#panam2018

Rivera Wins First Women's Pan Am Title for Puerto Rico Since 2002

Saturday, May 5, 2018 - 04:22 By Taylor Miller

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LIMA (May 4) – Puerto Rico earned its first female Pan American champion since 2002 on Friday night when Andribeth RIVERA picked up her third win of the day to secure the 59 kg gold.

Rivera faced Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) in her final match of round-robin competition. Beauregard stormed out to an 8-0 win but just moments later, Rivera threw the Canadian to her back and got the pin.

Rivera became just the second women’s freestyler to win a Pan Am title for Puerto Rico. The last to do it was Mabel Fonseca Ramirez, who won back-to-back championships in 2001 and 2002.

The USA won two gold medals on Friday, receiving championship performances from Becka LEATHERS at 55 kg and Forrest MOLINARI at 65 kg.

Leathers had locked up the gold medal in the morning session in round-robin competition.

Molinari defeated Breanne Leigh GRAHAM (CAN) with a 5-2 win in the only match of the day at 65 kg.

The other women’s champion came at 72 kg, when Veronica Helen Frances KEEFE (CAN) put together a perfect 3-0 record in the event.

Moving on with the USA theme, the U.S. men’s Greco team won the Pan Am team title, outscoring runner-up Cuba 141-140.

Although they won the team title, the U.S. did not produce any champions in day-two action. However, the squad leaves Peru with six medals, including two gold, three silver and one bronze.

Cuba had two champions on Friday night, including Ariel FIS BATISTA (CUB) at 77 kg and Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) at 87 kg.

Fis, a 2018 Central American Caribbean Championship gold medalist, topped four-time Pan American medalist Jair Alexis CUERO MUNOZ (COL), 9-5.

Gregorich, who finished seventh at the World Championships, improved on a second-place finish from last year’s Pan Ams, taking the top of the podium with a dominant 7-0 decision over Yorgen Jose COVA PULIDO (VEN).

Emerging from the 82 kg bracket was Luis Eduardo AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN), who strung together a perfect 4-0 record. In his final match of the day, Avendano defeated Brayden William AMBO (CAN) by fall early in the match.

The tournament continues tomorrow with the remaining women’s weights (50, 53, 57, 62, 68, 76) and the first part of the men’s freestyle weights (79 and 92). It will all be live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

GRECO TEAM SCORES
1. USA – 141
2. Cuba – 140
3. Brazil – 106

GRECO-ROMAN
77 kg
GOLD - Ariel FIS BATISTA (CUB) dec. Jair Alexis CUERO MUNOZ (COL), 9-5
BRONZE - Angelo Rafael MARQUES MOREIRA (BRA) win by fall over Francisco Albano BARRIO (ARG), 1:41
BRONZE - Reinier JIMENEZ TERRY (GUA) win by fall over Johan Antonio BATISTA (DOM), 3:33

82 kg
GOLD - Luis Eduardo AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN)
SILVER – Geordan SPEILLER (USA)
BRONZE - Carlos Moises ESPINOZA CASTRO (PER)

87 kg
GOLD - Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) df. Yorgen Jose COVA PULIDO (VEN), 7-0
BRONZE - Benjamin Errol PROVISOR (USA) df. Alfonso Antonio LEYVA YEPEZ (MEX), 3-0
BRONZE - Carlos Alberto ADAMES PALMER (DOM) df. Phillip Raweriio BARREIRO (CAN), 9-0

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE

55 kg
GOLD – Becka LEATHERS (GOLD)
SILVER – Cara Gail NANIA (CAN)
BRONZE - Lady Raysa MORAN VALENZUELA (ECU)

59 kg
GOLD - Andribeth RIVERA BELLIARD (PUR)
SILVER - Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
BRONZE - Kelsey Rene CAMPBELL (USA)

65 kg
GOLD - Forrest Ann MOLINARI (USA)
SILVER - Breanne Leigh GRAHAM (CAN)

72 kg
GOLD - Veronica Helen Frances KEEFE (CAN)
SILVER - Diana Luisa Victoria CRUZ ARROYO (PER)
BRONZE - Hannah La Shae GLADDEN (USA)

 

#WrestleBudapest

Kusaka, Losonczi shine on final day of Budapest Ranking Series

Sunday, June 9, 2024 - 08:31 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (June 9) -- The final day of the Ranking Series with seven Greco-Roman weight classes. Four Olympic weights will be in action -- 67kg, 77kg, 87kg and 97kg -- with ranking points to be earned.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

Incredible session of wrestling. The finals are set and Iran is likely to have a few wrestle-offs for the Paris Olympics

14:30: Ali CENGIZ (TUR) and David LOSONCIZ (HUN) wrestle in the 87kg semifinal. Cengiz and Losonciz shared the World Championships gold after Losonciz won an appeal for a judge's error. But in the rematch here, Losonciz pins Cengiz in the second period after racing to a 5-0 lead. He knows what it means! This is the first time the two have wrestled after that World Championships final

14:10: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) with a stepout in the second period to beat world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) 2-1 and enter the 77kg final against Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) who defeated Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) 1-1 

13:50: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) has defeated world champion Luis ORTA (CUB)! OH WAIT WHAT?! What did we just witness here! Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) was clearly the better wrestler for five minutes and 58 seconds. He led 6-0 at the break but gave up a four pointer in the second as Orta closed the gap to 6-4. Iran challenged the call asking for two points for counter but lost to make the score 6-5. Esmaeili did well to keep the lead but for the last two seconds. As Orta dropped his guard, Esmaeili began celebrating but Orta launched a massive throw for four. It was originally not scored as the clock expired but Cuba challenged the call. On review, the move was completed with 0.1 seconds remaining on the clock. Esmaeili is inconsolable.

13:35: 63kg world champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) hands Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) a 6-1 loss at 67kg. A big setback for Geraei and his Olympic dreams. He would now hope that Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) fails to win the gold medal here and the two get to have a playoff later in the evening.

13:25: David LOSONCZI (HUN) gives up a turn from par terre in the second period but that is not enough for Mohammadhossein MAHMOODI (IRI) to win their 87kg bout. Losonczi had a 5-0 lead from the first period and he looked in control of the bout.

13:22: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) has given a walkover to Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) in their 77kg quarterfinal. Akbudak will now wrestle Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) for a spot in the final.

13:00: Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) may feel he has been hard done here against Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) at 77kg. Geraei defended two par terre positions and led 1-1 on criteria with 23 seconds left on the clock. He made an arm throw but had no contact with Suleymanov who was awarded two points and two more for a turn. Geraei was not defending thinking the referees would call it a risk. Iran challenged for the same but it called points and Geraei dropped his bout 6-1.

12:55: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) beats Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) at 77kg to enter the semifinals. He will now wait for the winner of Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) and Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI). 

12:40: World champion Luis ORTA (CUB) and Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) now wrestling at 67kg. Orta launches a big four-pointer on the edge for the early lead. He then is then awarded a point for Sogabe's passivity. No turn in par terre but he scored a takedown to lead 7-0 at the break. Sogabe is unable to break Orta's defense in the second period. Orta closes out the match 7-1.

12:00: A tough opening round for world champion Ali CENGIZ (TUR) as he needs six minutes to beat Payton JACOBSON (USA) 6-1 at 87kg. He is on his way for a clash with David LOSONCIZ (HUN). Both were awarded the World Championships gold medal after Hungary won an appeal for a referee error in the final

11:40: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) continues to chip away at 77kg. He beats Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) 6-0 to advance to the 1/8 finals. In the same weight class, Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) has set up a 1/8 final with Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE).

11:30: A minute and 29 seconds is all Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) needs to win 8-0 against Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) in their round two bout at 55kg. Azizli looking absolutely dominant so far.

11:05: Mohmmadreza GERAEI (IRI) did not look his best in his opening match against Souleymen NASR (TUN) at 67kg as he failed to perform his throw from par terre. Nasr was called for negative wrestling twice which gave Geraei a 4-0 lead. But a lost challenge from Gereaei and par terre in the second period made it 4-2. Geraei holds on to that score to win. Iran's second wrestler at 67kg, Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) rolls to a 10-0 win over Nestor ALMANZA (CHI) in no time.

10:55: World champion Luis ORTA (CUB) shows up and rolls over David MANYIK (HUN) for a technical superiority win at 67kg. He earns a quarterfinal date with Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN).

10:50: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) dominates his first bout over Abd Elkrim OUAKALI (4), winning 11-3 and marching on at 77kg. He will face Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) next. In the same weight class, a quick finish as Zoltán LEVAI (HUN) pins Levente LEVAI (HUN).

10:40: Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) has been trying to get the better of Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) at 55kg but he will have to wait another day for that as Azizli beats Dad Marz in the first bout at 55kg. On Mat A, Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) beats Marat GARIPOV (BRA).

10:30: Long day ahead in Budapest with some top matches scheduled. Nao KUSAKA (JPN), Geraei brothers, Ali CENGIZ (TUR), David LOSONCIZ (HUN), Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) are among the stars to be on the mat.