Brazil’s Rodrigues Wins Second-Consecutive Pan Am Title, Secures Golden Boot

Sunday, May 30, 2021 - 03:22 By Taylor Miller

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) took out U23 World champion Alexandria TOWN (CAN) twice on Saturday to win the gold medal at 57kg at the 2021 Pan American Championships.

Earlier in the day, Rodrigues pinned Town in the first period, and in the final, the Brazilian repeated her effort with another fall, this time in the second period for her second-consecutive Pan American title. For her performance, Rodrigues earned the Golden Boot as the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.

Five wrestlers from the United States won titles in women’s freestyle on Saturday, including five-time World champion Adeline GRAY (USA), 2019 World champion Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA), 2018 World silver medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), Olympian Kayla MIRACLE (USA) and Cadet World champion Ronna HEATON (USA).

Competing at 76kg, Gray, who will wrestle in her second Olympic Games later this year, claimed four wins on the day. In her final bout of the competition, Gray took on 2014 World silver medalist Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA), whom she defeated 8-0. The win marks her fourth Pan American gold medal. She won three at the Championships and one at the Pan Am Games in 2015.

Mensah-Stock didn’t spend much time on the mat en route to her winning the 68kg crown for the fourth-straight time. In the gold-medal match, Mensah-Stock took out two-time Pan Am finalist Yessica OVIEDO PEREZ (DOM), 10-4.

Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) claimed the 50kg with a 10-0 shutout over Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU). (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Olympian Sarah Hildebrandt handling captured the crown at 50kg. To take gold, she downed 2020 Pan Am bronze medalist and past Junior Pan Am champion Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU) with a 10-0 victory. This is Hildebrandt’s sixth-overall continental gold medal.

Miracle, a U23 World silver medalist, dominated 2019 Pan American champion Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 6-0, recording her second win of the day over the Brazilian. Earlier in the day, Miracle won 10-0 to start her tournament. She adds to her 2019 Pan Am Games title.

Taking the crown at 53kg, Ronna HEATON (USA) defeated 2011 Junior World bronze medalist Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU). Earlier in the tournament, Valverde won 10-0 over the American, but in their second matchup, Heaton was able to turn the tables in her favor, 9-6.

In a special and emotional moment during women’s freestyle competition, longtime Argentinian representative and four-time Pan American medalist Luz VAZQUEZ (ARG) retired from competition after winning bronze at 68kg.

In the team race, USA won with 240 points. Taking second was Brazil with 144 points, and rounding out the top-three was Canada with 115 points.

Nathan JACKSON (USA) was one of two USA freestylers who were crowned champions on Saturday. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Alongside the six women’s freestyle weights, two men’s freestyle weights were contested on Saturday, 79kg and 92kg, both of which the USA won.

Thomas GANTT (USA) earned the gold at 79kg, defeating Nestor TAFUR BARRIOS (COL) with an 8-0 win in the finals. Overall, he won four matches on the day, including three by technical superiorities.

In his Pan American debut, Nathan JACKSON (USA) collected the gold medal in round-robin action at 92kg. In his last bout, Jackson defeated Jeremy POIRIER (CAN) with an impressive 10-0 first-period performance.

The competition continues Sunday with the final eight weight classes in men’s freestyle. Action begins at 12 p.m. ET live on uww.org.

En Espanol

CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA – Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) derrotó a la campeona mundial U23 Alexandria TOWN (CAN) dos veces para ganar la medalla de oro en 57kg en el campeonato panamericano en la Ciudad de Guatemala el sábado.

Más temprano en el día, Rodrigues venció a Town por puesta espalda en el primer periodo, compitiendo en una competencia en estilo Nordic. En el final, Rodrigues ganó otra vez por puesta espalda en 4:23. Es su segundo título panamericano consecutivo. Gracias a su gran día, Rodrigues recibió el botín de oro.

Cinco estadounidenses reclamó títulos en estilo libre femenino, incluyendo cinco veces campeona mundial Adeline GRAY (USA), campeona mundial 2019 Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA), medallista mundial 2018 Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), olímpica Kayla MIRACLE (USA) y campeona mundial cadete Ronna HEATON (USA).

Compitiendo en la categoría 76kg, Gray, una dos veces olímpica, emergió victoriosa en cuatro combates. En el final, se enfrentó a medallista de plata mundial 2014 Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA). Gray dominó por 8-0. Es su cuarta medalla de oro panamericana. Ganó los campeonatos panamericanos en 2018 y 2019, y también tiene un oro de los Juegos Panamericanos Toronto en 2015.

Mensah-Stock no estaba en el colchón por mucho tiempo hoy. Ella triunfó en los tres combates en 68kg por la corona. En la final, Mensah-Stock derrotó a Yessica OVIEDO PEREZ (DOM), una dos veces finalista panamericana, con un 10-4 victoria. El oro marca su cuarto título panamericano consecutivo.

Hildebrandt, olímpica, dominó a la categoría 50kg. En el final, venció a Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU), una medallista de bronce panamericana 2020, con una puntuación 10-0. Es su sexto medalla de oro panamericano.

En el final en la categoría 62kg, olímpica Miracle, una medallista de plata mundial U23, dominó a la campeona panamericana 2019 Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 6-0, por la segunda vez hoy para ganar su segunda oro panamericano. Esta mañana, Miracle abrió su torneo contra Nunes y ganó 10-0. Ella también tiene un oro de los Juegos Panamericanos Lima en 2019.

En la categoría 53kg, Ronna HEATON (USA) superó contra medallista mundial juvenil Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) en el final, vengando una pérdida de Valverde, 10-0, más temprano en el día. Heaton estaba perdiendo 6-0 pero anotó nueve puntos para ganar el oro, 9-6.

En un momento muy especial durante la competencia de estilo libre femenino, la representante argentina y cuatro veces medallista panamericana Luz VAZQUEZ (ARG) se retiró de la competencia después de ganar el bronce en 68kg.

USA capturó el título del equipo con 240 puntos. Ganando la plata fue Brasil con 144 puntos, y en el tercer lugar fue Canadá con 115 puntos.

Además de las seis categorías de estilo libre femenino el sábado, se disputaron dos pesos de estilo libre masculino, 79kg y 92kg. USA ganó ambos.

Thomas GANTT ganó el oro en la categoría 79kg, derrotando a Nestor TAFUR BARRIOS (COL) en el final, 8-0. En total, Gantt reclamó cuatro victorias, incluyendo tres por superioridades técnicas.

En 92kg, Nathan JACKSON (USA) recibió el oro en su debut panamericano. Compitiendo en un round robin, Jackson ganó cuatro peleas. Para el título, Jackson venció contra Jeremy POIRIER (CAN), 10-0, en el primer periodo.

La competencia sigue mañana con las ocho categorías restantes en estilo libre masculino. Empieza a las 10 a.m. hora local. Se puede ver en uww.org.

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE RESULTS
50kg
GOLD – Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU), 10-0
BRONZE – Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA) df. Yusmy CHAPARRO URREGO (COL), 3-0
BRONZE – Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG) df. Madison PARKS (CAN), 5-2

53kg
GOLD – Ronna HEATON (USA) df. Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU), 9-6
BRONZE – Sabrina GAMA TAPAJOS (BRA) df. Laura PEREDO TORRES (MEX), 2-2

57kg
GOLD – Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) df. Alexandria TOWN (CAN), fall 3:40
BRONZE – Cameron GUERIN (USA) df. Alma VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX), 7-2

62kg
GOLD – Kayla MIRACLE (USA) df. Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 6-0
BRONZE – Alejandra ROMERO BONILLA (MEX) df. Leonela AYOVI PARRAGA (ECU), 11-0

68kg
GOLD – Tamyra STOCK MENSAH (USA) df. Yessica OVIEDO PEREZ (DOM), 10-4
BRONZE – Luz Clara VAZQUEZ (ARG) df. Ambar GARNICA FLORES (MEX), fall 4:23
BRONZE – Grabriela PEDRO DA ROCHA (BRA) df. Alexia SHERLAND (CAN), 10-0

76kg
GOLD – Adeline GRAY (USA)
SILVER – Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU)
BRONZE – Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA)

MEN’S FREESTYLE
79kg
GOLD – Thomas GANTT (USA) df. Nestor TAFUR BARRIOS (COL), 8-0
BRONZE – Samuel BARMISH (CAN) df. Jorge LLANO (ARG), 6-0

92kg
GOLD – Nathan JACKSON (USA)
SILVER – Jeremy POIRIER (CAN)
BRONZE – Angel BAUTISTA LOPEZ (MEX)

#WrestleBucharest

Dudaev gives Albania first ever Euro gold; Usmanov beats Kadzimahamedau

Sunday, February 18, 2024 - 00:08 By Vinay Siwach

BUCHAREST, Romania (February 17) -- Islam DUDAEV (ALB) is 29 years old. He has won medals at odd tournaments including two bronze medals at the U23 World Championships. But he could not convince himself that he would make it big one day. He even considered retiring early from wrestling.

Thankfully for Dudaev and Albania, the wrestler did not act upon his thoughts as on Friday in Bucharest, Dudaev became Albania's first-ever European champion.

Dudaev reached the final of a championship on Friday and went one step further by winning the 65kg gold medal. He defeated Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Gazdhimurad RASHIDOV (AIN) in the final to capture the title.

"I am thrilled to be the first-ever European champion from Albania," Dudaev said. "Nothing worked out for a long time. I am already 29 years old. It’s my first-ever big win so far. There were so many disappointments on my way. I realized that at the age of 29 years, I should have achieved something important before retiring."

Before Dudaev, three-time Olympian Sahit PRIZRENI (ALB) and world champion Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) reached the final at the European Championships but both could not win the gold medal.

Prizreni was a silver medalist at the 2011 European Championships while Abakarov was a silver medalist at last year's tournament.

Islam DUDAEV (ALB) wrestles Gazhdimurad RASHIDOV (AIN) in the 65kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Starting as the underdog against Rashidov, Dudaev got the first activity point but Rashidov took a 1-1 criteria lead when Dudaev failed to score when put on the 30-second activity clock.

The referee gave a third passivity in the bout, this time on Rashidov who once again did not score in the stipulated 30 seconds which gave a clear 2-1 lead to Dudaev which he held till the end of the bout.

"I know Rashidov well," he said. "We used to train together, I know how he wrestles. When I made it to the final match, I was only getting ready to win. I didn’t pay attention to his titles."

The gold medal was Dudaev's biggest win of his career. Back when he wrestled his first European Championships in 2022, he won a bronze medal and finished ninth at the 2022 World Championships. In 2023, he was ninth at the European Championships and 33rd at the World Championships.

"When I transferred to wrestle for Albania, I had great hopes," he said. "It was quite good at the beginning, I wrestled well and won bronze at the Europeans, but then everything went down. Every year it was just getting worse and worse. This year promised myself to prepare well. I was close to retiring, but this year I hope to achieve everything."

Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) scores two points against Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (AIN) in the 79kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Usmanov edges Kadzimahamedau

In a battle of world champion and Olympic silver medalist, Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) got a big win over Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (AIN) in a fiercely contested 79kg final in Bucharest.

Both wrestlers began the final on a cautious note and were warned for passivity. But it was Usmanov who was hit with a second passivity warning and Kadzimahamedau got the first point and went to the break leading 1-0.

Kadzimahamedau scored a stepout to start the second period but Usmanov replied with a takedown to lead 2-2 on criteria. Kadzimahamedau used a duck-under to exposure for two points but Usmanov was also awarded two as he continued to lead 4-4 on criteria.

With less than a minute left, Kadzimahamedau went for another attack and this time Usmanov locked a cradle to score two points but also landed in danger which gave Kadzimahamedau two points. As the sequence finished, Kadzimahamedau was in danger again, adding two more points to Usmanov's score. Kadzimahamedau challenged the call but lost and Usmanov won 9-6.

Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) is now a two-time European champion. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) and Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) repeated as European champions in Bucharest.

At 97kg, Matcharashvili was up against Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) in a repeat of last year's final. While the final in Zagreb was a tense one with just a point giving Matcharashvili the title, the final in Bucharest was very one-sided as the Georgian destroyed Magomedov.

After scoring two stepouts, Matcharashvili managed to score a takedown and turn Magomedov to lead 7-0 before the break. He then played the clock out in the second period to win the gold medal 7-1 and his second European title.

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) took only 54 seconds to win his 57kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Harutyunyan extended his record of Armenia's multiple-time European champion in Freestyle to four as he defeated Muhammat KARAVUS (TUR) 10-0 in just 54 seconds of the 57kg final.

In his typical style, Harutyunyan scored a takedown and transitioned to a lace, building a 6-0 lead. Karavus tried escaping the hold but could never come out of the danger position and ultimately gave up two points twice for being in danger.

"It was very important for me to win the fourth gold medal, especially in the 57kg weight category," Harutyunyan said. "This can be considered a step towards the Olympics. I will strive to add more gold medals to my collection."

Harutyunyan was a class apart from his competition in Bucharest, winning his three matches via superiority. In total, he spent only 4 minutes and 20 seconds on the mat in the three matches.

"Every tournament has its challenges," he said. "I trained day and night, struggled with weight, cried, and trained for several months for this result. I can say that no gold medal comes easily. For my weight category, I don't weigh very much. I lost 4-5kg, but I know that my opponents lose 7-8kg, and even more."

Armenia won the second gold medal of the night when Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) defeated Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) 7-3 in the 70kg final.

Andreasyan took the lead when Kemertelidze was called passive but the Gerogian scored a takedown before the break to lead 3-1 at the break. Andreasyan was called passive in the second period which made Kemertelidze's lead 3-1.

It was cut to 3-2 when Andreasyan managed to push him out with 54 seconds left on the clock. He scored another stepout with 33 seconds left but Kemertelidze still held a 3-3 criteria lead. But Andreasyan hit a four-pointer using the underhook in the last 15 seconds to claim a 7-3 win and the gold medal.

He had also defeated world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) in the final 15 seconds of the semifinal with a front headlock for four points.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR), 10-0

BRONZE: Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) df. Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA), 11-0
BRONZE: Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) df. Kamil KERYMOV (UKR), 10-8

65kg
GOLD: Islam DUDAEV (ALB) df. Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (AIN), 2-1

BRONZE: Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE) df. Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA), 4-0
BRONZE: Andre CLARKE (GER) df. Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO), 5-3

70kg
GOLD: Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) df. Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO), 7-3

BRONZE: Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN) df. Seyfulla ITAEV (FRA), 2-1
BRONZE: Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) df. Haydar YAVUZ (TUR), 11-3

79kg
GOLD: Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) df. Magomedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (AIN), 9-6

BRONZE: Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) df. Ramazan SARI (TUR), 5-1
BRONZE: Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) df. Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), 6-4

97kg
GOLD: Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) df. Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE), 7-1

BRONZE: Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR) df. Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (AIN), 6-5
BRONZE: Vladislav BAITCAEV (HUN) df. Batyrbek TCAKULOV (SVK), 4-1

Brazil’s Rodrigues Wins Second-Consecutive Pan Am Title, Secures Golden Boot

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Dudaev gives Albania first ever Euro gold; Usmanov beats Kadzimahamedau