Carlson wins silver medal at Junior World Championships in women’s wrestling
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by Gary Abbott
ANKARA, Turkey - Veronica Carlson (Addison, Ill./New York AC) won a silver medal at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. on the final day of women's freestyle wrestling at the Junior World Championships on Friday.
Carlson dropped a close 0-1, 1-1 match to Hanna Johansson of Sweden in the championship finals. Johansson won from the offensive clinch position in the first period. Carlson scored a go-behind takedown to lead 1-1 in the second period, but Johansson won the period on a double leg takedown with just 15 seconds left on the clock.
She scored a clutch semifinal win over 2008 Junior World Champion Anastasia Bratchikova of Russia, 0-1, 3-1, 1-0 to advance to the finals.
"Veronica competed unbelievably great," said USA Wrestling National Women's Developmental Coach Izzy Izboinikov. "She knocked off a World champion from Russia in the semifinals. She had unbelievable effort, drive and will to win. Nobody can take that away from her. We were a little shy technically late in the finals match. Her heart was in the right place and the intensity was there. She was strong all day and competed hard."
Carlson opened the tournament with a 2-0, 2-0 win over Zomitsa Veleva of Bulgaria, then defeated Karin Stingelin of Switzerland, 6-0, 0-1, 2-0 in the second round.
"Veronica did a terrific job," said U.S. World Team coach Alex Conti. "Coach Izzy gave her the game plan. The Russian in the semifinals was extremely tough. Veronica changed things mid-way in the second period and broke the girl. In the finals, the clinch could have gone either way. She went a little defensive in the second period. We are very pleased with how she conducted herself. She is still young and has great things ahead."
She became the second U.S. women's wrestler to reach the finals at the Junior World Championships, joining Victoria Anthony (Huntington Beach, Calif./New York AC) who won a gold medal at 44 kg/97 lbs. on Thursday.
She completed her senior year at Marquette High School in Michigan, as a member of the U.S. Olympic Education Center program at Northern Michigan Univ. Carlson will be attending Missouri Baptist in the fall.
The three other U.S. wrestlers who competed on Friday lost their opening matches, then were eliminated from medal contention when their opponents did not reach the championship finals.
Finishing with 0-1 records on Friday were CC Weber (Goodrich, Mich./Sunkist Kids) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./New York AC) at 55 kg/130 lbs. and Christen Paysse (Fullerton, Calif./Univ. of the Cumberlands) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Maroulis was a bronze medalist at the 2008 Junior World Championships.
The U.S. placed fifth as a team with 25 points. Russia won the team title, followed by Ukraine, Japan and Sweden.
"It was a pretty disappointing performance. We didn't come here for two medals," said Izboinikov. "We are very happy that Vickie won the gold medal and Veronica won the silver. Speaking for myself, the coaches and the athletes, everybody is disappointed. We will have to look back and see where the glitches happened. This is a work in progress. They need to take this as a learning experience, just like any other tournament. We came here to win, but along with that, we can get a lot of valuable experience."
The men's freestyle competition begins on Saturday. Four U.S. wrestlers will weighed in on Friday afternoon and received their draws. Among those competing Saturday is the NCAA runner-up for Wisconsin, Andrew Howe (Cedar Lake, Ind./NYAC), who competes at 74 kg/163 lbs.
JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Ankara, Turkey, August 7
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold - Fuyuko Mimura (Japan)
Silver - Ljubov Salnikova (Russia)
Bronze - Naziha Hamza (Tunisia)
Bronze - Melanie LeSaffre (France)
5th - Jacqueline Schellin (Germany)
5th - Mariya Livach (Ukraine)
7th - Hyun-Young Oh (Korea)
8th Hafize Sahin (Turkey)
9th - Valya Trandeva (Bulgaria)
10th - Indu Chaudhary (India)
55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Yuliya Blahinya (Ukraine)
Silver - Anastasija Grigorjeva (Latvia)
Bronze - Renata Omilusik (Poland)
Bronze - Marwa Amri (Tunisia)
5th - Emese Barka (Hungary)
5th - Chiaki Arai (Japan)
7th - Aiyim Abdildina (Kazakhstan)
8th - Maria Gurova (Russia)
9th - Sabrina Axenbeck (Germany)
10th - Martina Riegler (Austria)
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold - Hanna Johansson (Sweden)
Silver - Veronica Carlson (USA)
Bronze - Anastasia Bratchivova (Russia)
Bronze - Ayaka Sato (Japan)
5th - Karin Stingelin (Switzerlan)
5th - Iryna Netreba (Ukraine)
7th - Eun-Sil Jang (Korea)
8th - Danielle Lappage (Canada)
9th - Sharkhuu Tumentsetseg (Mongolia)
10th - Christina Hatzinikolaou (Greece)
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Gold - Natalia Vorobyeva (Russia)
Silver - Roxana Iancolovici (Romania)
Bronze - Epp Mae (Estonia)
Bronze - Emma Weberg (Sweden)
5th - Oksana Vaschuk (Ukraine)
5th - Jiajia Du (China)
7th - Erica Wiebe (Canada)
8th - Eva-Maria Maierhofer (Austria)
9th - Natallia Shynkarova (Belarus)
10th - Naranchimeg Batsaikhan (Mongolia)
Team Standings
1. RUSSIA (RUS) 67
2. UKRAINE (UKR) 50
3. JAPAN (JPN) 47
4. SWEDEN (SWE) 26
5. UNITED STATES (USA) 25
6. TUNISIA (TUN) 24
7. CANADA (CAN) 19
8. BULGARIA (BUL) 16
9. INDIA (IND) 15
10. POLAND (POL) 14
11. KAZAKHSTAN (KAZ) 13
11. ROMANIA (ROU) 13
11. MONGOLIA (MGL) 13
14. SWITZERLAND (SUI) 12
15. TURKEY (TUR) 11
16. BELARUS (BLR) 10
17. LATVIA (LAT) 9
18. ESTONIA (EST) 8
18. FRANCE (FRA) 8
18. GERMANY (GER) 8
18. KOREA (KOR) 8
22. AUSTRIA (AUT) 7
23. CHINA (CHN) 6
23. EGYPT (EGY) 6
23. HUNGARY (HUN) 6
23. MOLDOVA (MDA) 6
27. NETHERLAND (NED) 4
28. NORWAY (NOR) 3
29. GREECE (GRE) 1
29. ISRAEL (ISR) 1
U.S. women's results on Friday
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - CC Weber, Goodrich, Mich. (Sunkist Kids), dnp/18th
LOSS Maria Livach (Ukraine), 0-3, 0-1
55 kg/130 lbs. - Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC), dnp/17th
LOSS Marwa Amri (Tunisia), 0-5, 2-1, 7-0
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Veronica Carlson, Addison, Ill. (New York AC), 2nd
WIN Zomitsa Veleva (Bulgaria), 2-0, 2-0
WIN Karin Stingelin (Switzerland), 6-0, 0-1, 2-0
WIN Anastasia Bratchikova (Russia), 0-1, 3-1, 1-0
LOSS Hanna Johannson (Sweden), 0-1, 1-1
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Christen Paysse, Fullerton, Calif. (Univ. of the Cumberlands), dnp/15th
LOSS Emma Weberg (Sweden), 2-4, 0-5
U.S. men's freestyle first round draw for Saturday
50 kg/ 110 lbs. Carson Kuhn, Sandy, Utah (Vandit)
vs. Surender Surender (India)
60 kg/132 lbs. Jordan Oliver, Easton, PA (Gator WC)
vs. Dauren Zhumagazyyev (Kazakhstan)
74 kg/163 lbs. Andrew Howe, Cedar Lake, Ind. (NYAC)
vs. Romain Jollien (Switzerland)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. Tyrell Fortune, Portland, Ore. (Peninsula WC)
vs. Gurjot Kooner (Canada)
Carlson dropped a close 0-1, 1-1 match to Hanna Johansson of Sweden in the championship finals. Johansson won from the offensive clinch position in the first period. Carlson scored a go-behind takedown to lead 1-1 in the second period, but Johansson won the period on a double leg takedown with just 15 seconds left on the clock.
She scored a clutch semifinal win over 2008 Junior World Champion Anastasia Bratchikova of Russia, 0-1, 3-1, 1-0 to advance to the finals.
"Veronica competed unbelievably great," said USA Wrestling National Women's Developmental Coach Izzy Izboinikov. "She knocked off a World champion from Russia in the semifinals. She had unbelievable effort, drive and will to win. Nobody can take that away from her. We were a little shy technically late in the finals match. Her heart was in the right place and the intensity was there. She was strong all day and competed hard."
Carlson opened the tournament with a 2-0, 2-0 win over Zomitsa Veleva of Bulgaria, then defeated Karin Stingelin of Switzerland, 6-0, 0-1, 2-0 in the second round.
"Veronica did a terrific job," said U.S. World Team coach Alex Conti. "Coach Izzy gave her the game plan. The Russian in the semifinals was extremely tough. Veronica changed things mid-way in the second period and broke the girl. In the finals, the clinch could have gone either way. She went a little defensive in the second period. We are very pleased with how she conducted herself. She is still young and has great things ahead."
She became the second U.S. women's wrestler to reach the finals at the Junior World Championships, joining Victoria Anthony (Huntington Beach, Calif./New York AC) who won a gold medal at 44 kg/97 lbs. on Thursday.
She completed her senior year at Marquette High School in Michigan, as a member of the U.S. Olympic Education Center program at Northern Michigan Univ. Carlson will be attending Missouri Baptist in the fall.
The three other U.S. wrestlers who competed on Friday lost their opening matches, then were eliminated from medal contention when their opponents did not reach the championship finals.
Finishing with 0-1 records on Friday were CC Weber (Goodrich, Mich./Sunkist Kids) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./New York AC) at 55 kg/130 lbs. and Christen Paysse (Fullerton, Calif./Univ. of the Cumberlands) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Maroulis was a bronze medalist at the 2008 Junior World Championships.
The U.S. placed fifth as a team with 25 points. Russia won the team title, followed by Ukraine, Japan and Sweden.
"It was a pretty disappointing performance. We didn't come here for two medals," said Izboinikov. "We are very happy that Vickie won the gold medal and Veronica won the silver. Speaking for myself, the coaches and the athletes, everybody is disappointed. We will have to look back and see where the glitches happened. This is a work in progress. They need to take this as a learning experience, just like any other tournament. We came here to win, but along with that, we can get a lot of valuable experience."
The men's freestyle competition begins on Saturday. Four U.S. wrestlers will weighed in on Friday afternoon and received their draws. Among those competing Saturday is the NCAA runner-up for Wisconsin, Andrew Howe (Cedar Lake, Ind./NYAC), who competes at 74 kg/163 lbs.
JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Ankara, Turkey, August 7
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold - Fuyuko Mimura (Japan)
Silver - Ljubov Salnikova (Russia)
Bronze - Naziha Hamza (Tunisia)
Bronze - Melanie LeSaffre (France)
5th - Jacqueline Schellin (Germany)
5th - Mariya Livach (Ukraine)
7th - Hyun-Young Oh (Korea)
8th Hafize Sahin (Turkey)
9th - Valya Trandeva (Bulgaria)
10th - Indu Chaudhary (India)
55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Yuliya Blahinya (Ukraine)
Silver - Anastasija Grigorjeva (Latvia)
Bronze - Renata Omilusik (Poland)
Bronze - Marwa Amri (Tunisia)
5th - Emese Barka (Hungary)
5th - Chiaki Arai (Japan)
7th - Aiyim Abdildina (Kazakhstan)
8th - Maria Gurova (Russia)
9th - Sabrina Axenbeck (Germany)
10th - Martina Riegler (Austria)
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold - Hanna Johansson (Sweden)
Silver - Veronica Carlson (USA)
Bronze - Anastasia Bratchivova (Russia)
Bronze - Ayaka Sato (Japan)
5th - Karin Stingelin (Switzerlan)
5th - Iryna Netreba (Ukraine)
7th - Eun-Sil Jang (Korea)
8th - Danielle Lappage (Canada)
9th - Sharkhuu Tumentsetseg (Mongolia)
10th - Christina Hatzinikolaou (Greece)
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Gold - Natalia Vorobyeva (Russia)
Silver - Roxana Iancolovici (Romania)
Bronze - Epp Mae (Estonia)
Bronze - Emma Weberg (Sweden)
5th - Oksana Vaschuk (Ukraine)
5th - Jiajia Du (China)
7th - Erica Wiebe (Canada)
8th - Eva-Maria Maierhofer (Austria)
9th - Natallia Shynkarova (Belarus)
10th - Naranchimeg Batsaikhan (Mongolia)
Team Standings
1. RUSSIA (RUS) 67
2. UKRAINE (UKR) 50
3. JAPAN (JPN) 47
4. SWEDEN (SWE) 26
5. UNITED STATES (USA) 25
6. TUNISIA (TUN) 24
7. CANADA (CAN) 19
8. BULGARIA (BUL) 16
9. INDIA (IND) 15
10. POLAND (POL) 14
11. KAZAKHSTAN (KAZ) 13
11. ROMANIA (ROU) 13
11. MONGOLIA (MGL) 13
14. SWITZERLAND (SUI) 12
15. TURKEY (TUR) 11
16. BELARUS (BLR) 10
17. LATVIA (LAT) 9
18. ESTONIA (EST) 8
18. FRANCE (FRA) 8
18. GERMANY (GER) 8
18. KOREA (KOR) 8
22. AUSTRIA (AUT) 7
23. CHINA (CHN) 6
23. EGYPT (EGY) 6
23. HUNGARY (HUN) 6
23. MOLDOVA (MDA) 6
27. NETHERLAND (NED) 4
28. NORWAY (NOR) 3
29. GREECE (GRE) 1
29. ISRAEL (ISR) 1
U.S. women's results on Friday
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - CC Weber, Goodrich, Mich. (Sunkist Kids), dnp/18th
LOSS Maria Livach (Ukraine), 0-3, 0-1
55 kg/130 lbs. - Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC), dnp/17th
LOSS Marwa Amri (Tunisia), 0-5, 2-1, 7-0
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Veronica Carlson, Addison, Ill. (New York AC), 2nd
WIN Zomitsa Veleva (Bulgaria), 2-0, 2-0
WIN Karin Stingelin (Switzerland), 6-0, 0-1, 2-0
WIN Anastasia Bratchikova (Russia), 0-1, 3-1, 1-0
LOSS Hanna Johannson (Sweden), 0-1, 1-1
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Christen Paysse, Fullerton, Calif. (Univ. of the Cumberlands), dnp/15th
LOSS Emma Weberg (Sweden), 2-4, 0-5
U.S. men's freestyle first round draw for Saturday
50 kg/ 110 lbs. Carson Kuhn, Sandy, Utah (Vandit)
vs. Surender Surender (India)
60 kg/132 lbs. Jordan Oliver, Easton, PA (Gator WC)
vs. Dauren Zhumagazyyev (Kazakhstan)
74 kg/163 lbs. Andrew Howe, Cedar Lake, Ind. (NYAC)
vs. Romain Jollien (Switzerland)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. Tyrell Fortune, Portland, Ore. (Peninsula WC)
vs. Gurjot Kooner (Canada)
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