USA Greco Building Momentum Into Day 2

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Day one turned out to be a banner day for the junior Greco program in America, as we ended the afternoon session with two bronze medals and holding second place in the team standings.

As the only returning junior team member wrestling today, G’Angelo Hancock was expected to be a leader on this team. He ended with a bronze medal, his only loss on the day coming to the eventual champ.

Hancock completely shut down his Japanese opponent in the bronze medal match, ending up winning by a 3-0 score. He was awarded a passive point in the first period and got a takedown on the edge in the second.

Hancock wants to change Greco in America


Though a first year junior, Taylor LaMont has a tremendous amount of experience wrestling foreign competition. It finally paid off today as he broke through with a bronze medal.

The bronze medal bout was very similar to the rest of his day, as he had to come back late and hold off his foe in the dying seconds. Trailing 3-1, the future Utah Valley wrestler finished a solid takedown in the center of the mat to take the lead on criteria. He would go ahead outright when his opponent connected on a swing which the ref deemed a caution-and-two.

LaMont wins first world medal


While Kamal Bey and Randon Miranda did not wrestle for medals, they would combine for seven very crucial team points.

It was the first time since 2011 the US finished with more than one medalist. That team would up 11th overall with their 16 points, so the pressure will be on the four athletes competing on the second day to pick up another medal or two and maintain a top-five standing.

Coming off an Olympics in which American Greco athletes scored just 14 total points in their eight matches and went home without a medal, finishing the day in second place is a great way to kick off these junior world championships for USA Wrestling.