Takedown Report

Sport changed their lives and led two coaches to Wrestling Hall of Fame

By Greg Mellen

Wrestling gave two men very different lives when they easily could have gone down dangerous paths.

When Mark Calentino found wrestling, he had been in alternative high school and was acting out in school. Calentino was made captain of a fledgling program at Laguna Hills High and felt he had to live up to the title.

Ricardo “Rich” Trevino was a street kid in Santa Ana whose friends were into tagging and heading into dark waters. Trevino likes to say “wrestling found me,” and the sport saved him.

For both, the sport provided purpose and discipline.

Calentino and Trevino went on to have stellar careers as high school athletes and prominence in the sport as coaches. Both were recently honored with wrestling’s highest accolade: induction to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Calentino, 60, known as Coach Cal around San Clemente High, spent virtually his entire career at the school as a Life Science & Physical Science teacher teacher and wrestling coach. He joined the school in 1990 and later succeeded local legend John Owens. Calentino retired from coaching this year, although he still teaches science. … rest of story and pictures at … CUSdinsider.org/sport-changed-their-lives-and-led-two-coaches-to-wrestling-hall-of-fame

September 20, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Day 2 wrap: Taylor, Arujau, Retherford win gold, Parris gets bronze, Dake qualifies for Monday’s finals

BELGRADE, Serbia – The second day of the World Wrestling Championships was a big day for the United States.
All that Team USA did was win three individual World gold medals, claimed a World bronze, and placed another star in Monday’s night’s gold-medal finals. They increased the number of weights qualified for the Paris Olympic Games to three and led in the team standings after the first four weight classes. Individual gold medalists on Sunday night were David Taylor (86 kg), Vitali Arujau (61 kg) and Zain Retherford (70 kg). It was a third career World title for Taylor, while Arujau and Retherford claimed their first.
Also competing in Group One was Mason Parris (125 kg), who claimed a bronze medal in his first Worlds appearance. From Group Two, which started competing today, four-time World champion Kyle Dake (74 kg) won his semifinals to reach Monday night’s gold medal round. The top five in each of the six Olympic weight classes in men’s freestyle wrestling qualify their nation for the 2024 Paris Olympics. (57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg). Therefore, Taylor, Parris and Dake have qualified the USA for the Paris Olympics, with two other Olympic weight classes still yet to be contested.
Taylor won his rivalry match in the finals, pinning Olympic and World champion Hassan Yazdanicharati in the finals in 5:57. Taylor now has beaten Yazdani in five of their six meetings, with the only loss happening in the 2021 World finals. Taylor beat Yazdani in the last two World finals, as well as in the 2000 Olympic Games finals.
Taylor led 5-3 at the break after a big exchange that went his way in the first period. Leading 1-0, a Taylor shot ended up in a big scoring move. Officials initially gave the edge to Yazdani, but after a USA challenge, Taylor was given a four-point move in the exchange. Taylor added a takedown in the second period to lead 7-3, and when Yazdani tried to turn Taylor, it was the American who ended up on top and Taylor got the fall.

Taylor dominated his competition, scoring three pins and two technical falls in his five matches. Arujau led early, with a step out, 1-0. The wrestlers got into a nice scramble where they both were able to score, and after a challenge, Arujau had a 7-4 lead. In the second period, Magomedov scored a takedown which was challenged and denied, tying the bout at 7-7 with Magomed holding criteria. Arujau answered with a takedown and a step out for a 10-7 lead. Arujau was twice hit with caution and one for fleeing at the end, but the final score was 10-9 for Arujau.

Arujau won a gold medal in his first Senior World Championships appearance, He follows in the footsteps of his father, Vougar Orudjev, who won two Senior World titles for the former Soviet Union before emigrating to the United States. Retherford led 3-2 at the break with a takedown and a step out, while Yazdani scored a takedown. In the second period, Zain opened things up with a takedown, a step out and another takedown to lead 8-2. Yazdani was only able to add a takedown and a caution and one to close it at the end to the final score of 8-5.

Retherford was competing in the World finals for the second straight year, after placing second last year.

Parris rebounded from Saturday night’s close semifinals loss to three-time World champion Geno Petriashvili of Georgia with a dominant effort in the bronze-medal bout. Parris scored a 12-2 technical fall over Individual Neutral Athlete Abdulla Kurbanov, who is from Russia. In the first period, Parris scored a big four-point move to lead 6-1. Kurbanov closed it to 6-2 with a step out, but Parris added three straight takedowns to finish the technical fall.

Parris was competing in his first Senior World Championships. … rest of story at … Themat.com/news/2023/sept/17/day-2-wrap-taylor-arujau-retherford-win-gold-parris-gets-bronze-dake-qualifies-for-monday-s-finals

September 20, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Full Breakdown On Women’s World Championship Contenders At Each Weight

Women’s freestyle competition begins Monday at the World Championships. Get ready by taking a look at the top contenders at each weight.

Women’s freestyle competition kicks off Monday morning at the World Championships in Belgrade. The United States assembled a lineup loaded with past World champions to contend with global power Japan and the rest of international wrestling’s top talents. 

Here’s a look at the top contenders and wrestlers to watch at each weight: 

50 kilograms

Since winning her first World title in 2017, Japan’s Yui Susaki has never lost to anyone outside her home nation — and she likely won’t be slowing down anytime soon. She’s not the only all-time great in this weight class. Azerbaijan’s Mariia Stadnik is a multiple-time World champion and has the opportunity next year in Paris to become the first wrestler to win five Olympic medals. Though she is 33 and has been less active internationally since the Tokyo Olympics, Stadnik is still a powerful athlete who should not be underestimated. 

Though American Sarah Hildebrandt owns three World medals, she has yet to face Stadnik or Susaki; both matchups will be highly anticipated in Belgrade. Other challengers for medals including Mongolia’s Otgonjargal Dolgarjav, who beat Hildebrandt last year (Hildebrandt avenged that loss recently at the Ranking Series in Budapest) as well as previous World medalists Oksana Livach of Ukraine, Anna Lukasiak of Poland and Emilia Vuc of Romania. 

53 kilograms 

If there’s one name Dom Parrish definitely has circled as she looks to defend her 2022 World title, it’s Japan’s 19-year-old Akari Fujinami. Although a foot injury kept Fujinami from competing last year on the international scene, she was plenty impressive in her Senior-level debut in 2021, notching a World title before going on to defeat 2021 Olympic champion Mayu Shidochi (formerly Mukaida), also of Japan. 

Two other Tokyo Olympic medalists return to this weight class for the first time since 2021: bronze medalist Vanesa Kaladzinskaya, who has been absent due to Belarus’ suspension, and China’s silver medalist Qianyu Pang. Additionally, age-level World champions Lucia Yepez of Ecuador, Antim of India and Jonna Malmgrem of Sweden will look to push the nine previous World medalists who will be searching for Olympic qualification spots in this loaded bracket. 

55 kilograms

Japan’s depth leads to many talented women falling below the radar, but perhaps none are as underrated as 23-year-old Haruna Okuno. Though she’s struggled to crack the senior lineup since 2018, she owns a total of seven World titles from all age-levels (including two at the Senior level). Okuno will be Jacarra Winchester’s greatest challenge as the American looks to win her second World title. Other prominent contenders include Canada’s Karla Godinez, a 2022 World bronze medalist who has split matches with Winchester, 2021 World bronze medalist Katarzyna Krawczyk of Poland and recent U20 World champion Aryna Martynava of Belarus. 

57 kilograms 

In last year’s World finals, Helen Maroulis suffered a rare loss to Japan’s two-time World champion Tsugumi Sakurai, whose tactical performance and impeccable positioning led her to a 3-0 victory. This time, the two are slotted to face each other in the semifinals (should they defeat the other elite athletes in this bracket). Ukraine’s U23 World champion and returning World bronze medalist Alina Akobiia holds the top seed and seems primed to make the finals from the other side. 

The list of elite contenders is long: Anastasia Nichita of Moldova is dropping to the Olympic weight after winning Worlds at 59 kilograms last year. Belarus’ 2020 Olympic finalist Iryna Kurachkina will also return to the World Championships for the first time since Tokyo. Olympic bronze medalist Evelina Nikolova’s high-flying style and uncanny pinning ability makes her a threat to anyone in the weight. Past World medalists Odunayo Adekuoroye of Nigeria and Anhelina Lysak of Poland are both in the primes of their career. And China’s 20-year-old Kexin Hong has been quietly making a name for herself as a dark horse after excellent performances at this year’s Ranking Series. The Olympic weight classes are an absolute gauntlet in Serbia, and this division is certainly no exception. … rest of story at … Flowrestling.org/full-breakdown-on-womens-world-championship-contenders-at-each-weight

September 20, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

International journalists predict the winners for the 2023 World Championships in Belgrade

Every year, USA Wrestling asks international journalists to predict the winners of the World Wrestling Championships in all three styles.

This journalist prediction contest has become a regular feature on TheMat.com each year, and a fun opportunity for wrestling journalists to do their best to handicap the field. This year, there are 15 journalists from six nations included in the contest.

After the tournament, TheMat.com will publish the standings of these international journalists, to determine which had the best predictions from the 2023 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

Note: Selections that come in from any journalists later on Friday will be added. No new entries will be added starting on Saturday.

Jon Kozak of FloWrestling won the 2022 TheMat.com journalist pick contest for the Senior World Championships.

GARY ABBOTT

USA Wrestling

Men’s freestyle

57 kg. – Rei Higuchi (JPN)

61 kg – Abasgadzhi Magomedov,(AIN)

65 kg – Nick Lee (USA)

70 kg- Zain Retherford (USA)

74 kg – Kyle Dake (USA)

79 kg – Mohammad Nokhodi (IRI)

86 kg – David Taylor (USA)

92 kg – Vladislav Valiev, (AIN)

97 kg – Kyle Snyder (USA)

125 kg – Geno Petriashvili (GEO)

Women’s freestyle

50 kg – Sarah Hildebrandt (USA)

53 kg- Dominique Parrish (USA)

55 kg- Jacarra Winchester (USA)

57 kg– Helen Maroulis (USA)

59 kg – Sae Nanjo (JPN)

62 kg. – Kayla Miracle (USA)

65 kg- Nonoka Ozaki (JPN)

68 kg- Irina Ringaci (MDA)

72 kg – Amit Elor (USA)

76 kg. – Adeline Gray (USA)

Greco-Roman

55 kg– Eldaniz Azizli (AZE)

60 kg- Edmond Nazaryan (BUL)

63 kg. – Leri Abuladze (GEO)

67 kg. – Mohammad Reza Geraei (IRI)

72 kg– Ali Arsalan (SRB)

77 kg- Kamal Bey (USA)

82 kg -Zhan Beleniuk (UKR)

87 kg- Ali Cengiz (TUR)

97 kg- Mohammadhadi Saravi (IRI)

130 kg– Riza Kayaalp (TUR)

Tiebreaker (most medals) – 1. USA, 2. Japan, 3. Iran, 4. Georgia, 5. Azerbaijan

CAMERON DRURY

Indiana Mat

Men’s freestyle

57 kg- Rei Higuchi (JPN)

61 kg– Reza Atrinagharchi (IRI)

65 kg. – Takuto Otoguro (JPN)

70 kg- Zain Retherford (USA)

74 kg. – Kyle Dake (USA)

79 kg- Vladimeri Gamkrelide (GEO)

86 kg- David Taylor (USA) … rest of story at … Themat.com/news/2023/september/15/international-journalists-predict-the-winners-for-the-2023-world-championships-in-belgrade

September 20, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NOTHING NEW TO HIM: Schultz Prepares for the 2023 Worlds

It is nothing new to Cohlton Schultz (130 kg, Sunkist). On September 21 — six days before his 23rd birthday — Schultz will compete in his seventh World Championship tournament. In other words, he has already appeared in more World events than could ever be availed to him at the NCAA Division I level. That is a lot of experience at such a young age, and all the more encouraging considering that he has yet to come remotely close to approaching his athletic prime.
Still, he lugs around the burden of attracting attention. That’s what happens when a wrestler is preceded by a long list of achievements. Schultz, as most are aware, won a Cadet World title in ’17, took bronze as a Junior in ’18, and silver in ’19. He has made the final of each and every US Senior Trials event for which he has been eligible since ascending onto the domestic top tier  — and in just four years, claims four National crowns. He is also in the last phase of preparation for his third-straight Senior Worlds. Add in how he was an NCAA Division I runner-up in ’22 and an All-American again this past college season — and combine all of that with his dominance as a high schooler — and you get why lofty expectations follow him wherever he goes.

None of this matters to him as much as it does to those who watch him work.

Schultz is, and has been since his early age-group days, a forward-thinker. He wants to keep things moving, but not in a manner that suggests indifference with regards to his keynote accomplishments. It is more that he simply loves competing, loves the sport, and uses prior successes as datasets for improvement. Because he cares so deeply about just being able to compete well, Schultz does not take for granted the ability and opportunity to figure out ways to grow in either his skill-set or understanding of what it takes to conquer new objectives. To him, that’s pretty much the point of the whole thing. He has objectives and wants to reach them, but not at the expense of obscuring the sheer enjoyment of wrestling itself.

So, here he is, less than two days out from departing Colorado for France, where the USA Greco-Roman World Team will acclimate a little, train a little, and then head over to Belgrade to conduct business like professionals. Schultz knows this routine quite very well. He likes it, to a degree. No one gets a charge out of being stuck on a long cross-Atlantic flights and having to shake loose the effects of jet lag, but knowing that there is the chance for a World medal as well as qualifying the weight for the Paris Olympics makes it easier. Once in-country, he will adapt to the temporary rhythms put in place and soon toss on the blinders. … rest of story at … Fivepointmove.com/usa-greco/cohlton-schultz-2023-world-championships

September 20, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment