Thielke, Perkins, Rau receive Greco-Roman draws for 2nd World Olympic Qualifier in Turkey
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Ravaughn Perkins, shown competing in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials finals series, will attempt to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games in the Last Chance Qualifier in Turkey this weekend. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors.
ISTANBUL, Turkey – Three U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers have weighed in and received their draws for the 2nd World Olympic Games Qualifier, which begins on Friday at the Bagcilar Sports Complex.
The U.S. will be represented by U.S. Olympic Team Trials champions Jesse Thielke (Germantown, Wis./New York AC/OTC) at 59 kg/130 lbs., RaVaughn Perkins (Omaha, Neb./New York AC/OTC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Joe Rau (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 98 kg/215 lbs.
This is the last opportunity for nations to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games in the 18 Olympic weight classes. The top two placewinners in each of the 18 weight classes in Istanbul qualify their nations to compete at the Olympic Games. Nations may only enter athletes in this tournament in weight classes which they have not already qualified for Rio.
All three U.S. athletes competed in the 1st World Olympic Qualifier in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in April but fell short of the qualifying standard.
Thielke opens against 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and 2013 World bronze medalist Peter Modos of Hungary. Thielke, who wrestled at the Univ. of Wisconsin, was a member of the 2013 U.S. World Team. Thielke was also third in the 2012 Junior World Championships.
Perkins will compete against 2012 Asian champion Pan Zheng of China in the first round. Perkins was a 2014 U.S. Open champion and won the 2016 Dave Schultz Memorial International.
In the Mongolia Qualifier, Perkins had a 4-2 record, winning a bronze medal, but losing in the special Olympic Qualification match to finish fourth.
Rau will open up again 2015 Mediterranean Championships silver medalist Narek Setaghyan of Spain. Rau, an NCAA Div. III champion for Elmhurst College, was on the 2014 U.S. World Team.
If any of these athletes do not reach the finals in Istanbul, the United States will not have an Olympian at that weight class.
So far, there have been three stages of Olympic Qualification. In these phases, the United States qualified for the Rio Olympic Games in 12 weight classes, but did not qualify in six other weight classes. There will be three Greco-Roman wrestlers, two women’s freestyle wrestlers, and one men’s freestyle wrestlers from the United States wrestling in Turkey.
United World Wrestling is expected to have a live web stream of the competition from Istanbul, and also live results on its website.
CLICK HERE FOR UWW LIVE WEBCAST AND RESULTS
For those who enjoy following on Twitter, the hashtag is #LastChance2Rio
Please note that Istanbul is seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone. TheMat.com and all of USA Wrestling’s social media platforms will also provide extensive coverage. The first session of the Greco-Roman tournament will begin at 3:00 a.m. Friday U.S. Eastern Time.
2nd WORLD OLYMPIC GAMES QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
At Istanbul, Turkey
U.S. Greco-Roman roster first-match draws for Friday
59 kg/130 lbs. – Jesse Thielke, Germantown, Wis. (New York AC/OTC)
Vs. Peter Modos (Hungary), 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, 2013 World bronze medalist, 2nd in 2012 European Championships
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – RaVaughn Perkins, Omaha, Neb. (New York AC/OTC)
Vs. Pan Zheng (China), 2012 Asian champion, 3rd in 2015 Asian Championships, 5th in 2007 Junior World Championships
98 kg/215 lbs. – Joe Rau, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Vs. Narek Setaghyan (Spain), 2nd in 2015 Mediterranean Championships, 3rd in 2013 Grand Prix of Spain
Event Schedule
(times are in Istanbul, which is seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone)
Friday, May 6
Greco-Roman (59 kg, 66 kg, 75 kg, 85 kg, 98 kg, 130 kg)
U.S. contestants: Jesse Thielke (59kg), RaVaughn Perkins (66kg), Joe Rau (98 kg)
10:00 a.m. - Qualification rounds and repechage
5:30 p.m. - Opening Ceremony
6:00 p.m. – Finals and Award Ceremonies
Saturday, May 7
Women’s Freestyle (48 kg, 53 kg, 58 kg, 63 kg, 69 kg, 75 kg)
U.S. contestants: Kelsey Campbell (58kg), Tamyra Mensah (69kg)
10:00 a.m. - Qualification rounds and repechage
6:00 p.m. – Finals and Award Ceremonies
Sunday, May 8
Men’s Freestyle (57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg)
U.S. entries: Frank Molinaro (65 kg)
10:00 a.m. - Qualification rounds and repechage
6:00 p.m. – Finals and Award Ceremonies
ISTANBUL, Turkey – Three U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers have weighed in and received their draws for the 2nd World Olympic Games Qualifier, which begins on Friday at the Bagcilar Sports Complex.
The U.S. will be represented by U.S. Olympic Team Trials champions Jesse Thielke (Germantown, Wis./New York AC/OTC) at 59 kg/130 lbs., RaVaughn Perkins (Omaha, Neb./New York AC/OTC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Joe Rau (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 98 kg/215 lbs.
This is the last opportunity for nations to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games in the 18 Olympic weight classes. The top two placewinners in each of the 18 weight classes in Istanbul qualify their nations to compete at the Olympic Games. Nations may only enter athletes in this tournament in weight classes which they have not already qualified for Rio.
All three U.S. athletes competed in the 1st World Olympic Qualifier in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in April but fell short of the qualifying standard.
Thielke opens against 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and 2013 World bronze medalist Peter Modos of Hungary. Thielke, who wrestled at the Univ. of Wisconsin, was a member of the 2013 U.S. World Team. Thielke was also third in the 2012 Junior World Championships.
Perkins will compete against 2012 Asian champion Pan Zheng of China in the first round. Perkins was a 2014 U.S. Open champion and won the 2016 Dave Schultz Memorial International.
In the Mongolia Qualifier, Perkins had a 4-2 record, winning a bronze medal, but losing in the special Olympic Qualification match to finish fourth.
Rau will open up again 2015 Mediterranean Championships silver medalist Narek Setaghyan of Spain. Rau, an NCAA Div. III champion for Elmhurst College, was on the 2014 U.S. World Team.
If any of these athletes do not reach the finals in Istanbul, the United States will not have an Olympian at that weight class.
So far, there have been three stages of Olympic Qualification. In these phases, the United States qualified for the Rio Olympic Games in 12 weight classes, but did not qualify in six other weight classes. There will be three Greco-Roman wrestlers, two women’s freestyle wrestlers, and one men’s freestyle wrestlers from the United States wrestling in Turkey.
United World Wrestling is expected to have a live web stream of the competition from Istanbul, and also live results on its website.
CLICK HERE FOR UWW LIVE WEBCAST AND RESULTS
For those who enjoy following on Twitter, the hashtag is #LastChance2Rio
Please note that Istanbul is seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone. TheMat.com and all of USA Wrestling’s social media platforms will also provide extensive coverage. The first session of the Greco-Roman tournament will begin at 3:00 a.m. Friday U.S. Eastern Time.
2nd WORLD OLYMPIC GAMES QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
At Istanbul, Turkey
U.S. Greco-Roman roster first-match draws for Friday
59 kg/130 lbs. – Jesse Thielke, Germantown, Wis. (New York AC/OTC)
Vs. Peter Modos (Hungary), 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, 2013 World bronze medalist, 2nd in 2012 European Championships
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – RaVaughn Perkins, Omaha, Neb. (New York AC/OTC)
Vs. Pan Zheng (China), 2012 Asian champion, 3rd in 2015 Asian Championships, 5th in 2007 Junior World Championships
98 kg/215 lbs. – Joe Rau, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Vs. Narek Setaghyan (Spain), 2nd in 2015 Mediterranean Championships, 3rd in 2013 Grand Prix of Spain
Event Schedule
(times are in Istanbul, which is seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone)
Friday, May 6
Greco-Roman (59 kg, 66 kg, 75 kg, 85 kg, 98 kg, 130 kg)
U.S. contestants: Jesse Thielke (59kg), RaVaughn Perkins (66kg), Joe Rau (98 kg)
10:00 a.m. - Qualification rounds and repechage
5:30 p.m. - Opening Ceremony
6:00 p.m. – Finals and Award Ceremonies
Saturday, May 7
Women’s Freestyle (48 kg, 53 kg, 58 kg, 63 kg, 69 kg, 75 kg)
U.S. contestants: Kelsey Campbell (58kg), Tamyra Mensah (69kg)
10:00 a.m. - Qualification rounds and repechage
6:00 p.m. – Finals and Award Ceremonies
Sunday, May 8
Men’s Freestyle (57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg)
U.S. entries: Frank Molinaro (65 kg)
10:00 a.m. - Qualification rounds and repechage
6:00 p.m. – Finals and Award Ceremonies
