Stieber wins silver, Bradley bronze, Taylor and Bergman fifth at Golden Grand Prix Finals in Azerbaijan
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Video capture of Logan Stieber of the USA in the 65 kg finals from UWW webstream.
BAKU, Azerbaijan – Logan Stieber (Columbus, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC), won a silver medal at 65 kg/143 lbs., the top U.S. men’s freestyle performance at the UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals on Friday.
Stieber was defeated in the finals by 2013 World bronze medalist Magomed Kurbanaliev of Russia, who took an early lead and held on for a 12-6 win.
Stieber shot in on a single leg in the first period, which Kurbanaliev counter for three tilts for a 6-0 lead. On another exchange, Stieber tossed Kurbanaliev to his back on a chestlock for four, with Kurbanielev getting two points on the reversal for an 8-4 lead. Another Kurbanaliev takedown made it 10-4 at the break.
Stieber scored on a counter to a leg shot for a second-period tilt to close it to 10-6. As the second period went on, Stieber took multiple shots and increased the pressure on Kurbanaliev, who fought them all off. With just two second left, Kurbanaliev scored a counter takedown on a Stieber shot for the final 12-6 win.
Stieber had a strong run in the preliminaries. He opened with a 12-2 technical fall over Selahattin Kilicsallayan of Turkey, a 2014 World University champion and 2013 Junior World champion. In the quarterfinals, in a wild shootout, he defeat 2014 World champion and 2015 World bronze medalist Soslan Ramonov of Russia, 17-13. His semifinal win was a pin over 2010 World Military champion Agaguseyin Mustafayev of Azerbaijan.
Stieber was only the fourth four-time NCAA Div. I champion in history, and is a past Junior World silver medalist.
“Everyone that wrestled in this tournament was very good. Logan Stieber won two tough matches to make the final. He lost a tough finals match falling behind 6-0 off of a takedown and two turns early and was not able to penetrate the Russian defense. He put up a lot of points today against good wrestlers, beating a world champion and bronze medalist,” said National Freestyle Coach Bruce Burnett.
This is the final event of the annual UWW Golden Grand Prix series. Nations must qualify athletes through specific events to enter. Prize money includes $10,000 to champions, $5,000 to silver medalists and $2,000 for bronze medalists.
Winning a bronze medal at 125 kg/275 lbs. was 2009 Junior World champion Dom Bradley (Morgantown, W.Va./Sunkist Kids). He won his bronze-medal bout by injury default over Aiaal Lazarev of Kyrgyzstan. Bradley fell in his first match to 2013 and 2015 World bronze medalist Geno Petriashvili of Georgia, 3-4.
Placing fifth were David Taylor (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) at 86 kg/189 lbs. and J.D. Bergman (Columbus, Ohio/New York AC/Ohio RTC) at 97 kg/213 lbs.
Taylor lost in the bronze-medal bout to 2012 Olympic silver medalist and 2013 World bronze medalist Ehsan Lashgari of Iran by technical fall, 0-10. Taylor opened with an injury default win over Umidyon Ismanov of Uzbekistan after leading 8-4. He was beaten in his next match by Gardiyev Nurmagomed of Azerbaijan, 0-6, who was a 2012 Olympian for Armenia.
Bergman was edged in the bronze-medal round by 2011 Junior World bronze medalist Aslanbek Alborov of Azerbaijan, 1-4. He opened with a pin over Magomed Musaev of Kyrgyzstan in the quarterfinals, then lost by criteria in the semifinals to World champion Sharif Sharipov of Azerbaijan, 2-2.
“David Taylor lost a tough semifinal match and then could not get anything started in the bronze medal match against the Iranian. JD Bergman looked good today but lost in the semifinals by getting taken down in the last 15 seconds to lose on criteria 2-2. He then gave up a takedown in the early in the bronze medal match and could not catch up to the Azerbaijani wrestler. Dom Bradley lost a tough match against this year’s World bronze medalist in the semifinals and received a medical forfeit in the bronze medal match,” said Burnett.
Winning the gold at 70 kg/154 lbs. was Bekzod Abdurakhmanov of Uzbekistan, a two-time All-American at Clarion. A 2014 World bronze medalist, Abdurakhmanov defeated veteran Togrul Asgarov of Azerbaijan in the finals.
“During the day, the USA athletes competed hard and we lost some close matches by not protecting the lead late in the match. It was great competition and let the athletes know what needs to be done to get on the podium at the Olympic Games,” said Burnett.
Seven U.S. women weighed in and received their draws for Saturday. 2015 World champion Helen Maroulis, (Huntington Beach. Calif./Sunkist Kids), has dropped down to 53 kg/116.5 lbs., where she will face 2013 European champion Roxana Zasina of Poland in the first round.
There are two matchups between Americans in the first round. At 60 kg, Alli Ragan (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) and Jennifer Page (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC) will wrestle in the first round. At 63 kg/138.75 lbs., 2012 World champion Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo.,/Titan Mercury WC) has dropped back down in weight and will face 2015 U.S. World Team member Erin Clodgo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids).
UWW GOLDEN GRAND PRIX FINALS
At Baku, Azerbaijan
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Gold – Ismael Musukaev (Russia)
Silver – Bekhbayar Erdenebat (Mongolia)
Bronze – Otari Gogava (Georgia)
Bronze – Mahir Amiraslanov (Azerbaijan)
5th – Parviz Ibraghimov (Azerbaijan)
5th – Dzhamel Otarsultanov (Russia)
61 kg/132 lbs.
Gold – Haci Aliyev (Azerbaijan)
Silver –Iman Sadeghikoukandeh (Iran)
Bronze – Daulet Ninyazbekov (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Alexander Bogomoev (Russia)
5th – Andry Davila (Venezuela)
5th – Shingo Arimoto (Japan)
65 kg/143 lbs.
Gold – Magomed Kurbanaliev (Russia)
Silver – Logan Stieber (USA)
Bronze – Soslan Ramonov (Russia)
Bronze – Teymuz Mamadov (Azerbaijan)
5th – Agaguseyin Mustafaev (Azerbaijan)
5th – Antoni Montero (Venezuela)
70 kg/154 lbs.
Gold – Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (Uzbekistan)
Silver – Togrul Asgarov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Godjinmuzad Omarov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Kaya Mustafa (Turkey)
5th – Szeja Arkadiusz (Poland)
5th – Nobuyoshi Takojima (Japan)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold – Jabrail Hasanov (Azerbaijan)
Silver – Khetic Tcabolov (Russia)
Bronze – Mostafa Hosseinkhani (Iran)
Bronze – Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov (Russia)
5th – Demitras Soner (Turkey)
5th - Diasuke Shimada (Japan)
86 kg/189 lbs.
Gold – Aleksandr Gostiyev (Azerbaijan)
Silver – Gardiyev Murmagomed (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Ehsan Lashgari (Iran)
Bronze – Sandro Aminashvili (Georgia)
5th – David Taylor (USA)
5th – Petryik Dublinowski (Poland)
97 kg/213 lbs.
Gold – Elizbar Odikadze (Georgia)
Silver – Sharif Sharifov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Aslanbek Alborov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze –Pavlo Olinyk (Ukraine)
5th – J.D. Bergman (USA)
5th – Yuji Fukui (Japan)
125 kg/275 lbs.
Gold – Geno Petriashvili (Georgia)
Silver –Magomed Camaladdin (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Zhi Wei Deng (China)
Bronze – Dom Bradley (USA)
5th – Ibragim Saidov (Belarus)
5th - Aiaal Lazarev (Kyrgyzstan)
U.S. men's freestyle performances
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Andrew Hochstrasser, Boise, Idaho (Titan Mercury WC), dnp/14th
LOSS Ismael Muskaev (Russia), tech. fall 0-10
LOSS Mahir Amiraslanov (Azerbaijan), tech. fall 0-10
61 kg/132 lbs. – Chris Dardanes, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), dnp/11th
LOSS Beka Lomtadze (Georgia), 2-10
65 kg/143 lbs. – Logan Stieber, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC), silver medal
WIN Selahattin Kilicsallayan (Turkey), tech. fall 12-2
WIN Soslan Ramonov (Russia), 17-13
WIN Agaguseyin Mustafayev (Azerbaijan) pin
LOSS Magomed Kurbanaliev (Russia), 6-12
65 kg/143 lbs. – Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC), 7th place
WIN Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (Mongolia), 8-5
LOSS Agaguseyin Mustafayev (Azerbaijan), 2-5
70 kg/154 lbs. – Kevin LeValley, Williamsport, Pa. (Minnesota Storm), 7th place
LOSS Gadjimurad Omarov (Azerbaijan), 6-8
74 kg/163 lbs. – Anthony Valencia, Pico Rivera, Calif. (Sunkist Kids), 8th place
WIN Ashraf Aliyev (Azerbaijan), 14-7
LOSS Jabrail Hasanov (Azerbaijan), tech. fall 1-11
LOSS Mostafa Hosseinkhani (Iran), tech. fall 0-11
86 kg/189 lbs. – David Taylor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC), 5th place
WIN Umidyon Ismanov (Uzbekistan), injury default (leading 8-4)
LOSS Gardiyev Nurmagomed (Azerbaijan), 0-6
LOSS Ehsan Lashgari (Iran), tech. fall 0-10
86 kg/189 lbs. – Clayton Foster, Laramie, Wyo. (GRIT Athletics/Cowboy WC), 8th place
LOSS Serdar Boeke (Turkey), 6-6
97 kg/213 lbs. – J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC), 5th place
WIN Magomed Musaev (Kyrgyzstan), pin
LOSS Sharif Sharipov (Azerbaijan), 2-2
LOSS Aslanbek Alborov (Azerbaijan), 1-4
97 kg/213 lbs. – Dustin Kilgore, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
LOSS Aslanbek Alborov (Azerbaijan), 1-10
125 kg/275 lbs. – Dom Bradley, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids), bronze medal
LOSS Geno Petriashvili (Georgia), 3-4
WIN Aiaal Lazarev (Kyrgyzstan), inj. dft.
U.S. women’s freestyle draws for Saturday
53 kg/116.5 lbs. – Helen Maroulis, Huntington Beach. Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
Vs. Roxana Zasina (Poland), 2013 European champion, 2nd in 2015 European Games, 5th in 2009 World Championships
55 kg/121 lbs. – Carlene Sluberski, Fredonia, N.Y. (New York AC)
Vs. Alyona Kolesnik (Azerbaijan), 2015 European U23 champion, 2nd in 2015 European Junior Championships
55 kg/121 lbs. – Sarah Hildebrandt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Vs. Hikari Sugawara (Japan), 2013 University World Games champion, 3rd in 2014 Asian Championships
60 kg/132 lbs. – Jennifer Page, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
Vs. Jennifer Page (USA), 2013 Junior World medalist
60 kg/132 lbs. – Alli Ragan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Vs. Alli Ragan (USA), Three-time U.S. World Team member, Two-time Junior World bronze medalist
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
Vs. Erin Clodgo (USA), 2015 U.S. World Team member
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Vs. Elena Pirozhkova (USA), 2012 World champion, four-time World medalist
BAKU, Azerbaijan – Logan Stieber (Columbus, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC), won a silver medal at 65 kg/143 lbs., the top U.S. men’s freestyle performance at the UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals on Friday.
Stieber was defeated in the finals by 2013 World bronze medalist Magomed Kurbanaliev of Russia, who took an early lead and held on for a 12-6 win.
Stieber shot in on a single leg in the first period, which Kurbanaliev counter for three tilts for a 6-0 lead. On another exchange, Stieber tossed Kurbanaliev to his back on a chestlock for four, with Kurbanielev getting two points on the reversal for an 8-4 lead. Another Kurbanaliev takedown made it 10-4 at the break.
Stieber scored on a counter to a leg shot for a second-period tilt to close it to 10-6. As the second period went on, Stieber took multiple shots and increased the pressure on Kurbanaliev, who fought them all off. With just two second left, Kurbanaliev scored a counter takedown on a Stieber shot for the final 12-6 win.
Stieber had a strong run in the preliminaries. He opened with a 12-2 technical fall over Selahattin Kilicsallayan of Turkey, a 2014 World University champion and 2013 Junior World champion. In the quarterfinals, in a wild shootout, he defeat 2014 World champion and 2015 World bronze medalist Soslan Ramonov of Russia, 17-13. His semifinal win was a pin over 2010 World Military champion Agaguseyin Mustafayev of Azerbaijan.
Stieber was only the fourth four-time NCAA Div. I champion in history, and is a past Junior World silver medalist.
“Everyone that wrestled in this tournament was very good. Logan Stieber won two tough matches to make the final. He lost a tough finals match falling behind 6-0 off of a takedown and two turns early and was not able to penetrate the Russian defense. He put up a lot of points today against good wrestlers, beating a world champion and bronze medalist,” said National Freestyle Coach Bruce Burnett.
This is the final event of the annual UWW Golden Grand Prix series. Nations must qualify athletes through specific events to enter. Prize money includes $10,000 to champions, $5,000 to silver medalists and $2,000 for bronze medalists.
Winning a bronze medal at 125 kg/275 lbs. was 2009 Junior World champion Dom Bradley (Morgantown, W.Va./Sunkist Kids). He won his bronze-medal bout by injury default over Aiaal Lazarev of Kyrgyzstan. Bradley fell in his first match to 2013 and 2015 World bronze medalist Geno Petriashvili of Georgia, 3-4.
Placing fifth were David Taylor (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) at 86 kg/189 lbs. and J.D. Bergman (Columbus, Ohio/New York AC/Ohio RTC) at 97 kg/213 lbs.
Taylor lost in the bronze-medal bout to 2012 Olympic silver medalist and 2013 World bronze medalist Ehsan Lashgari of Iran by technical fall, 0-10. Taylor opened with an injury default win over Umidyon Ismanov of Uzbekistan after leading 8-4. He was beaten in his next match by Gardiyev Nurmagomed of Azerbaijan, 0-6, who was a 2012 Olympian for Armenia.
Bergman was edged in the bronze-medal round by 2011 Junior World bronze medalist Aslanbek Alborov of Azerbaijan, 1-4. He opened with a pin over Magomed Musaev of Kyrgyzstan in the quarterfinals, then lost by criteria in the semifinals to World champion Sharif Sharipov of Azerbaijan, 2-2.
“David Taylor lost a tough semifinal match and then could not get anything started in the bronze medal match against the Iranian. JD Bergman looked good today but lost in the semifinals by getting taken down in the last 15 seconds to lose on criteria 2-2. He then gave up a takedown in the early in the bronze medal match and could not catch up to the Azerbaijani wrestler. Dom Bradley lost a tough match against this year’s World bronze medalist in the semifinals and received a medical forfeit in the bronze medal match,” said Burnett.
Winning the gold at 70 kg/154 lbs. was Bekzod Abdurakhmanov of Uzbekistan, a two-time All-American at Clarion. A 2014 World bronze medalist, Abdurakhmanov defeated veteran Togrul Asgarov of Azerbaijan in the finals.
“During the day, the USA athletes competed hard and we lost some close matches by not protecting the lead late in the match. It was great competition and let the athletes know what needs to be done to get on the podium at the Olympic Games,” said Burnett.
Seven U.S. women weighed in and received their draws for Saturday. 2015 World champion Helen Maroulis, (Huntington Beach. Calif./Sunkist Kids), has dropped down to 53 kg/116.5 lbs., where she will face 2013 European champion Roxana Zasina of Poland in the first round.
There are two matchups between Americans in the first round. At 60 kg, Alli Ragan (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) and Jennifer Page (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC) will wrestle in the first round. At 63 kg/138.75 lbs., 2012 World champion Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo.,/Titan Mercury WC) has dropped back down in weight and will face 2015 U.S. World Team member Erin Clodgo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids).
UWW GOLDEN GRAND PRIX FINALS
At Baku, Azerbaijan
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Gold – Ismael Musukaev (Russia)
Silver – Bekhbayar Erdenebat (Mongolia)
Bronze – Otari Gogava (Georgia)
Bronze – Mahir Amiraslanov (Azerbaijan)
5th – Parviz Ibraghimov (Azerbaijan)
5th – Dzhamel Otarsultanov (Russia)
61 kg/132 lbs.
Gold – Haci Aliyev (Azerbaijan)
Silver –Iman Sadeghikoukandeh (Iran)
Bronze – Daulet Ninyazbekov (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Alexander Bogomoev (Russia)
5th – Andry Davila (Venezuela)
5th – Shingo Arimoto (Japan)
65 kg/143 lbs.
Gold – Magomed Kurbanaliev (Russia)
Silver – Logan Stieber (USA)
Bronze – Soslan Ramonov (Russia)
Bronze – Teymuz Mamadov (Azerbaijan)
5th – Agaguseyin Mustafaev (Azerbaijan)
5th – Antoni Montero (Venezuela)
70 kg/154 lbs.
Gold – Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (Uzbekistan)
Silver – Togrul Asgarov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Godjinmuzad Omarov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Kaya Mustafa (Turkey)
5th – Szeja Arkadiusz (Poland)
5th – Nobuyoshi Takojima (Japan)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold – Jabrail Hasanov (Azerbaijan)
Silver – Khetic Tcabolov (Russia)
Bronze – Mostafa Hosseinkhani (Iran)
Bronze – Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov (Russia)
5th – Demitras Soner (Turkey)
5th - Diasuke Shimada (Japan)
86 kg/189 lbs.
Gold – Aleksandr Gostiyev (Azerbaijan)
Silver – Gardiyev Murmagomed (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Ehsan Lashgari (Iran)
Bronze – Sandro Aminashvili (Georgia)
5th – David Taylor (USA)
5th – Petryik Dublinowski (Poland)
97 kg/213 lbs.
Gold – Elizbar Odikadze (Georgia)
Silver – Sharif Sharifov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Aslanbek Alborov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze –Pavlo Olinyk (Ukraine)
5th – J.D. Bergman (USA)
5th – Yuji Fukui (Japan)
125 kg/275 lbs.
Gold – Geno Petriashvili (Georgia)
Silver –Magomed Camaladdin (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Zhi Wei Deng (China)
Bronze – Dom Bradley (USA)
5th – Ibragim Saidov (Belarus)
5th - Aiaal Lazarev (Kyrgyzstan)
U.S. men's freestyle performances
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Andrew Hochstrasser, Boise, Idaho (Titan Mercury WC), dnp/14th
LOSS Ismael Muskaev (Russia), tech. fall 0-10
LOSS Mahir Amiraslanov (Azerbaijan), tech. fall 0-10
61 kg/132 lbs. – Chris Dardanes, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), dnp/11th
LOSS Beka Lomtadze (Georgia), 2-10
65 kg/143 lbs. – Logan Stieber, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC), silver medal
WIN Selahattin Kilicsallayan (Turkey), tech. fall 12-2
WIN Soslan Ramonov (Russia), 17-13
WIN Agaguseyin Mustafayev (Azerbaijan) pin
LOSS Magomed Kurbanaliev (Russia), 6-12
65 kg/143 lbs. – Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC), 7th place
WIN Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (Mongolia), 8-5
LOSS Agaguseyin Mustafayev (Azerbaijan), 2-5
70 kg/154 lbs. – Kevin LeValley, Williamsport, Pa. (Minnesota Storm), 7th place
LOSS Gadjimurad Omarov (Azerbaijan), 6-8
74 kg/163 lbs. – Anthony Valencia, Pico Rivera, Calif. (Sunkist Kids), 8th place
WIN Ashraf Aliyev (Azerbaijan), 14-7
LOSS Jabrail Hasanov (Azerbaijan), tech. fall 1-11
LOSS Mostafa Hosseinkhani (Iran), tech. fall 0-11
86 kg/189 lbs. – David Taylor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC), 5th place
WIN Umidyon Ismanov (Uzbekistan), injury default (leading 8-4)
LOSS Gardiyev Nurmagomed (Azerbaijan), 0-6
LOSS Ehsan Lashgari (Iran), tech. fall 0-10
86 kg/189 lbs. – Clayton Foster, Laramie, Wyo. (GRIT Athletics/Cowboy WC), 8th place
LOSS Serdar Boeke (Turkey), 6-6
97 kg/213 lbs. – J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC), 5th place
WIN Magomed Musaev (Kyrgyzstan), pin
LOSS Sharif Sharipov (Azerbaijan), 2-2
LOSS Aslanbek Alborov (Azerbaijan), 1-4
97 kg/213 lbs. – Dustin Kilgore, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
LOSS Aslanbek Alborov (Azerbaijan), 1-10
125 kg/275 lbs. – Dom Bradley, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids), bronze medal
LOSS Geno Petriashvili (Georgia), 3-4
WIN Aiaal Lazarev (Kyrgyzstan), inj. dft.
U.S. women’s freestyle draws for Saturday
53 kg/116.5 lbs. – Helen Maroulis, Huntington Beach. Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
Vs. Roxana Zasina (Poland), 2013 European champion, 2nd in 2015 European Games, 5th in 2009 World Championships
55 kg/121 lbs. – Carlene Sluberski, Fredonia, N.Y. (New York AC)
Vs. Alyona Kolesnik (Azerbaijan), 2015 European U23 champion, 2nd in 2015 European Junior Championships
55 kg/121 lbs. – Sarah Hildebrandt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Vs. Hikari Sugawara (Japan), 2013 University World Games champion, 3rd in 2014 Asian Championships
60 kg/132 lbs. – Jennifer Page, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
Vs. Jennifer Page (USA), 2013 Junior World medalist
60 kg/132 lbs. – Alli Ragan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Vs. Alli Ragan (USA), Three-time U.S. World Team member, Two-time Junior World bronze medalist
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
Vs. Erin Clodgo (USA), 2015 U.S. World Team member
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Vs. Elena Pirozhkova (USA), 2012 World champion, four-time World medalist
