#WrestleOttawa

Arthur Wins First Pan Am Title for Jamaica, Three From USA Win Gold in Women’s Freestyle

Monday, March 9, 2020 - 02:34 By Taylor GREGORIO

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Tony Rotundo

Photo of Angus ARTHUR (JAM) by Tony Rotundo. 

OTTAWA, Canada – Angus ARTHUR (JAM) made history on Sunday, becoming the first wrestler from Jamaica to win a Pan American Championships gold medal, winning the 92 kg men’s freestyle weight class.

Two men’s freestyle weights—79 kg and 92 kg—were contested on Sunday, with the other eight scheduled for Monday.

While there were only two people registered at 92 kg, Arthur impressed in his finals match, dominating Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC), 13-1, using high-powered offense to snag the gold.

The other men’s freestyle gold medal went to Jason NOLF (USA), who went 2-0 in round-robin action. He began the day with a 10-0 tech fall over Guseyn RUSLANZADA (CAN), and won his second bout by injury default against Victor HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX).

Photo: the medalists at 76 kg. By Tony Rotundo.

The women’s freestyle action wrapped up in Ottawa, with the United States emerging victorious in three of the day’s six weight classes.

2019 World champion Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA) won her second-straight continental title at 68 kg. Mensah-Stock was also a 2019 Pan American Games champion.

For the second year in a row, she had to defeat 2018 U23 World champion Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB). This time, Mensah-Stock went up 6-0 in the second period before getting the pin in 4:46.

Because she won all four of matches by either tech fall or pin, Mensah-Stock was awarded the Outstanding Wrestler award.

At 62 kg, Mallory VELTE (USA) avenged her loss from last year’s Pan Am finals, taking out Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA). Velte scored a four-point throw in the first period that gave her a lead that was too big to overcome, and she won the bout 6-2.

Victoria ANTHONY (USA) won her third Pan American title with a solid performance at 50 kg.

Though she won her finals by injury default over Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL), Anthony was dominant in the first half of the day, winning both of her matches with 10-0 technical falls.  

Anthony also won Pan Am golds in 2014 and 2017.

Photo of Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) by Tony Rotundo. 

Thanks to its three individual titles, the United States won the team race with 152 points, edging out Canada’s 141 points.

Other countries winning titles in women’s freestyle were Ecuador, Brazil and Canada.

Entering this week with six Pan Am medals, Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) finally earned her first Pan Am gold medal, winning the 53 kg bracket.

Wrestling in a five-person round-robin, Valverde went a perfect 4-0 on the day, defeating all of her opponents by either technical fall or pin.

In her last bout, Valverde dominated Zeltzin HERNANDEZ GUERRA (MEX), 10-0, in less than two minutes to secure the title.

In the 57 kg finals, Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) defeated Hannah TAYLOR (CAN) by fall in the final seconds of the bout. Rodrigues led on criteria 1-1 with 25 seconds left. She hit a four-pointer to put Taylor to her back and earned the fall in 5:47.

A three-time Pan Am finalist, this marks Rodrigues’ first continental title.

2018 World champion Justina DI STASIO (CAN) took the crown at 76 kg, with an injury default victory over Adeline GRAY (USA) in the finals.

Di Stasio had an impressive road to the gold-medal bout as she scored a last-second four-point takedown against 2019 Junior and U23 World champion Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) to win 5-2 in the first round, and outlasted 2014 Senior World silver medalist Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA), 5-2.

Six athletes that won medals were funded by United World Wrestling Development Technical Assistance program, including Arthur, Lacey, da Silva, Nunes, Valverde and Maria ACOSTA ACOSTA (VEN). 

The Pan American Championships will conclude on Monday with the final eight men’s freestyle weight classes scheduled to be contested.

Women’s freestyle team standings
1. United States – 152
2. Canada – 141
3. Brazil – 103
4. Ecuador – 66
5. Venezuela – 62
6. Cuba – 53
7. Colombia – 51
8. Mexico – 46
9. Peru – 35
10. Puerto Rico – 20

Women’s freestyle results

50 kg
GOLD – Victoria ANTHONY (USA) df. Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL),injury default
BRONZE - Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA) df. Genesis MILANO OLIVIO (VEN), 7-4
BRONZE - Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU) df. Thalia MALLQUI PECHE (PER), 2-1

53 kg
GOLD - Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU)
SILVER - Jade PARSONS (CAN)
BRONZE– Lianna de la Caridad MONTERO HERRERA (CUB)

57 kg
GOLD – Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) df. Hannah TAYLOR (CAN), fall
BRONZE – Betzabeth SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN) win by injury default

62 kg
GOLD - Mallory VELTE (USA) df. Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 6-2
BRONZE– Nathaly GRIMAN HERRERA (VEN) df. Jessica BROUILLETTE (CAN), 5-4

68 kg
GOLD - Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA) df. Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB), fall
BRONZE– Maria Jose ACOSTA ACOSTA (VEN) df. Luz VAZQUEZ (ARG), 11-0
BRONZE – Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) df. Ambar GARNICA FLORES (MEX), 11-2

76 kg
GOLD - Justina DI STASTIO (CAN) df. Adeline GRAY (USA), injury default
BRONZE – Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA) df. Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB), fall
BRONZE – Andrea OLAYA GUTIERREZ (COL) df. Andrimar LAZARO DIAZ (VEN), 8-0

Men’s freestyle

79 kg
GOLD – Jason NOLF (USA)
SILVER- Guseyn RUSLANZADA (CAN)
BRONZE – Victor HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX)

92 kg
GOLD – Angus ARTHUR (JAM)
SILVER - Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC)

#Grappling

Grappling: Romanov returns to win 130kg gold; Prendes repeats

Tuesday, October 14, 2025 - 22:41 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 14) -- When the last time Alexandr ROMANOV (MDA) participated in the World Grappling Championships, he was close to completing a double gold in Gi and No-Gi. While he managed to win gold in Gi, Romanov fell short in No-Gi competition and won a bronze medal.

Three years later, the Moldovan has taken the first step towards achieving his dream. On Tuesday, Romanov had a comeback in the World Grappling Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia and won gold in the No-Gi competition at 130kg.

Romanov was in top form winning two bouts via submission and two, including the final, via decision but dominated his opponents to win gold medal.

Alexandr ROMANOV (MDA)Alexandr ROMANOV (MDA), red, defeated Aleksander KOLDOVSKI (UKR) in the 130kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Up against Aleksander KOLDOVSKI (UKR), Romanov stuck to his plan and started off slow. But as Koldovski slowed down after two minutes during the five-minute bout, Romanov hit a footsweep to score two points and controlled his opponent for three more points. Another control gave him two more points as he defeated Koldovski a 7-1 victory.

"I knew the Ukrainian as he is a freestyle wrestler," Romanov said. "I waited for the second half of the bout as they tend to slow down and I hit my favorite move to win."

In other finals, UWW grapplers dominated the finals, winning four golds while Farhad BAGIROV (AZE) defended his 58kg gold medal. In women's competition, Carlota PRENDES LARIOS (ESP) also defended his 53kg gold medal while Alycia QUENEE (FRA) won at 71kg. Alena VLASOVA (UWW) won her two bouts to claim the 90kg gold as the weight class had only three participants.

Bagirov maintained his control in the final by using a rear chokehold on Zedginidze who tried escaping a couple of time. But at the two-minute mark of the final, Zedginidze tapped out to give Bagirov his second successive gold medal at 58kg.

Kurban KADIEV (UWW)Kurban KADIEV (UWW) won the 71kg gold medal in Novi Sad. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 71kg, Kurban KADIEV (UWW) and Nurbek TALBUDIN (KAZ) failed to score any points in the regular five minutes and the final continued in overtime. Due to no technical points scored, a toss was needed to decide who will get the advantageous position. Talbudin won the toss to be on top and needed to score minimum one point in the designated one minute to win the match. However, Kadiev managed to defend his position for one minute to be declared winner.

In contrast, the 77kg final between Gazimagomed GAZIEV (UWW) and Illia SUKHODIEIEV (UKR) ended in just 36 seconds as the former caught Sukhodieiev in a triangle choke to win the final.

Murad ABDULATIPOV (UWW), who was moving up from 84kg to 92kg for this year, did not feel as weight of the jumping up a weight class and defeated Islam TAPPASKHANOV (UWW), 2-0, in the 92kg final to win his second straight gold medal.

Both the points for Abdulatipov were awarded when Tappaskhanov was called passive in the five-minute bout and he failed to score during the 15-second activity clock.

At 100kg, Mukhamed URUSOV (UWW) blanked Aleksandre TEVZADZE (GEO), 4-0, to win his first world title. He earned his first two points after a back-mount position after a scramble and later scored another similar takedown for two more points.

Carlota PRENDES LARIOS (ESP)Carlota PRENDES LARIOS (ESP) grapples in the 53kg final that she won. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Prendes Larios repeats

Carlota PRENDES LARIOS (ESP) won two of three bouts, including the final, via submission to capture her second straight world title at 53kg. She began by controlling Viktoriia ISAIEVA (UKR) right off the whistle for two points before scrambling herself in a triangle choke position which gave her two more points.

Isaieva tried defended different position but after a couple of failed attempts to get out of the triangle choke, she tapped with Prendes Larios winning the bout in one minute and 56 seconds.

In a thrilling 71kg final, Alycia QUENEE (FRA) managed to capture her first world title after beating Anna REMNEVA (UWW), 3-1. Quenee finished with a silver medal in 2022 and bronze last year.

But there was no one stopping Quenee this year. She began the final with a stepout and took a 1-0 lead. Remneva tried to control her with a triangle hold but Quenee never came in a position to gave up points.

The French grappler kept her position and controlled Remneva on the mat for two points, extending her lead to 3-0. During the same position, Quenee was called passive and she gave a point but that did not stop her from winning 3-1.

At 90kg, Alena VLASOVA (UWW) upgraded her bronze from last year to gold after winning both her bouts via submission. She defeated Tatiana KABANOVA (UWW) in the first bout and then submitted Justyna SITKO (POL).

RESULTS

Men's Grappling

58kg
GOLD: Farhad BAGIROV (AZE) df. Daviti ZEDGINIDZE (GEO), via submission (6-0)

BRONZE: Bohdan CHORNEI (UKR) df. Jaden SOSA (USA), via submission (0-2)
BRONZE: Alikhan ALSHINBAY (KAZ) df. Razmik MISAKYAN (ARM), 8-2

71kg
GOLD: Kurban KADIEV (UWW) df. Nurbek TALBUDIN (KAZ), overtime (0-0)

BRONZE: Apandi AMAGAEV (UWW) df. Zhassulan ZHETPISBAY (KAZ), via submission
BRONZE: Dzhimsher RAZMADZE (GEO) df. Nico PULVERMUELLER (GER), 2-0

77kg
GOLD: Gazimagomed GAZIEV (UWW) df. Illia SUKHODIEIEV (UKR), via submission

BRONZE: Sam SCHWARTZAPFEL (USA) df. Angelos NIKOLOPOULOS (GRE), 10-2
BRONZE: Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UWW) df. Dumitru CEBAN (MDA), 2-1

92kg
GOLD: Murad ABDULATIPOV (UWW) df. Islam TAPPASKHANOV (UWW), 2-0

BRONZE: Anthony ROBINSON (USA) df. Reda MEBTOUCHE (FRA), via submission (1-2)
BRONZE: Mateusz MAZUR (POL) df. Antonio SALTUPS CARETTO (ITA), 4-2

100kg
GOLD: Mukhamed URUSOV (UWW) df. Aleksandre TEVZADZE (GEO), 4-0

BRONZE: Saba DJAVAKHICHVILI (FRA) df. Khasan ZAPIROV (UWW), 1-0
BRONZE: Eldar RAFIGAEV (MDA) df. Herve REDON (FRA), via submission (0-2)

130kg
GOLD: Alexandr ROMANOV (MDA) df. Aleksander KOLDOVSKI (UKR), 7-1

BRONZE: Umar GAISUMOV (UWW) df. Abraham COBY MARTINEZ (ESP), via submission (2-0)
BRONZE: Nikita LOBOIKO (UWW) df. Nizami GAFAROV (AZE), 5-1

Women's Grappling

53kg
GOLD:  Carlota PRENDES LARIOS (ESP) df. Viktoriia ISAIEVA (UKR), via submission (4-0)

BRONZE: Evelina FLORIAK (UKR) df. Giulia ANGIOLINI (ITA), via submission (0-3)
BRONZE: Anorbi GRISHINA (UWW) df. Valeriia SHUVALOVA (UWW), 2-2

71kg
GOLD: Alycia QUENEE (FRA) df. Anna REMNEVA (UWW), 3-1

BRONZE:  Maja SALAMON (POL) df. Daniella SANTANA FABELO (ESP), 13-4
BRONZE: Valentina PAVLOVA (UWW) df. Anna KOTIUK (UKR), 4-1

90kg
GOLD: Alena VLASOVA (UWW)
SILVER: Tatiana KABANOVA (UWW)
BRONZE: Justyna SITKO (POL)