USA, Turkey Wrestlers Sit Atop Women's Rankings in 5 of 10 Weight Classes

Thursday, May 10, 2018 - 18:26 By United World Wrestling Press

Three-time world champion Adeline Gray (USA), fresh of winning a Pan American title, ascends to No.1 at 76kg in the May 2018 Ranking Series for women's wrestling. She won all three of her matches by fall at the Pan American Championships held in Lima, Puru.

Gray is one three Americans ranked No.1 in their respective weight classes. Joining Gray in the top spot are Sarah HILDEBRANDT (53kg) and Kayla MIRACLE (62kg).

Hildebrandt, like Gray, is coming off a dominant performance at the Pan American Championships. She went 4-0 with three falls and a 10-0 technical fall.

Miracle was a Klippan Lady Open gold medalist in February and recently earned a bronze medal at the Pan American Championships.

Turkey has a pair of No.1-ranked wrestlers, Bediha GUN (55kg) and Elif YESILIRMAK (59kg). Both claimed medals at the Klippan Lady Open and European Championships.

Gun, a 2016 Olympian, was a silver medalist at the Klippan Lady Open and a bronze medalist at the European Championships.

Yesilirmak, a multiple-time world medalist, claimed a European gold medal after finishing with a bronze at the Klippan Lady Open.

Mariya STADNIK (AZE), who recently captured her eighth European title, occupies the top spot at 50kg.

Other top-ranked wrestlers in women's wrestling include Irina OLOGONOVA (57kg), Petra OLLI (65kg), Laura SKUJINA (68kg) and Jenny FRANSSON (72kg). Olli and Fransson were gold medalists at the European Championships.

The 2018 season is the first in which United World Wrestling is utilizing an objective ranking system. The points acquired at continental championships and select rankings series will determine the top four seeded athletes at the 2018 World Championships in October held in Budapest.

For more on the Ranking Series format, be sure to check out this article.

View all the rankings on United World Wrestling's homepage.

50kg
1. Mariya STADNIK (AZE) // 43 Points
2. Emilia VUC (ROU) // 39 Points
3. Chun LEI (CHN) // 24 Points
4. Whitney CONDER (USA) // 22 Points
5. Vinesh VINESH (IND) // 22 Points

53kg
1. Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) // 38 Points
2. Aysun ERGE (TUR) // 33 Points
3. Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) // 26 Points
4. Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) // 24 Points
5. Yongmi PAK (PRK) // 22 Points

55kg
1. Bediha GUN (TUR) // 33 Points
2. Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) // 23 Points
3. Saki IGARASHI (JPN) // 21 Points
4. Roksana ZASINA (POL) // 21 Points
5. Hyemin OH (KOR) // 19 Points

57kg
1. Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS) // 37 Points
2. Laura MERTENS (GER) // 31 Points
3. Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) // 24 Points
4. Xingru PEI (CHN) // 22 Points
5. Alejandra ROMERO BONILLA (MEX) // 22 Points

59kg
1. Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) // 33 Points
2. Ningning RONG (CHN) // 22 Points
3. Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB) // 20 Points
4. Bisola MAKANJUOLA (NGR) // 18 Points
5. Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) // 18 Points

62kg
1. Kayla MIRACLE (USA) // 35 Points
2. Luzie MANZKE (GER) // 28 Points
3. Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) // 23 Points
4. Yaquelin ESTORNELL ELIZASTIGUE (CUB) // 22 Points
5. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) // 22 Points

65kg
1. Petra OLLI (FIN) // 41 Points
2. Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) // 33 Points
3. Forrest MOLINARI (USA) // 26 Points
4. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) // 21 Points
5. Krystsina FEDARASHKA (BLR) // 19 Points

68kg
1. Laura SKUJINA (LAT) // 31 Points
2. Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) // 25 Points
3. Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) // 23 Points
4. Feng ZHOU (CHN) // 21 Points
5. Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB) // 21 Points

72kg
1. Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) // 36 Points
2. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) // 26 Points
3. Yue HAN (CHN) // 18 Points
4. Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR) // 18 Points
5. Veronica KEEFE (CAN) // 16 Points

76kg
1. Adeline GRAY (USA) // 40 Points
2. Yasemin ADAR (TUR) // 38 Points
3. Epp MAE (EST) // 30 Points
4. Qian ZHOU (CHN) // 21 Points
5. Hiroe MINAGAWA SUZUKI (JPN) // 19 Points

#WrestleMonterrey

Yepez adds third Pan-Am gold; U.S. wins WW team title

Sunday, May 11, 2025 - 08:06 By Vinay Siwach

MONTERREY, Mexico (May 10) -- Paris Olympics silver medalist Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) completed a hat-trick of Pan-Am golds while the United States added two more gold medals to its tally in Women's Wrestling at the Pan-American Championships in Monterrey, Mexico. Canada, which won two golds on Friday, got another one through Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) at 59kg.

Overall, the United States won the team title with 207 points with Canada finishing second with 170 points. Hosts Mexico was third with 131 points.

Yepez, wrestling for the first time since the Paris Olympic final, won the gold medal at 53kg after a 7-0 win in the final against Mariana ROJAS (VEN). This was Yepez's third straight gold medal at the Pan-Ams.

Two stepout and a activity clock point against Rojas helped Yepez get a 3-0 lead before a double-leg takedown and turn made it 7-0 in the first period. Surprisingly, there was no more scoring in the final as Yepez was happy to hold the center and the lead to win the top medal.

Kylie WELKER (USA) tries to score against Thamires MARTINS (BRA) in the 76kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

The United States, which won three gold medals on Friday, added two more through world bronze medalists Macey KILTY (USA) at 65kg and Kylie WELKER (USA) at 76kg.

Kilty was in a four-wrestler round-robin bracket and won her three bouts effortlessly. Kilty defeated Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN) 10-0 in Round 1, secured a fall against Leticia DE OLIVERIA (BRA) in Round 2 and another 10-0 win in Round 3 against Alexis GOMEZ (MEX).

Welker, up against a tough bracket in 76kg, stepped and impressed with her performance to win her first Pan-Am gold. Olympic bronze medalist Milaimy MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) and defending champion Genesis REASCO (ECU), who has a win over Welker, were in the bracket.

But it was Welker and Thamires MARTINS (BRA) who reached the final. Welker defeated Reasco 10-0 while Martins stopped Potrille 9-7, both in the semifinals.

In the final, it took little effort for Welker to see off Martins, 8-1. The first period saw only a point for Welker as Martins was put on the 30-second activity clock but failed to score.

Both wrestlers put on the activity period in the second period and Welker's lead adjusted to 2-1. The only scoring scramble of the match was when Martins tried an outside trip but had no control of Welker's upper body. Welker swiftly got her head out and then scored a takedown to lead 4-1.

Martins shot for Welker's legs quiet a few times but failed to score any points. In the final five seconds, Martins drove Welker to the edge before the American countered with a whizzer and scored four points for the win.

At 59kg, Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) added her fourth Pan-Am title by winning both her bouts, in a three-wrestler bracket, in with ease. She defeated Abigail NETTE (USA) 6-3 in Round 1 and scored a 12-1 victory over Alma VALENCIA (MEX), 12-1, in Round 2.

Jaxen FORREST (USA) celebrates after winning the 61kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

Three Freestyle golds for U.S.

The Freestyle competition also began at the Pan-Am Championships on Saturday and the U.S. made a strong start. The country swept all three weight class, winning gold medals at 61kg, 74kg and 86kg.

At 61kg, 18-year-old Jaxen FORREST (USA) made his senior debut and won the gold without giving up a single point in three bouts. He defeated Joseph SILVA (PUR) in the final bout.

Silva was put on the activity clock in the first period and he failed to score which gave Forrest a 1-0 lead at the break. The second period saw more action as Forrest switched gears. He scored a takedown to lead 3-0 before blasting a double-leg attack for four points. He finished the bout with a takedown for two points and exposure which gave him two more points.

Ladarion LOCKETT (USA) won the 74kg final 11-0 against Anthony MONTERO (VEN). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

Another youngster, world U20 silver medalist Ladarion LOCKETT (USA) won gold for the U.S. Lockett was also making his senior debut and defeated Anthony MONTERO (VEN), 11-0, in the final.

Lockett built a 5-0 lead with a big four-pointer in the first period and then exhibited how quick he is on the mat. Montero hit a snapdown to which Lockett lost momentum but pounced on Montero's left ankle in a blink. He scored a takedown and turn via lace to lead 9-0.

Montero tried a couple more attacks but Lockett saw them off before finishing the bout with a takedown and an 11-0 win.

Zahid VALENCIA (USA) won his second Pan-Am title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

Zahid VALENCIA (USA), wrestling at the Pan-Am Championships after three years, reclaimed the 86kg title that he previously won in 2022. Just like his younger compatriots, Valencia had no trouble seeing off the 86kg field without giving up any points.

He defeated Jorge LLANO (ARG) 11-0 in the final in two minutes and 44 seconds. Valencia scored his two points via stepouts and Llano was hit with a point penalty for fleeing to make it 3-0 for Valencia. A takedown later, it became 5-0.

Llano was again hit with fleeing as Valencia scored a stepout and the score became 7-0. Valencia's takedown and gut-wrench finished the bout 11-0.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) df. Mariana ROJAS DIAZ (VEN), 7-0

BRONZE: Adrianny CASTILLO (ARG) df. Josefina RAMIREZ (MEX), via fall
BRONZE: Jaslynn GALLEGOS (USA) df. Serena DI BENEDETTO (CAN), 16-4

59kg
GOLD: Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
SILVER: Abigail NETTE (USA)
BRONZE: Alma VALENCIA (MEX)

65kg
GOLD: Macey KILTY (USA)
SILVER: Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN)
BRONZE: Alexis GOMEZ (MEX)

76kg
GOLD: Kylie WELKER (USA) df. Thamires MARTINS (BRA), 8-1

BRONZE: Genesis REASCO (ECU) df. Linda MACHUCA (ARG), 6-0
BRONZE: Milaimy MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) df. Neirili BANGUERO (VEN), 10-0

Freestyle

61kg
GOLD: Jaxen FORREST (USA) df. Joseph SILVA (PUR), 11-0

BRONZE: Joshua KRAMER (ECU) df. Esteban PEREZ (GUA), 10-0
BONZE: Garette SAUNDERS (CAN) df. Peter HAMMER (CRC), 14-8

74kg
GOLD: Ladarion LOCKETT (USA) df. Anthony MONTERO (VEN), 11-0

BRONZE: Adam THOMSON (CAN) df. Geannis GARZON (CUB), via disqualification
BRONZE: Cristian SANTIAGO (MEX) df. Luis BARRIOS (HON), 14-3

86kg
GOLD: Zahid VALENCIA (USA) df. Jorge LLANO (ARG), 11-0

BRONZE: Kevin DE LEON (MEX) df. Cesar UBICO (GUA), 9-4
BRONZE: Steven RODRIGUEZ (VEN) df. Taran GORING (CAN), 11-0

USA, Turkey Wrestlers Sit Atop Women's Rankings in 5 of 10 Weight Classes

Comments

Yepez adds third Pan-Am gold; U.S. wins WW team title