Olympians Mango, Bernard win titles at American Airlines NYAC International
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NEW YORK, N.Y. - Two members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, Greco-Roman star Spenser Mango and women's freestyle star Ali Bernard, captured gold medals on the first day of the American Airlines New York Athletic Club International Open on Saturday.
They were among the six U.S. champions on the opening day of the meet, which featured competition in Greco-Roman and women's freestyle.
Mango (St. Louis, Mo./Gator WC) defeated Kiyharu Hirao of Japan in the finals at 55 kg/121 lbs., 2-1, 3-1. It is a rematch from the USA vs. Japan dual meet on Thursday night, won by Mango, 5-0, 7-0
Mango was named Outstanding Wrestler in the Greco-Roman division. He also defeated talented Vyugar Ragymov of Ukraine in the semifinals, 5-0, 5-6, 2-1. Mango was eighth in the 2008 Olympic Games.
"I was a little sloppy, but a win is a win," said Mango. "The guy I saw in the finals, I had to wrestle the other night. I have seen the Ukrainian wrestle before, but never had a chance to wrestle him before. I am heading to France from here. It was great to get back into the flow of competing.
Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC) stopped Canada's Pam Wilson in the championship finals at 72 kg/158.5 lbs., 4-0, 5-0. It was the second straight weekend that Bernard has beaten Wilson, after defeating her in a tournament in Canada last week Bernard was fifth in the 2008 Olympic Games.
"I am doing good. I am getting back into it. I am a little out of shape, but I came here to have some fun," said Bernard. "It is four more years to the next Olympics. I am working on some techniques now. I have days when I am gung-ho, and other days where it is tougher. Wrestling takes a lot out of me. But I am having fun and doing it for me again."
Two members of the 2008 U.S. Women's World Team won titles on Saturday, Deanna Rix (S. Berwick, Maine/New York AC) at 59 kg/130 lbs. and Elena Pirozkhov (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Rix defeated Canada's Amanda Gerhardt in the finals, 0-1, 3-0, 1-0 and was named Outstanding Wrestler in the women's division. Rix also defeated Gerhardt in an exhibition match in Bethlehem, Pa. on Friday night by pin.
"It was rough after yesterday, which was a long day," said Rix. "She changed her style a lot. She slowed down. Last night, she shot a lot, which allowed me to score more. She didn't shoot as much, so it was different. I stayed with my same stuff. I had to be patient. I am starting to get into good training and get into good wrestling shape."
Pirozkhov won a three-athlete roundrobin for her title. She stopped Veronica Carlson (Addison, Ill./New York AC) to clinch the gold.
In an earlier round robin match, Pirozkhov defeated 2008 U.S. World Team member Alaina Berube (River Falls, Wis./New York AC), 1-1, 1-0. Pirozkhov wrestled at the World Championships at 67 kg, while Berube competed there at 63 kg.
"I did all right. My final match, she came out aggressive. I forgot how aggressive she could be. I didn't take as many shots as I wanted. I got caught in a brawl. I am looking forward to getting a lot more competition," said Pirozkhov.
The other U.S. champion in the women's division was Alyssa Lampe (Tomahawk, Wis./Sunkist Kids) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. who won a best-of-three series over Canada's Coralie Dixon.
There were two U.S. winners in Greco-Roman, Mango and Jake Fisher (Platte City, Mo./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. It was the second straight year that Fisher won a New York AC International Open gold medal.
In the finals, he defeated his teammate at the U.S. Olympic Education Center, 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials runner-up Cheney Haight (Orem, Utah/New York AC), 1-1, 1-1. Fisher won the ball pull both periods of the match, and scored the last point of the period by defending from the bottom.
"I did decent for a first tournament. I haven't wrestled since the Olympic Trials," said Fisher. "I got out all the jitters there. I have wrestled (Haight) like 20 times. We go back and forth. We also work out all the time. There are not a lot of points scored when we wrestle."
The freestyle wrestling competition will be held on Sunday.
NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB INTERNATIONAL OPEN
At New York, N.Y., November 22
55 kg/121 lbs.
1st Place - Spenser Mango of Gator Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Kiyoharu Hirao of Japan
3rd Place - Vyugar Ragymov of Ukraine
4th Place - Nate Engel of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
1st - Spenser Mango (Gator Wrestling Club) dec. Kiyoharu Hirao (Japan), 2-1, 3-1
3rd - Vyugar Ragymov (Ukraine) dec. Nate Engel (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 4-0, 4-4, 5-0
60 kg/132 lbs.
1st Place - Ruslan Israfilov of Ukraine
2nd Place - Kostyantyn Balitskyy of Ukraine
3rd Place - Joe Betterman of NYAC
4th Place - Anthony Jerome of Shamrock WC
5th Place - Kosuke Hori of Japan
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
1st Place - Oleksandr Khvoshch of Ukraine
2nd Place - Yuri Veshev of Israel
3rd Place - Hiroyuki Shimizu of Japan
4th Place - Matt Holt of Unattached
1st - Oleksandr Khvoshch (Ukraine) dec. Yuri Veshev (Israel), 4-0,6-0
3rd - Hiroyuki Shimizu (Japan) dec. Matt Holt (Unattached), 5-0,7-0
74 kg/163 lbs.
1st Place - Jake Fisher of NYAC
2nd Place - Cheney Haight of NYAC
3rd Place - Daniyar Kobonov of Kyrgyz Republic
4th Place - Andrew Bisek of Minn. Storm/USOEC
1st - Jake Fisher (NYAC) dec. Cheney Haight (NYAC), 1-1, 1-1
3rd - Daniyar Kobonov (Kyrgyz Republic) dec. Andrew Bisek (Minn. Storm/USOEC), 1-3, 2-2, 1-1
84 kg/185 lbs.
1st Place - Vasyl Rachyba of Ukraine
2nd Place - Janarbek Kenjeev of Kyrgyz Republic
3rd Place - Talan Knox of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
4th Place - Jesse Robbins of Florida Jets
1st - Vasyl Rachyba (Ukraine) dec. Janarbek Kenjeev (Kyrgyz Republic), 2-2, 3-1
3rd - Talan Knox (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Jesse Robbins (Florida Jets), 2-2, 2-1)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
1st Place - Oleg Kryoka of Ukraine
2nd Place - R C Johnson of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Pete Gounaridis of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
4th Place - Bronislav Sharovetsky of Israel
5th Place - Stas Shamota of Brooklyn Club
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
1st Place - Oleksandr Chernetskyi of Ukraine
2nd Place - Peter Kowalczuk of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Vladimir Guralski of Israel
4th Place - Brandon Rupp of pocatello
1st - Oleksandr Chernetskyi (Ukraine) tech fall over Peter Kowalczuk (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 7-0, 8-0
3rd - Vladimir Guralski (Israel) dec. Brandon Rupp (Pocatello), 6-0,1-1,2-0
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
1st Place - Alyssa Lampe of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Coralie Dixon of Canada
Alyssa Lampe (Sunkist Kids) pin Coralie Dixon (Canada), 1:20
Lampe dec. Dixon, 7-2, 4-0
51 kg/112.25 lbs.
1st Place - Gen Haley of Canada/University of Calgary
2nd Place - Katherine Fulp-allen of NYAC
3rd Place - Yuri Kai of Japan
4th Place - Natasha Umemoto of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
1st - Gen Haley (Canada/University of Calgary) dec. Katherine Fulp-allen (NYAC), 3-0, 1-0
3rd - Yuri Kai (Japan) dec. Natasha Umemoto (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 1-0, 5-2
55 kg/121 1bs.
1st Place - Brittance Laverdure of Canada/University of Calgary
2nd Place - Sharon Jacobson of US Army
3rd Place - Leigh Jaynes of NYAC
4th Place - Cherae Pasqua of NYAC
1st - Brittance Laverdure (Canada/University of Calgary) won by injury default over Sharon Jacobson (US Army)
3rd - Leigh Jaynes (NYAC) dec. Cherae Pasqua (NYAC), 1-1, 1-0
59 kg/130 lbs.
1st Place - Deanna Rix of NYAC
2nd Place - Amanda Gerhart of BMWC
3rd Place - Heidi Erdle of Canada/University of Calgary
4th Place - Takako Saito of Japan
1st - Deanna Rix (NYAC) dec. Amanda Gerhart (BMWC), 0-1, 3-0, 1-0
3rd - Heidi Erdle (Canada/University of Calgary) pin Takako Saito (Japan), 2-1, 1:33
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
1st Place - Elena Pirozhkova of Gator Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Alaina Berube of NYAC
3rd Place - Veronica Carlson of NYAC
67 kg/147.5 lbs.
1st Place - Mami Shinkai of Japan
2nd Place - Megan Baydens of Canada
3rd Place - Stacie Anaka of BMWC
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
1st Place - Ali Bernard of Gator Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Pam Wilson of Canada/University of Calgary
3rd Place - Svitlana Saienko of Ukraine
4th Place - Laura Gourley of Cobra WC
1st - Ali Bernard (Gator Wrestling Club) dec. Pam Wilson (Canada/University of Calgary), 4-0, 5-0
3rd - Svitlana Saienko (Ukraine) pin Laura Gourley (Cobra WC), 6-0, 0:46
They were among the six U.S. champions on the opening day of the meet, which featured competition in Greco-Roman and women's freestyle.
Mango (St. Louis, Mo./Gator WC) defeated Kiyharu Hirao of Japan in the finals at 55 kg/121 lbs., 2-1, 3-1. It is a rematch from the USA vs. Japan dual meet on Thursday night, won by Mango, 5-0, 7-0
Mango was named Outstanding Wrestler in the Greco-Roman division. He also defeated talented Vyugar Ragymov of Ukraine in the semifinals, 5-0, 5-6, 2-1. Mango was eighth in the 2008 Olympic Games.
"I was a little sloppy, but a win is a win," said Mango. "The guy I saw in the finals, I had to wrestle the other night. I have seen the Ukrainian wrestle before, but never had a chance to wrestle him before. I am heading to France from here. It was great to get back into the flow of competing.
Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC) stopped Canada's Pam Wilson in the championship finals at 72 kg/158.5 lbs., 4-0, 5-0. It was the second straight weekend that Bernard has beaten Wilson, after defeating her in a tournament in Canada last week Bernard was fifth in the 2008 Olympic Games.
"I am doing good. I am getting back into it. I am a little out of shape, but I came here to have some fun," said Bernard. "It is four more years to the next Olympics. I am working on some techniques now. I have days when I am gung-ho, and other days where it is tougher. Wrestling takes a lot out of me. But I am having fun and doing it for me again."
Two members of the 2008 U.S. Women's World Team won titles on Saturday, Deanna Rix (S. Berwick, Maine/New York AC) at 59 kg/130 lbs. and Elena Pirozkhov (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Rix defeated Canada's Amanda Gerhardt in the finals, 0-1, 3-0, 1-0 and was named Outstanding Wrestler in the women's division. Rix also defeated Gerhardt in an exhibition match in Bethlehem, Pa. on Friday night by pin.
"It was rough after yesterday, which was a long day," said Rix. "She changed her style a lot. She slowed down. Last night, she shot a lot, which allowed me to score more. She didn't shoot as much, so it was different. I stayed with my same stuff. I had to be patient. I am starting to get into good training and get into good wrestling shape."
Pirozkhov won a three-athlete roundrobin for her title. She stopped Veronica Carlson (Addison, Ill./New York AC) to clinch the gold.
In an earlier round robin match, Pirozkhov defeated 2008 U.S. World Team member Alaina Berube (River Falls, Wis./New York AC), 1-1, 1-0. Pirozkhov wrestled at the World Championships at 67 kg, while Berube competed there at 63 kg.
"I did all right. My final match, she came out aggressive. I forgot how aggressive she could be. I didn't take as many shots as I wanted. I got caught in a brawl. I am looking forward to getting a lot more competition," said Pirozkhov.
The other U.S. champion in the women's division was Alyssa Lampe (Tomahawk, Wis./Sunkist Kids) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. who won a best-of-three series over Canada's Coralie Dixon.
There were two U.S. winners in Greco-Roman, Mango and Jake Fisher (Platte City, Mo./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. It was the second straight year that Fisher won a New York AC International Open gold medal.
In the finals, he defeated his teammate at the U.S. Olympic Education Center, 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials runner-up Cheney Haight (Orem, Utah/New York AC), 1-1, 1-1. Fisher won the ball pull both periods of the match, and scored the last point of the period by defending from the bottom.
"I did decent for a first tournament. I haven't wrestled since the Olympic Trials," said Fisher. "I got out all the jitters there. I have wrestled (Haight) like 20 times. We go back and forth. We also work out all the time. There are not a lot of points scored when we wrestle."
The freestyle wrestling competition will be held on Sunday.
NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB INTERNATIONAL OPEN
At New York, N.Y., November 22
55 kg/121 lbs.
1st Place - Spenser Mango of Gator Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Kiyoharu Hirao of Japan
3rd Place - Vyugar Ragymov of Ukraine
4th Place - Nate Engel of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
1st - Spenser Mango (Gator Wrestling Club) dec. Kiyoharu Hirao (Japan), 2-1, 3-1
3rd - Vyugar Ragymov (Ukraine) dec. Nate Engel (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 4-0, 4-4, 5-0
60 kg/132 lbs.
1st Place - Ruslan Israfilov of Ukraine
2nd Place - Kostyantyn Balitskyy of Ukraine
3rd Place - Joe Betterman of NYAC
4th Place - Anthony Jerome of Shamrock WC
5th Place - Kosuke Hori of Japan
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
1st Place - Oleksandr Khvoshch of Ukraine
2nd Place - Yuri Veshev of Israel
3rd Place - Hiroyuki Shimizu of Japan
4th Place - Matt Holt of Unattached
1st - Oleksandr Khvoshch (Ukraine) dec. Yuri Veshev (Israel), 4-0,6-0
3rd - Hiroyuki Shimizu (Japan) dec. Matt Holt (Unattached), 5-0,7-0
74 kg/163 lbs.
1st Place - Jake Fisher of NYAC
2nd Place - Cheney Haight of NYAC
3rd Place - Daniyar Kobonov of Kyrgyz Republic
4th Place - Andrew Bisek of Minn. Storm/USOEC
1st - Jake Fisher (NYAC) dec. Cheney Haight (NYAC), 1-1, 1-1
3rd - Daniyar Kobonov (Kyrgyz Republic) dec. Andrew Bisek (Minn. Storm/USOEC), 1-3, 2-2, 1-1
84 kg/185 lbs.
1st Place - Vasyl Rachyba of Ukraine
2nd Place - Janarbek Kenjeev of Kyrgyz Republic
3rd Place - Talan Knox of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
4th Place - Jesse Robbins of Florida Jets
1st - Vasyl Rachyba (Ukraine) dec. Janarbek Kenjeev (Kyrgyz Republic), 2-2, 3-1
3rd - Talan Knox (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Jesse Robbins (Florida Jets), 2-2, 2-1)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
1st Place - Oleg Kryoka of Ukraine
2nd Place - R C Johnson of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Pete Gounaridis of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
4th Place - Bronislav Sharovetsky of Israel
5th Place - Stas Shamota of Brooklyn Club
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
1st Place - Oleksandr Chernetskyi of Ukraine
2nd Place - Peter Kowalczuk of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Vladimir Guralski of Israel
4th Place - Brandon Rupp of pocatello
1st - Oleksandr Chernetskyi (Ukraine) tech fall over Peter Kowalczuk (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 7-0, 8-0
3rd - Vladimir Guralski (Israel) dec. Brandon Rupp (Pocatello), 6-0,1-1,2-0
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
1st Place - Alyssa Lampe of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Coralie Dixon of Canada
Alyssa Lampe (Sunkist Kids) pin Coralie Dixon (Canada), 1:20
Lampe dec. Dixon, 7-2, 4-0
51 kg/112.25 lbs.
1st Place - Gen Haley of Canada/University of Calgary
2nd Place - Katherine Fulp-allen of NYAC
3rd Place - Yuri Kai of Japan
4th Place - Natasha Umemoto of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
1st - Gen Haley (Canada/University of Calgary) dec. Katherine Fulp-allen (NYAC), 3-0, 1-0
3rd - Yuri Kai (Japan) dec. Natasha Umemoto (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 1-0, 5-2
55 kg/121 1bs.
1st Place - Brittance Laverdure of Canada/University of Calgary
2nd Place - Sharon Jacobson of US Army
3rd Place - Leigh Jaynes of NYAC
4th Place - Cherae Pasqua of NYAC
1st - Brittance Laverdure (Canada/University of Calgary) won by injury default over Sharon Jacobson (US Army)
3rd - Leigh Jaynes (NYAC) dec. Cherae Pasqua (NYAC), 1-1, 1-0
59 kg/130 lbs.
1st Place - Deanna Rix of NYAC
2nd Place - Amanda Gerhart of BMWC
3rd Place - Heidi Erdle of Canada/University of Calgary
4th Place - Takako Saito of Japan
1st - Deanna Rix (NYAC) dec. Amanda Gerhart (BMWC), 0-1, 3-0, 1-0
3rd - Heidi Erdle (Canada/University of Calgary) pin Takako Saito (Japan), 2-1, 1:33
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
1st Place - Elena Pirozhkova of Gator Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Alaina Berube of NYAC
3rd Place - Veronica Carlson of NYAC
67 kg/147.5 lbs.
1st Place - Mami Shinkai of Japan
2nd Place - Megan Baydens of Canada
3rd Place - Stacie Anaka of BMWC
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
1st Place - Ali Bernard of Gator Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Pam Wilson of Canada/University of Calgary
3rd Place - Svitlana Saienko of Ukraine
4th Place - Laura Gourley of Cobra WC
1st - Ali Bernard (Gator Wrestling Club) dec. Pam Wilson (Canada/University of Calgary), 4-0, 5-0
3rd - Svitlana Saienko (Ukraine) pin Laura Gourley (Cobra WC), 6-0, 0:46
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