wrestleOaxtepec

Canada, Cuba and USA win Junior Men’s Freestyle Titles at #WrestleOaxtepec

Sunday, June 13, 2021 - 03:59 By Taylor Miller

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OAXTEPEC, Mexico – Four divisions were contested today in the penultimate day of the Cadet and Junior Pan American Championships in Oaxtepec, Mexico. Champions were crowned in the Junior men’s freestyle, Junior women’s freestyle, Cadet women’s freestyle and Cadet Greco-Roman.

This week, the top-eight in the Olympic weights of the Junior divisions will earn bids to the 2021 Junior Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, in December.

With Junior men’s freestyle starting today, three countries won gold medals, including Osmany DIVERSENT MARTINEZ (CUB) at 57 kg, Carter YOUNG (USA) at 61 kg, Lachlan MCNEIL (CAN) at 65 kg and Cade DEVOS (USA) at 74 kg.

The Junior women’s freestyle and Cadet women’s freestyle tournaments ended today. Winning the Junior titles were Katerina Sheila LANGE (USA) at 65 kg and Lillian FREITAS (USA) at 72 kg. Champions in the Cadet division included Debanhi TAPIA GARCIA (MEX) at 69 kg and Rose CASSIOPPI (USA) at 73 kg.

Cadet Greco-Roman started today with the USA winning each of the weight classes. Earning titles were Bo BASSETT (USA) at 45 kg, Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) at 48 kg, Alan KOEHLER (USA) at 51 kg and Kael LAURIDSEN (USA) at 55 kg.

The tournament wraps up tomorrow, starting at 9 a.m. CT live on uww.org.

En espanol
OAXTEPEC, Mexico – Cuatro divisiones se disputaron hoy en la penúltima dia del Campeonato Panamericano Cadete y Juvenil en Oaxtepec, México. Los campeones se coronaron en estilo libre masculino juvenil, estilo libre femenino juvenil, estilo libre femenino cadete y grecorromano cadete.

Esta semana, los ocho mejores atletas en los pesos olímpicos de las divisiones Junior ganarán candidaturas para los Juegos Panamericanos Junior 2021 en Cali, Colombia, en diciembre.

Con el estilo libre masculino junior a partir de hoy, tres países ganaron medallas de oro, incluido Osmany DIVERSENT MARTINEZ (CUB) en 57 kg, Carter YOUNG (USA) en 61 kg, Lachlan MCNEIL (CAN) en 65 kg y Cade DEVOS (USA) en 74 kg. .

Los torneos de estilo libre femenino junior y estilo libre femenino cadete terminaron hoy. Las ganadoras de los títulos Junior fueron Katerina Sheila LANGE (USA) en 65 kg y Lillian FREITAS (USA) en 72 kg. Los campeones en la división cadete incluyeron a Debanhi TAPIA GARCIA (MEX) en 69 kg y Rose CASSIOPPI (USA) en 73 kg.

El torneo grecorromano cadete comenzó hoy y USA gano cada una de las categorías de peso. Los títulos ganadores fueron Bo BASSETT (USA) en 45 kg, Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) en 48 kg, Alan KOEHLER (USA) en 51 kg y Kael LAURIDSEN (USA) en 55 kg.

El torneo concluye mañana, a partir de las 9 a.m. CT en vivo en uww.org.

JUNIOR WOMEN’S FREESTYLE RESULTS
65 kg
GOLD - Katerina Sheila LANGE (USA)
SILVER - Aylah Mohammed MAYALI (CAN)
BRONZE - Karime Anel MARTINEZ TERAN (MEX)

72 kg
GOLD - Lillian FREITAS (USA)
SILVER - Fernanda MARQUEZ MARTINEZ (MEX)

JUNIOR MEN’S FREESTYLE RESULTS
57 kg
GOLD - Osmany DIVERSENT MARTINEZ (CUB)
SILVER - Ryan MILLER (USA)
BRONZE - Fotis PAPADOPOULOS (CAN)
BRONZE - Diego ZULUAGA CUEVAS (COL)

61 kg
GOLD – Carter YOUNG (USA)
SILVER - Diego OLVERA RODRIGUEZ (MEX)
BRONZE - Bryan DE OLIVEIRA PEREIRA (BRA)
BRONZE - Kevin CARRASCO ARTEAGA (PAN)

65 kg
GOLD - Lachlan MCNEIL (CAN)
SILVER - Angel TINOCO TORRES (PER)
BRONZE - Chance LAMER (USA)
BRONZE - Leandro VALLEJO CABRERA (DOM)

74 kg
GOLD - Cade DEVOS (USA)
SILVER - Patrik LEDER (CAN)
BRONZE- Orislandy PERDOMO BROOKS (CUB)
BRONZE - Juan Gabriel MARTINEZ (DOM)

CADET WOMEN’S FREESTYLE RESULTS
69 kg
GOLD - Debanhi TAPIA GARCIA (MEX)
SILVER - Margaret GRAHAM (USA)
BRONZE - Nataly OVANDO ROJAS (CHI)

73 kg
GOLD - Rose CASSIOPPI (USA)
SILVER - Karime CORTES RESENDIZ (MEX)
BROZNE - Maria DE ALMEIDA DOS SANTOS (BRA)

CADET GRECO-ROMAN RESULTS
45 kg
GOLD - Bo BASSETT (USA)
SILVER - Roger KANTUN KU (MEX)
BRONZE - Joao AMORIM DE MOURA (BRA)

48 kg
GOLD - Luke LILLEDAHL (USA)
SILVER - Abel SANCHEZ JUAREZ (PER)
BRONZE - Marco GARCIA ALVAREZ (MEX)

51 kg
GOLD - Alan KOEHLER (USA)
SILVER - Yan LANDIM RIBEIRO (BRA)
BRONZE - Pedro TORIBIO TORRES (PER)

55 kg
GOLD - Kael LAURIDSEN (USA)
SILVER - Diego TERRIQUEZ IBARRA (MEX)
BRONZE - Patrick RODRIGUEZ QUINTO (ECU)

#IranWrestling

Inspired by Olympic Gold, Esmaeili's Cousins Win U17 Asian Titles

Friday, June 12, 2026 - 12:33 By Vinay Siwach

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DA NANG, Vietnam (June 11) -- When 20-year-old Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) returned to Iran after winning Olympic gold in Greco-Roman 67kg at the Paris Games, he came home with more than just a medal around his neck. He returned with proof that wrestling could change lives.

Raised in poverty in Dezful, Khuzestan Province, Esmaeili's improbable run to Olympic gold transformed him overnight into a national sensation. He was showered with gifts, cash awards and job offers.

The ripples of that triumph are still being felt. Last month, two of Esmaeili's own cousins, Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) and Vahid ASHIRI (IRI), won gold medals at the U17 Asian Championships in Da Nang after taking up wrestling only two years ago, inspired by his Olympic success and the hero's welcome he received back home.

Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI)
Paris Olympic champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI), left, with his cousin Ali who won 48kg gold medal at the U17 Asian Championships.

Ali, whose father is Esmaeili's uncle, competed in Greco-Roman 48kg and won three bouts to capture the gold medal. He outscored his opponents 22-2 including two technical superiority wins.

Another cousin from his mother's side, Ashiri, competed in the Greco-Roman 55kg weight class and was crowned champion after four victories. He defeated wrestlers from India, Jordan, China and Kyrgyzstan with scores of 6-1, 5-2, 11-1, and 3-1 to capture the Asian title.

While they were winning gold medals in Vietnam, Olympic champion Esmaeili was watching from Iran.

"I watched their Asian finals and I always follow their training," Esmaeili told United World Wrestling. "We are from the same club and both are talented."

Ali ESMAEILI (IRI)Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) became the U17 Asian champion at 48kg in Greco-Roman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The two took up wrestling at the age of 14 and quickly rose through the province before making it to the Iran team for the U17 Asian Championships. Ali Esmaeili feels that Saeid's presence motivates him to work harder to achieve medals in wrestling.

"I got into wrestling after watching Saeid's Olympic final. In 2 years, with his help, I managed to become the Asian champion. Every time I see Saeid, I feel really good and I am proud of him."

Though Esmaeili trains at the national camp in Tehran, he does not miss a chance to train the youngsters when he returns home and practices in Dezful.

"I tried to answer every question they asked me about wrestling carefully and I also taught them some of my techniques," he said.

Vahid ASHIRI (IRI)Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) claimed the 55kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Ashiri also stepped foot in the club after watching Esmaeili's thrilling Paris campaign. Two years later, he is proud to represent both the Esmaeili family and the club.

"After Saeid won the gold medal, I went to the club where he trains and whenever I had any questions, he explained them to me carefully," Ashiri said. "I am truly proud to be a member of the club and a family with such a personality."

The next stop for both Ali and Ashiri will be the U17 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan from July 28 to August 2.

"Just like the Asian Championships, I want to repeat the success at the World Championships," Ali said.

RESULTS

48kg
Final: Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Javokhir SHARIFBOEV (UZB), 4-2
Semifinal: Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Umarali BERDALIEV (KGZ), 9-0
Quarterfinal: Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Liaotan LAN (CHN), 9-0

55kg
Final: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. Syimyk ASKAROV (KGZ), 3-1
Semifinal: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. Zihao ZHANG (CHN), 11-1
Quarterfinal: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. Adam ABU FARE (JOR), 5-2
Qualification: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. HARION (IND), 6-1