Maya Nelson avenges Junior Worlds loss to make Dave Schultz Memorial International finals

Maya Nelson (USA) defeats Ayana Gempei (JPN) in the 63 kg  semifinals. Photo: John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Five American women are in position to claim gold at the 19th Dave Schultz Memorial International on Friday at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

2016 Junior World bronze medalist Maya Nelson stole the show in the morning session, exacting some revenge in the process.

In the 63 kg/138.75 lbs. semifinals, Nelson took on reigning Junior World champion Ayana Gempei of Japan who was Nelson’s only loss at the Junior Worlds. This time around, Nelson emerged the winner with a 5-1 decision. The two exchanged shot clock points before Nelson executed a four-point lateral drop in the final minute to secure the win.

"I knew it was going to be a tough match, remembering our match from Worlds,” Nelson said. “I knew that she wasn't going to have a gas tank. That's what happened at Worlds. I didn't panic this time, so I didn't give up points that I shouldn't give up. I've really been preparing, and it was awesome to beat her now, to beat the World champion. I want to get to that No. 1-spot at Worlds. This is just a stepping stone."​

Nelson is set to face 2017 U.S. Senior Nationals champion Jennifer Page in the 63 kg finals tonight. The two met in the finals out in Las Vegas, Nev. last December with Page winning 3-1.

Junior World bronze medalist and U.S. Senior Nationals champion Kayla Miracle advanced to the Dave Schultz Memorial finals for the second-straight year. She topped Randi Beltz 9-2 in the 58 kg/128 lbs. semifinals to secure a matchup against Japan’s Miki Kawauchi in the gold-medal match.

The most dominant U.S. performance of the morning goes to 48 kg/105.5 lbs. finalist Erin Golston who went 3-0 with all three wins coming by technical fall. She won 10-0 over Americans Autumn Gordon and Sarah Allen prior to defeating Canada’s Natasha Kramble 11-0.

Golston will wrestle three-time Cadet World champion Kika Kagata of Japan in the 48 kg finals. In 2016, Kagata won gold at the Junior Asian Championships and bronze at the Klippan Lady Open.

2015 Junior World bronze medalist Becka Leathers continued her upward trend by going 2-0 in the 55 kg/121 lbs. round-robin bracket this morning.

"So far, I'm feeling on fire. This has been a really good tournament for me. I'm flowing, and I'm feeling good. I'm at a lower weight class than what I've been competing at earlier this year. It feels good,” Leathers said.

In the first round, Leathers looked impressive against 2012 Olympian Kelsey Campbell, scoring an 8-2 win. She followed with a first-period pin against Japan’s Golden Grand Prix champion Momoka Kadoya. Leathers will take on U.S. Senior Nationals runner-up Jacarra Winchester in her final match of the day, with a win giving her the gold.

“I knew that she was coming in with shots because everyone does when you're at that point in the match,” Leathers said of her match against Campbell. “My goal was just to be patient, even if she scored because I knew I could get it back. I stayed patient in my defense, and it ended up working for me. I was able to get behind, and once I got behind, I capitalized on the opportunity to get some extra points in par terre."​

It will be an all-Canadian final at 53 kg/116.5 lbs. with three-time World medalist Jessica MacDonald facing 2015 World Team member Brianne Barry.

Japan’s six-time Cadet and Junior World champion Masako Furuichi pulled out late heroics against U.S. Senior Nationals champion Erin Clodgo to advance to the 75 kg/165 lbs. finals against World University champion Justina DiStasio of Canada.

Bill Farrell International champion Olivia Di Bacco of Canada has already cemented gold at 69 kg/152 lbs. by picking up wins over Americans Hannah Gladden and Elena Pirozhkova in round-robin action. Gladden and Pirozhkova will wrestle for the silver medal in tonight’s session.

Yui Sakano of Japan, who finished in fifth place at the 2016 World Championships, is in pole position to win the 60 kg/132 lbs. round-robin bracket. She picked up two technical falls in the first session and will face American Carla Ponce for the gold this evening.

Action from the Dave Schultz Memorial International will resume at 4:30 p.m. (ET) with the gold and bronze medal matches. Complete brackets, match-by-match results and a live stream of the competition can be found at Flowrestling.com.

DAVE SCHULTZ MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL
At Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 3

Finals Matchups
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Kika Kagata (Japan) vs. Erin Golston (New York AC)

53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Jessica MacDonald (Canada) vs. Brianne Barry (Canada)

55 kg/121 lbs.
RR3 – Becka Leathers (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Jacarra Winchester (Titan Mercury WC)
RR3 – Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids) vs. Momoka Kadoya (Japan)

58 kg/128 lbs.
Miki Kawauchi (Japan) vs. Kayla Miracle (Sunkist Kids)

60 kg/132 lbs.
RR3 – Sophia Carson (Campbellsville) vs. Chloe Spencer (Choker WC)
RR3 – Yui Sakano (Japan) vs. Carla Ponce (Aries WC)

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Jennifer Page (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Maya Nelson (Sunkist Kids)

69 kg/152 lbs.
RR3 – Elena Pirozhkova (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Hannah Gladden (Cumberlands)

75 kg/165 lbs.
Justina DiStasio (Canada) vs. Masako Furuichi (Japan)

Semifinal Results
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Kika Kagata (Japan) fall Jade Parsons (Canada), 3:23
Erin Golston (New York AC) tech. fall Natasha Kramble (Canada), 11-0

53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Jessica MacDonald (Canada) tech. Fall Andribeth Rivera (Puerto Rico), 11-0
Brianne Barry (Canada) dec. Madison Parks (Canada), 9-0

55 kg/121 lbs.
RR1 – Becka Leathers (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids), 8-2
RR1 – Jacarra Winchester (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Momoka Kadoya (Japan), 8-3
RR2 – Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids) dec. Jacarra Winchester (Titan Mercury WC), 1-1
RR2 – Becka Leathers (Titan Mercury WC) fall Momoka Kadoya (Japan), 1:29

58 kg/128 lbs.
Miki Kawauchi (Japan) tech. fall Lauren Louive (New York AC), 10-0
Kayla Miracle (Sunkist Kids) dec. Randi Beltz (Titan Mercury WC), 9-2

60 kg/132 lbs.
RR1 – Chloe Spencer (Choker WC) dec. Carla Ponce (Aries WC), 5-1
RR1 – Yui Sakano (Japan) tech. fall Sophia Carson (Campbellsville), 11-0
RR2 – Yui Sakano (Japan) tech. fall Chloe Spencer (Choker WC), 12-1
RR2 – Carla Ponce (Aries WC) dec. Sophia Carson (Campbellsville), 11-5

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Jennifer Page (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Alexis Porter (New York AC)
Maya Nelson (Sunkist Kids) dec. Ayana Gempei (Japan), 5-1

69 kg/152 lbs.
RR1 – Olivia Di Bacco (Canada) tech. fall Hannah Gladden (Cumberlands), 10-0
RR2 – Olivia Di Bacco (Canada) fall Elena Pirozhkova (Titan Mercury WC), 3:44

75 kg/165 lbs.
Justina DiStasio (Canada) tech. fall Julia Salata (New York AC), 11-0
Masako Furuichi (Japan) dec. Erin Clodgo (Sunkist Kids), 6-2