ganó medallas de oro en los siete categorías  disputadas el viernes, incluyendo tres títulos en grecorromano y cuatro títulos en estilo libre femenino en el Campeonato Panamericano 2021 en la Ciudad de Guatemala. 

El ganador del botín de oro fue Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON), el campeón de la categoría 97 kg, quien compitio el jueves. 

Los ganadores en grecorromano fueron Peyton WALSH (USA), Ben PROVISOR (USA) y John STEFANOWICZ (USA).

En la categoría 77 kg, Peyton WALSH (USA) tuvo un combate cerrado con dos veces finalista panamericana Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA) para el oro. Walsh estaba ganando 5-0 en el periodo del descanso, pero en el segundo periodo, de Brito Ramos Junior marcó cinco puntos para poner el combate en un empate. Walsh ganó por criterio, 5-5.

Ben PROVISOR (USA), el dos veces olímpico, ganó dos combates para hacerse con el título en 82 kg. Ambos fueron victorias por superioridad técnica, 9-0 y 8-0. Es la tercera medalla de oro panamericana para él. También ganó el oro en grecorromano en 2017 y el oro en estilo libre masculino en 2018.

Olimpico Stefanowicz ganó el oro después de un final dramático en 87 kg. Luchando contra Ariel ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ (HON), Stefanowicz estaba perdiendo 1-0. En el segundo periodo, entre un momento de acción, Alfonso Rodriguez mostró conducta antideportiva y fue descalificado.

USA ganó el título del equipo con 205 puntos. Brasil produjo la medalla de plata con 95 puntos y asegurando el bronce fue México con 94 puntos.

Las luchadoras estadounidenses ganaron cada categoría en el estilo libre femenino. Las campeonas fueron Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), Maya NELSON (USA), Jennifer ROGERS PAGE (USA) y Alexandria GLAUDE (USA).

La campeona mundial de 2019 y olímpica Winchester dominó a la categoría 55 kg. Ella recogió un record de 4-0, ganando tres con superioridades técnicas y el otro combate por puestaespalda. Esta es su primera medalla de oro panamericana. También tiene una medalla de bronce del campeonato panamericano de 2018.

En 59 kg, Nelson, una campeona mundial juvenil de 2017, aseguró el título con una victoria impresionante contra la campeona mundial de 2019, Linda MORAIS (CAN) en su primera pelea, 5-5. Más tarde en el día, derrotó a Karoline SILVA DE SANTANA (BRA), 12-2.

Rogers Page ganó cuatro peleas en la categoría de 65 kg para llevar el oro. En el final, derrotó a Ashley ZARATE CAMPBELL (PAN) por la segunda vez hoy con una puestaespalda en 52 segundos. En una competencia Nordic, Rogers Page venció a Zarate Campbell, 11-1, en su primer combate del dia. Es su segunda medalla de oro panamericano. La primera vino en 2015.

Para ganar el oro en 72 kg, Glaude, una medallista mundial U23, se fue 2-0 en el día. Primero, Glaude derrotó a la campeona panamericana 2020 Yanet SOVERO NINO (PER) con un puestaespalda en solo 25 segundos. Esta noche, en su última combate, Glaude se enfrentó a Brenda AGUIAR DOS SANTOS (BRA) y venció con un triunfo 10-0.

La competencia sigue mañana con el estilo libre femenino y el estilo libre masculino. Empieza a las 12 p.m. hora local. Se puede ver toda la acción en uww.org.

GRECO-ROMAN RESULTS
77kg
GOLD – Peyton WALSH (USA) df. Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA), 5-5
BRONZE – Reinier JIMENEZ TERRY (GUA) df. Matias CABEZAS CORNEJO (CHI), 8-0
BRONZE – Marciano ALI (PUR) df. Enrique CUERO ORTIZ (ECU), 13-2

82kg
GOLD – Ben PROVISOR (USA)
SILVER –  David Elias CHOC HUOC (GUA)
BRONZE – Alexis MARTINEZ SANCHEZ (MEX)

87 kg
GOLD – John STEFANOWICZ (USA)
SILVER – Daniel VICENTE GOMEZ (MEX)
BRONZE – Ronisson BRANDAO SANTIAGO (BRA)

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE RESULTS
55kg
GOLD – Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA)
SILVER – Virginie KAZE GASCON (CAN)
BRONZE – Anny RAMIREZ PEREZ (DOM)

59kg
GOLD – Maya NELSON (USA)
SILVER – Linda MORAIS (CAN)
BRONZE – Karoline SILVA DE SANTANA (BRA)

65kg
GOLD – Jennifer ROGERS PAGE (USA) df. Ashley ZARATE CAMPBELL (PAN), fall 0:52
BRONZE – Amanda SAVARD (CAN) df. Diana CRUZ ARROYO (PER), 2-1

72kg
GOLD – Alexandria GLAUDE (USA)
SILVER – Yanet SOVERO NINO (PER)
BRONZE – Brenda AGUIAR DOS SANTOS (BRA)

#WrestleTirana

Defending champ Azizli among 3 Azerbaijan wrestlers to make finals

Monday, October 28, 2024 - 20:45 By Ken Marantz

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TIRANA, Albania (October 28) -- Olympics or not, the intensity is still the same as Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) drives for a third consecutive world title and fourth overall.

Azizli advanced to the final at Greco 55kg, one of three Azerbaijani wrestlers to make it to the four gold-medal matches on the opening day of the Non-Olympic Weight Categories World Championships on Monday in Tirana.

Joining Azizli in Tuesday's Greco finals will be Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) at 63kg and Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) at 72kg, the latter of whom will be facing defending champion Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA).

At 82kg, Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) earned a shot at winning his first world gold to go with three bronzes he previously won at 71kg or 77kg. But younger brother and Tokyo Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) was dealt a stunning loss at 72kg, while reigning 63kg champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) was knocked out in the quarterfinals. Neither one was pulled into the repechage and will leave Tirana empty-handed.

Azizli was virtually untouchable in storming into the 55kg final, easily putting away two-time European bronze medalist Denis MIHAI (ROU) 9-0 in the semifinals for his third technical fall of the day without conceding a point.

Azizli started with a front headlock for 2. Put on top in par terre, he executed a gut wrench, then ended the proceedings in 1:47 with a nifty 4-point throw for his third win in three career meetings with Mihai -- all by technical fall.

In the final, Azizli will face another familiar foe in Asian silver medalist Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), a bronze medalist in Budapest who advanced by defeating Emin SEFERSHAEV (AIN) with his second straight 1-1 victory.

Azizli, a two-time European champion and six-time medalist, is 3-0 in career clashes with Dad Marz, most recently beating him at the Budapest Ranking Series in June and including a 3-2 win in the semifinals at the 2023 worlds.

Mammadli, this year's European champion at 60kg, earned his first-ever berth in a world final when he powered to a 6-1 semifinal victory at 63kg over Tokyo Olympian Karen ASLANYAN (ARM), who knocked off Abuladze 5-2 in the second round.

Mammadli trailed 1-0 on a passivity point going into the second period when he came alive, using the aggressive Aslanyan's momentum to score 4 with a counter pancake, then used underhooks to drop him for 2 more.

Next up for the gold will be Asian champion Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ), who made short work of Sadyk LALAEV (AIN), scoring a 4-point throw in the first 10 seconds of their semifinal and adding another with an arm throw to finish up an 8-0 win in exactly a minute.

Lalaev had won the final world qualifier for the Paris Olympics at 60kg, but was among those from Russia or Belarus who were either declared ineligible or decided not to participate.

At 72kg, 2022 world silver medalist Ganizade and the Egyptian-born Ghanem set up a rematch of the 2023 European final, which the Azeri won 7-7 in a nail-biter.

Ganizade, this year's European silver medalist, earned a shot at a world gold with a 6-0 victory over Asian bronze medalist Ji LENG (CHN), who had ousted two-time world bronze medalist Selcuk CAN (TUR) 3-1 in the quarterfinals.

After scoring a stepout, Ganizade gained a passivity point and, from par terre, hit a throw that didn't turn Leng but became 4 points when he kept driving and exposed the Chinese's back.

Ghanem came out on top 6-1 of an at-times-tempetous tussle with Iranian-born former world champion Ali ARSALAN (SRB), an opponent with whom he had split two previous encounters.

A pair of stepouts and a passivity point gave Ghanem a 3-0 lead going into the second period. An unsuccessful Serbian challenge when Arsalan was on top of par terre made it 4-1, then Ghanem put the bout on ice by spinning behind for a takedown.

Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI)Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) made it to his World Championships final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 82kg, the elder Geraei was on the receiving end of a passivity point in each period for a 2-0 win over European bronze medalist Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO). It was a far cry from his previous two matches when he had a 4-point throw in 7-2 and 14-6 victories.

Geraei, who took home world bronzes in 2017, 2019 and 2021 and finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, will face an impressive Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) in his first global final.

Szilvassy, already assured of his first major medal, scored 2 with an arm throw in the first period and held on for a 3-2 victory over Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR). Earlier, he defeated two-time world medalist Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) 6-1 in the quarterfinals.

The biggest shock of the day came three matches into the competition when the younger Geraei was knocked off 11-3 in the qualification round at 72kg by unheralded Benjamin PEAK (USA).

Geraei looked like it would be just another day at the office when the former world champion scored an early takedown. But Peak, whose lone major medal is a bronze from the 2019 Pan Am U20 Championships, came back with a takedown and throw that, with a 2-point leg penalty tacked on, gave him a 6-2 lead. Geraei cut the gap with a stepout just before the break.

Peak kept the pressure on and countered for another takedown, then caught Geraei in a lapse and bulled him backward for a 2-point exposure that ended the match with 30 seconds left.

When Peak fell in the next round to Dominik ETLINGER (CRO), it ended Geraei's hopes of adding to his full collection of world medals -- the 2021 champion also has a silver from 2022 and bronze from 2023, all at 67kg.

Geraei missed out on a chance to defend his Olympic title in Paris when he lost a playoff for Iran's spot at 67kg to Saeid ESMAELI (IRI), who kept the title in Iranian hands.

The tournament continues Monday with the women's competition through the semifinals at 55kg, 59kg, 65kg and 72kg before the Greco finals at night. Among those in action will be two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (JPN).

Day 1 Results

Greco-Roman

55kg (16 entries)
SF: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Denis MIHAI (ROU) by TF, 9-0, 1:47
SF: Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) df. Emin SEFERSHAEV (AIN), 1-1

63kg (21 entries)
SF: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df. Karen ASLANYAN (ARM), 6-1
SF: Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ) df. Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) by TF, 8-0, 1:00

72kg (28 entries)
SF: Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) df. Ali ARSALAN (SRB), 6-1
SF: Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) df. Ji LENG (CHN), 6-0

82kg (28 entries)
SF: Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) df. Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR), 3-2
SF: Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) df. Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO), 2-0