Mango, Lester, Martinez and Smith receive draws for Greco-Roman World Championships
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by Richard Immel
| Spenser Mango at the 2015 Pan American Games. Photo: Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com |
LAS VEGAS – Four more U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers have weighed in and received their draws for day two of competition at the World Championships in Las Vegas, Nev.
Competing on Tuesday at the Orleans Arena for the U.S. will be Spenser Mango (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) at 59 kg/130 lbs., Justin Lester (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) at 71 kg/156.5 lbs., Patrick Martinez (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) at 80 kg/176 lbs. and Robby Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 130 kg/286 lbs.
Mango has finished in fifth place at the World Championships the past two years and will start the bid for his first World medal against a familiar opponent, Ismael Borrero Molina of Cuba. Borrero finished in fifth place in the World last year.
“Mango is a very experienced guy, very powerful guy,” said U.S. Greco-Roman coach Ahad Javansalehi. “This is the best opportunity for him to go out there and perform.”
Mango defeated Borrero 3-3 on criteria in the quarterfinals at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in July.
Lester, a two-time World bronze medalist, will face European Games silver medalist and current World. No. 3 Balint Korpasi of Hungary in the opening round at 71 kg.
“Another very experienced guy is Harry Lester. Again he can do very well. He is very explosive and if he capitalizes on that hopefully he can come out and win that match,” said Javansalehi.
In his first appearance at the World Championships, Martinez has drawn European Games bronze medalist and current World No. 5 Viktar Sasunouski of Belarus to open competition in Las Vegas.
“[Martinez] is a very young guy and I think he will surprise a lot of people. I look forward to seeing him perform and making all of us proud,” said Javansalehi.
Smith, a three-time U.S. World Team member, will take on Muminjon Abdullaev of Uzbekistan in his first match at 130 kg.
“We have Robby Smith, another veteran guy, experienced guy,” said Javansalehi. “I think he should easily pass this guy and move forward. Hopefully he will be another guy to qualify the weight for the Olympics.”
Full brackets for all three Greco-Roman weight classes wrestling on Monday at the World Championships can be found at unitedworldwrestling.org.
U.S. Greco-Roman draws
59 kg/130 lbs. – Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
Vs. Ismael Borrero Molina (Cuba), Fifth at 2014 World Championships, 2014 Pan American Championships gold medalist
71 kg/156.5 lbs. – Justin Lester, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
Vs. Balint Korpasi (Hungary), 2015 European Games silver medalist, 2010 University World silver medalist,
80 kg/176 lbs. – Patrick Martinez, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
Vs. Viktar Sasunouski (Belarus), 2015 European Games bronze medalist
130 kg/286 lbs. – Robby Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Vs. Muminjon Abdullaev (Uzbekistan), 2012 Olympian
