Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! April 16, 2018

By Eric Olanowski

Reviewing the 2018 Commonwealth Games, European Championships, and the remaining dates that Burroughs and Chamizo could possibly wrestle. 

1. Erasmus and Charig Make History 
South Africa’s Martin ERASMUS (RSA) and Whales’ Kane CHARIG (WAL) made history for their countries at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. 

Erasmus, the 22-year-old 2018 African champion used two massive four-point throws in the 97kg finals to nullify Mausam KHATRI’s (IND) inside trip attempts, taking the commanding 8-0 lead. Erasmus tacked on another takedown to seize South Africa's first Commonwealth Games wrestling gold medal since 1958.

Kane Charig’s 10-0 victory in the semifinals over Jean BANDOU (MRI) not only locked up his spot in the finals but also acquired his country’s highest Commonwealth Games finisher ever. 

Before the 26-year-old won his 2018 silver medal, Wales’ highest finish came from Sarah CONNOLLY (WAH), Curtis DODGE (WAH), and Craig PILLING (WAH) who each finished with bronze medals. 

2. Four Women Win Back-to-Back Titles 
Six women came into the 2018 Commonwealth Games with hopes of repeating as champions, yet only four were able to do so. 

Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR), Aminat ADENIYI (NGR), Vinesh VINESH (IND) and Erica WIEBE (CAN) all won back-to-back crowns this past weekend in Gold Coast, Australia. 

Adekuoroye, the 2018 African champion sang and danced her way to the tune of a second consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal and third overall as she routed Pooja DHANDA (IND), 7-5. 

Adeniyi, the 24-year-old Olympian and three-time African champion reached the pinnacle of the 62kg weight category with an injury default victory over Canada’s 2017 world bronze medalist, Michelle FAZZARI (CAN). 

Vinesh captured India’s lone women’s wrestling gold by thrashing 2012 world champion Jessica MACDONALD (CAN), 13-3. 

The fourth wrestler to defend her Commonwealth Games title was 2016 Olympic Champion, Erica Wiebe. Wiebe, who was selected as Team Canada’s closing ceremony flag bearer picked up a fall over Blessing Joy ONYEBUCHI (NGR) in the opening period after trailing 2-0. 

3. India Wins Four In Men’s Freestyle 

Indian men seized an impressive four of a possible six gold medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Their 2018 performance was an improvement from their trio of gold medal achievements at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The four Indian’s who clutched gold medals were Rahul Balasaheb AWARE (IND), Bajrang BAJRANG (IND), Kumar SUSHIL (IND) and Sumit SUMIT (IND). 

For Sushil, this was his third Commonwealth Games gold medal, but the first time winning gold for the three remaining wrestlers. 

4. European Championships Rosters Set To Be Released Tuesday 

The European Championships commence in less than two weeks in Dagestan, Russia. Though line-ups are not official, preliminary line-ups have been submitted to United World Wrestling and will begin to be released starting this Tuesday. 

Greco-Roman line-ups will be released on Tuesday, followed by women’s wrestling on Wednesday and closed out with freestyle on Thursday. 

5. Time Running Out for Burroughs v. Chamizo Super Match 
The social media war between Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and 2017 world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) continues as possible match-up dates run out with the continental championships on the horizon. 

The two dates that make the most sense would be May 17, 2018, in New York, New York at Beat the Streets or July 30 - August 5 in Rome, Italy at the Junior European Championships. Either would work for Chamizo as he trains part-time at the NYAC but also lives in Italy. 

Weekly FIVE! in Social Media

1. Big Move Monday!

#OnThisDay : Vladimir Khinchegashvili (GEO), known for his unorthodox counter style of wrestling, gave up a five-point back-arching throw to world bronze medalist Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) late in the first period of their 61kg 2017 European championships bout.

2.#dagestan will host the next #wrestling #european#championships in two weeks!! Федерация борьбы @wrestrus_ru

3. “@wrestlersushilwouldn’t let me pick him up this time ?? #4yearslater #gc2018wrestling” @eweebz

4. 74kg BRONZE - Curtis DODGE (WAL) picks up the fall after being down 8-0 to Ebimienfaghe ASSIZECOURT (NGR).

5. Overcome with emotion after the final whistle, Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) barrel rolled from the center of the mat to the coach's corner where she had to be carried back to have her hand raised. #gc2018wrestling ?: @jackoadams94

Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! February 05, 2018

By Eric Olanowski

Reviewing the first set of Freestyle and Greco rankings. Also taking a look at results from the Flatz Open and The Grand Prix of Zagreb.

1. Worldwide Freestyle and Greco-Roman Rankings Released February 1
United World Wrestling debuted the first set of world rankings for Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. The rankings were the first of their kind that were compiled using the new point system

The first women's rankings will be published on March 1 after the  the Klippan Lady Open which is the first women's ranking event of the season.

Freestyle Rankings
57kg: Zavur UGUEV (RUS) // 18 Points
61kg: Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) // 18 Points
65kg: Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS) // 18 Points
70kg: Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS) // 17 Points
74kg: Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS) // 16 Points
79kg: Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) // 15 Points
86kg: David TAYLOR III (USA) // 20 Points
92kg: Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) // 15 Points
97kg: Kyle SNYDER (USA) // 17 Points
125kg: Muradin KUSHKHOV (RUS) // 18 Points

FULL RANKINGS

Greco-Roman Rankings 
55kg: Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) // 14 Points
60kg: K. ZHOLCHUBEKOV (KGZ) // 17 Points
63kg: K. SULAYMANOV (KGZ) // 15 Points
67kg: Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) // 18 Points
72kg: Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) // 16 Points
77kg: Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) // 16 Points
82kg: Emrah KUS (TUR) // 17 Points
87kg: Saman AZIZI (IRI) // 15 Points
97kg: Orkhan NURIYEV (AZE) // 17 Points
130kg: Behnam ARPATAPEH (IRI) // 12 Points

FULL RANKING

2. Three Different Nations Win Multiple Golds In Zagreb
The Grand Prix of Zagreb took place last weekend in Zagreb, Croatia. Turkey, Romania, Belarus and Hungary walked away with a pair of champions. The remaining two gold medals were captured by France and Croatia.

Individuals who claimed gold included 2014 world finalist Yunus OEZEL (TUR), junior world champion Kazbek KILOV (BLR), Olympian Bozo STAREVIC (CRO) and multiple-time world medalist Viktor LOERINCZ (HUN).

*This was not a ranking series event.

RESULTS: Grand Prix of Zagreb 

3. Three-Time World Champ Gray Claims Flatz Open Gold
The United States finished the day at the Flatz Open by claiming five out of a possible ten gold medals. Austria and Czech Republic collected two golds each, with Hungary snagging the remaining gold medal.

Among the champions for the United States was three-time world champion, Adeline GRAY (USA). This is the fourth time Gray's competed after taking nearly a year off. She's also competed at the Dave Schultz Memorial International, Beat the Streets and the World Cup. 

Gray, along with the rest of Team USA are expected to make the trip to Klippan, Sweden next week to compete in the Klippan Lady Open. 

*This was not a ranking series event.

RESULTS: Flatz Open

4. Klippan Kicks Off Next Week 
We're a little over a week away from the start of the first women's ranking event of the season, The Klippan Lady Open. The tournament begins February 16 in Klippan, Sweden. 

The remaining three women's wrestling events are the Mongolia Open (MGL) and China Open (CHN) in June, and the Poland Open (POL) in September.     

5. Second Greco-Roman Ranking Series Event Heads To Cuba  
Cuba will be hosting the Cerro Pelado on February 15, but don't expect Mijain LOPEZ (CUB). The three-time Olympic champion is slated to compete at the Central and Caribbean Games (March 20-25) and the 2018 world championships in Budapest. Getting a little bit older has meant the giant Cuban will limit his competitions until Tokyo in 2020.

The final two Greco-Roman ranking series events will be the Hungarian GP (HUN) in June and the Vehbi Emre (TUR) in July.              

Weekly FIVE! in Social Media
Kyle SNYDER (USA), two-time world and Olympic champion announced via Instagram that Taha AKGUL (TUR), two-time world and Olympic champion will be headed to the Ohio RTC to train for the month of February. 

With the addition of 2016 world champion Logan STIEBER (USA), the OHIO RTC now has a combined five world titles and two Olympic golds training under one roof.