#WrestleOlegKaravaev

Oleg Karavaev Preview

Wednesday, July 24, 2019 - 18:04 By Eric Olanowski

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MINSK, Belarus (July 24) --- The regular season comes to an end this weekend in Minsk, Belarus, as 175 wrestlers from 19 nations will take part in the final Greco-Roman Ranking Series event of the year, the Oleg Karavaev. The tournament’s entry list is littered with world-level talent, including 24 wrestlers who are ranked inside the top-20 of the latest Greco-Roman rankings, but it’s Emrah KUS (TUR), the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the world at 82kg, who headlines the nearly 200-man field. 

The world runner-up’s weight is set to feature six ranked wrestlers -- which is the most top-20 guys entered in one bracket. Kus' most significant competition in Belarus will be Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR) and Rajbek BISULTANOV (DEN). 

Fourth-ranked Sasunouski won a bronze medal at last year’s World Championships, while sixth-ranked Bisultanov is the reigning 82kg European champion. 

Bisultanov will be looking to take down top-ranked Kus and Sasunouski for the second time this season. The Danish wrestler defeated Sasunouski, 8-1 in the European quarterfinals, then followed that up with a 5-5 criteria victory over Kus in the semifinals en route to his first continental title three months ago in Bucharest. 

Kus and Sasunouski have been in several brackets together over the past year but have somehow managed to miss wrestling each other. Most recently, they were in the same bracket at the European Championships, where Kus finished in third place and Sasunouski fell to a disappointing seventh-place finish.  

Other Ranked Wrestlers at 82kg
No. 7 Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV(UZB)
No. 8 Maxat YEREZHEPOV(KAZ)
No. 16Singh HARPREET (IND)

Four Ranked Wrestlers at 67kg and 130kg
A pair of other stacked weight classes to keep an eye on are 67kg and 130kg. Both weights house a quartet of the world's top-20 competitors. 

At 67kg, second-ranked RYU Hansu (KOR) leads a pack of four ranked wrestlers into Minsk. The 2017 world champion is the clear favorite to win the weight -- having already won titles this season at the Asian Championships and the Hungarian Grand Prix, while also finishing in third place at the Sassari City Tournament. 

Japan will be sending a pair of top-ten wrestlers who’ll try to halt Ryu’s quest of winning a second 2019 Ranking Series title. The Japanese duo who sits inside the top-ten that are making the trip to Belarus are Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (JPN) and Shogo TAKAHASHI (JPN). They’re ranked ninth and tenth, respectively. Though Shimoyamada is ranked higher, Takahashi, who was this year’s Asian bronze medalist, has already been named Japan’s Nur-Sultan world team representative. 

The fourth-ranked wrestler competing at 67kg will be Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY). Elsayed, the reigning U23 world champion, is ranked 17th in the world coming into the Oleg Karavaev.

The third weight with at least four ranked wrestlers entered is 130kg. 

The front-runner at 130kg is Korea’s KIM Minseok. He’s currently ranked fourth in the world but is on the verge of locking up the third seed. Kim, the returning world bronze medalists, is only five points away from passing Heiki NABI (EST) for that third slot, and will gain the advantage after collecting the six entry points if he participates this weekend. 

But, to do so, he’ll have to battle three heavy hitters in Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI), and MENG Lingzhe (CHN), who are ranked fifth, sixth, and ninth, respectively. 

Kim Looking for Third Ranking Series Title
KIM Seunghak (KOR), the third ranked wrestler in the world at 60kg, comes into the Oleg Karavaev with hopes of luring in his third consecutive Ranking Series title.

Kim started his season with a fifth-place finish at the Grand Prix of Zagreb, but has since won back-to-back Ranking Series golds after title-winning performances at the Hungarian Grand Prix and the City of Sassari tournament in Sardinia. 

Kim is stationed 14 points behind Victor CIOBANU (MDA), last year’s world runner-up, but could pass the Moldovan wrestler if he reaches the top of the podium for a third consecutive time. A gold medal this weekend would give Kim 16 Ranking Series points -- which would give him the two-point advantage over Ciobanu heading into Nur-Sultan. 

Kim’s top competition will be Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) and Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB).

The Japanese star has two world titles to his name. His most recent world title coming at the U23 age level last season, while his senior-level world title came back at the 2017 Paris World Championships. 

Bakhromov is ranked 15th in the world, but that's down at 55kg.

Top-Two Matchup Brewing at 63kg
A showdown between two of the best 63kg wrestlers in the world could be on the horizon as No. 2 Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) and No. 3 Erbatu TUO (CHN) are both entered into the Oleg Karavaev. 

Tasmuradov and Tuo met in Xi’an, China, earlier this year in the gold-medal bout of the Asian Championships with Tuo earning the continental title after Tasmuradov was forced to withdraw from the competition after suffering an apparent hip injury. During the time of the injury, Tasmuradov was leading 3-2 but surrendered two points from a caution-and-two and fell behind, 4-3 -- which is when he conceded the match.

The Oleg Karavaev marks the first time that Tasmuradov has competed since facing that hip injury. He comes into Minsk with a six-point advantage over Tuo, and could lock up the second seed by collecting 10 Ranking Series points.

Kuliyeu Eyeing the Fourth Seed at 87kg
Radzik KULIYEU (BLR) comes into Minsk as the sixth ranked wrestler in the world at 87kg but is in perfect position to grab the fourth seed with a podium finish this weekend. 

The reason being, Hungary’s Erik SZILVASSY and Viktor LORINCZ are ranked third and fourth, respectively, but will have to forfeit one of the top-four spots because each nation can only enter one wrestler per nation into the World Championships. Hungary’s forfeiture of one of their top-four seeds will slide Islam ABBASOV (AZE) into the fourth seed, but since he’s not competing this weekend, Kuliyeu just needs nine points to overthrow the Azeri for the fourth spot. 

Kuliyeu will be joined by two other top-ten wrestlers at 87kg. They are ninth-ranked Mikalai STADUB (BLR) and tenth-ranked Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB). 

The first set of brackets will be released on Thursday at 17:00 and wrestling will begin on Friday at 10:30 (local time). 

#WrestleCoralville

Griman, 34, Wins Elusive Pan-Am Gold to Spoil U.S. Party

Saturday, May 9, 2026 - 09:50 By Vinay Siwach

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CORALVILLE, IOWA, United States (May 8) -- Nathali GRIMAN (VEN), 34, made her Pan-American debut in 2013, finishing fifth at 59kg in Panama City. 13 years later and wrestling at her 11th Pan-American Championships on Friday, Griman finally won the elusive gold medal.

At the Xtream Arena, Coralville, Griman's gold also spoiled what could have been a perfect day for the United States as it won the remaining five golds in Women's Wrestling.

UWW Plus

Greco-Roman also closed out with the remaining two weight classes on Friday at the Pan-American Championships as the United States won the team title with 216 points. Cuba finished second with 115 points and Brazil was third with 99 points.

The one Greco gold for the U.S. on Friday was won by Benjamin PEAK (USA) at 72kg while Olympic bronze medalist Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) gave Cuba its third Greco gold of the tournament by reigning supreme at 97kg.

 

In the final at 62kg, Griman was up against former U20 world champion Jasmine ROBINSON (USA), who had dominated her way to the final, winning four bouts 11-1, 12-1, 10-0 and 11-0, and was clearly the favorite.

Robinson opened the final with a takedown for two points, tripping Griman at the edge of the zone. Griman was put on the activity clock soon after and as she failed to score, Robinson got a point and led 3-0 at the break. However, Griman used over-under set-up to throw Robinson and score four points 23 seconds into the second period.

Robinson scored a reversal and then a gut-wrench to quickly reclaim the lead 6-4 with 2:16 remaining in the final. Griman remained unfazed and hit a double-leg attack, lifted Robinson before slamming her on the mat for two points and a 6-6 criteria lead, thanks to her superior scoring sequence of four points earlier in the mat.

After a longish medical timeout, Robinson returned to the center but was not able to break the defense of Griman who held on and ended her wait for the gold medal.

Griman has six other medals in the tournament's history -- two silvers won in 2025 and 2023 and four bronze medals won in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019. It was also the first time ever that Griman won a gold medal at a United World Wrestling championships.

Amanda MARTINEZ (USA)Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) won the 57kg gold medal to be one of the five champions for the U.S. on Friday. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

The five gold-medal run for the U.S. began at 50kg as Katie GOMEZ (USA) won the final against Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU), 5-3. The two were in a tangle and rolled through with both wrestlers getting two points each and Mollocana leading 2-2 on criteria.

But the Ecuador wrestler was put on activity clock in the second period and Gomez picked up a takedown during that period to lead 5-2. Mollocana kept the pressure and managed a stepout with 16 seconds remaining but could not get a takedown to win the bout.

At 55kg, U20 world champion Everest LEYDECKER (USA) won her first Pan-Am title in just 52 seconds. With only three wrestlers in the bracket, Leydecker won both her bouts with ease. She used a takedown against Josefina RAMIREZ (MEX) and then transitioned into a lace, finishing the bout.

Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) added the third gold for the U.S. by beating Luisa VALVERDE (ECU), 6-1, in the 57kg final. She scored a stepout to open the scoring and then doubled her lead with another. Valverde scored a stepout of her own just before the break, making the score 2-1.

Valverde was put on the activity clock in the second period and Martinez managed another stepout, though it was Valverde who just backpedaled out of bounds. Leading 4-1, Martinez countered a leg-attack from Valverde and scored a takedown to confirm her winning score with more than a minute left in the final.

In a low scoring final at 62kg, Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) held off Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX), 3-1, to claim the fourth gold of the night for the U.S. Nwachukwu was the first to go on the activity clock and she did not score in the 30-second window, giving a point to Jimenez. But the scores reversed in the second period when Jimenez was put on the activity clock and Nwachukwu also scored a stepout to lead 2-1 with 1:58 remaining.

Jimenez challenged at the end for Nwachukwu's fleeing but it was not confirmed on review, adding another point to the U.S. wrestler's score.

Precious BELL (USA) won both her bouts at 72kg via technical superiority to claim the gold medal in the three-wrestler bracket. She first defeated Michelle OLEA (MEX) and then Ellise DAYNES (CAN), winning the fifth gold for the host nation.

Rosillo Wins 3rd Pan-Am Title

In the two Greco-Roman weight categories that were competed on Friday, former world champion Rosillo defended his Pan-Am gold medal at 97kg while Peak gave the U.S. its seventh Greco gold of the tournament.

The 97kg final went on for only 2:15 but it was an action-packed bout with Rosillo securing a fall over Paris Olympian Kevin MEJIA (HON) to win the gold medal. Rosillo got the par terre position in the first period and turned Mejia to lead 3-0.

As he was trying another gut-wrench, Mejia blocked him and scored two points for exposure. He then lifted Rosillo to set up a big throw but the Cuban turned to face Mejia who, instead of a suplex, managed a bodylock throw.

Rosillo fell on top of Mejia and then held him on the mat to secure the fall with 3:45 remaining in the final. Rosillo joined Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) at 60kg and Luis ORTA (CUB) at 67kg as Pan-Am champions for Cuba.

Peak at 72kg was in a three-wrestler bracket and won both his bouts to claim the gold medal, seventh for U.S. Greco team in Coralville. He first defeated Mauri VICENTE (BRA), 8-0, and then held on to a 4-2 win over Emerson FELIPE (GUA) to secure the title. 

Photo

RESULTS

Greco-Roman

72kg
GOLD:  Benjamin PEAK (USA)
SILVER: Emerson FELIPE (GUA)
BRONZE: Mauri VICENTE (BRA)

97kg
GOLD: Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) df. Kevin MEJIA (HON), via fall (6-2)

BRONZE: Carlos ADAMES (DOM) df. Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG), 12-11
BRONZE: Timothy YOUNG (USA) df. Jhonny ARIAS (COL), 7-2

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Katie GOMEZ (USA) df. Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU), 5-3

BRONZE: Thalia OLIVEIRA (BRA) df. Nohalis LOYO (VEN), 7-6
BRONZE: Madison PARKS (CAN) df. Nathaly HERRERA (PER), 8-0

55kg
GOLD: Everest LEYDECKER (USA)
SILVER: Josefina RAMIREZ (MEX)
BRONZE: Amber WIEBE (CAN)

57kg
GOLD: Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) df. Luisa VALVERDE (ECU), 6-1

BRONZE: Bertha ROJAS (MEX) df. Yocleidy RAMIREZ (DOM), 5-2
BRONZE: Yaynelis SANZ (CUB) df. Giullia PENALBER (BRA), 4-0

62kg
GOLD: Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) df. Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX), 3-1

BRONZE: Astrid MONTERO (VEN) df. Lais NUNES (BRA), 2-1

68kg
GOLD: Nathali GRIMAN (VEN) df. Jasmine ROBINSON (USA), 6-6

BRONZE: Virginia JIMENEZ (CHI) df. Maria CEBALLOS (COL), 9-0

72kg
GOLD: Precious BELL (USA)
SILVER: Ellise DAYNES (CAN)
BRONZE: Michelle OLEA (MEX)