Live Blog: Poland Open Ranking Series, Day One

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 - 08:40 By Eric Olanowski

Poland Open Ranking Series begins in Warsaw with five freestyle weight categories in action on Monday.

Tuesday's Final Matchups:
57kg: Makhmudjon SHAVKATOV (UZB) vs. Stevan Andria MICIC (SRB) (Round 3)
70kg: Alec PANTALEO (USA) vs. James GREEN (USA)
79kg: Rashid KURBANOV (UZB) vs. Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK)
86kg: Sandro AMINASHVILI (GEO) vs. Zahid VALENCIA (USA)
97kg: Ali Khalil SHABANIBENGAR (IRI) vs. Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)

13:22: That'll do it for the morning session. We'll see you back here at 18:00 (local time) for the Day One medal matches.

13:13: Aliyev scores five unanswered points in the second period, but Pantaleo's four-point move in the first period pushes him past the three-time world champ, 6-6. He'll wrestle the winner of James Malcolm GREEN (USA) and Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO), who are wrestling now on Mat B.

13:08: What a first period for Alec PANTALEO (USA). He scored a four-point move and a two-point takedown and leads three-time world champion Haji Aliyev, 6-1, after the first period.

13:03: James GREEN (USA) and Iakobishvili are on the clock, too. They'll wrestle at 13:09 on Mat B.

12:57: We'll take a quick seven-minute break to give Aliyev some rest time. When the time is up, he'll take on Alec PANTALEO (USA) for a spot in tonight's 70kg finals.

12:37: World champs Aliyev and Iakobishvili are wrestling right now on Mat A!

12:27: Mohammadian held on to win a close battle against Karimmachiani. He scored a takedown and gave up a pair of one-point moves in the second period but held the criteria advantage. He'll now take on Ali SHABANIBENGAR (IRI) in tonight's 97kg gold-medal match.

12:22: Mohammadian struck first with the matches only takedown. He leads, 2-0, after the first period.

12:20: HERE. WE. GO! MAT A: Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) and Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) are wrestling now!

12:14: World champions Haji Aliyev (AZE) and Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) are up in three matches on Mat A.

11:56: With Alireza Mohammad KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) and Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) wrestling in the 97kg semifinals, it's important to note that this plays a major role in who represents Iran at the Tokyo Olympic Games. I spoke with the Iranian Wrestling Federation, and they said, "We have a qualification cycle. This consists of the performances of each wrestler during the last 7 months (in training and competitions) and for sure Poland Rankings will be one part of this cycle."

11:52: Deepak PUNIA (IND) won't compete at the Poland Open. The Indian pulled out of the competition with an elbow injury. That pushes Zahid VALENCIA (USA) into the semifinals. He'll take on the winner of Tokyo Olympians Stefan REICHMUTH (SUI) and Myles AMINE (SMR).

11:49: Karimmachiani just put on a show! He thumped Conyedo, 11-0, in just five minutes. He'll now take on Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI).

11:38: It feels like he just wrestled, but Conyedo is up again! He's wrestling two-time world silver medalist Alireza Mohammad KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI).

11:30: That was close, but Zahid VALENCIA (USA) got the job done. He hung on late to defeat Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL), 6-5. He'll square off against '19 world silver medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND).

Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA) upset Olympic champion Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE), 2-2, in their opening-round meeting. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

11:21: We're not even one with our first cup of coffee and we already have a massive upset. Italy Abraham Conyedo scored the matches only takedown and upset Olympic champion Sharifov in their opening-round meet.

11:14: This should be a good one on Mat A. It's Olympic champion Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) and world bronze medalist Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA). They've both qualified their nation's for the Tokyo Olympic Games at 97kg.

11:13: I spoke too soon! As I wrote Aliyev trailed, 2-1, he strung together seven unanswered points and won the match, 8-2. That win pushed him into his 70kg Round 2 match against Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ).

11:06: It's still early, but three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE) trails Sirojiddin KHASANOV (UZB), 2-1, with short time left in the first period. They are wrestling on Mat C.

11:00: Good morning, wrestling fans! For those asking about brackets: instead of releasing them all at once, they'll be released each morning after weigh-ins.

#WrestleZagreb

Duke stuns Diakomihalis to make U.S. team for World Championships

Sunday, June 15, 2025 - 09:00 By United World Wrestling Press

NEWARK, United States (June 14) -- United States determined its Freestyle team in nine weight classes for the World Championships after the Final X which was held Saturday in Newark, New Jersey.

One spot -- 61kg -- will be determined on a later date as Vitali ARUJAU (USA) was allowed a delay in his playoff against Jaxen FORREST (USA) due to an injury.

Despite the 61kg playoff not scheduled for Saturday, there was no lack of surprises at the Final X, a tournament designated to select the final 10 wrestlers for the U.S. team.

The biggest surprised came at 70kg as high school sensation Peter DUKE defeated former world silver medalist John DIAKOMIHALIS in a best-of-three series and make his first senior World Championships team.

The win for Duke came in dramatic fashion as he pinned Diakomihalis the third and final bout of the series. Diakomihalis opened with a big 10-0 technical superiority win over Duke in the first bout. However, Duke bounced back with a big 17-10 win in the second bout. Diakomihalis led 9-2 but Duke hit a pair of four-point moves, followed by turns in par terre to win and force the third bout.

In the third bout, Diakomihalis and Duke were in a scramble and the former tried a split-leg defense but was pushed on his back on the mat and Duke kept him there for the fall.

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"That first match, [I] didn't wrestle my best," Duke said. "It's a feel match. Didn't doubt myself once."

Duke later revealed that he saw an interview in which Diakomihalis said he would "try to mangle" Duke.

"I took that personal," Duke said. "I'm not going to let that slide. He's a good mentor to me, but I work my butt too hard to be mangled."

Apart from Diakomihalis, Kyle DAKE was fell short in his bid to make the team at 86kg, a big jump from 74kg, in which he won bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.

Dake fell to Zahid VALENCIA who won two straight matches to make the team. After winning his first bout 5-3, Valencia scored a takedown and leg-lace turn for a 4-0 lead in the first period, and went on to win 4-1. Valencia is a bronze medalist from 2023 World Championships at 92kg.

Paris Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE made his first-ever World Championships team two-match sweep over world U20 champion Luke LILLEDAHL at 57kg. Lee won the second match 6-0, scoring all of his points in the first period with a takedown, a leg lace and an exposure from the feet. Lee won the first match 7-2, with a key takedown and two gut wrenches in the first period.

At 74kg, age David CARR defeated Mitchell MESSENBRINK in two straight matches. Carr won the first bout 4-3, scoring two takedowns in the second period. He completed the series win with another comeback. Trailing 4-2 in the second period, Carr scored a clutch takedown to tie the match at 4-4 to win by criteria.

Former world U23 champion Wyatt HENDRICKSON the 125kg series in two straight matches over Trent HILLGER. After a 10-0 technical superiority win in the fist bout, Hendrickson was tested in the second but he eventually won 20-14 to wrap up the series over Hillger. Hendrickson made global headlines in March when he won an NCAA title beating 2020 Olympic champion Gable STEVESON in the final.

Trent HIDLAY needed just two bouts at 92kg to defeat Joshua BARR and earn a spot on the team. Hidlay won the first bout 6-1 but the second win proved much difficult to come. All five points were stepout points with Hidlay winning 3-2.

At 65kg, Real WOODS denied Joseph MCKENNA a spot on the world team after posting two straight wins. Both matches had a key four-point move by Woods that made the difference. In the second match, Woods opened the match with a four-pointer, which held up when the match ended 4-4, giving Woods criteria. McKenna challenged, seeking a point on a singlet pull, which was denied, making in 5-4.

Levi HAINES swept his 79kg series in two straight over Evan WICK. In the second match, Haines scored a 6-1 win, with a key takedown and an exposure in the second period for the margin of victory. In the first match, Haines scored an impressive 10-0 first-period technical fall.

Past world and Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER made his 11th straight world/Olympic team for the U.S. after he defeated Hayden ZILLMER. In the deciding second match, Snyder broke a 2-2 tie with two takedowns and a turn in the second period for an 8-2 win.

The 61kg playoff to decide the winner between Arujau and Forrest will be held Monday, July 14 at the Fargodome in Fargo.

RESULTS (Best of three)

57kg
Spencer LEE df. Luke LILLEDAHL, 2-0

Bout 1: Lee df. Lilledahl, 7-2
Bout 2: Lee df. Lilledahl, 6-0

65kg
Real WOODS df. Joseph MCKENNA, 2-0

Bout 1: Woods df. McKenna, 7-3
Bout 2: Woods df. McKenna, 5-4

70kg
Peter DUKE df. John DIAKOMIHALIS, 2-1

Bout 1: Diakomihalis df. Duke, 10-0
Bout 2: Duke df. Diakomihalis, 17-10
Bout 3: Duke df. Diakomihalis, via fall

74kg
David CARR df. Mitchell MESENBRINK, 2-0

Bout 1: Carr df. Mesenbrink, 4-3
Bout 2: Carr df. Mesenbrink, 4-4

79kg
Levi HAINES df. Evan WICK, 2-0

Bout 1: Haines df. Wick, 10-0
Bout 2: Haines df. Wick, 6-1

86kg
Zahid VALENCIA df. Kyle DAKE, 2-0

Bout 1: Valencia df. Dake, 5-3
Bout 2: Valencia df. Dake, 4-1

92kg
Trent HIDLAY df. Joshua BARR, 2-0

Bout 1: Hidlay df. Barr, 6-1
Bout 2: Hidlay df. Barr, 3-2

97kg
Kyle SNYDER df. Hayden ZILLMER, 2-0

Bout 1: Snyder df. Zillmer, 8-0
Bout 2: Snyder df. Zillmer, 8-2

125kg
Wyatt HENDRICKSON df. Trent HILLGER, 2-0

Bout 1: Hendrickson df. Hillger, 10-0
Bout 2: Hendrickson df. Hillger, 20-14

Live Blog: Poland Open Ranking Series, Day One

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Duke stuns Diakomihalis to make U.S. team for World Championships