Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! April 02, 2018

By Eric Olanowski

Reviewing Bill Farrell results, Commonwealth Games team announcements and this weekends Freestyle World Cup. 

1. USA Wins Six Golds, Dieringer Named MOW at Bill Farrell
The United States, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan each had wrestlers capture gold medals at the Bill Farrell Memorial International which was held at the New York Athletic Club in New York City, United States.

For the second time in as many tournaments, American Alex DIERINGER (USA) took home the 79kg gold medal. Up from 74kg, Dieringer is a little over a month removed from going 5-0 and outscoring his competition 42-5 at the Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial in Kiev. In the Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial finals, Dieringer defeated Olympic bronze medalist Yabrail HASANOV (AZE), 7-3.

This weekend, Dieringer was named the Bill Farrell Most Outstanding Wrestler after three wins, which included a fall over 2015 world fifth-place finisher, Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) in the 79kg finals.

FINAL RESULTS
57kg - Samat NADYRBEK (KGZ) df. Tim LAMBERT (USA), 11-0
61kg - Jon MORRISON (USA) df. Tyler GRAFF (USA), 6-5
65kg - Evan HENDERSON (USA) df. Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA), via fall (0:26) 
70kg - Sayatpek OKASOV (KAZ) df. Kyle RUSCHELL (USA), 6-3
74 kg - Thomas GANTT (USA) df. Dan VALLIMONT (USA),11-0
79kg -  Alex DIERINGER (USA) df. Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA)
86kg - Joe Rau (Minnesota Storm) round-robin winner
97kg - Ty WALZ (USA) df. Deron WINN (USA), 4-2
125kg - Inkar YERMUKAMBET (KAZ) df. Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ), 4-2

2. Canada and Nigeria Announce Commonwealth Games Teams
Canada and Nigeria each revealed the 12 representatives who will compete at the 2018 Commonwealth Games which takes place in Gold Coast, Australia on April 11-13, 2018.

Defending Commonwealth Games championships, Olympic gold medalist Erica WIEBE (CAN) and Olympian Korey JARVIS (CAN) lead a Canadian team that won seven gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

World finalist Odunayo ADEKOROYE (NGR) and 2018 African champion Melvin BIBO (NGR) head Nigeria’s 12 participants. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Nigeria medaled in 11 out of 12 weight classes, including two gold medal performances by Adekuoroye and Oluwafunmilayo ADENIYI AMINAT (NGR).

3. Mongolia and India Round Out World Cup Teams
Due the the the U.S. Embassy not being able to provide expedited appointments for sporting events, the Russian Wrestling Federation has been forced to withdraw from this week’s 2018 Freestyle World Cup.

To fill the voided team slots, USA Wrestling and the tournament organizers have extended invitations to Mongolia and India. Both of which have accepted and have begun the visa process.

4. Six Olympic Medalists Set to Compete at Freestyle World Cup
Six Olympic medalists from Azerbaijan and the United States will be in action this weekend at the World Cup.

The three Olympic medalists who will be competing for Azerbaijan are Haji ALIYEV (AZE), Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) and Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE). Sharifov, a two-time Olympic medalist won Olympic gold in London and bronze in Rio. Aliev and Hasanov each snagged bronze medals at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

The three men for the United States who boast Olympic medals are Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), J’den COX (USA) and Kyle SNYDER (USA). In London, Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) captured gold and in Rio Kyle SNYDER (USA) won gold while Cox finished with the bronze.

5. Session One 57kg World Finals Rematch 
The United States and Japan will meet in session one of the World Cup and the first match of the day is a rematch of the 57kg 2017 World Championships gold-medal bout between Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) and Thomas GILMAN (USA).

In the world finals, 2017 Breakout Wrestler of the Year Yuki Takahashi captured his first world title by using three two-point moves to win the bout, 6-0. Takahashi scored his first two points from a caution-and-two and ended the match by picking up two defensive takedowns.

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media 

1. Have a productive week!?? Japanese wrestlers training? Всем плодотворной недели! Тренировка японских спортсменок? ?@saori___yoshida

2. #FlagFriday with Olympic champion S. SHARIFOV (AZE). Sharifov is entered at 92kg for next weekends World Cup.

3. Alexander KARELIN is ready for the European Champ’s ... are you?! #dagestan2018

4. “The days that break you are the days that make you???.” @mohsenhajipour
روزهایی که تو را می شکنند روزهایی هستند که تو را می سازند ???

5. “Cela semble toujours impossible jusqu’à ce qu’on le fasse...” @koumba_larroque

Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! September 25, 2018

By Eric Olanowski

Taking a look at the 2019 World Championship host city and the team results from the 2018 Junior World Championships. Also discussing two stars who were forced to pull out of the #Budapest2018 World Championships after suffering recent injuries.  

1. Astana to Host 2019 Senior Wrestling World Championships
United World Wrestling has announced the city of Astana will host the 2019 Senior Wrestling World Championships September 14-22 at the Daulet Arena.

The Kazakhstan capital city has hosted several United World Wrestling events in recent years, including the 2014 Senior Asian Wrestling Championships, 2016 Asian Olympic Qualifier, and the 2018 Grappling World Championships.

Competition to host the championships was intense, as the 2019 world championships will serve as the first qualification event for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The top six finishers in each Olympic weight category in Astana will secure an Olympic qualification for their nation, with the remaining qualification spots earned at continental competitions and a “Last Chance Qualifier” during the 2020 competition calendar.

Click HERE for full release.

Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (RUS) beat  Zachery Samuel ELAM (USA), 11-0 to win the 97kg gold medal at the Junior World Championships. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne)

2. Russia Wins Five Gold Medals and Junior World Team Title
Russia closed out the 2018 Junior World Championships winning the freestyle team title on the backs of five individual gold medals. Heading into the final day of wrestling, the Russian Federation led the second-place United States by 31 points and finished 67 points ahead of the returning champions. 

Russia grabbed a trio of gold medals on the sixth day of competition and seized championships from Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) and Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS) on the seventh and final day of wrestling at Trnava’s City Sports Hall.

Overall, Russia capped off the 2018 Junior World Championships with seven medalists. In addition to their five gold medals, they also won a silver and bronze medal. Though they had seven medalists a year ago, there five gold medals are an improvement from last year’s four gold medals. 

Team Scores 
GOLD – Russia (182 points)
SILVER – United States (115 points)
BRONZE –  Iran (98 points)
Fourth – Azerbaijan (91 points)
Fifth – India (84 points)

Click HERE for full release 

Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) flexes after scoring the 12technicalcal superiority victory over Nikoloz TCHIKAIDZE (GEO) in the Greco-Roman 72kg finals. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

3. Iran Wins Greco-Roman Team Title, Komarov Wins Fourth World Gold
Iran, with four gold medalists and 136 points wrapped up the Greco-Roman team title at the 2018 Trnava Junior World Championships, four points ahead of second-place Russia. 

Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI), with his left shoulder heavily taped, claimed back-to-back junior titles, making it his third overall age-level world championship. 

Meanwhile, Russia, led by Aleksandr KOMAROV who earned his fourth age-level world title finished in second place with 131 points. 

Komarov shutout out Andrew BERREYESA (USA) 10-0 in the 77kg finals to reach the top of the junior world podium for the second straight year. 

“These World Championships were the toughest yet. But it a great learning experience, and it feels good to win again,” said Komarov. “Now, my attention turns toward the senior-level and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.” 

Team Scores
GOLD - Iran - (136 points)
SILVER- Russia (131 points)
BRONZE - Armenia (83 points)
Fourth - Turkey (79 points) 
Fifth - India  (73 points)

Click HERE for full release

In the 50kg finals, Yui SUSAKI (JPN) beat Ellen RIESTERER (GER) to win her fifth world title in three different age groups. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne)

4. Japanese Women Win Six Golds, World Team Title 
For the eighth straight year, Japan left the Junior World Championships with the women’s wrestling team title. The most dominant women’s wrestling nation in the world finished 55 points ahead of second place Russia, and 88 points ahead of third place China. 

Japan closed out the fifth day of competition with four additional gold medals, bringing their tournament total to six overall individual champions. This is the fifth straight year that Japan has finished the Junior World Championships with at least four gold medalists. It’s also the most golds they’ve won since winning six golds at the 2016 Junior World Championships. 

They also won a silver and three bronze medals. In total, Japan medaled in all ten women’s wrestling weight classes. 

One of the biggest notes from women's wrestling was Japan's 19-year-old superstar Yui SUSAKI (JPN) winning her fifth straight world title across three age divisions, confirming her as one of the best wrestlers in the world, regardless of age, gender or style. 

Susaki’s next competition will be October’s senior-level World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Also of note, Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) won her fourth age-level world championship. Larroque didn't give up an offensive point the entire tournament, outscoring her Junior World Championship opponents 33-0, including an overwhelming 6-0 finals win over Russia's Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS). 

​​​​​​Team Scores 
GOLD - Japan (215 points)
SILVER – Russia (160 points)
BRONZE – China (127 points)
Fourth – Ukraine (73 points)
Fifth – Mongolia (67 points)

Click HERE for full release

Roman VLASOV (RUS) defeated Viktor NEMES (SRB), 5-1 to win the 2018 European gold medal. Photo by Max Rose-Fyne.

5. Vlasov and Phogat to Miss #Budapest2018 World Championships 
Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) and Roman VLASOV (RUS) recently suffered injuries and have been forced to pull out of the #Budapest2018 World Championships. 

According to Indian journalist Vinay Siwach, Phogat, the 24-year old rising Indian star tore ligaments in her elbow while practice Friday,  trying to finish a takedown against training partner Pooja DHANDA (IND). The Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medalist was expected to compete for a medal in women's wrestling at 50kg. 

Another blow to the #Budapest2018 entry list came when two-time Olympic champion Roman Vlasov announced that he recently underwent surgery for a right knee injury. Vlasov, the four-time world and Olympic champion and reigning European champion was registered at GR 77kg. 

Click HERE for full Scroll.in's full release on Phogat

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media 

1. "Difficulties will not break me." 

2. "The 2018 #beach#wrestling #world #championships will be held in #sarigerme #turkey #beachwrestling"

3. Respect.

4. Big Move Day 6 from the Junior World Championships - TRNAVA 2018

5. Photo from the Freestyle Finals. - #uww #wrestling