Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! February 19, 2018

By Eric Olanowski

Reviewing United World Wrestling's new documentary, the trio of Gray, Adar, and Weibe at the Klippan Lady Open. Also taking a look Susaki taking out Stadnik and Borrero Molina's insane five-point throw. 

1. Adeline Gray Proves She's Back!  

The Klippan Lady Open ended with a bang as three-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) closed out the tournament by picking up the come from behind win to defeat defending world champions Yasemin ADAR (TUR).

Gray trailed heading into the second period after Adar hit her with a beautiful four-point arm spin, taking the 4-2 lead. When asked about the arm-spin, Gray said “We practiced it in the warm-up. We knew she had a great arm-spin, so kudos to her for hitting it when it mattered.”

In the second period, Gray outscored Adar 7-2 to win the match 9-6 and reclaim her No. 1 spot in the United World Wrestling world rankings.

2. Sacrifice: Inside Cuba's Wrestling Powerhouse

What makes a wrestling nation strong? In Cuba, it's a combination of perseverance, strength ... and more than a little sacrifice. Watch, share and like with your friends! Help the world see the power of international wrestling.

3. Borrero Molina's Insane FIVE!

It's only mid-February, but when United World Wrestling releases our annual awards, we'll have a spot saved for 2016 Olympic champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA's (CUB) five-point arm throw from the Granma Cup. 

Molina finished the Granma Cup with a 4-0 record and captured the 67kg gold medal. 

RESULTS: http://uww.io/iXuwz

4. Susaki Squeaks Out Win Over Stadnik 

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) kicked off the finals of the Klippan Open by defeating two-time world and Olympic silver medalist Mariya STADNIK (AZE), 2-1.

Susaki trailed nearly the entire match and did not take her first lead until Stadnik stepped out of bounds with15 seconds remaining in the match. This step out gave Susaki the 2-1 lead and eventually sealed her second Klippan Lady Open title in as many years. 

After the match, Susaki said “I was so excited after the match because it was my first win after my December loss. I knew this would be a one exchange match and I capitalized on that one exchange!”

5. Adar Scores Late, Knocks Off Olympic Champ Wiebe

In round one of the 2018 Klippan Lady Open, returning world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) used the go-ahead takedown with short time left to defeat 2016 Olympic champion, Eric Wiebe (CAN), 6-5.

Adar was placed on the shot clock in the first period as she was hit with her second passivity call. Unable to score, Wiebe took the lead on criteria heading into the second period.

In the second period, Adar picked up her first takedown of the match with one minute remaining. Wiebe then took the 5-3 lead after scoring four points off a snatch single to a leg lace. Adar struck with a last-second takedown, earing the 6-5 victory.

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media 

Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) celebrates her come from behind win over U23 world runner-up, Braxton STONE (CAN) to win the 65kg bronze medal. 

While training at the ORTC with Kyle Snyder, Taha Akgul (TUR) spends his rest day watching Ohio State University basketball.

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