Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

National Wrestling Hall of Fame Unveils New Exhibit Women In Wrestling – A Legacy Inspiring Generations

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame has a new exhibit – Women In Wrestling – A Legacy Inspiring Generations.
A collaboration between the Hall of Fame and the Committee to Advance Women’s Wrestling, the exhibit will showcase women’s wrestling history and was made possible through generous contributions from former and current Olympic Women’s National Team Leaders Kyra Tirana Barry, Jim Bennett, Christina ‘Kiki’ Kelley, Jeff Levitetz, Art Martori, Kim Martori Wickey, Steve Silver, and Stan Zeamer.
“This exhibit celebrates women’s wrestling as it continues to surge in popularity at every level,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “We hope that sharing the stories, particularly about its evolution and the pioneering athletes who have brought it to this point, will help make visitors more aware of what women’s wrestling has to offer for participants and fans.
“This project was made possible through the generosity and leadership of former and present Olympic Women’s National Team Leaders, who sponsored the exhibit,” he added. “I want to particularly thank Kyra Tirana Barry, an Olympic Team Leader and Co-Chairperson for the Committee to Advance Women’s Wrestling, for spearheading the fundraising for this exciting new exhibit.”
“Thank you to our partners at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for creating this new permanent exhibit at the NWHOF museum to highlight and memorialize women’s achievements in wrestling,” said Kyra Tirana Barry, Co-Chairperson for the Committee to Advance Women’s Wrestling. “I am thrilled to see the female legends of our sport featured alongside their male counterparts.
“The visibility and recognition of these pioneering women plays a fundamental role in the sport’s future. It allows every young girl the ability to dream and goal setting while seeing herself at the highest level in every aspect of wrestling,” she added. “I would also like to thank my fellow Olympic Women’s National Team Leaders for their endless vision, passion and support of our national team members. Together they are propelling U.S. women’s wrestling to grow and thrive.”
Featured in the exhibit are images of Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston, Sheila Wager, and the members of the 2004 United States Olympic team (Sara McMann, Patricia Miranda, Toccara Montgomery and Tela O’Donnell Bacher) with Women’s National Team Head Coach Terry Steiner.
It also includes a digital kiosk where visitors will be able to access a timeline of great moments in U.S. women’s wrestling history, females honored by the Hall of Fame, and see the group of donors who made the exhibit possible.

CLICK to visit “Great Moments in U.S. Women’s Wrestling History”

The exhibit also features women’s wrestling memorabilia, including a singlet from Tamyra Mensah Stock, the first Black woman in history to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling and a two-time World champion.
Johnston is the first American woman to win a World medal for USA Wrestling, capturing bronze at the 1989 World Championships. It was also the first Women’s World Championships that the United States entered. Asia de Weese and Leia Kawaii both earned silver medals.
Wager became the first U.S. female to referee at the Olympics when she worked the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Wager, who also worked the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, was honored as a Meritorious Official by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1995, becoming the first female to be recognized by the Hall of Fame. … rest of story at … NWHOF.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame-unveils-new-exhibit-women-in-wrestling-a-legacy-inspiring-generations

June 14, 2023 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

2020 OLYMPIANS HAFIZOV, SANCHO AMONG CHAMPIONS AS U.S. GRECO-ROMAN WORLD TEAM SET AT FINAL X

NEWARK, N.J. – It was a highly-competitive night as the 2023 U.S. Senior Greco-Roman World Team was determined at Final X on Saturday night.
Five of the 10 best-of-three series went the full three bouts, and the U.S. team will be a mix of proven veterans and some new faces. Winners in Final X will compete at the Senior World Championships in Serbia in September.
A pair of 2020 U.S. Olympians claimed titles, Ildar Hafizov at 60 kg and Alejandro Sancho at 67 kg. Hafizov needed three matches to beat Army WCAP teammate Dalton Roberts in the finals. Hafizov pinned Roberts in the first match in 4:01, but Roberts rallied for an impressive 9-0 technical fall in the second bout. In a tense third match, the match ended at 1-1 for Hafizov with criteria, but Roberts’ corner challenged at the end, which was denied. It was the third time Hafizov and Roberts had wrestled each other in Final X, with Hafizov having won two of the three times.
Sancho showed his experience edge with a two-match sweep of rising young talent Robert Perez III. Sancho won a tight 3-2 match in the first round, then came back with a 5-1 victory in bout two. Sancho will compete at the Senior Worlds for the second straight year.
Five other Final X Greco-Roman champions have competed on at least one previous Senior World Team: Patrick Smith at 72 kg, Kamal Bey at 77 kg, Spencer Woods at 82 kg, Josef Rau at 97 kg and Cohlton Schultz at 130 kg.
Smith needed three matches to defeat 2023 U.S. Open champion Justus Scott in the final series. Scott won the first match in a 3-3 criteria decision, but Smith rallied to win the second bout 5-4. In the deciding third match, … rest of story at … Teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2023/June/11/Final-X-Greco

June 14, 2023 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

WORLD CHAMPS GRAY, PARRISH, WINCHESTER, ELOR AMONG NINE FINAL X WOMEN’S FREESTYLE CHAMPIONS

NEWARK, N.J. – Nine of the 10 Senior World Team berths in women’s freestyle were determined in an exciting Final X at Prudential Center on Saturday night.
Among the women’s freestyle Final X winners were four World champions, six-time World champion Adeline Gray at 76 kg, 2019 World champion Jacarra Winchester at 55 kg and 2022 World champions Dominique Parrish at 53 kg and Amit Elor at 72 kg.
Gray swept her finals series over young star Kennedy Blades, avenging a loss to her in the 2023 U.S. Open finals. Gray won the first match 7-5 on a last-second takedown, then broke open a close second match by turning and pinning Blades at the 4:38 mark. Gray gave birth to twins less than a year ago and has made great progress since returning to competition in April Winchester defeated 2023 U.S. Open champion Alisha Howk in two straight matches, both by technical fall. Winchester won 10-0 in bout one and 11-0 in bout two, opening up her explosive offense. Winchester was also a 2020 Olympian and will compete on her fourth World Championship team.
Parrish won two straight matches against young talent Katie Gomez, scoring a pin in 1:54 in the first match, then scoring a 5-0 shutout in the second match.
Elor, who won three UWW World titles in 2022 (U20, U23 and Senior) will return to the Senior Worlds after a dominating two-match sweep of Joye Levendusky, winning both matches by 10-0 technical falls. Elor was the youngest U.S. Senior World champion last year at the age of 19.
Olympic and World medalist Sarah Hildebrandt (50 kg) and two-time World silver medalist Kayla Miracle (62 kg) were among the other talented veterans to win Final X.
Hildebrandt blitzed high school sensation Audrey Jimenez in two straight bouts, with an 8-0 shutout in the opening round, then an 11-0 technical fall in session two.
Miracle showed her experience advantage against U20 World medalist and two-time NAIA champion Adaugo Nwachukwu, Miracle won the first match 6-1, then got her offense rolling in a 10-3 victory in the second match.
The other three winners will be competing in their first Senior World Championships, Jennifer Page at 59 kg, Macey Kilty at 65 kg and Emma Bruntil at 68 kg. … rest of story at … Teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2023/June/10/Women-Final-X

June 14, 2023 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment