#Fortaleza2018

Brazil to Play Host to 2018 Junior Pan American Championships, Aug. 17-19

Thursday, August 16, 2018 - 20:34 By Taylor Miller

FORTALEZA, Brazil – The 2018 Junior Pan American Championships are slated for this weekend, Aug. 17-19 in Fortaleza, Brazil. The talented field features four past age-group World medalists and several past Pan American medalists across Cadet, Junior and Senior levels.

The tournament begins with Greco-Roman action on Aug. 17, followed by women’s freestyle on Aug. 18 and men’s freestyle to wrap up the event on Aug. 19.

GRECO-ROMAN, Aug. 17

There are two World medalists in the Greco-Roman field, both registered to compete at 55 kg: 2017 Junior World runner-up Cevion SEVERADO (USA) and 2016 Cadet World silver medalist Nestor DELGADO (MEX).

Delgado owns a Pan American gold medal from his championship effort in 2016 at the Cadet Greco. This weekend will be Severado’s first trip to the continental championships.

Returning 2017 Junior Pan American champions include Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA) at 67 kg, Carlos Moises ESPINOZA CASTRO (PER) at 87 kg and Anthony CASSIOPPI (USA) at 130 kg.

Host country’s de Brito also won a medal at last year’s Senior Pan Ams, finishing with silver. Last summer, he represented Brazil at the Junior and Senior World Championships, and so far this year, he won gold at the South American Championships.

A three-time age-group Pan American medalist, Espinoza won his first Senior-level and fourth overall Pan Am medal, claiming bronze in front of a home crowd in Lima, Peru, in May. Espinoza also owns 2015 Cadet freestyle silver and 2016 Junior Greco bronze.

Making his second-consecutive trip to the Pan Am Championships, Cassioppi, who doubled up on gold at the event last year, will wrestle both styles again this weekend.

Other notable names entered include 2018 Senior Pan Am runner-up Gerardo Francisco OLIVA MONTES (PER) and 2017 Junior Pan Am silver medalists Thomas BRACKETT (USA), William Alberto MORENO CHUC (GUA) and Samuel Facundo UGALDE AGUILAR (MEX).

Moreno also won bronze at the 2017 Senior Central American and Caribbean Games.

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE, Aug. 18

The lone World medalist in the women’s division this weekend is Kayla MARANO (USA), who won Cadet World bronze in 2015. She will compete at 68 kg in Brazil.

USA will bring four other women’s freestylers who have represented the U.S. on the age-group World stage such as Vayle BAKER at 53 kg, Cameron GUERIN at 55 kg, Brenda REYNA at 59 kg and Ashlynn ORTEGA at 65 kg.

There are several 2017 Junior Pan American runners-up, looking to reach the top of the podium, counting Jayd DAVIS (CAN) at 53 kg, Hannah TAYLOR (CAN) at 57 kg, Dejah SLATER (CAN) at 68 kg and Fatima CRISANTO AYIL (MEX) at 62 kg.

Slater took fifth at the 2017 Junior World Championships in Tampere, Finland. Her Canadian teammates Davis and Taylor also competed at the event.

Other names to look out for include 2018 Senior Pan American bronze winner Michaela BECK (USA) at 57 kg and past Cadet Pan Am champions Guerin at 55 kg, Rita ROJAS CHAVEZ (MEX) at 53 kg and Fernanda ALDAZ LOPEZ (ECU).

Rojas has had a successful season, winning silver at the Senior Central American and Caribbean Championships and a bronze at the Senior Central American and Caribbean Games in July.

MEN’S FREESTYLE, Aug. 19

The men’s freestyle field is the biggest of the three styles with 56 entrants.

Highlighting the talented group is 2016 Cadet World silver medalist Vitali ARUJAU (USA), who will compete at 61 kg.

Cassioppi of USA is the only defending Junior Pan Am freestyle champion in the field as he won gold in both freestyle and Greco last year.

Looking to challenge Cassioppi is 2017 Junior Pan Am silver medalist Aly BARGHOUT (CAN), who will also compete this weekend at 125 kg. Barghout fell to Cassioppi in last year’s round robin action, 11-1.

Also in the mix at heavyweight is Jose DIAZ PONCIANO (GUA), who won bronze in both styles last year.

There a several wrestlers in the field who are multiple-time age-group Pan Am medal winners, including Brayden TODD (CAN) at 57 kg, Carson LEE (CAN) at 79 kg, Luis MORALES MAYANCHA (ECU) at 57 kg and Oscar CALVOPINA CANCIO (ECU) at 61 kg.

Lee won silver at this year’s Cadet Pan Ams in Guatemala and followed up that performance with a top-five finish at the Cadet World Championships last month in Zagreb, Croatia.

Other notable athletes are 2017 Senior South American Championships silver medalist Marcos CARROZZINO (BRA), 2018 Gran Prix of Spain bronze medalist Hunter LEE (CAN) and 2015 Cadet Pan Am champion Cristian SANTIAGO PEREZ (MEX).

Schedule
Friday, Aug. 17
10 a.m. – Preliminary rounds through semifinals (all Greco weights)
5: 30 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
6 p.m. – Finals

Saturday, Aug. 18
10 a.m. – Preliminary rounds through semifinals (all women’s freestyle weights)
6 p.m. – Finals

Sunday, Aug. 19
10 a.m. – Preliminary rounds through semifinals (all men’s freestyle weights)
6 p.m. – Finals

#WrestleBaku

Malmgren boosts Olympics preparations with U23 Euro title

Thursday, May 23, 2024 - 18:01 By United World Wrestling Press

BAKU, Azerbaijan (May 23) -- Jonna MALMGREN’S (SWE) social media bio, glittering with gold medal emojis, will soon have a new addition.

A three-time European medallist [two gold and a silver], four-time U17 and U20 European medal winner, a U20 world champion and a Youth Olympics gold medallist, the Paris Olympic-bound wrestler added another title to her overflowing cabinet. The 23-year-old, on Thursday, won her second consecutive U23 European Championship gold medal here.

And she did it with minimal fuss, winning the final against Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) 5-0.

Competing in the 55kg category instead of her usual 53kg, Malmgren conceded only two points in her four bouts and that too in her opening match against Tuba DEMIR (TUR). After that 10-2 win, she didn’t allow any of her opponents the slightest of chances to nick a point from her.

Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) used a duck under to score two points over Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) in the 55kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the gold medal bout, Vynnyk tried testing Malmgren’s patience by blocking her attacking channels but the Swede isn’t a one-trick wrestler, as she has shown in the past.

Malmgren’s wrestling style can outfox many. She is never steady on the mat. Her legs constantly shuffle back and forth, and she moves around in circles. Her hands are always trying to break the opponent’s defense and the prying eyes look for the tiniest of gaps that she could exploit with her breathtaking speed.

Her Ukrainian opponent learned it the hard way. If Vynnyk planned to keep the scoreline close, she succeeded to an extent. But it was always going to be tough to sustain that level of defense, especially with the risk of being penalized for passivity, which she was inside the first two minutes of the bout.

Malmgren upped the ante in the second period, using a duck under to add two points to her tally. Then, with a little more than a minute remaining, she got control of Vynnyk’s arm and neck before turning her over onto her back for two more points.

Malmgren ran to her corner to celebrate her second consecutive title, the kind of performance that will leave her in good stead in the build-up to the Paris Olympics.

Mariia ORLEVYCH (UKR) defeated Laura KUEHN (GER) to win the 76kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

It was a mixed day for Ukrainian wrestlers, who featured in three out of the five finals that were held on Thursday and lost two while winning one.

Minutes after Vynnyk lost to Malmgren, Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN) defeated Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) 9-2 in the final of the 68kg category. It was the biggest title so far of the 20-year-old former U20 European silver medallist’s career.

But Mariia ORLEVYCH (UKR) ensured her country didn’t end the opening day of women’s wrestling with zero gold medals.

The former U20 European Championship silver medallist won the first title of her career as she defeated Laura KUEHN (GER) 6-0 in a lopsided 76kg final.

Orlevych looked in sublime form and was in the attacking mode from the get-go. Within the first 60 seconds, the Ukrainian used a one-on-two and scored a takedown over Kuehn for two points.

Kuehn defended well for the rest of the period but mid-way through the second period, Orlevych was on the offensive again, using the arm-drag to push her opponent on the mat for a further two points. Desperate to make a comeback, a tired Kuehn went for a single-leg attack but missed and Orlevych caught her on the counter to add two more points and seal the bout.

Natallia VARAKINA (AIN), right, celebrates after winning the 50kg gold medal after beating Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR), left, in the final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Earlier in the finals session, Natallia VARAKINA (AIN) won the gold medal in the most dramatic of circumstances, beating Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR) 8-8 on criteria in the 50kg final.

Varakina led 8-4 with only 10 seconds remaining but Demirhan cut the deficit to two points with a push-out and a caution to Varakina. As the clock ticked down, with just seven seconds remaining, Demirhan forced another takedown to level the scores at 8-8. However, as she tried to sneak in another point, the time was up and Varakina was declared the winner by the virtue of a higher-point hold.

Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) held on to a 5-3 win over Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN) in the 59kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The 59kg final, a battle between two former U20 world champions, Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) held on to a close 5-3 win over Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN). Hetmanava was leading 4-0 with 25 seconds left in the bout when Sidelnikova scored her first point using a stepout. Both got in a tangle and Sidelnikova tripped Hetmanava who fell on her back and in danger of a fall, surviving that position as the time ran out.

Sidelnikova challenged asking for four points but the judges upheld the original decision of two points and Hetmanava won the gold medal 5-3.

Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) will wrestle for the 53kg gold medal on Friday. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Ukraine puts three more in finals

Meanwhile, on Friday, Ukraine will have more chances to win a women’s wrestling gold medal at the U23 European Championships when their three more wrestlers take to the mat in the gold medal bouts on Friday.

Leading the way for them in Thursday’s early rounds and the semifinals was the U23 European Championship silver medallist and U23 Worlds bronze medal winner Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) at 53kg.

Malanchuk didn’t concede a single point en route to the final, beating Venera NAFIKOVA (AIN) 8-0 in the quarterfinals and Laura STANELYTE (LTU) 7-0 in the semis. She will face home favorite Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) in the final.

Joining her in the title bout will be U20 European champion and U23 Worlds silver medallist Iryna BONDAR (UKR). Bondar wasn’t tested in her early rounds but was challenged in the semifinals by Alina KASABIEVA (AIN), who tried to make a late comeback. Bondar, however, prevailed 7-4 to set up a final encounter with Yana TRETSIAK (AIN) at 62kg.

The third Ukrainian in the final will be Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) who, like her compatriot, was dominant in all her bouts. She will face Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN) in the 72kg gold medal match.

Paris-bound and former world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) will wrestle for the 65kg after she showed the gulf in class at the age-group level. She scored a 10-0 win in the quarterfinal and then handed another Paris-bound wrestler, Nesrin BAS (TUR), a 8-2 loss. She will take on Ekaterina KOSHKINA (AIN) for the gold medal.

Koshkina dominated her semifinal 12-2 against Ingrid SKARD (NOR) but survived a scare in the quarterfinal against Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU). Trailing 10-5, Koshkina secured a fall over Zelenykh.

The 57kg final will be a battle between Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) and Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR).

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Natallia VARAKINA (AIN) df. Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR), 8-8

BRONZE: Ana Maria PIRVU (ROU) df. Khrystyna BASYCH (SVK), 6-2
BRONZE: Natalia WALCZAK (POL) df. Gabija DILYTE (LTU), 5-2

55kg
GOLD: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) df. Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), 5-0

BRONZE: Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) df. Tuba DEMIR (TUR), 8-4
BRONZE: Anastasiia IANDUSHKINA (AIN) df. Aliaksandra BULAVA (AIN), 13-3

59kg
GOLD: Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) df. Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN), 5-3

BRONZE: Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. Ana Maria PUIU (ROU), via fall (8-0)
BRONZE: Amel REBIHA (FRA) df. Sevim AKBAS (TUR), 6-1

68kg
GOLD: Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN) df. Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR), 10-2

BRONZE: Viktoryia RADZKOVA (AIN) df. Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER), via fall
BRONZE: Karolina POK (HUN) df. Luciana BEDA (MDA), 5-3

76kg
GOLD: Mariia ORLEVYCH (UKR) df. Laura KUEHN (GER), 6-0

BRONZE: Zsofia VIRAG (HUN) df. Nazar BATIR (TUR), 4-2
BRONZE: Olga KOZYREVA (AIN) df. Daniela TKACHUK (POL), via fall (5-4)

Semifinals

53kg
GOLD: Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) vs. Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE)

SF 1: Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. Laura STANELYTE (LTU), 7-0
SF 2: Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) df. Sevval CAYIR (TUR), 11-0

57kg
GOLD: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) vs. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR)

SF 1: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) df. Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR), 3-1
SF 2: Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) df. Volha HARDZEI (AIN), 8-0

62kg
GOLD: Yana TRETSIAK (AIN) vs. Iryna BONDAR (UKR)

SF 1: Yana TRETSIAK (AIN) df. Viktoria VESSO (EST), 4-4
SF 2: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Alina KASABIEVA (AIN), 7-4

65kg
GOLD: Ekaterina KOSHKINA (AIN) vs. Irina RINGACI (MDA)

SF 1: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df. Nesrin BAS (TUR), 8-2
SF 2: Ekaterina KOSHKINA (AIN) df. Ingrid SKARD (NOR), 12-2

72kg
GOLD: Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) vs. Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN)

SF 1: Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) df. Olesia BEZUGLOVA (AIN), via fall (7-0)
SF 2: Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN) df. Bukrenaz SERT (TUR), 2-1

Brazil to Play Host to 2018 Junior Pan American Championships, Aug. 17-19

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Malmgren boosts Olympics preparations with U23 Euro title