#development

UWW holds second educator course in Istanbul

By United World Wrestling Press

ISTANBUL, Turkey (March 25) – United World Wrestling hosted their second course for Educators in Istanbul, Turkey, March 16-20. The course focused on improving and developing the participants skills as an educator.  The Educators that attended participated in interactive activities to learn the principles of adult education, strategies for formative assessments, how to give feedback, and modern educator characteristics.  Each participant was required to deliver a Micro-Leadership session on one of the course topics to further practice and develop their skills. “The Educator Course was a success. The participants were highly engaged and are now committed to advancing the development of wrestling agenda. We will definitely see great progress in next Olympic cycle” – Deqa Niamkey (UWW Development Director)

Of the participants that attended, 12 of them were new educators to UWW.  They were required to attend 2 additional days to learn the foundation of educator skills.  After their initial training, they were joined by the remaining educators to participate in the rest of the course. 

The course was conducted by Mr. Vincent Aka (CIV/FRA) and Mr. Zach Errett (USA).  Mr. Aka is a the development officer and educator trainer for UWW.  Mr. Errett is the Education Manager for UWW.  They led a group of participants from every continent. “Today, after completing the training of our educators, we have taken a very important step towards the vision of professionalizing our national structures. From now on, our educators represent for us a bridge thrown from United World Wrestling to support the development of our national federations. Our educators, inhabited by the new approach of United World Wrestling, are the seeds that we launch in the fertile ground of the federations to energize the much-desired development of our basic structures. I am very proud to participate in this new stage. And we must continue this work for future generations of the wrestling family.” said Vincent Aka.  “It was a fantastic course!  The participants were openminded and worked very hard to apply the skills that they learned during the course.  This made for an enjoyable and productive course.  There is no doubt that these educators will help grow and develop wrestling around the world,”  said Zach Errett.

The organization of the course was assisted by the Turkish Wrestling Federation and the Associated Wrestling Styles – Istanbul Office.  “The course would not have been possible without the hard work by these groups! A special thanks to Mr. Seref Erouglu, President of Turkish Wrestling Federation and Mrs. Rodica Yaksi, Mr. Onur Simsek, and Farnaz Panahizadeh for all of their efforts to organize and provided a fantastic hotel and environment for the course,” said Deqa Niamkey.

TURAttendees participated in interactive activities to learn the principles of adult education, strategies for formative assessments and how to give feedback, among many other skills. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Comments from some of the participants.

“I can see the change from Old Coach's mentality as a Power dictator to coach's try to learn new things every day to be a better coach more flexible and open mind.  I feel UWW is moving in the right direction to grow wrestling around the world, and We saw the United of Wrestling World form all educators around the world.  All educators from Different cultures, traditions, Languages, even music, and dance are different, but Everyone comes together Unites on the love of wrestling.” – Mohammed Abdelfattah (EGY/USA)

“This course has empowered us to spread wrestling coaching and refereeing skills using practical, contemporary and fun techniques to deliver our message to grow the sport.”  - Stefan Rudevics (AUS)

"I am going home from this educator's course filled with positive emotions and very happy that I was able to learn a lot of new things and new ways on how to improve as an educator.  This course has given us, UWW educators, an amazing opportunity and new skills which will help us deliver our future courses to NF's on a much higher level, and that by doing so we will be able to contribute to UWW Development department and its mission of helping our sport of wrestling evolve worldwide!" – Davor Petanjek (CRO)

“Thank you to the UWW Development Team and the Turkish Wrestling Federation for the opportunity to work and learn with coaches and referees from around the world!  The Educators Course was an invaluable experience!  I gained knew knowledge and ideas for educating athletes and coaches for success in competitive environments.  The Educators Course also helped reinforce a global network of coaches and referees that can share ideas across borders.” – Clarissa Chun (USA)

It was a very good course and I learned new experiences. I held training classes in my country for many years, but I always felt that my training courses were boring. Now I have learned that with good planning, active and happy training classes can be held. During this period, I met trainers and educators from other countries, and we had a good and intimate relationship with each other. All in all the course was great and caused changes in my behavior, thoughts and performance in my work life as well as my daily life in the future. I hope to be able to help develop my favorite sport, wrestling.  – Mohammad Mosalaeipour (IRI)

#WrestleBuenosAires

Burroughs wins sixth Pan Am C'ship title; Ecuador nets two women’s champions

By Taylor GREGORIO

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Mat 5) – Women’s action wrapped up on Friday, while freestyle began at the 2023 Pan American Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Ecuador collected a pair of Pan Am titles in women’s freestyle today at 53kg and 57kg.

Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) won her first Senior Pan-Am title with an outstanding performance at 53kg. In the final, she defeated Betzabeth AGUELLO VILLEGAS (VEN). The Venezuelan was first on the board with a passivity point but Yepez soon scored a takedown from a counter. In the second period, Yepez was awarded a passivity point and a pair of caution-and-ones to win the bout, 5-1.

Earlier in the day, Aguello Villegas knocked off reigning world champion Dominique PARRISH (USA), 8-6, in the quarterfinals.

At 57kg, an early upset of Olympic champion and weight-class favorite Helen MAROULIS (USA) paved the way for another competitor to add “continental champion” to her resume. Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) capitalized on the opportunity, making her way to the finals, where she defeated Giullia OLIVEIRA (BRA), 4-2. The win marks her second Pan Am gold.

Canada earned a champion with Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) completing a title run at 62kg. In the finals, Godinez tallied a pin over Nathali GRIMAN HERRERA (VEN) in the first period. Despite Griman scoring first, Godinez stormed back with a throw near the edge, putting Griman to her back for a fall in 1:21.

One of the most promising up-and-coming heavyweights hails from Cuba— Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB). With U20 and U23 world gold as well as a Youth Olympic Games title, Marin Potrille added her first senior-level continental title. In the finals, she faced Tatiana RENTERIA RENTERIA (COL). Marin carried a 3-0 lead into the break, thanks to a buzzer-beating takedown. In the second period, Marin added a pair of step outs and a go-behind takedown to complete a decisive 7-0 win.

Between the two styles, the U.S. registered four gold-medal performances. Highlights from the day included Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) winning his sixth Pan-American championship title and Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) earning her seventh Pan-American championship gold.

Six-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist Burroughs dominated at 79kg, outscoring his competition, 30-0, to top the podium. In the finals, his shortest match of the day, Burroughs took just 74 seconds to earn the win over Jasmit PHULKA (CAN). Burroughs scored on a takedown into a leg lace followed by a four-point takedown from a blast double and ended it with another signature blast double.

Wrestling at 50kg in women’s freestyle, Hildebrandt, a world and Olympic medalist, went 3-0 on the day with all three wins coming in the form of 10-0 technical falls, including her finals win over Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU). In just 48 seconds, Hildebrandt scored a takedown and locked up a tight leg lace for four turns to earn No. 8.  

Winning her third Pan-Am championship on Friday was Forrest MOLINARI (USA), who snatched the crown at 68kg. Molinari, a World bronze medalist, needed just 46 seconds to secure a pin in the finals over Ambar GARNICA FLORES (MEX). In a scramble, Molinari scored a takedown and bullied Garnica to her back for the fall.

In freestyle, Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA) won the five-man round robin at 92kg. In the gold-medal matchup, Macchiavello went up early, 6-0, countering an attempted arm throw from Jeremy POIRIER (CAN) for a takedown into two turns from a gut wrench. Moments later, Macchiavello used a knee pick to get Poirier to his back for a fall in 1:39.

Women’s wrestling
50kg
GOLD – Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU), 10-0
BRONZE – Yusneylis GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB) df. Thalia OLIVEIRA DE FREITAS (BRA), fall 1:45
BRONZE – Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG) df. Madison PARKS (CAN), fall 5:24

53kg
GOLD – Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) df. Betzabeth AGUELLO VILLEGAS (VEN), 5-1
BRONZE – Karla ACOSTA MARTINEZ (MEX) df. Dominique PARRISH (USA), 4-2
BRONZE – Laura HEERIN AVILA (CUB) df. Thalia MALLQUI PECHE (PER), 11-0

57kg
GOLD – Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) df. Giullia OLIVEIRA (BRA), 4-2
BRONZE – Angela ALVAREZ MARTINEZ (CUB) df. Nes RODRIGUEZ TIRADO (PUR), fall 1:53
BRONZE – Betzabeth SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN) df. Camila AMARILLA (ARG), fall 0:38

62kg
GOLD – Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) df. Nathali GRIMAN HERRERA (VEN), fall 1:21
BRONZE – Kayla MIRACLE (USA) df. Javiera ROCO PARDO (CHI), 10-0
BRONZE – Lais NUNES (BRA) df. Katherine RENTERIA CUERO (COL), fall 2:04

68kg
GOLD – Forrest MOLINARI (USA) df. Ambar GARNICA FLORES (MEX), fall 0:46
BRONZE – Hangelen LLANES ECHEVARRIA (CUB) vs. Soleymi CARABALLO HERNANDEZ (VEN), 8-3
BRONZE – Yanet SOVERO NINO (PER) vs. Saidy CHAVEZ FIGUEROA (HON), 3-1

76kg
GOLD – Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) df. Tatiana RENTERIA RENTERIA (COL), 7-0
BRONZE – Justina DI STASIO (CAN) df. Maria Jose ACOSTA ACOSTA (VEN), 4-1
BRONZE – Genesis REASCO VALEZ (ECU) df. Emelyn BAUTISTA CORCINO (DOM), 11-0

Freestyle

79kg
GOLD – Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) df. Jasmit PHULKA (CAN), 10-0
BRONZE – Shane JONES (PUR) df. Victor HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX), 11-0
BRONZE – Nestor TAFUR BARRIOS (COL) df. Alexander CUSINGA GOMEZ (PER), 10-0

92kg
GOLD – Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA)
SILVER – Jeremy POIRIER (CAN)
BRONZE – Luis VILLAGOMEZ PAREDES (ECU)