Gray returns, lifts U.S. women to 6-4 win over Japan at Beat the Streets LA 4th Annual Benefit in Little Tokyo

Video: BTSLA Benefit Athlete and Coach Interviews

LOS ANGELES – Over 700 fans took in a historic evening of wrestling in the Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles saw the U.S. women take six-of-10 bouts from perennial power and defending World champion Japan.

Three-time World champion Adeline Gray delivered in her return to active competition with a highlight-reel technical fall over two-time Cadet World runner-up Mei Shindo at 72 kg/158 lbs. Gray made quick use of her underhook attacks to score three takedowns, in addition to some savvy top work, to end it early, 10-0.

“It was an awesome opportunity to come back, feel good. My shoulder feels awesome. My knee feels great. I got to be in front of my family, and a lot of athletes that are involved with this organization, Beat the Streets, and I’m just happy to be here,” Gray said.

After sustaining injuries in the latter stages of the 2016 season, Gray was sidelined from Senior-level competition for nearly a year before today’s match. She made the U.S. Olympic Team in 2016 and is a five-time World medalist.

Joining Gray in the win column for the U.S. women were past Senior World Team members Victoria Anthony, Sarah Hildebrandt, Tamyra Mensah-Stock and Mallory Velte, plus Junior World bronze medalist Kayla Miracle.

Coming off a fifth-place finish at the World Championships, Anthony looked as sharp as could be in a 10-0 thumping of reigning Junior World champion and three-time Cadet World champion Kika Kagata at 50 kg/110 lbs. Anthony set the tone early with a four-point inside trip, and ended things in the first period with a crafty ankle pick to leg lace combination.

“Ton of fun. I wasn’t really thinking out there, and didn’t go in with any plan. It just felt so good to flow through everything I’ve been working on. I’ve really been working hard with my coaches at [Arizona State]…I think it’s an improvement from the World Championships,” Anthony said.

Hildebrandt and Mensah-Stock joined Gray and Anthony with technical fall victories on the day. Hildebrandt, a 2016 World Team member, went to work with her front headlock to grab an 11-0 win over Yuri Yonamine at 53 kg/116 lbs. Mensah-Stock, a 2017 World Team member, was money from her feet, securing four takedowns to top Mai Hayakawa, 10-0, at 68 kg/150 lbs.

Returning to her home state of California, Velte controlled the tempo from start-to-finish in her 6-0 victory over 2016 Cadet World champion Atena Kodama at 62 kg/136 lbs.

A hectic day of travel and preparation for Miracle ended with a sound 10-4 decision over 2012 Cadet World champion and 2015 Junior World silver medalist Yohimi Kayama at 57 kg/125 lbs. Due to a scheduling conflict, Miracle was the lone participant in the event to arrive this morning in Los Angeles, mere hours before taking the mat.

In the 59 kg/130 lbs. bout, two-time World silver medalist Alli Ragan was upset by Kiwa Sakae, 5-2. Ragan led 1-0 entering the second period, but was unable to convert on any shot attempt, which was her ultimate downfall.

2017 World Team member Victoria Francis competed well in her 76 kg/167 lbs. showdown against Two-time Junior World champion and Cadet World champion Rino Abo, but it was Abo getting the win, 7-2.

Reigning Junior World champion Maya Nelson and 2016 Cadet World bronze medalist Gracie Figueroa were both defeated soundly by their respective Japanese opponents. Nelson dropped an 11-2 decision to 2016 Cadet World silver medalist Miwa Morikawa at 65 kg/143 lbs. Similarly, Figueroa fell by a 13-2 tally to 2016 Cadet World champion Andoria Hanako Sawa at 55 kg/121 lbs.

“First, to be a part of that event, and to bring Japan in, and have Japan be a part of it, is extraordinary. It’s for a great cause. We get a chance to wrestle Japan in front of a crowd that may or may not know wrestling, but it’s in the heart of women’s wrestling territory for us…it was just great to be a part of it,” said Terry Steiner, U.S. National Women’s Coach.

The dual meet featured the two highest-placing nations from the 2017 World Championships held in Paris, France. Japan won the team World title, while the U.S. came in second place overall.

This women’s wrestling highlight match, centered outside at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Los Angeles, was part of the Beat the Streets Los Angeles 4th Annual Benefit held to raise funds for the non-profit organization. In addition, Anita DeFrantz, Olympic athlete and International Olympic Committee member, was presented the inaugural Leaders in Sport Award.

Beat the Streets Los Angeles’ signature program features wrestling events alongside leadership-building activities and personal mentoring in 24 schools and neighborhood training centers. In addition, BTSLA operates a summer Futures Camp and Downtown Los Angeles Wrestling Academy. Over 650 boys and girls annually benefit from these offerings.

BEAT THE STREETS LOS ANGELES 4TH ANNUAL BENEFIT

At Los Angeles, October 29

United States vs. Japan Final Results
50 kg/110 lbs. – Victoria Anthony (United States) tech. fall Kika Kagata (Japan), 10-0
76 kg/167 lbs. – Rino Abo (Japan) dec. Victoria Francis (United States), 7-2
53 kg/116 lbs. – Sarah Hildebrandt (United States) tech. fall Yuri Yonamine (Japan), 11-0
68 kg/150 lbs. – Tamyra Mensah-Stock (United States) tech. fall Mai Hayakawa (Japan), 10-0
55 kg/121 lbs. – Andoria Hanako Sawa (Japan) tech. fall Gracie Figueroa (United States), 13-2
65 kg/143 lbs. – Miwa Morikawa (Japan) dec. Maya Nelson (United States), 11-2
57 kg/125 lbs. – Kayla Miracle (United States) dec. Yoshimi Kayama (Japan), 10-4
62 kg/136 lbs. – Mallory Velte (United States) dec. Atena Kodama (Japan), 6-0
59 kg/130 lbs. – Kiwa Sakae (Japan) dec. Alli Ragan (United States), 5-2
72 kg/158 lbs. – Adeline Gray (United States) tech. fall Mei Shindo (Japan), 10-0