#WrestleMorelia

USA Recalama Ocho Titulos del Estilo Libre Femenino en #WrestleMorelia

By Taylor Miller

MORELIA, Mexico – Los Estados Unidos obtuvo su segundo título de equipo del fin de semana con una actuación de ocho oros el sábado en el Campeonato Panamericano de Cadetes en Morelia, México.

Ganando títulos por USA fueron Virginia FOARD en 40 kg, Lizette RODRIGUEZ en 43 kg, Samara CHAVEZ en 49 kg, Melanie MENDOZA en 53 kg, Skye REALIN en 57 kg, Mia MACALUSO en 61 kg, Tiffani BAUBLITZ en 69 kg and Tristan KELLY en 73 kg.

Macaluso, quien clamó una medalla de bronce en el Campeonato Panamericano Juvenil, recibió la bota de oro por ser la luchadora más destacada del torneo. Ganó cuatro de sus cinco combates con puesta de espalda. La otra victoria fue de superioridad técnica.

Adriana HERNANDEZ SANCHEZ (MEX) ganó el título en 46 kg y Nicoll PARRADO OSORIO (COL) fue el campeón en 65 kg.

Como un equipo, Canadá termino en segundo lugar con 147 puntos, y México fue tercer con 137 puntos.

Team scores
1. USA - 220
2. Canada - 147
3. Mexico -137
4. Peru - 76
5. Ecuador - 67
T6. Brazil - 36
T6. Panama - 36
8. Colombia - 35
9. Chile - 20
10. Puerto Rico - 15

Final results
40 kg
GOLD – Virginia FOARD (USA)
SILVER - Ruth FRANCO BAJANA (ECU)

43 kg
GOLD – Lizette RODRIGUEZ (USA)
SILVER - Jeyla HERRERA VILLEGAS (ECU)
BRONZE - Samaris FUENTES HUICAB (MEX)

46 kg
GOLD - Adriana HERNANDEZ SANCHEZ (MEX)
SILVER – Nyla VALENCIA (USA)
BRONZE - Serena DI BENEDETTO (CAN)

49 kg
GOLD – Samara CHAVEZ (USA)
SILVER – Samantha ADAMZ (CAN)
BRONZE - Shanitzia MERCADO ORTIZ (PUR)
BRONZE - Gloria ASCA VILCAPOMA (PER)

53 kg
GOLD – Melanie MENDOZA (USA)
SILVER - Grecia BERNAL BETANCOURT (MEX)
BRONZE - Selena ROJAS ASTORAY (PER)

57 kg
GOLD – Skye REALIN (USA)
SILVER - Antonia VALDEZ ARRIAGADA (CHI)
BRONZE - Diana ARSAGOVA (CAN)

61 kg
GOLD – Mia MACALUSO (USA)
SILVER - Makitha BRISTOL (CAN)
BRONZE - Wendy CAICEDO NAZARENO (ECU)

65 kg
GOLD - Nicoll PARRADO OSORIO (COL)
SILVER - Sandra ESCAMILLA MENCHACA (MEX)
BRONZE - Nyla BURGESS (CAN)

69 kg
GOLD – Tiffani BAUBLITZ (USA)
SILVER - Vianne ROULEAU (CAN)
BRONZE - Ximena SUAREZ RODRIGUEZ (MEX)

73 kg
GOLD – Tristan KELLY (USA)
SILVER - Kaylee WELSH (CAN)
BRONZE - Erinn VALDEZ ENRIQUEZ (MEX)

#BeachWrestling

Sakurai swaps mat for sand, wins Beach Wrestling gold

By Vinay Siwach

TOKYO (May 13) -- Paris Olympic champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) made a return to competition for the first time since August last year. However, it was not on the mat.

Sakurai, who won gold medal at 57kg in Paris, returned to compete in beach wrestling. She wrestled at the Japan Beach Wrestling National Team Qualifying Tournament held in Tachikawa, Tokyo on Sunday and won gold at 60kg

"It may sound strange for me to say it, but I felt that I was suited to it," Sakurai was quoted by Japan Olympic Committee.

Sakurai, who is not entered for the June 19-22 Meiji Cup, Japan's qualifying tournament for the World Championships in September, is now qualified to compete for Japan in Beach Wrestling this year.

"Since I am qualified for the international tournament, I will try to participate," she said. "I want to be number one. I'll practice on the sandy beaches of Kochi [Prefecture]."

The three-time world champion, however, did not rule out the possibility of returning to the mat soon.

"I am still practicing on the mat and when I feel like I am ready, I will be back on the mat," she said.