Day 5: Clutch Performances Lead To 4 Finalists For Team USA!
Day 5: Clutch Performances Lead To 4 Finalists For Team USA!
The U.S. men's freestyle team put 4 wrestlers in the finals while the women's squad earned 2 silvers at U17 Worlds.
ROME, Italy — The United States was nearly perfect during the first day of the men’s freestyle competition at the U17 World Championships. Five wrestlers competed and four reached the finals after a 13-1 day by the Americans.
But it wasn’t without drama.
Christian Castillo (48 kg) won a heart-pounding quarterfinal against Iran’s Arshia Haddadi where Castillo led 6-0 after the first period, fell behind 6-6 on criteria, then pulled out a last-second takedown to move into the semifinals. In the semis, Castillo won in much less dramatic fashion, recording a fall while leading 12-1 over France's Rassoul Galbouraev.
Jax Forrest (55 kg) is 4-0 on the day but had a back-and-forth quarterfinal with Zalkarbek Tabaldiev (KGZ) that Forrest eventually won, 10-6. Then in the semis, Forrest needed a last-second takedown to defeat India's Vaibhav Patil, 9-7.
Tyler Kasak (65 kg) pulled out his heroics in the round of 16 where he was behind 6-4 late but won 7-6 after snagging a last-second takedown and an additional point for a lost challenge. He secured a fall in the closing second of his quarterfinal match to move into the semifinals. Kasak had a tight, but controlling win in the semis, eventually securing the fall with a minute to go in the match over India's Akit.
Koy Hopke (110 kg) had the most dominant run for Team USA with a 14-3 tech, an 11-2 quarterfinal win, and a 12-2 tech in the semis.
Zack Ryder (80 kg) fell 10-0 in his opening match and was the lone American to lose.
The incredible individual performances have Team USA leading the team race after the first day with 80 points. India is in second with 50 points, followed by Azerbaijan with 40, with Iran and France tied for fourth with 30 points.
USA's women's team finished up their world championships with Gabriella Gomez (46kg) and Valerie Hamilton (61kg) earning silver medals. Gomez dropped her finals match to Japan's Koko Matsuda, 11-0 while Hamilton lost to India's Savita, 12-0. In total, the women's squad had 3 silver medalists and 3 fifth place finishers at the U17 World Championships. That performance earned them a 4th place finish with 107 points behind Japan (180), India (149), and Ukraine (112).
U.S. Men’s Freestyle Results with scoring highlights:
48 kg: Christian Castillo (Glendale, Ariz./Thorobred Wrestling Club) – In the finals
WIN Ozgur Caglayan (Turkey), 10-0
WIN Arshia Haddadi (Iran), 8-6
WIN Rassoul Galbouraev (France), FALL
Gold medal match vs Vasif Baghirov (AZE)
55 kg: Jax Forrest (Johnstown, Pa.) - In the finals
WIN Takuto Osedo (Japan), 12-1
WIN Sandro Hungerbuehler (Switzerland), 10-0
WIN Zalkarbek Tabaldiev (KGZ), 10-6
WIN Vaibhav Patil (IND), 9-7
Gold medal match vs Daryn Askerbek (KAZ)
65 kg: Tyler Kasak (Doylestown, Pa.) - In the finals
WIN Akobir Rahimov (Uzbekistan), 7-6
WIN Bogdan Olinyk (Ukraine), fall
WIN Ankit (India), FALL
Gold medal match vs Ilyas Isayev (AZE)
80 kg: Zack Ryder (Westtown, N.Y. /KD Training Center) – In repechage
LOSS Reza Soleimanian (Iran), 10-0 (Soleimanian made finals)
Repechage match vs Slavi Stamenov (BUL)
110 kg: Koy Hopke (Amery, Wis./Pinnacle Wrestling Club) – In finals
WIN Ramini Gulitashvili (Georgia), 14-3
WIN Mateusz Pudlowski (Poland), 11-2
WIN Khikmatullo Kurbonov (Uzbekistan), 12-2
Gold medal match vs Levan Lagvilava (FRA)
U.S. Women's Freestyle results with scoring highlights:
40 kg: Megan Valdez (San Jacinto, Calif.) - eliminated
LOSS Yagmur Karabacak (Turkey), 8-6
43 kg: Erica Pastoriza (Phoenix, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary WC) – Silver
WIN Elvina Karimzada (Azerbaijan), 7-2
WIN Dominika Konkel (Poland), 10-0
WIN Arina Abdullina (Kazakhstan) 12-2
Gold medal match LOSS Ritika (India), Fall
46 kg: Gabriella Gomez (Carol Stream, Ill.) - Silver
WIN Yelyzaveta Kulakivska (Ukraine), 8-2
WIN Daniella Beky (Norway), 12-1
WIN Kornelia Laszlo (Hungary), 3-3
Loss Koko Matsuda (JPN), 11-0
49 kg: Audrey Jimenez (Tucson, Ariz. /Sunkist Kids WC) – eliminated
LOSS Fabiana Rinella (Italy), 9-2
53 kg: Elena Ivaldi (Newcastle, Calif./MatTime) - eliminated
WIN Manar Elmasry (Egypt), 8-7
LOSS Khaliun Byambasuren, fall
57 kg: Shelby Moore (Buckley, Wash./Takedown Express WC) – 5th place
WIN Michalina Ignaszak (Poland), 11-0
WIN Alina Flipovych (Ukraine), 11-8
LOSS Sowaka Uchida (Japan), no international credentials
WIN Annatina Lippuner (Switzerland), 10-0
LOSS Ulmeken Esenbaeva (Uzbekistan), 4-2
61 kg: Valerie Hamilton (Gridley, Ill./SOT-C) - Silver
WIN Yen-Yi Li (Taipei), 7-6
WIN Petra Mrackova (CZE), fall
Win Sevinch SULTONOVA (Uzbekistan), 5-0
Loss Savita Savita (IND), 12-0
65 kg: Sydney Perry (Batavia, Ill./Batavia WC) – 5th place
WIN Szonja Szabo (Hungary), 5-0
LOSS Anju Sato (Japan), 3-0
WIN Daria Konstantynova (Ukraine), 6-6
LOSS Zharkynai Nurlan (KGZ), 7-0
69 kg: Jasmine Robinson (Allen, Texas /Best Trained Wrestling) - eliminated
LOSS Veronika Vilk (Croatia), fall
73 kg: Kaiulani Garcia (Stockton, Calif./NorCal Queens WC) – 5th place
LOSS Priya Priya (India), 3-1
WIN Dominika Pochowska (Poland), fall
Loss Alina Yertostik (KAZ), fall
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