#WrestleBuenosAires

Nunes de Oliveira Avenges World Championships Loss to Mallory Velte at #WrestleBuenosAires

By Taylor Miller

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) won the 62 kg women’s freestyle Pan Am Championships title on Saturday night, avenging a loss from World Championships to Mallory VELTE (USA).

Nunes de Oliveira fell short of a World bronze medal in October, losing to Velte in the bronze-medal match, 2-1. Today, she flipped the result in her favor, claiming a 6-1 decision over the American in the Pan Am finals.

The U.S. did, however, win three individual titles and a team title on Saturday.

At 53 kg, 2018 World silver medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) defeated 2011 Junior World bronze medalist Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) with a 10-0 tech fall.

Winning the championship at 68 kg was 2018 World bronze medalist Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA), who pinned 2018 U23 World champion Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB) in 1:33.

Just a few matches later, four-time World champion Adeline GRAY (USA) picked up a win by fall also, with a pin over Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU) in 1:20 for the 76 kg gold.

Cuba and Ecuador also earned champions on Saturday night.

At 50 kg, 2016 Junior Pan American champion Yusneylys GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB) edged out three-time Junior World medalist Erin GOLSTON (USA), scoring a takedown and step out in the first period for a 3-0 win.

Two-time Olympian Lissette ANTES CASTILLO (ECU) won the 57 kg bracket, pinning Hannah TAYLOR (CAN) in 1:32, helping Team Ecuador to a third-place finish.

In men’s freestyle, Chandler ROGERS (USA) and J’den COX (USA) won the two gold medals of the night, both registering pins in their final matches.

Rogers stuck Francisco GUZMAN VELASQUEZ (PUR), while 2018 World champion Cox tallied a 13-second pin over Diego RAMIREZ FLORENTIN (PAR).

The competition wraps up tomorrow with eight men’s freestyle weights. Action will begin at 10 a.m. local time (9 a.m. EST) live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Final women’s freestyle team standings
1. USA – 200
2. Canada – 167
3. Ecuador – 89
4. Brazil – 89
5. Cuba – 86
6. Peru – 54
7. Venezuela – 52
8. Argentina – 47
9. Puerto Rico – 45
10. Mexico – 45

Final women’s freestyle results

50 kg
GOLD - Yusneylys GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB) dec. Erin GOLSTON (USA), 3-0
BRONZE - Thalia MALLQUI PECHE (PER) dec. Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU), 10-7
BRONZE - Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG) df. Mariana DIAZ MUNOZ (MEX), fall

53 kg
GOLD - Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) TF Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU), 10-0
BRONZE - Diana WEICKER (CAN) dec. Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL), 6-3
BRONZE - Lilianet DUANES ANDRES (CUB) TF Justina BENITES VASQUEZ (PER), 10-0

57 kg
GOLD - Lissette ANTES CASTILLO (ECU) df. Hannah TAYLOR (CAN), fall 1:32
BRONZE - Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) df. Yessica OVIEDO PEREZ (DOM), fall 5:54
BRONZE - Betzabeth SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN) dec. Nes RODRIGUEZ TIRADO (PUR), 5-4

62 kg
GOLD - Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) dec. Mallory VELTE (USA), 6-1
BRONZE - Nathaly GRIMAN HERRERA (VEN) df. Yaquelin ESTORNELL ELIZASTIGUE (CUB), 1:05
BRONZE - Abnelis YAMBO MIRANDA (PUR) dec. Mayra ANTES CASTILLO (ECU), 11-7

68 kg
GOLD - Tamyra MENSAH (USA) df. Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB), fall 1:33
BRONZE - Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) df. Yanet SOVERO NINO (PER), injury default
BRONZE - Ambar GARNICA FLORES (MEX) dec. Andrimar LAZARO DIAZ (VEN), 8-4

76 kg
GOLD - Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU), fall 1:20
BRONZE - Erica WIEBE (CAN) dec. Mabelkis CAPOTE PEREZ (CUB), 6-0
BRONZE - Diana CRUZ ARROYO (PER) df. Gabriela CANALES HERRERA (MEX), fall

Men’s freestyle final results

79 kg
GOLD - Chandler ROGERS (USA)
SILVER - Santiago MARTINEZ RESTREPO (COL)
BRONZE - Jasmit PHULKA (CAN)

92 kg
GOLD - J'den COX (USA)
SILVER - Jaime ESPINAL (PUR)
BRONZE - Diego RAMIREZ FLORENTIN (PAR)

 

#development

Kenyan Wrestling Federation aims to go beyond the summits 

By United World Wrestling Press

NAIROBI, Kenya (November 14) The Kenyan Wrestling Federation, in partnership with the Kenyan Olympic Committee, is working to grow and develop wrestling in their country. Today, the Kenyan Wrestling Federation is one of the leading wrestling federations participating at the world and continental levels. Based on that, the NOC and the KWF have decided to organize courses for their coaches and referees to help their training further.

The coaches and referees participated in a Level 1 Coaching Course and an Introduction to Referee Course from October 20-24. The Refereeing Course ended with a competition on October 25, intending to evaluate the referees understanding.

The Level 1 Coaching Course was conducted by Vincent AKA – UWW development officer from the Ivory Coast. The course had 25 participants (18 men and seven women). "The participants were very disciplined, excited, and asked questions. Their active participation during the course showed their willingness to learn," said Aka.

For the first time, the Kenyan Wrestling President came to the closing ceremony, sending a warm word to the participants and the trainers. "We appreciate you; thank you for coming to Kenya to train our coaches and referees," said Mr. President.

At the closing ceremony, Humphrey KAYANGE, a Kenyan IOC member representing the President of the Kenyan National Olympic Committee, sent a very encouraging word to the participants. "Continue to enjoy the sport; you have so many opportunities. There are so many opportunities where the National Olympic Committee supports you. But this is a start; you cannot stop here," said Kayange.

Kayange also mentioned there's a lot of potential in Kenya for wrestling. "There's a lot of Mahabilas in Kenya and we need to create a pathway for them. We also want to continue to support all the coaches and referees who have shown their commitment," said Kayange.

KENKenya hosted an Introduction to Referee Course in Nairobi in late October. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

The Level 1 Course focused more on how to coach. The coaches participated in practical assessments to demonstrate their skills, while the theoretical part was a written examination. 

Mr. Charles VILLET – UWW Educator, IS, Olympic Referee and Rio Golden Whistle winner, conducted the Introduction to Refereeing course. This course had the same participants. 

The referee participants focused on skills that would provide a solid foundation as a referee. They focused on evaluations of holds, starting and ending matches, and referee mechanics, among many other areas. The participants learned these areas through theoretical and practical applications. Then, at the end of the course, the new candidates refereed the local U17 tournament. This allowed them to use the skills that they learned during the course. 

"All of you are winners. This sport is the best for development, respect, teaching people, and respecting your father, mother, and country," said Villet. 

"We have been fortunate in these areas, especially on technical issues. Techniques are changing, and how people execute techniques becomes different. We need to improve our technical game because that is the base of everything," said Mr. Wallucho, the Kenyan Wrestling Federation Secretary.