#20thSchultz Notes: Big win for Francis, strong women’s field plus Greco bronze bouts and Women semis set
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Victoria Francis of the USA counters an attack from Aline da Silva of Brazil in the Dave Schultz Memorial International quarterfinals at 76 kg. Photo by Richard Immel.
Francis beats World silver medalist in quarterfinals – 2017 U.S. World Team member Victoria Francis, a USOTC resident, had a tough draw in her 76 kg quarterfinals, 2014 World silver medalist Aline da Silva of Brazil. Da Silva led 1-0 at the break, but Francis came back strong in the second, scoring five straight points. A da Silva two-point throw in the final seconds closed the gap, and the Brazil corner challenged, hoping for a four-pointer. The challenge was denied, and Francis advanced to the semifinals with a 6-3 win. “I knew I had to keep my pressure going, wearing her out. I knew she was going to slip. I knew that front headlock was coming. It was just a matter of knowing she was throwing and staying inside.” Francis has a loaded weight class, facing 2017 World Team teammate Tamyra Mensah-Stock in Thursday’s semifinals. Also in the bracket on the other side is three-time World champion Adeline Gray.
Video Interview: Francis after win over da Silva
Women’s College Teams support event – One of the reasons the women’s division at the Dave Schultz Memorial has been successful over the years is the support from the various women’s college wrestling teams. In past years, the Schultz event has been either right after the annual WCWA Nationals, or in more recent years, right before the WCWA Nationals. The move to November for the Schultz tournament this year from February has not adversely affected the turnout from the college programs. Among the college teams with entries this year are Wayland Baptist, Oklahoma City, Cumberlands, Campbellsville, McKendree, Univ. of Providence, Grays Harbor and Simon Fraser. It is early in the women’s season, which starts with events in October. As in other years, the college programs bring many of their best, something which has made a difference for their programs and also for the event.
Past Women World Team members in 20th Schultz – Another reason for an impressive women’s field at the Dave Schultz Memorial is strong representation from current and past Senior World Team members. Not only is this a challenging tournament, but the athletes get to test themselves in the 10 new UWW weight classes. Three current No. 1 members of the Senior National Team have entered the event this year, Victoria Anthony (at 50 kg), Mallory Velte (65 kg) and Victoria Francis (76 kg). Anthony is a two-time World Team member. Among the other Americans in the field who have competed at a World Championships or Olympics are three-time World champion and five-time World medalist Adeline Gray (76 kg), three-time World Team member Whitney Conder (53 kg), plus past World Teamers Sarah Hildebrandt (53 kg), Jenna Burkert (62 kg), Erin Clodgo (72 kg) and Tamyra Mensah-Stock (76 kg)
Past National Team member Sharon Jacobson now WCAP message therapist – Among the alumni from Team USA who are in attendance at the Schultz Memorial is past U.S. Open champion Sharon Jacobson, who is not just here watching from the stands. Jacobson, who completed her competitive career with the U.S. Army WCAP program now has a job there as its massage therapist for its Olympic-related sports program. She not only works with the WCAP wrestlers, but also with athletes in other Olympic sports. Even though she is no longer competing in freestyle wrestling, Jacobson is still an active athlete herself, competing in professional Mixed Martial Arts. She has a 4-2 record in pro fights, and plans to continue competing as opportunities come her way.
Hawkeye WC coach Mark Perry coaching in women’s event – Wrestling fans are used to seeing successful freestyle coach Mark Perry coaching at major age-group and Senior-level men’s freestyle events. This morning, Perry, who took on the challenge of RTC coach with the Hawkeye WC (at his alma mater Iowa) was coaching one of the Hawkeye WC women athletes, Lauren Louive, who has been training in Iowa City with the club over the last few years. Louive is wrestling at 59 kg here at the Schultz.
Final set at 72 kg in women’s freestyle – There are two athletes at 72 kg in women’s freestyle, past World Team member Erin Clodgo of the Sunkist Kids and Tatum Sparks of the Argo WC. They will wrestle their finals match tonight (Thursday) instead of tomorrow, prior to the Greco-Roman medal matches.
The semifinals have been set in women’s freestyle, as well as the Greco-Roman bronze medal matches, which are listed below.
Women’s Semifinals pairings
50 kg
Victoria Anthony (Sunkist Kids) vs. Erin Golston (NYAC)
Cody Pfau (TMWC) vs. Miyu Nakamura (Japan)
53 kg
Yu Miyahara (Japan) vs. Whitney Conder (U.S. Army)
Amy Fearnside (TMWC) vs. Sarah Hildebrandt (NYAC)
55 kg
Yurie Yoneoka (Japan/Argo Wrestling Club) vs. Gabriela Ramos diaz Carolina (Wayland Baptist)
Samantha Klingel (U.S. Army WCAP) vs. Ronna Heaton (Sunkist Kids/Grays Harbor)
57 kg
Hyeon Ju Kwon (Korea) vs. Areana Villaescusa (U.S. Army)
Dominique Parrish (Sunkist Kids/Simon Fraser) vs. Fusano Mochizuki (Japan)
62 kg
Grace Bullen (Norway/Campbellsville) vs. Jenna Burkert (U.S. Army)
Jin young Hang (Korea) vs. Kayla Miracle (Sunkist Kids/Campbellsville)
65 kg
Mallory Velte (TMWC/Simon Fraser) vs. Desiree Zavala (Choker WC)
Forrest Molinari (TMWC) vs. Eun sil Jang (Korea)
68
Chiaki Iijima (Japan) vs. Alexandria Glaude (TMWC)
Julia Salata (NYAC) vs. Hedda Stand (Norway)
76 kg
Adeline Gray (NYAC) vs. Rachel Watters (NYAC)
Tamyra Mensah-Stock (TMWC) vs Victoria Francis (TMWC)
Note: Roundrobin at 59 kg and finals set at 72 kg
Greco-Roman bronze-medal pairings
63 kg - Jesse Thielke (NYAC) vs. Sam Jones (NYAC)
67 kg - Jessy Williams (NYAC) vs. German Diaz (Puerto Rico/USMC)
72 kg - Jamel Johnson (Marines) vs. John Yeats (Canada)
82 kg - Courtney Myers (U.S. Army) vs. Neulpuleunsan Jeon (Korea)
87 kg - Jon Anderson (U.S. Army) vs. Je woo Park (Korea)
97 kg - Micah Burak (TMWC) vs. Austin Schafer (NYAC)
Round robins at 55 kg, 60 kg, 130 kg
Francis beats World silver medalist in quarterfinals – 2017 U.S. World Team member Victoria Francis, a USOTC resident, had a tough draw in her 76 kg quarterfinals, 2014 World silver medalist Aline da Silva of Brazil. Da Silva led 1-0 at the break, but Francis came back strong in the second, scoring five straight points. A da Silva two-point throw in the final seconds closed the gap, and the Brazil corner challenged, hoping for a four-pointer. The challenge was denied, and Francis advanced to the semifinals with a 6-3 win. “I knew I had to keep my pressure going, wearing her out. I knew she was going to slip. I knew that front headlock was coming. It was just a matter of knowing she was throwing and staying inside.” Francis has a loaded weight class, facing 2017 World Team teammate Tamyra Mensah-Stock in Thursday’s semifinals. Also in the bracket on the other side is three-time World champion Adeline Gray.
Video Interview: Francis after win over da Silva
Women’s College Teams support event – One of the reasons the women’s division at the Dave Schultz Memorial has been successful over the years is the support from the various women’s college wrestling teams. In past years, the Schultz event has been either right after the annual WCWA Nationals, or in more recent years, right before the WCWA Nationals. The move to November for the Schultz tournament this year from February has not adversely affected the turnout from the college programs. Among the college teams with entries this year are Wayland Baptist, Oklahoma City, Cumberlands, Campbellsville, McKendree, Univ. of Providence, Grays Harbor and Simon Fraser. It is early in the women’s season, which starts with events in October. As in other years, the college programs bring many of their best, something which has made a difference for their programs and also for the event.
Past Women World Team members in 20th Schultz – Another reason for an impressive women’s field at the Dave Schultz Memorial is strong representation from current and past Senior World Team members. Not only is this a challenging tournament, but the athletes get to test themselves in the 10 new UWW weight classes. Three current No. 1 members of the Senior National Team have entered the event this year, Victoria Anthony (at 50 kg), Mallory Velte (65 kg) and Victoria Francis (76 kg). Anthony is a two-time World Team member. Among the other Americans in the field who have competed at a World Championships or Olympics are three-time World champion and five-time World medalist Adeline Gray (76 kg), three-time World Team member Whitney Conder (53 kg), plus past World Teamers Sarah Hildebrandt (53 kg), Jenna Burkert (62 kg), Erin Clodgo (72 kg) and Tamyra Mensah-Stock (76 kg)
Past National Team member Sharon Jacobson now WCAP message therapist – Among the alumni from Team USA who are in attendance at the Schultz Memorial is past U.S. Open champion Sharon Jacobson, who is not just here watching from the stands. Jacobson, who completed her competitive career with the U.S. Army WCAP program now has a job there as its massage therapist for its Olympic-related sports program. She not only works with the WCAP wrestlers, but also with athletes in other Olympic sports. Even though she is no longer competing in freestyle wrestling, Jacobson is still an active athlete herself, competing in professional Mixed Martial Arts. She has a 4-2 record in pro fights, and plans to continue competing as opportunities come her way.
Hawkeye WC coach Mark Perry coaching in women’s event – Wrestling fans are used to seeing successful freestyle coach Mark Perry coaching at major age-group and Senior-level men’s freestyle events. This morning, Perry, who took on the challenge of RTC coach with the Hawkeye WC (at his alma mater Iowa) was coaching one of the Hawkeye WC women athletes, Lauren Louive, who has been training in Iowa City with the club over the last few years. Louive is wrestling at 59 kg here at the Schultz.
Final set at 72 kg in women’s freestyle – There are two athletes at 72 kg in women’s freestyle, past World Team member Erin Clodgo of the Sunkist Kids and Tatum Sparks of the Argo WC. They will wrestle their finals match tonight (Thursday) instead of tomorrow, prior to the Greco-Roman medal matches.
The semifinals have been set in women’s freestyle, as well as the Greco-Roman bronze medal matches, which are listed below.
Women’s Semifinals pairings
50 kg
Victoria Anthony (Sunkist Kids) vs. Erin Golston (NYAC)
Cody Pfau (TMWC) vs. Miyu Nakamura (Japan)
53 kg
Yu Miyahara (Japan) vs. Whitney Conder (U.S. Army)
Amy Fearnside (TMWC) vs. Sarah Hildebrandt (NYAC)
55 kg
Yurie Yoneoka (Japan/Argo Wrestling Club) vs. Gabriela Ramos diaz Carolina (Wayland Baptist)
Samantha Klingel (U.S. Army WCAP) vs. Ronna Heaton (Sunkist Kids/Grays Harbor)
57 kg
Hyeon Ju Kwon (Korea) vs. Areana Villaescusa (U.S. Army)
Dominique Parrish (Sunkist Kids/Simon Fraser) vs. Fusano Mochizuki (Japan)
62 kg
Grace Bullen (Norway/Campbellsville) vs. Jenna Burkert (U.S. Army)
Jin young Hang (Korea) vs. Kayla Miracle (Sunkist Kids/Campbellsville)
65 kg
Mallory Velte (TMWC/Simon Fraser) vs. Desiree Zavala (Choker WC)
Forrest Molinari (TMWC) vs. Eun sil Jang (Korea)
68
Chiaki Iijima (Japan) vs. Alexandria Glaude (TMWC)
Julia Salata (NYAC) vs. Hedda Stand (Norway)
76 kg
Adeline Gray (NYAC) vs. Rachel Watters (NYAC)
Tamyra Mensah-Stock (TMWC) vs Victoria Francis (TMWC)
Note: Roundrobin at 59 kg and finals set at 72 kg
Greco-Roman bronze-medal pairings
63 kg - Jesse Thielke (NYAC) vs. Sam Jones (NYAC)
67 kg - Jessy Williams (NYAC) vs. German Diaz (Puerto Rico/USMC)
72 kg - Jamel Johnson (Marines) vs. John Yeats (Canada)
82 kg - Courtney Myers (U.S. Army) vs. Neulpuleunsan Jeon (Korea)
87 kg - Jon Anderson (U.S. Army) vs. Je woo Park (Korea)
97 kg - Micah Burak (TMWC) vs. Austin Schafer (NYAC)
Round robins at 55 kg, 60 kg, 130 kg
