Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! April 23, 2018

By Eric Olanowski

Reviewing next weeks European Championships, the Burroughs and Chamizo super match-up and Pan-American line-up release date. 

1. Burroughs, Chamizo Match-Up Set for May 17
Last week, Beat the Streets New York announced that the colossal match-up between reigning superstar world champions Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), and Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) has been set for May 17 in New York City. 

Burroughs, the 29-year-old offensive juggernaut is a five-time world medalist and the reigning world champion at 74kg. Since stepping on the international scene in 2011, the 2012 London Olympic champion has dominated the 74kg weight category, winning four gold medals at the World Championships. 

Chamizo, the 25-year-old defensive wizard and reigning world champion at 70kg has since moved up to 74kg in preparation for the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, Hungry.  Since moving up this season, Chamzio has produced 74kg gold medals at the International Ukrainian Tournament where he beat 2011 world silver medalist, Franklin GOMEZ (PUR) and the Dan Kolov - Nikola Petrov Tournament where he bested reigning European Champion, Soener DEMIRTAS (TUR). 

 

Two-time Olympic champion, Roman VLASOV (RUS). Photo by Tony Rotundo. 

2. European Championships – Greco-Roman Begins Next Monday
Steered by the duo of Olympic champions in Roman VLASOV (RUS) and Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), the Greco-Roman field at the European Championships is littered with Olympic medalists.

Rio finalist Riza KAYAALP (TUR), the three-time world champions from Turkey will be looking for his seventh European title. Other medalists from the Rio Game include bronze medalists Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR), Cenk ILDEM (TUR)Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE), Denis Maksymilian KUDLA (GER) and Sabah SHARIATI (AZE).

April 30 - 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, and 130kg
May 1 - 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, and 97kg

LINE-UPS: uww.io/Zm1A3 

2017 world champion, Yasemin ADAR (TUR). Photo by Tony Rotundo.

3. European Championships – Women’s Wrestling Starts Next Wednesday
The women’s wrestling field is guided by returning world and European champions, Yasemin ADAR (TUR) and Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) and boasts entries from seven of the eight defending champions. Last year’s 60kg champion, Lyubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) is the singular 2017 titleholder who will not be competing next week in Dagestan, Russia. 

Mariya STADNIK (AZE), the Olympic silver medalist and 2011 world champion will be looking for her seventh European championship. Stadnik hasn't suffered a defeat at the European championships during her time at the senior-level. 

The four remaining defending champions are Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS), Grace BULLEN (NOR), Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) and Monika MICHALIK (POL). 

May 2 - 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg
May 3 - 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 72kg

LINE-UPS: http://uww.io/jLeYc 

Olympic champion, Taha AKGUEL (TUR). Photo by Tony Rotundo. 

4. European Championships – Freestyle Actions Opens up Next Friday
Headed by the trio of Olympic gold medalists, Taha AKGUEL (TUR), Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS), freestyle features seven of the eight returning champions. Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) is the lone champion who does not return from the 2017 Novi Sad European Championships.

Other notable wrestlers that'll be competing in Dagestan are returning champions, Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS), Frank Chamizo, Soner Demirtas, Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) and Riza YILDIRIM (TUR). 

In addition to the returning champions, Azerbaijan's three Olympic medalists in Haji ALIYEV (AZE), Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE), and Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) are expected to be in the hunt for a gold medal. 

May 4 - 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, and 97kg
May 5 - 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, and 125kg

LINE-UPS: uww.io/b3kNR 

Three-time world and Olympic champion, Kyle SNYDER (USA). Photo by Tony Rotundo. 
5. Pan-American Championship Rosters to be Released Tuesday
The Pan-American championships preliminary line-ups which feature the threesome of Olympic champions in Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB), Jordan Burroughs and Kyle SNYDER (USA) will be released on Tuesday, April 24. 

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media 
1. 2018 European C'ships - Official Teaser #kaspeuro2018@wrestrus_ru @wrestrus.ru@dagestan.wrestling @wrestdag_rd@wrestling.dagestan

2. 7 Days To Go #kaspeuro2018 
@sadulaev_abdulrashid @sadulaev_86@wrestling.dagestan @dagestan.wrestling@wrestdag_rd @wrestrus.ru @wrestrus_ru 
#dagestan #russia #freestyle #wrestler#olympic #champion #wrestling

3. @alliseeisgold and @frankchamizo92 set to headline @beatthestreets on May 17.

4. When you love wrestling too much?
TAP WITH WHO YOU WANNA TRY IT
Когда ты сильно любишь борьбу?
ОТМЕТЬ ТОГО С КЕМ ХОТЕЛ БЫ ПОВТОРИТЬ 
Video by @kazwrestlingonline @amonya65

5. ?“Endure the hardships
 When you succeed
Have a fantastic story to define 
سختی ها رو تحمل کن
وقتی به موفقیت رسیدی
یه داستان فوق العاده برا تعریف داری 
#greco_roman #77 #wrestling#Tokyo2020” @aligaraii ?

#WrestleSamokov

Stanich proves doubters wrong, wins U20 world title

By Vinay Siwach

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 18) -- Luke STANICH (USA) is aware that many did not back him to make the U.S. team, forget about winning a medal in international tournament.

"I love it," Stanich said. "If you have to prove everyone wrong, I feel great. I've always been doubted at tournaments. Even after I won the tournament, the U.S. Open, people still didn't have me making the team. I've been dealing with this forever, but just motivation, just to prove people wrong."

Stanich proved many doubters wrong by winning the gold medal at 65kg at the U20 World Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria on Tuesday. In the final, Stanich kept an inspired Reiji UCHIDA (JPN) under control and won 4-3 to claim the world title.

Uchida brought the Japanese style of wrestling with constant leg attacks but Stanich had all the answered and scored two takedowns to remain in control of the final

"I knew it was my match to wrestle," he said. "He was strong and quick, but I knew what kind of attacks he was looking for. I had confidence in my offense and my defense."

Perhaps it was his confidence that helped him recover from an 8-0 deficit in his first bout against Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) and make a run to win the gold medal. Toprak scored a takedown and gut-wrenched Stanich three times to lead 8-0 and put all his effort into a fourth turn. However, Stanich defend that and rallied to beat a tired Toprak 18-8.

In his next match, Stanich managed to hold off 2024 world U17 champion  Omurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ), 9-3, and then had a close 3-3 win over Alessandro NINI (ITA) in the quarterfinals. He had European U20 and U23 champion Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW) in the semifinals but a solid defense helped him win 3-1 and enter the final.

"I said that right after the first match ended," he said. "I was like, 'wow! Once I go on this run and win this tournament, it can be pretty crazy story to tell that I was down 8-0 in the very first match, the tournament. I came back to win it.

"Super proud of my effort and able to storm back like that and get on the top podium."

Stanich said that standing on top of the podium was one of the most memorable moments of his career and called his run as 'gritty'.

"Gritty, being tough and breaking people."

Another U.S. wrestler in the final, William HENCKEL (USA), was not able to complete his campaign with a gold medal after dropping the final 8-6 against returning bronze medalist and senior Asian champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI).

Henckel was leading the final bout but Yousefi scored a stepout to make a 4-3 lead. Yousefi scored two stepouts and a takedown while Henckel scored three stepouts and a caution against Yousefi who  defended his lead in the last 30 seconds.

This was the first gold medal for Iran in this World Championships.

At 57kg, Magomed OZDAMIROV (UWW) survived a strong Sumit MALIK (IND) and won the gold medal 8-5. Ozdamirov needed a few medical timeouts to regain his breath against Malik, who could not finish even one of his attempted takedowns.

Uzbekistan won gold medal at the World U20 Championships after three years as Asian U20 champion Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) scored a takedown during his activity time to beat returning bronze medalist Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ), 3-2, in the 92kg final.

Incidentally, the last time an Uzbekistan wrestler won gold at World U20s was also in Bulgaria when Umidon JALOLOV (UZB) won 65kg gold medal in 2022.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Magomed OZDAMIROV (UWW) df. Sumit MALIK (IND), 8-5

BRONZE: Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) df. Ion BULGARU (MDA), 8-2
BRONZE: Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ) df. Baiaman KERIMBEKOV (KGZ), 11-0

65kg
GOLD: Luke STANICH (USA) df. Reiji UCHIDA (JPN), 4-3

BRONZE: Arman MUSIKYAN (ARM) df. Viktor BOROHAN (UKR), 4-0
BRONZE: Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) df. Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW), 14-10

79kg
GOLD: Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) df. William HENCKEL (USA), 8-6

BRONZE: Said SAIDULOV (UWW) df. Ion MARCU (MDA), 11-0
BRONZE: Davit TCHETCHELASHVILI (GEO) df. AMIT (IND), 9-6

92kg
GOLD: Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) df. Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ), 3-2

BRONZE: Connor MIRASOLA (USA) df. Anar JAFARLI (AZE), 10-0
BRONZE: Gadzhimurad GADZHIBATYROV (UWW) df. Sorato KANAZAWA (JPN), 15-5