Greco-Roman athletes Hafizov, Coleman, Haight and Smith receive draws for World Championships
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by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
Photo: Ildar Hafizov (USA) makes his first World Championships appearance for the U.S. tomorrow in Paris, France.
Video: U.S. coach Matt Lindland looks ahead to day two of Greco-Roman at the Worlds
PARIS – Four U.S. athletes have weighed in and received their draws for the second day of Greco-Roman action at the 2017 World Championships being held at AccorHotels Arena.
A veteran group comprised of past Olympians Ildar Hafizov (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP), Ellis Coleman (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) and Robby Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/OTC), plus multiple-time World Team member Cheney Haight (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC/OTC), take the mat for America tomorrow in Paris.
“We’ve got four talented, capable athletes. I’m looking forward to seeing them go out there and compete up to their potential. If we do that we can win a few medals tomorrow,” U.S. National Greco-Roman Coach Matt Lindland said.
Making his first World Championships appearance for the U.S., Hafizov is set to face Armenia’s Vazgen Khachatryan in the first round at 59 kg/130 lbs. Hafizov was an Olympian and three-time World Team member for Uzbekistan prior to moving to the U.S.
Coleman, a 2012 Olympian and two-time U.S. World Team member, will be challenged by three-time Brazil Cup champion and 2014 South American Games bronze medalist Diego Ribeiro Romanelli of Brazil in his first go at 66 kg/145 lbs.
Representing the U.S. at the World Championships or Olympic Games for the fifth-consecutive year at 130 kg/286 lbs., Smith will go up against Slovakia’s Tamas Soos to start his day. Soos finished in fifth place at this year’s U23 European Championships.
Receiving the toughest opening test is Haight, who will battle returning World bronze medalist and 2014 University World champion Laszlo Szabo of Hungary in his first bout at 80 kg/176 lbs. Haight is a two-time World Team member and finished with gold at the Pan American Championships earlier this year.
The second day of Greco-Roman competition will begin at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) on Tuesday. Medal matches are scheduled for 7 p.m. local time (1 p.m. ET).
Complete brackets for the World Championships, as well as a live stream of the event, are available to U.S. residents at Trackwrestling.com.
U.S. Greco-Roman draws for Tuesday
59 kg/130 lbs. - Ildar Hafizov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
Vs. Vazgen Khachatryan (Armenia)
66 kg/145 lbs. - Ellis Coleman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
Vs. Diego Ribeiro Romanelli (Brazil), Three-time Brazil Cup champion, 2014 South American Games bronze medalist
80 kg/176 lbs. - Cheney Haight, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/OTC)
Vs. Laszlo Szabo (Hungary), 2016 World bronze medalist, 2014 University World champion
130 kg/286 lbs. - Robby Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/OTC)
Vs. Tamas Soos (Slovakia), Fifth in 2017 U23 European Championships
Video: U.S. coach Matt Lindland looks ahead to day two of Greco-Roman at the Worlds
PARIS – Four U.S. athletes have weighed in and received their draws for the second day of Greco-Roman action at the 2017 World Championships being held at AccorHotels Arena.
A veteran group comprised of past Olympians Ildar Hafizov (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP), Ellis Coleman (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) and Robby Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/OTC), plus multiple-time World Team member Cheney Haight (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC/OTC), take the mat for America tomorrow in Paris.
“We’ve got four talented, capable athletes. I’m looking forward to seeing them go out there and compete up to their potential. If we do that we can win a few medals tomorrow,” U.S. National Greco-Roman Coach Matt Lindland said.
Making his first World Championships appearance for the U.S., Hafizov is set to face Armenia’s Vazgen Khachatryan in the first round at 59 kg/130 lbs. Hafizov was an Olympian and three-time World Team member for Uzbekistan prior to moving to the U.S.
Coleman, a 2012 Olympian and two-time U.S. World Team member, will be challenged by three-time Brazil Cup champion and 2014 South American Games bronze medalist Diego Ribeiro Romanelli of Brazil in his first go at 66 kg/145 lbs.
Representing the U.S. at the World Championships or Olympic Games for the fifth-consecutive year at 130 kg/286 lbs., Smith will go up against Slovakia’s Tamas Soos to start his day. Soos finished in fifth place at this year’s U23 European Championships.
Receiving the toughest opening test is Haight, who will battle returning World bronze medalist and 2014 University World champion Laszlo Szabo of Hungary in his first bout at 80 kg/176 lbs. Haight is a two-time World Team member and finished with gold at the Pan American Championships earlier this year.
The second day of Greco-Roman competition will begin at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) on Tuesday. Medal matches are scheduled for 7 p.m. local time (1 p.m. ET).
Complete brackets for the World Championships, as well as a live stream of the event, are available to U.S. residents at Trackwrestling.com.
U.S. Greco-Roman draws for Tuesday
59 kg/130 lbs. - Ildar Hafizov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
Vs. Vazgen Khachatryan (Armenia)
66 kg/145 lbs. - Ellis Coleman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
Vs. Diego Ribeiro Romanelli (Brazil), Three-time Brazil Cup champion, 2014 South American Games bronze medalist
80 kg/176 lbs. - Cheney Haight, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/OTC)
Vs. Laszlo Szabo (Hungary), 2016 World bronze medalist, 2014 University World champion
130 kg/286 lbs. - Robby Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/OTC)
Vs. Tamas Soos (Slovakia), Fifth in 2017 U23 European Championships
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