#Fortaleza2018

Canada Boasts Three Champs, USA Wins Women's Freestyle Team Title at #Fortaleza2018

By Taylor Miller

FORTALEZA, Brazil – North America ran away with the top-three spots in the team race of the women’s freestyle tournament at the 2018 Junior Pan American Championships, with USA taking first, followed by Mexico and Canada.

The U.S. won two weight classes with 2017 Cadet Pan American champion Cameron GUERIN claiming the crown at 55 kg and Brianna CSONTOS dominating at 62 kg.

Csontos was named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler and was awarded the Golden Boot after recording three first-period falls and a decision.

In addition to two champs, USA had five silver medalists, helping the squad to 172 points and its second team title of the weekend.

Mexico picked up three champions, including Mariela ESCALANTE HERNANDEZ, who defeated Greidy ESTUPINAN PEREZ (COL) in the 50 kg finals, 5-3.

Also claiming gold for Mexico was Atzimba LANDAVERDE MORENO at 65 kg and Miriam OLVERA GONZALEZ at 76 kg.

Overall, Mexico score 152 points with three champions, one runner-up and three bronze medalists.

Three 2017 Junior Pan Am runners-up made it to the top of the podium on Saturday, all hailing from Canada. Gold medalist included Jayd DAVIS at 53 kg, Hannah TAYLOR at 57 kg and Dejah SLATER at 68 kg.

Two additional bronze-medal performances and a silver pushed Canada onto the podium with 135 points and the third-place team trophy, edging out Brazil’s 131 points.

The two other wrestlers securing Pan American titles on Saturday were Katherine RENTERIA CUERO (COL) at 59 kg and Thais DE LUCAS DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) at 72 kg.

The tournament continues Sunday with men’s freestyle action beginning at 9 a.m. ET live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Team results (top five)
1. USA – 172
2. Mexico – 152
3. Canada – 135
4. Brazil – 131
5. Colombia – 80

Final results

50 kg
GOLD - Mariela ESCALANTE HERNANDEZ (MEX)
SILVER - Greidy ESTUPINAN PEREZ (COL)
BRONZE - Evelyn MATOS SANTOS (BRA)
BRONZE - Adela MORALES VARGAS (ECU)

53 kg
GOLD - Jayd DAVIS (CAN)
SILVER - Vayle BAKER (USA)
BRONZE - Rita ROJAS CHAVEZ (MEX)

55 kg
GOLD - Cameron GUERIN (USA)
SILVER - Karla ACOSTA MARTINEZ (MEX)
BRONZE - Becky CORNEJO MUNOZ (ECU)

57 kg
GOLD - Hannah TAYLOR (CAN)
SILVER - Michaela BECK (USA)
BRONZE - Susana LOZANO VEYTIA (MEX)

59 kg
GOLD - Katherine RENTERIA CUERO (COL)
SILVER - Brenda REYNA (USA)
BRONZE - Sara BRINKAC (CAN)

62 kg
GOLD - Brianna CSONTOS (USA)
SILVER - Paula MONTOYA GARCIA (COL)
BRONZE - Xiao LIU (CAN)

65 kg
GOLD - Atzimba LANDAVERDE MORENO (MEX)
SILVER - Megan FENDELET (CAN)
BRONZE - Andrea GARCIA MUNOZ (COL)

68 kg
GOLD - Dejah SLATER (CAN)
SILVER - Kayla MARANO (USA)
BRONZE - Grabriela PEDRO DA ROCHA (BRA)

72 kg
GOLD - Thais DE LUCAS DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
SILVER - Andrea SENNETT (USA)
BRONZE - Adaljiza SANCHEZ IBARRA (MEX)

76 kg
GOLD - Miriam OLVERA GONZALEZ (MEX)
SILVER - Beatriz RODRIGUES DOS REIS (BRA)

 

#WrestleBratislava

Sidakov vs Valiev set for European gold at 74kg

By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 8) -- Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) will wrestle for the European gold medal for the first time in his career.

The four-time world champion, who last and only time wrestled at the European Championships in 2016, entered the 74kg final in Bratislava, Slovakia on Tuesday. He will take on Paris Olympic bronze medalist Chermen VALIEV (ALB) for the gold medal.

Sidakov defeated Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 2-0, in the 74kg semifinal after he took out four-time European champion Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 4-2, in a close quarterfinal.

Valiev defeated Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) 6-0 in the other semifinal as he countered in style while keeping his attacks. He scored from leg-attack when Novruzov was on the activity clock and countered an attempted attack from Novruzov for another takedown.

A stepout made it 6-0 as Valiev booked his spot in the final against Sidakov, who won their last meeting 3-2 three years ago.

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) battles Zelimkhan HARUTYUNYAN (ALB) in the 61kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 61kg, Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) moved to the final after beating Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) 5-2 in a thrilling semifinal. Harutyunyan scored a takedown and lace to lead 4-0 in the first period and maintained the lead for a long time before Abakarov hit a arm-throw for two points. Harutyunyan kept the 4-2 lead despite Abakarov's desperate attempts to score.

The four-time European champion will face Zavur UGUEV (UWW) for the gold medal after the Tokyo Olympic champion rocked Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW) 10-0 in a one-sided semifinal. Mixing his attacks, Uguev hit a double-leg for four to finish the bout.

Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW)Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) hits a cradle throw on Artur NAIFONOV (UWW) in their 86kg semifinal during the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The 86kg final will between Olympic champion Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) and Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW), a rematch of the 2020 European final at 79kg which Kadzimahamedau won.

Kadzimahamedau had to pull out his iconic cradle for four to pull off a win over Artur NAIFONOV (GRE). He was trailing 3-2 when he hit the move and secured a 6-3 win.

Ramazanov entered the final after he had a field day in Bratislava. He secured a fall over over Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) in the semifinal. He was ahead 5-0 before a big double-leg attack for two points and figure-four turn made it 9-0. He held Jezierzanski on the back and secured the fall.

Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) returned to the European final, although in a new weight class. The Paris Olympic bronze medalist at 86kg was wrestling at 92kg and survived a scare against former European champion Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR), winning 3-3 on criteria.

Akturk fell behind 2-1 and scored a stepout with 10 seconds left on the clock to make it 2-2 but Kurugliev led on criteria for his takedown in the first period. Turkiye challenged the call asking for a takedown but lost the challenge to make 3-2 for Kurugliev.

Akturk scored another stepout but that was all he could do in the final 10 seconds and Kurugliev won 3-3.

He will take on Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) for the gold medal after the Azerbaijan wrestler defeated world silver medalist Mirani MAISURADZE (GEO) 5-2 in the other semifinal.

At 125kg, Paris Olympic bronze medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) will clash with Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) for the gold medal after the two had to dug deep in the semifinals.

Meshvildishvili hung on for a 8-5 win over Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW) after the latter made it 6-5.

Manashvili scored a four-pointer to beat Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 8-3 and enter the gold medal bout.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. Zavur UGUEV (UWW)

SF 1: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), 5-2
SF 2: Zavur UGUEV (UWW) df. Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW), 10-0

74kg
GOLD: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) vs. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW)

SF 1: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) df. Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE), 6-0
SF 2: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) df. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 2-0

86kg
GOLD: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) vs. Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW)

SF 1: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) df. Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL), via fall (9-0)
SF 2: Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) df. Artur NAIFONOV (UWW), 6-3

92kg
GOLD: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) vs. Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE)

SF 1: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 5-2
SF 2: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) df. Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR), 3-3

125kg
GOLD: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) vs. Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO)

SF 1: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) df. Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW), 8-5
SF 2: Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) df. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 8-3