Takedown Report

International Wrestling News (2021) – # 10

TDR Editor’s Notes ; There have been and will continue to be many International style wrestling events this summer before and after the Olympics. Read the sampling of some of those events in the aricles below and explore onward. Keep Wrestling onward and upward. E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2947 (7/24/21)
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1 } – LIST OF OLYMPIC GAMES WRESTLING QUALIFIERS AFTER FINAL QUALIFIER HELD: RUSSIA HAS MOST (17), WITH USA NEXT (15) Below is a complete list of wrestling qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, as of May 9. The list includes a review of all three disciplines combined, but is also broken down by individual style and weight class. In addition, total number of qualifiers per nation is included. The qualification process for the Tokyo Games in wrestling completed this past weekend, with the World Olympic Games Qualifier in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Russia leads all nations with 17 Olympic qualifiers in the 18 weight classes. Russia has full six-athlete teams in men’s and women’s freestyle, plus five wrestlers in Greco-Roman. The United States is in second with 15 qualifiers, with a full six-athlete women’s freestyle team, five in men’s freestyle and four in Greco-Roman. The next two nations on the list are Cuba and host Japan with 12 qualifiers. China, Iran and Kazakhstan is next with 11 qualifiers. Coming in with 10 qualifiers are Tunisia and Ukraine. Five nations have full six-athlete women’s freestyle teams: … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/10/Updated-Olympic-Games-Qualifiers?mc_cid=812142449d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – The college careers of the 2020 US Olympic wrestlers

The 2020 U.S. Olympic wrestling team is one of the most star-studded groups to ever represent the country on the international stage. The lineup includes Olympic champions, world champions, NCAA champions, WCWA champions and future stars. Here’s what these individuals accomplished at the collegiate level and how those experiences shaped them into the Olympians they are now. … rest of story at https://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling/article/2021-05-10/college-careers-2020-us-olympic-wrestlers?mc_cid=812142449d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – UPDATED LIST OF QUALIFIERS FOR 2021 U.S. SENIOR WORLD TEAM TRIALS AS OF MAY 18, 2021
With the majority of the field already determined, USA Wrestling is listing the qualifiers for the 2021 Senior World Team Trials, which will determine the U.S. team to compete in the 2021 Senior World Championships in Oslo, Norway, October 2-10. The Senior World Team Trials will be held in September, at a date and location to be announced. This event will include all 10 of the World Championship weight classes in all three Olympic disciplines – men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. All of the athletes who qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling in Fort Worth, Texas, automatically qualify for the 2021 World Team Trials. In addition, there are a number of additional qualifying events for this event which have been held in recent months, as determined by the 2021 World Team Trials Selection Procedures. Men’s Freestyle Selection Procedures
Women’s Freestyle Selection Procedures
Greco-Roman Selection Procedures

Please note from the procedures: “Any 2020 Tokyo Olympic Medalist, if competing at the same weight, will receive the automatic selection to the 2021 World Team at the same weight.” The Olympic medalist must declare their intent by August 15. In all other cases, the World Team Trials will be held to determine the 2021 World Team member. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/18/2021-World-Team-Trials-qualifiers?mc_cid=ad9587b873&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – The US Men’s Freestyle Medal Drought at 65/66kg Since 2006
At the 2006 World Wrestling Championships in Guangzhou, China, Bill Zadick won a gold medal at 66 kg. Along the way, he scored victories over four-time World medalist Genadry Garzon (Cuba) and four-time World/Olympic medalist Otar Tushishvili (Georgia). Not only did the current U.S. senior freestyle coach pick up the biggest medal of his career, but he also became the last American to bring home a medal at either 66 or 65 kg. Since 2006, the U.S. has sent eight different wrestlers to the World Championships and the Olympic Games at the weight classes. The eight wrestlers have combined for a 9-16 record and failed to bring home a medal.

The upcoming Olympics will continue the streak for the country. Jordan Oliver had an electric performance at the Olympic Trials where he bested Nick Lee, Yianni Diakomihalis and Joey McKenna. However, the former Oklahoma State wrestler still needed to qualify the weight for the Games. Oliver ultimately finished one match short of qualification as he dropped a 3-2 decision against two-time World medalist Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (Poland) in the semifinals of the World Qualification Tournament. The U.S. has certainly been sending quality wrestlers to these tournaments. The eight representatives combined for 14 national titles and 27 All-American seasons on the collegiate level. The competition has also been tough at the Trials. During this stretch, a variety of quality wrestlers failed to make teams, including names like Cary Kolat, Kendall Cross, Zack Esposito, Darrion Caldwell, James Green, Aaron Pico, Jayson Ness and Kellen Russell. … rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24605?mc_cid=e6c3ba1225&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – U.S. DRAWS SET IN ALL THREE STYLES FOR PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN GUATEMALA
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – The draw in all three styles for the Senior Pan American Championships have been determined tonight. The Greco-Roman competition will be held Thursday and Friday. Women’s freestyle is set for Friday and Saturday. Men’s freestyle will be held Saturday and Sunday. There will be 11 members of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team competing for Team USA this weekend, as part of their preparation for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in early August. In Greco-Roman, 2020 Olympian Ildar Hafizov and John Stefanowicz will compete. Hafizov opens with Joshua Alfonso Medina of Peru. Stefanowicz was drawn into Group A, where he faces opponents from Honduras and Colombia. There are five 2020 U.S. Olympians competing in women’s freestyle, including three World champions. Five-time World champion Adeline Gray has a five-athlete roundrobin at 76 kg, with opponents from Ecuador, El Salvador, Colombia and Brazil.

2019 World champions Jacarra Winchester and Tamrya Mensah-Stock also will compete. Winchester is moving up a weight class to 55 kg, and will have four opponents in her round robin from Guatemala, Chile, Canada and the Dominican Republic. Mensah-Stock opens with Alexia Rose Sherland of Canada. The other U.S. Olympian on the women’s team, Kayla Miracle is in Group A, where she will wrestle opponents from Brazil and Colombia. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/26/Draws-for-Senior-Pan-American-Championships?mc_cid=9bb22a2b55&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – U23 MEN’S FREEESTYLE WORLD TEAM TRIALS PREVIEW
The men’s freestyle U23 World Team Trials take place Friday, May 28 and Saturday, May 29 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb. The tournament is loaded with some of the nation’s top college talent, who will all be vying for a spot to represent the Red, White and Blue in Belgrade, Serbia this November. The tournament will be streamed in its entirety live on FloWrestling.

57 kg
Arizona State’s NCAA finalist Brandon Courtney leads the way at 57 kg but will face steep competition from a deep field. Pat McKee, who finished third at the NCAA Championships for Minnesota and Taylor LaMont, who finished sixth for Utah Valley, will be both be in the hunt, as will 2019 Princeton All-American Pat Glory. 2018 Cadet World Champion Matt Ramos, who is teammates with McKee at Minnesota, is another wrestler to keep an eye on. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/27/U23-mens-freestyle-preview?mc_cid=f239659e8a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – U23 GRECO-ROMAN WORLD TEAM SET AFTER BEST-OF-THREE FINALS AT U23 NATIONALS
Lincoln, Neb. – Day one of the U23 World Team Trials is in the books, and the 2021 U23 Greco-Roman World Team is set. Today’s action concluded with the best-of-three finals to determine who will represent the U.S. in Belgrade, Serbia this November. All ten World Team members won their series in two-straight matches, with no one needing a tie-breaking third match. The lightest two weight classes will be manned by members of the Brunson Utah Valley RTC, with Taylor LaMont earning the nod at 55 kg and Dylan Gregerson claiming the title at 60 kg. Both wrestlers won U23 National titles in 2020 up a weight class, with LaMont competing at 60 kg and Gregerson at 63 kg. LaMont, who made his record-setting eighth age-group World Team, defeated No. 2 on the National Team at 55 kg Brady Koontz, 3-1 and 4-0. Gregerson made his first World Team, defeating Dylan Koontz, twin brother of Brady, 7-5 and 9-6. The next three weight classes feature wrestlers from Northern Michigan University. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/27/U23-Greco-Roman-World-Team-set-after-best-of-three-finals-at-U23-Nationals?mc_cid=f239659e8a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – XAVIER JOHNSON AND JAMEL JOHNSON WIN GOLD MEDALS; FOUR OTHERS CLAIM SILVER AT PAN AM CHAMPIONSHIPS
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – The USA collected two gold medals and four silver medals to wrap up the first day of Greco-Roman competition at the 2021 Pan American Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Winning gold medals tonight were Marines athletes Xavier Johnson (67 kg) and Jamel Johnson (72 kg). Xavier Johnson, an Olympic Trials runner-up and Senior Nationals champion, dominated his way to gold today, giving the fans a show with multiple five-point throws throughout the competition. In the finals, he finished off Enyer Feliciano of the Dominican Republic in just 1:12, scoring a two-pointer, followed by a lift for four points and finally a huge throw for five to win 11-0, securing his first international gold medal. Overall, Xavier went 4-0, outscoring his competition 38-3. Xavier’s Marines teammate Jamel Johnson also picked up a gold medal on Thursday, winning the 72 kg bracket. Getting the call to compete just last week, Jamel overcame a short turnaround as well as a second-round injury earlier in the day. Competing in a four-man round-robin bracket, he went 3-0. In the finals, he faced 2018 Pan Am silver medalist Gerardo Oliva Montes of Peru, who got out to a quick 5-0 lead with an early four-pointer. However, Jamel stormed back with a four-point throw near the edge to close the gap. In the second period, he added another four-pointer to take lead and held on for an 8-5 victory. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/27/GR-Pan-Am-2?mc_cid=f239659e8a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – USA SWEEPS PAN AM GOLD MEDALS ON FRIDAY WITH THREE IN GRECO AND FOUR IN WOMEN’S FREESTYLE, GRECO WINS TEAM TITLE
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – The USA swept all seven gold medals at today’s Pan American Championships, winning three in Greco-Roman and four in women’s freestyle on Friday in Guatemala City. Three Americans secured their titles earlier in the day in round-robin action, and the other four won in the finals session.
GRECO-ROMAN
At 77 kg in Greco-Roman, Olympic Trials runner-up Peyton Walsh came away with a gold medal in his Pan American debut. In the finals, Walsh took out two-time Senior Pan Am finalist Joilson de Brito Ramos Junior of Brazil in a tight bout. Walsh was up 5-0 early with the help of an exciting four-point toss, but in the second period, de Brito Ramos Junior stormed back with a chance on top in par terre but it was not enough. Ultimately, Walsh held on for a 5-5 criteria win as de Brito Ramos Junior was dinged with a caution earlier in the bout. Senior Nationals champion Ben Provisor went 2-0 in his 82 kg three-man bracket, … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/28/Pan-Am-GR-WFS-2?mc_cid=5196172c07&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – USA Sweeps Gold Medals at Day Two of #WrestleGuatemala as Honduras’ Mejia Earns OW
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. … rest of story at https://uww.org/article/usa-sweeps-gold-medals-day-two-wrestleguatemala-honduras-mejia-earns-ow?mc_cid=5196172c07&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

11 } – THE U23 MEN’S FREESTYLE WORLD TEAM IS SET AFTER THE BEST-OF-THREE FINALS AT U23 NATIONALS
Lincoln, Neb. – The U23 Nationals wrapped up this afternoon, closing the tournament out with the best-of-three men’s freestyle finals. The ten champions will have the opportunity to represent the Red White and Blue at the U23 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia this November. 2019 Princeton All-American Pat Glory took home the tournament’s outstanding wrestler award after an impressive showing in the 57 kg finals. Glory downed Taylor LaMont in two-straight matches, 8-0 and 10-0. On Friday, LaMont made the U23 Greco-Roman World Team at 55 kg.

At 61 kg, Northwestern All-American Chris Cannon defeated stud high school junior Jesse Mendez in three matches. Cannon dominated Mendez in match one with a 13-2 technical fall. Mendez clawed his way back into the series with a tight 9-8 victory in match 2. Match 3 ended unceremoniously, with Mendez going down with a leg injury 32 seconds into the first period. Mendez, a 2021 Junior World Team member, was unable to continue. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/29/U23-MFS-World-Team?mc_cid=cd4ee7a97a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

12 } – 12 OLYMPIANS HIGHLIGHT U.S. SENIOR PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS ROSTER
The roster for the 2021 Senior Pan American Championships is finalized! The USA is sending 29 athletes, including 12 of the 15 U.S. wrestling Olympians, to the continental championships, set for May 27-30 in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Olympians planning to compete are Kyle Dake (74 kg), David Taylor (86 kg), Kyle Snyder (97 kg) and Gable Steveson (125 kg) in men’s freestyle, Ildar Hafizov (60 kg), Alex Sancho (67 kg), and John Stefanowicz (87 kg) in Greco-Roman, Sarah Hildebrandt (50 kg), Jacarra Winchester (55 kg), Kayla Miracle (62 kg), Tamyra Mensah-Stock (68 kg) and Adeline Gray (76 kg) in women’s freestyle. Winchester is the Olympian at 53 kg but will compete in Guatemala at 55 kg. Jesse Porter (GR 77 kg), is another Olympic Trials champion registered.  Other athletes competing include … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/17/Senior-Pan-Ams-roster-released?mc_cid=a53f0e5e67&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

July 25, 2021 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized