Takedown Report

Six must-watch battles at World Championships

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 6) – The World Championships throws certain match-ups that are a must-watch for wrestling fans. We’ve come up with the six bouts that could take place in Belgrade.

FS 65kg – Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) vs. Takuto OTOGURO (JPN)

In a weight with endless heavy hitters, offensive juggernauts Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) and Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) continue rising to the top while somehow avoiding each other.

Otoguro has been the weight’s most dangerous offensive threat since 2018 when he became the youngest Japanese male to win world gold. He’s a guy with cat-like reflexes, is highly elusive, and isn’t afraid to give up a point to get a point. His counter-offensive abilities make him super dangerous. He gets to his angles better than anyone in the weight.

Though he has changed his style a little, Otoguro will need his old-school run-and-gun mentality to take out Amouzad. 

Since Otoguro’s absence after the Tokyo Olympic Games, Amouzad has emerged as the most-feared wrestler at 65kg.

Amouzad is a tactician when it comes to breaking down his opponents—mentally and physically. He’s a guy with relentless forward pressure and a bottomless gas tank. He uses that patented Iranian underhook to close the distance on his opponents and control the mat area. He’s only 22 years old but remains poised like a veteran in close matches. He’s confident wrestling in a phone booth but can attack from space, and that makes him a nightmare to wrestle.

This match comes down to Otoguro’s ability to solve Amouzad’s underhook and put six consecutive minutes together. On the other side, Amouzad has to be methodical when picking his shots and anticipate where and when Otoguro’s going to reattack. … rest of story at … UWW.org/article/six-must-watch-battles-world-championships

September 12, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Olympic champion Gable Steveson won’t wrestle at world championships

Gable Steveson, a former two-time NCAA heavyweight champion for the Gophers, will be replaced by ex-Michigan wrestler Mason Parris this month at the worlds in Serbia. 

Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson has notified USA Wrestling that he will not compete at the world championships Sept. 16-24 in Belgrade, Serbia. USA Wrestling announced the news Wednesday but did not state a reason.

Steveson, a two-time NCAA heavyweight champion for the Gophers from Apple Valley, returned to amateur wrestling earlier this year while continuing to train toward a WWE career. He dominated the 125-kilogram men’s freestyle class at the U.S. Open in April, then defeated Mason Parris at Final X in June to earn his spot on the U.S. team for the world championships. Steveson will be replaced at worlds by Parris, an NCAA champion at Michigan and junior world champion in 2019.

RACHEL BLOUNT

Tommies release basketball schedules

The St. Thomas men’s basketball schedule, announced Wednesday, includes a Nov. 6 opener at California and a December game at Marquette. The Tommies will play their first home game Oct. 10 vs. Idaho State. St. Thomas opens Summit League play Dec. 29 at North Dakota State.

The St. Thomas women’s basketball schedule includes home games against Central Florida (Nov. 15), Iowa State (Nov. 29) and Wisconsin (Dec. 13). The Tommies women open Nov. 6 at Drake and play their first home game Nov. 11 vs. Wisconsin-River Falls. St. Thomas is scheduled to play at Saint Mary’s (Nov. 21), followed by games against UC Irvine and Butler in Stockton, Calif., over Thanksgiving weekend. … rest of story at … Startribune.com/olympic-champion-gable-steveson-wont-wrestle-at-world-championships-gophers

September 12, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment