#BeachWrestlingWorldSeries

Romania and Georgia Dominate First Stop of Beach Wrestling World Series

Saturday, March 30, 2019 - 18:19 By Tim Foley

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CHAVES, Portugal (March 30) – Georgia and Romania asserted themselves as the world’s premier beach wrestling nations Saturday in Chaves as they combined to win 6 of 8 gold medals in men’s and women’s wrestling.

The Georgian squad was led by 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Dato MARSAGISHVILI who dominated the -90kg competition over the course of the two-day competition to take gold. Marsagishvili was also awarded “Best Move of the Tournament” after back-arching his quarterfinal opponent for what fans thought was the most spectacular technique of the weekend.

“I’m very happy to be involved in beach wrestling,” said Marsagishvili. “This is my first time and I was really excited to win. Beach wrestling is amazing it’s like a celebration atmosphere, which had me smiling.”

Levan KELEKHSASHVILI (60kg) and Davit KHUTSISHVILI (80kg) also took home gold medals for their efforts, each winning 3-0 in their finals bouts.

Team Georgia would have won all four medals, were it not for Iannis KARGIOTAKIS (GRE) who used a front head pinch to twist an undersized Mamuka KORDZAIA (GEO) for a match-ending three-point move in the semifinals to earn a spot in the afternoon's finals.

Kargiotakis’ upset run finally ended in the finals when Azeri big man Oyan NAZARIANI (AZE) used a series of underhooks and snap downs for three one-point moves and the +90kg title.

On the women’s side the Romanians -- who won four gold medals at the 2018 World Championships in Dalyan -- were once again tops in their division, winning three of the event’s four women’s categories.

The small European nation was led by Georgiana FILIP (60kg) who used two takedowns and a three-point throw in the finals to win her title, 5-0.

“We are used to mat wrestling, but we also practice a lot for the beach events,” said Filip. “We are focused on qualification for the World Beach Games and hope to be in Rio for the next World Beach Series event.”

The Romanian squad, who is also competing next week at the 2019 European Championships in the Olympic style of women’s wrestling, were boosted by a workwoman-like performance of 50kg megastar Stefania PRICEPUTU. Though shorter than most her opponents, Priceputu used a combination of intensity, heavy hand pressure and snap downs to earn the gold and 1000 CHF.

Greece earned the +70kg title with a comeback performance by Aikaterini PITSIAVA, who trailed 2-0 late in her match with Diana VLASCEANU, but bullied her way to a 3-2 gold medal.

The next stop on the Beach Wrestling World Series will be May 10-11 in Rio de Janerio. The points from the Chaves and Rio stops will determing which wrestlers and nations qualify for the 2019 ANOC World Beach Games in October.

The Beach Wrestling World Series can viewed live on FloWrestling.org. Fans and athletes can also follow the Beach Wrestling World Series on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter

Men’s Beach Wrestling

70kg

GOLD: Levan KELEKHSASHVILI (GEO) df. Panah ILYASLI (AZE), 2-2
BRONZE: Niko AROUZMANIDIS (GRE) df. Stefan Ionut COMAN (ROU), 1-1

80kg
GOLD: Davit KHUTSISHVILI (GEO) df. Ibrahim YUSUBOV (AZE), 3-0
BRONZE: Georgios KOULOUCHIDIS (GRE) df. Vasile Madalin MINZALA (ROU), Inj Def.

-90kg
GOLD: Dato MARSAGISHVILI (GEO) df. Murat OZKAN (TUR), 3-0
BRONZE: Pedro Jacinto GARCIA PEREZ (ESP) df. Christos SAMARTSIDIS (GRE), 3 - 1

+90kg
GOLD: Oyan NAZARIANI (AZE) df. Ioannis KARGIOTAKIS (GRE), 3-0
BRONZE: Baki SAHIN (TUR) df. Mamuka KORDZAIA (GEO), 3 - 2

Women’s Beach Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Stefania Claudia PRICEPUTU (ROU)
SILVER: Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA)
BRONZE: Carmen Nireida GOMES TEIXEIRA VIEIRA (POR)

60kg
GOLD: Georgiana Narcisa FILIP (ROU)
SILVER: Camila FAMA TRISTAO (BRA)
BRONZE: Jeannie Agnes KESSLER (AUT)

70kg
GOLD: Adina Elena POPESCU (ROU)
SILVER: Sonia Marina PEREIRA BRAZIO (POR)
BRONZE: Sinem Cisem DOGDU (TUR)

+70kg
GOLD: Aikaterini Eirini PITSIAVA (GRE)
SILVER: Diana Elena VLASCEANU (ROU)

Pan-American Championships Day 3 Highlights

Saturday, May 9, 2026 - 15:13 By Eric Olanowski

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CORALVILLE, United States (May 9) -- The third day of wrestling at the Pan-American Championships will welcome in freestyle, while also closing out the final four weights in women's wrestling. The freestyle weights that'll take the mat today are 61kg, 74kg and 86kg, with the final women's weight being 53kg, 59kg, 65kg and 76kg.

12:28: We're going to start 30 minutes earlier than expected. The updated start time is 12:30 (local time)

12:13: That does it for the quarterfinals. We're expected to start at 13:00 but I imagine that'll change. I'll quickly run to see what they plan on doing then post an update shorty.

12:07: Welker just nearly took the roof off this place, scoring three takedowns, two turns and a stepout against Renteria to move into the semifinals. She'll wrestle another Paris 2024 bronze medalist in Marin in the semifinals as the Cuban picked up a 12-2 win in her quarterfinals.

11:53: A lot going on right now. Yepez Guzman just picked up a dominant 11-0 win over Cristelle Noelle RODRIGUEZ DOBLER (USA) and moved into the semifinals at 53kg. Also, Welkeer and Renteria are wrestling now on Mat A. The American is up 5-0 with a stepout and two counter-offenseive go behinds.

11:29: Paris 2024 Olympian Ethan Adrian RAMOS (PUR) is up now on Mat A. He's wrestling Angel Eduardo CORTES BONILLA (PAN).

11:23:  Zahid VALENCIA (USA) just made quick work of Nestor Joaquin TAFUR BARRIOS (COL), picking up the 10-0 first-period tech fall. The reigning world champion awaits the winner of Pedro Samuel GONCALVES DA SILVA (BRA) and Jorge Ivan LLANO (ARG).

11:08: Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN) was just down 4-4 on criteria against Alexis GOMEZ (MEX) but stole the match with a double leg with 2.2 seconds left. Since 65kg is a smaller bracket, that win will give the Canadian at least a silver medal.

11:06: Iowa's own Austin James DESANTO (USA) is coming up next on Mat A. He'll take on Irie Alexander JACKSON (JAM).

10:56: On a side note, we're following the 76kg weight class for a mini documentary so make sure you stayed tuned into UWW+ over the next few weeks to watch the behind the scenes doc on the premier weight class of these Continental Championships.

10:50: Nestor TAFUR BARRIOS (COL) just picked up a win over on Mat A, which means he'll take on reigning world champion Valencia in seven matches on Mat A.

10:45: It's funny how things work. The two women's wrestlers who attended the opening press conference were world bronze medalist Kylie Renee WELKER (USA) and Tatiana RENTERIA (COL). Those two will will wrestle in the first round, 13 matches away (bout 180) on Mat A.

10:25: Today's action will feature two reinging world champions in Zahid VALENCIA (USA) and Genesis REASCO (COL), and three Paris 2024 Olympic medalists in Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU), Milaimy MARIN (CUB) and Tatiana RENTERIA RENTERIA (COL).