Wrestling body explains why it let Russian champions compete at world champs despite pro-war rally
GENEVA (AP) — Three Olympic champions from Russia were cleared to compete at the wrestling world championships this week because they were judged to have been pressured to appear at a pro-war rally in Moscow last year.
The United World Wrestling governing body explained Tuesday why Zaurbek Sidakov, Zaur Uguev and Abdulrashid Sadulaev were among the Russian wrestlers who passed vetting to compete as neutral athletes in Belgrade, Serbia, and try to qualify for next year’s Paris Olympics.
All three won Olympic gold medals at the Tokyo Games held in 2021 and were paraded on stage at a flag-waving rally at Luzhniki Stadium in March 2022. It was attended by President Vladimir Putin three weeks after he ordered the military invasion of Ukraine.
The athletes’ presence there seemed likely to bar their return to competition with neutral status ahead of the Paris Games. The International Olympic Committee advised the governing bodies of each individual sport in March to exclude those who publicly supported the war.
However, a vetting process for the three wrestlers concluded “their participation in certain events is not (of) their own will,” United World Wrestling said in a statement.
The governing body’s vetting panel did bar 30 athletes, coaches and support staff from Russia and its military ally Belarus from coming to the Sept. 16-24 championships in Belgrade.
Their ineligibility was “based on evidence of an active support to the war on publicly available information or of a confirmed military activity,” UWW said in a statement. … rest of story at … CTpost.com/sports/article/wrestling-body-explains-why-it-let-russian
Day 3 wrap: Dake wins silver, Valencia gets bronze, Winchester to go for gold, Page for bronze, Snyder in repechage
BELGRADE, Serbia – The United States added two more men’s freestyle medals on Monday and remained in the men’s freestyle team race at the World Wrestling Championships at Stark Arena.
In the Group Two finals, four-time World champion Kyle Dake had a classic battle with 2020 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Zaurbek Sidakov, an Individual Neutral Athlete from Russia at 74 kg. It was the last final of the night. When it was all over, after a number of challenges and close calls, Sidakov won his third career World title with a 10-7 victory over Dake.
Dake led 1-0 at the break on a step out, but things opened up in the second period. When Dake was on the shot clock, Sidakov got a takedown and added a point when the 30 seconds ran out on Dake to lead 3-0. A Dake takedown tied it at 3-3. There was a wild exchange which went to a challenge and when it was sorted out Sidakov led 8-7. A exchange at the end of the match also went to a challenge, and Sidakov was given two more points for a 10-7 finish.
Dake won four matches on Sunday to qualify for the finals. Dake has been in the finals for each of the five Senior World Championships that he has entered, and this loss was his first at a Senior Worlds. In his one Olympic appearance, Dake won a bronze medal, but did not face Sidakov in that event.
Zahid Valencia won a bronze medal at 92 kg, with a dominant 11-0 technical fall over Arash Yoshida of Japan. Valencia scored the first takedown, which was challenged by Japan, but upheld, giving him a 3-0 lead. Valencia hit a double leg takedown and scored three straight turns to end the match in the first period.
Valencia, who was defeated in his second match on Sunday to eventual finalist Osman Nuragomedov of Azerbaijan, … rest of story at … Themat.com/news/2023/september/18/day-3-wrap-dake-wins-silver-valencia-gets-bronze-winchester-to-go-for-gold-page-for-bronze-snyder-in-repechage
Arujau Earns 61kg World Championship Gold, Dake Advances To 74kg Finals
BELGRADE, Serbia — Vito Arujau will return to East Hill with a gold medal after taking down the 2021 61kg world champion Abasgadzhi Magomedov (independent) 10-9 in a thrilling match that went down to the wire. During the 2023 World Wrestling Championships, Arujau outscored his opponents 50-11, including two shutout victories and a pair of technical falls.
While Arujau finished his quest for a gold medal, Kyle Dake ’13 (USA), the second seed at 74kg, began his, advancing to the final round with four victories. A four-time world freestyle champion and 2020 Bronze Olympian, Dake will face 2021 Olympic champion Zaurbek Sidakov (independent) on Monday at 12:00 noon eastern time.
Ben Honis ’19 (Italy) will make his tournament debut on Monday Sept. 18. He is the fifth seed in the 97kg class, and is slated to face Mojtaba Goleij (Iran).
Arujau Takes Gold
Representing the USA in the 61kg weight class, Arujau defeated Magomedov in the championship match on Sunday at Stark Arena. Magomedov was the 2021 world champion at 61kg, and FloWrestling predicted him to win the gold this year, while Arujau was forecasted to earn bronze.
A pushout got Arujau on the board early, followed by a flurry between the two grapplers that led to a challenge brick being thrown by Magomedov’s corner. After officials sorted out the call, Arujau was awarded four points, and Magomedov two, bringing the count to 5-2. Another flurry of exposures led to the second challenge of the half, awarding both wrestlers two points.
Arujau went into the break leading 7-4 but lost that advantage in the second half when the his corner lost a challenge of Magomedov’s takedown, awarding the Independent representative two points and a lost point for the Cornellian, giving Magomedov the 7-7 advantage by criteria. He countered Magomedov’s ensuing grapple with a go-behind leading to a two point takedown, giving the lead back to Arujau.
With one minute left, Arujau gained a point on a step out, and then gave up two points, coming on a step out and a caution taking the count to 10-9. With 10 seconds to go, Magomedov failed to register another tally, making room for Arujau to collect win the match and collect the 61kg gold medal. … rest of story at … Cornellbigred.com/news/2023/9/17/wrestling-arujau-earns-61kg-world-championship-gold-dake-advances-to-74kg
U.S. women’s freestyle team receives draws for World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia
BELGRADE, Serbia – The draws were done for all 10 weight classes in women’s freestyle for the 2023 Senior World Championships. The women’s competition begins on Monday, and the U.S. women’s freestyle team is ready to compete.
2016 Olympic champion and 2020 Olympic bronze medalist Helen Maroulis (57 kg) is the No. 2 seed at 57 kg. Also a three-time World champion, Maroulis opens against two-time Pan American runner-up Nesmarie Rodriguez of Puerto Rico. Her half-bracket includes No. 3 seed Tsugumi Sakurai of Japan, a two-time World champion. 2022 World bronze medalist Anhelina Lysak of Poland is also on her side.
2020 Olympic silver medalist and six-time World champion Adeline Gray (76 kg) came into the event unseeded. She drew Jimin Baek of Korea in the opening round. Should she win, she will battle No. 3 seed multiple World medalist Epp Maee of Estonia, who Gray has beaten in the World finals, in her second match. The No. 2 seed is also on her side, Genesis Reasco of Ecuador. 2022 World bronze medalist Yuka Kagami of Japan is also on her side.
2020 Olympic bronze medalist and three-time World medalist Sarah Hildebrandt (50 kg) received the No. 2 seed. Hildebrandt received a bye, then faces the winner of the preliminary between Miseon Kwon of Korea and Emma Wangila of Kenya. She could run into Mariya Stadnik of Azerbaijan, a three-time Olympic medalist and six-time World medalist, in the quarterfinals. N0. 3 seed and 2022 World silver medalist Otgonjargal Dolgorjav of Mongolia is also on her half of the bracket. … rest of story at … Themat.com/news/2023/september/17/u-s-women-s-freestyle-team-receives-draws-for-world-championships-in-belgrade-serbia
World Championships: Taylor continues dominance of Yazdani, bags 3rd gold
BELGRADE, Serbia (September 17) — After beating rival Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) yet again, and handily at that, David TAYLOR (USA) dropped down to a knee and shook his head seemingly to say that even he doesn’t know how he does it.
Taylor maintained the upper hand in one of the sport’s great rivalries, capturing his third world title by securing a late fall in their freestyle 86kg final in the feature match on Sunday, the second day of the World Championships in Belgrade.
Taylor’s victory was part of a productive day for the U.S. team, which won both of the non-Olympic titles up for grabs and gained another spot at the Paris Olympics when Mason PARRIS (USA) won a bronze medal at 125kg.
Read More: Micic beats Olympic, world champs to set up Higuchi final; Dake takes on Sidakov
This year’s championships offers the first five qualifying places for the 2024 Paris Olympics and includes a historic fifth-place playoff between the losers of the bronze-medal matches.
Iran has secured two tickets to Paris, including one when Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) regained the 125kg throne with a one-sided victory over veteran Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO). … rest of story at … UWWW.org/article/world-championships-taylor-continues-dominance-yazdani-bags-3rd-gold
USA Wrestling releases 2024 Olympic Games Procedures and 2024 Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier Procedures
SEP. 15, 2023, 09:12 A.M. (ET)
BY GARY ABBOTT, USA WRESTLING
USA Wrestling has posted the approved 2024 Olympic Games Procedures, as well as the 2024 Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier Procedures on its website TheMat.com.
There is a different Olympic Games Procedures for each of the Olympic disciplines: men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. Each of these disciplines have a different procedure.
These documents explain how athletes can qualify for the Olympic Team Selection process and how the qualifying events will be conducted, These procedures were developed by the USA Wrestling Sport Committee in each discipline, then approved by USA Wrestling’s Executive Committee, along with final approval by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. The procedures are posted as pdf’s in the National Teams section, under Team Selection Procedures. They are listed under the header Senior.
In addition, USA Wrestling has also posted the 2024 Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier Procedures. This spells out how USA Wrestling will determine what athletes will represent the nation at the 2024 Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier in Acupulco, Mexico, February 29-March 2. The USA will enter athletes in all of the Olympic weight classes they did not qualify for the Paris Games during the 2023 Senior World Championships.
There is a different Olympic Games Procedures for each of the Olympic disciplines: men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. Each of these disciplines have a different procedure. … rest of story at … Themat.com/usa-wrestling-releases-2024-olympic-games-procedures-and-2024-pan-american-olympic-games-qualifier-procedures
Why Jordan Burroughs Is The Most Important Wrestler Of His Generation
Jordan Burroughs has cemented his legacy as being the most transformative wrestler in America.
There have been many legends in the long and storied history of American wrestling. Jordan Burroughs stands out among wrestlers of his generation for both his accolades on the mat and his leadership off the mat. The United States of America is now in one of their most successful periods of freestyle wrestling of all-time and it all started with Jordan Burroughs.
Growing Up In South Jersey
Burroughs was first introduced to the sport of wrestling as a youth in South Jersey in the town of Sicklerville where he grew up. Though a state champion in talent-rich New Jersey, Burroughs was not one of the more heavily recruited wrestlers of the high school class of 2006.
Nevertheless, Burroughs accepted a scholarship to Nebraska which he attended from 2006 to 2011.
King Of College Wrestling
It took a year for Burroughs to find his groove in Lincoln, Nebraska but by his sophomore season he had established himself as one of the top middleweights in the country, earning third place at the 2008 NCAA Championships.
Burroughs ascended to the top of the podium the next year, winning his first NCAA title in 2009 at 157-pounds. An injury kept JB off the mat for the 2009-10 season, though Burroughs was able to return in 2010-11.
Watch this blast from Jordan’s past as he wins a match in December of 2008 at the CKLV over NCAA champ Jordan Leen of Cornell: … rest of story and video at … Flowrestling.org/articles/Why-jordan-burroughs-is-the-most-important-wrestler-of-his-generation
5 storylines to follow this college wrestling season
While every new college wrestling season brings a fresh set of storylines, names to know and teams to follow, one theme has been almost consistent for over a decade: the success of the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Head coach Cael Sanderson’s team will once again be a hot topic leading into the 2023-24 season, so here’s everything you need to know about the Blue and White, as well as the coaches, programs and competitors that will be aiming to challenge the reigning champs this year.
1. Penn State looks for its 11th title in 14 years behind two three-time NCAA champs
The Nittany Lions roll into this upcoming season with a pair of three-time champions, two NCAA finalists and four additional All-Americans. It’s a scary roster, one capable of making a mark on the record books.
No team in college wrestling history has ever crowned two four-time NCAA champions in the same year. Penn State has the chance to do that with 174-pound Carter Starocci and now-197 pound Aaron Brooks. Starocci and Brooks have a combined varsity career record of 128-5 and finished last year with bonus rates of 66.67-percent each. Penn State has had a number of stars come through the ranks of the program, including Olympic gold medalist David Taylor and fellow two-time Hodge winner and world team member Zain Retherford. Yet, no Penn State wrestler has ever won four titles in college. Starocci and Brooks enter this season on rare ground.
2023 NCAA CHAMPS: Compete breakdown and analysis of how Penn State won
But they aren’t the only title contenders on this team. Levi Haines, a 2023 NCAA finalist at 157 pounds, will enter the season as the No. 1 wrestler at his weight. Fellow 2023 finalist, Greg Kerkvliet, now holds down the top spot at heavyweight following the graduation of Michigan’s Mason Parris. Cal Poly transfer Bernie Truax will start the year at No. 2 at 184 pounds, and 149-pound All-American Shayne Van Ness will start the year No. 2 as well. If all six of those athletes — Brooks, Starocci, Haines, Kerkvliet, Truax and Van Ness — win, Penn State will set the record for the greatest number of champs at one tournament. Penn State has had five champs before, but no team has had six. But this historic result is possible.
Depth is a key marker of this year’s Penn State team too, and there’s another record that this group, a squad stacked from top to bottom, could chase after as well. Only one program has ever crowned 10 All-Americans at the NCAA tournament: the Minnesota Gophers in 2001. Penn State has the chance to add its name to that list. … rest of story at … NCAA.com/news/wrestling/article/2023-09-12/5-storylines-follow-college-wrestling-season
Former Penn State wrestlers finish with gold at 2023 Senior World Championships
Sunday’s 2023 Senior World Championships bout wrapped up title performances from two former Penn State All-Americans.
Zain Retherford and David Taylor both grabbed gold medals in the freestyle tournament, capping off undefeated runs with championship round wins.
Retherford captured his first world title with an 8-5 victory to put him at 4-0 on the tournament — outscoring his opponents 28-7 throughout the 70 kilogram class.
Taylor’s title match ended with a pin almost six minutes into action, leaving him at 5-0 through his latest 86 kilogram title.
Taylor’s matchup with Iran’s Hassan Yazdanicharati was the fourth time the two faced with a world or Olympic title at the helm, and extended his record against Yazdanicharati to 5-1.
The latest Nittany Lion gold medals could be a sign to come for the remainder of the tournament, which continues until September 24th. … rest of story at … PSUcollegian.com/wrestling/former-penn-state-wrestlers-finish-with-gold-at-2023-senior-world-championships
Chris Campbell Took A Week Of Vacation From Job To Compete At 1990 Worlds
World champion Chris Campbell was an attorney when he made a successful wrestling comeback in his 30s
There are stories that are stranger than fiction. Then there’s Chris Campbell. His improbable comeback tale includes more twists and turns than an ambitious Hollywood script could handle. And it’s all real.
Campbell was an NCAA champion for Iowa in 1976 and 1977 but it was borderline miraculous that he made it there. Dan Gable — an assistant coach at the time — flew to Westfield, New Jersey, in 1973 to speak at a banquet as a favor to then-athletic director Bump Elliot. A young Chris Campbell was in the audience. “I really liked your speech,” Campbell told Gable. “I’d really be interested in wrestling at Iowa.”
Oh, by the way, “I’ll kick your butt,” Campbell told Gable during the exchange.
Gable learned that Campbell went out for wrestling when the basketball coach told him “You suck.” He wrestled JV as a sophomore but Campbell’s mother wouldn’t sign a release for his junior year. He eventually competed as a senior season, winning a state title following an undefeated season.
“Nobody really recruited me because they were afraid my mother wouldn’t sign off,” Campbell said. “Nobody really knew about me because I only really wrestled one year of high school at the varsity level.”
Iowa Wrestling Scholarship
The Hawkeyes offered Campbell a books scholarship after he placed second at Junior Nationals in Iowa City a few weeks later. He sold his car, purchased a ticket to Iowa with the money, and began work at a Ford factory while he trained with the Hawkeyes.
Gable took over as head coach during the 1976-77 season and Campbell was his first individual NCAA champion following two titles and three appearances in the finals.
That led to a successful freestyle career where he won a World title in 1981 following a fifth-place finish in 1977. Campbell made the 1980 Olympic team but the United States boycotted due to the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. The strict amateur rules at the time meant Campbell often lived on food stamps. … rest of story at … Flowrestling.org/articles/chris-campbell-took-a-week-of-vacation-from-job-to-compete-at-1990-worlds
TDR blog
After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
Martin Fleming, Editor
Takedown Report
Takedown Report 