#WrestleOttawa

Arthur Wins First Pan Am Title for Jamaica, Three From USA Win Gold in Women’s Freestyle

Monday, March 9, 2020 - 02:34 By Taylor GREGORIO

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Tony Rotundo

Photo of Angus ARTHUR (JAM) by Tony Rotundo. 

OTTAWA, Canada – Angus ARTHUR (JAM) made history on Sunday, becoming the first wrestler from Jamaica to win a Pan American Championships gold medal, winning the 92 kg men’s freestyle weight class.

Two men’s freestyle weights—79 kg and 92 kg—were contested on Sunday, with the other eight scheduled for Monday.

While there were only two people registered at 92 kg, Arthur impressed in his finals match, dominating Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC), 13-1, using high-powered offense to snag the gold.

The other men’s freestyle gold medal went to Jason NOLF (USA), who went 2-0 in round-robin action. He began the day with a 10-0 tech fall over Guseyn RUSLANZADA (CAN), and won his second bout by injury default against Victor HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX).

Photo: the medalists at 76 kg. By Tony Rotundo.

The women’s freestyle action wrapped up in Ottawa, with the United States emerging victorious in three of the day’s six weight classes.

2019 World champion Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA) won her second-straight continental title at 68 kg. Mensah-Stock was also a 2019 Pan American Games champion.

For the second year in a row, she had to defeat 2018 U23 World champion Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB). This time, Mensah-Stock went up 6-0 in the second period before getting the pin in 4:46.

Because she won all four of matches by either tech fall or pin, Mensah-Stock was awarded the Outstanding Wrestler award.

At 62 kg, Mallory VELTE (USA) avenged her loss from last year’s Pan Am finals, taking out Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA). Velte scored a four-point throw in the first period that gave her a lead that was too big to overcome, and she won the bout 6-2.

Victoria ANTHONY (USA) won her third Pan American title with a solid performance at 50 kg.

Though she won her finals by injury default over Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL), Anthony was dominant in the first half of the day, winning both of her matches with 10-0 technical falls.  

Anthony also won Pan Am golds in 2014 and 2017.

Photo of Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) by Tony Rotundo. 

Thanks to its three individual titles, the United States won the team race with 152 points, edging out Canada’s 141 points.

Other countries winning titles in women’s freestyle were Ecuador, Brazil and Canada.

Entering this week with six Pan Am medals, Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) finally earned her first Pan Am gold medal, winning the 53 kg bracket.

Wrestling in a five-person round-robin, Valverde went a perfect 4-0 on the day, defeating all of her opponents by either technical fall or pin.

In her last bout, Valverde dominated Zeltzin HERNANDEZ GUERRA (MEX), 10-0, in less than two minutes to secure the title.

In the 57 kg finals, Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) defeated Hannah TAYLOR (CAN) by fall in the final seconds of the bout. Rodrigues led on criteria 1-1 with 25 seconds left. She hit a four-pointer to put Taylor to her back and earned the fall in 5:47.

A three-time Pan Am finalist, this marks Rodrigues’ first continental title.

2018 World champion Justina DI STASIO (CAN) took the crown at 76 kg, with an injury default victory over Adeline GRAY (USA) in the finals.

Di Stasio had an impressive road to the gold-medal bout as she scored a last-second four-point takedown against 2019 Junior and U23 World champion Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) to win 5-2 in the first round, and outlasted 2014 Senior World silver medalist Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA), 5-2.

Six athletes that won medals were funded by United World Wrestling Development Technical Assistance program, including Arthur, Lacey, da Silva, Nunes, Valverde and Maria ACOSTA ACOSTA (VEN). 

The Pan American Championships will conclude on Monday with the final eight men’s freestyle weight classes scheduled to be contested.

Women’s freestyle team standings
1. United States – 152
2. Canada – 141
3. Brazil – 103
4. Ecuador – 66
5. Venezuela – 62
6. Cuba – 53
7. Colombia – 51
8. Mexico – 46
9. Peru – 35
10. Puerto Rico – 20

Women’s freestyle results

50 kg
GOLD – Victoria ANTHONY (USA) df. Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL),injury default
BRONZE - Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA) df. Genesis MILANO OLIVIO (VEN), 7-4
BRONZE - Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU) df. Thalia MALLQUI PECHE (PER), 2-1

53 kg
GOLD - Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU)
SILVER - Jade PARSONS (CAN)
BRONZE– Lianna de la Caridad MONTERO HERRERA (CUB)

57 kg
GOLD – Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) df. Hannah TAYLOR (CAN), fall
BRONZE – Betzabeth SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN) win by injury default

62 kg
GOLD - Mallory VELTE (USA) df. Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 6-2
BRONZE– Nathaly GRIMAN HERRERA (VEN) df. Jessica BROUILLETTE (CAN), 5-4

68 kg
GOLD - Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA) df. Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB), fall
BRONZE– Maria Jose ACOSTA ACOSTA (VEN) df. Luz VAZQUEZ (ARG), 11-0
BRONZE – Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) df. Ambar GARNICA FLORES (MEX), 11-2

76 kg
GOLD - Justina DI STASTIO (CAN) df. Adeline GRAY (USA), injury default
BRONZE – Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA) df. Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB), fall
BRONZE – Andrea OLAYA GUTIERREZ (COL) df. Andrimar LAZARO DIAZ (VEN), 8-0

Men’s freestyle

79 kg
GOLD – Jason NOLF (USA)
SILVER- Guseyn RUSLANZADA (CAN)
BRONZE – Victor HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX)

92 kg
GOLD – Angus ARTHUR (JAM)
SILVER - Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC)

#WrestleTirana

European Championships 2026 Day 6 Freestyle Highlights

Saturday, April 25, 2026 - 08:56 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (April 25) -- The last five weight classes of European Championships will be in action on Saturday. Zavur UGUEV (UWW), Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SV), Ibragim KADIEV (UWW), Georgios KOUGIOUMSTIDIS (GRE) are among the stars that hit the mat in 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg.

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14:00: Osman GOCEN (TUR) cannot get his leg out of Ibragim KADIEV (UWW) hold in what was one of the most entertaining matches of the morning session. Kadiev led for most of the match but Gocen kept coming back and made it 4-4 with exposure points but a reversal gives Kadiev a 5-4. He then turns Gocen to extend it to 7-4. However, Gocen with a takedown with 24 seconds left to make it one-point difference. But as he shoots for an attack, Kadiev hangs on to Gocen's leg and doesn't let it go, winning the semifinal 7-6.

13:45: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) places himself in the 86kg semifinals with a big 10-0 victory over Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA). Dzhioev will face Ivars SAMUSONOK (LAT) for a place in the gold medal bout

13:35: Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) has an unbreakable defense in the world. He frustrates Timur BIZHOEV (UWW) in the 74kg semifinals and beats him 2-1. Salkazanov is chasing his fifth European title

13:25: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE ((GEO) into the semifinals at 86kg with a 5-1 victory over Joshua MORODION (GER). Gamkrelidze looks in solid form but will face a tough challenge in the semifinals in one of Ibragim KADIEV (UWW) and Osman GOCEN (TUR).

(UWW) Nikita DMITRIJEVS MAYEUSKI (7)(AZE) Turan BAYRAMOV (9)

13:16: World silver medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) has no answer to Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) wrestling as the Azerbaijan wrestler blanks Maisuradze 5-0 to advance to the 92kg semifinals

13:15: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), the returning medalist at 61kg, is back into the semifinals. He sends the home crowd into a frenzy after he defeated Niklas STECHELE (GER), 6-2.

13:10: Defending champion Zavur UGUEV (UWW) hits a massive counter using a double underhook on Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW) and then works on a 11-2 victory to enter the semifinal against Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM). It will be a rematch of the final from last year which Uguev won.

13:05: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) with a takedown in the final five seconds to beat Khachatur KHACHATRYAN (ARM) at 125kg. The defending champion was down 3-3 on criteria and then gave up a takedown to fall behind 5-3. Khachatryna tries to defend is but in no position to do it as Meshvildishvili hits a double leg outside takedown for the criteria win.

12:50: Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR) with late takedown in a back-and-forth match to beat Shamil MUSAEV (UWW), 6-5 at 125kg. Every time Musaev seemed to chip away, Buyukcingil came back with a takedown.

12:45: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) gives up one point against Kamil KERYMOV (UKR) but has no trouble in beating the Ukrainian 11-1 and advance to the semifinals at 61kg

12:40: World champion at 79kg Georgios KOUGIOMISTDIS (GRE) falls in the first round against Osman GOCEN (TUR), 5-3. He began well with takedown and stepout but Gocen comes back with two takedowns to take a 4-3 lead. Kougiomistdis commits a offensive foul. Greece challenge the call and but lost it to win a point to Gocen.

12:30: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) sets up a match against Ibragim KADIEV (UWW) after a 8-1 victory over Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) at 86kg. Just controlling the bout through and through for the win.

12:20: Timur BIZHOEV (UWW), trying to the coveted 74kg gold, begins with a 11-0 shutout victory over Ibragim VELIEV (BEL) and advance. 

12:15: World bronze medalist Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) is like a workhorse and slowly pile ups the points over Denys BYKOV (UKR), winning his 86kg opening bout 10-0.

12:05: Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) survives a scre against Farhad NOURIKHORJESTAN (UWW) at 74kg. Bayramov fell behind 2-1 but scored a stepout to take a 2-2 criteria lead before defending it for the win.

11:30: Home-favorite Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) moves forward at 61kg after a 12-2 technical superiority win over Simone PIRODDU (ITA). He blocked an arm throw from Prioddu to score his opening points before using a 2-on-1 for snap takedown and turn to lead 6-0. Piroddu scored two exposure points from a scramble but Abakarov quickly escaped and turned him three times for the win.

11:25: Returning silver medalist Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) works on his murderous leg-lace and beats Vladimir EGOROV (MKD), 11-0.

11:15: Kamil KERYMOV (UKR) does a perfect fireman's carry against Emrah ORMANOGLU (TUR) to score four points. He then continues to turn Kerymov and comes out with an 8-2 lead from the scramble. Ormanoglu scores two more points but Kerymov wins 8-4

11:10: Big match on Mat C as Shamil MUSAEV (UWW) takes on returning silver medalist Soloman MANASHVILI (GEO) at 125kg. Musaev with a trip to open the scoring for two points before giving up a reversal. He scored a go-behind to go ahead 4-1. Manashvili cut the lead to 4-3 after exposure with a minute left in the bout. But a struggling Manashvili gives up two more go-behinds and drops his first bout 8-3

10:30: Welcome to day six of the European Championships in Tirana. After the repechage rounds, the qualifications will being in 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg.