Cohlton Schultz advances to Cadet Greco World Championship finals

ATHENS, Greece – Cohlton Schultz put together an outstanding day on Monday, advancing to Tuesday’s Greco-Roman 100 kg/220 lbs. finals at the 2017 Cadet World Championships in Athens, Greece, and becoming the first U.S. Cadet Greco wrestler to advance to the World finals since 1998.

“It feels good. We haven’t done that in a while,” U.S. Greco-Roman National Coach Matt Lindland said. “It feels good to win and to know that he’s got a guy that he’s trained with and beat up on before. I think [Schultz] should have some confidence going into this match. He’s wrestled a great tournament.”

After pinning both of his opponents in the morning session, Schultz met up with 2017 Cadet European champion Seyedmojta Hosseini of Iran. The American was able to draw a passivity point in the first period for a 1-0 lead. Schultz stayed aggressive throughout the second period, keeping the Iranian on defense for an eventual 1-0 win to secure his spot in the 100 kg finals.

“I was talking with Coach (Matt) Lindland earlier today about making sure I keep bringing my legs in and keep bringing my hips in closer everywhere,” Schultz said. “My legs have a lot of power in them, so I’m able to drive a lot. Once I got in good position, I was keeping everybody on defense.”

There, he will meet up with Hungary’s Balint Vatzi, who won the Cadet European Championships in July.

The two met up in the finals of the Croatia Open earlier this month, with Schultz emerging victorious with a 4-0 score.

“I know if I can get to the ties I want, I can control the match and get points on the board, so I’m feeling good about tomorrow,” Schultz said.

Lucas Byrd and Ridge Lovett, who both lost in today’s quarterfinals, were unable to qualify for the medal rounds today.

Byrd needed a win from Russia’s Vladimir Zabeyvorota in the semifinals to be pulled back into the repechage at 50 kg/110 lbs. The Russian led for most of the bout against Japan’s Ken Matsui until he was hit with a caution-and-two within the final minute. Matsui held on for a 3-2 win, which ended Lucas Byrd’s run at the 2017 Cadet World Championships.

In Lovett’s case, he needed Georgia’s Beka Guruli to win at 54 kg/119 lbs. The Georgian took on Russia’s German Doev, who dominated, ending the match in a quick 8-0 technical fall and knocking Lovett out of his first Cadet World Championships.

Overall, the U.S. Cadet Greco Team produced one finalist and two quarterfinalists in the first day of World Championship action.

“It was great to see these guys out there,” Lindland said. “They competed hard. We won quite a few matches and put three in the quarterfinals. We’re still moving in the right direction, and hopefully they’re inspired to stick with Greco-Roman in the future.”

Tuesday’s competition begins with repechage at 10:30 a.m. local time (1:30 a.m. ET), with the finals scheduled for 6 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET). The other five American Greco athletes will also begin their World championships tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. Fans can watch live and find brackets on Trackwrestling.com.

2017 CADET WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

at Athens, Greece

Finals matchups
50 kg/110 lbs. – Ken Matsui (Japan) vs. Zaur Aliyev (Azerbaijan)
54 kg/119 lbs. – German Doev (Russia) vs. Nursultan Bazarbayev (Kazakhstan)
58 kg/128 lbs. – Sonu Sonu (India) vs. Mohsen Madhani (Iran)
63 kg/139 lbs. – Dmytro Miroshnyk (Ukraine) vs. Mostafa Kayed Khordeh (Iran)
100 kg/220 lbs. – Balint Vatzi (Hungary) vs. Cohlton Schultz (USA)

U.S. Greco-Roman results
50 kg/110 lbs. – Lucas Byrd, Cincinatti, Ohio (Team Ohio)
WIN Yordan Ruzhdi Nedzhat (Bulgaria), fall 3:54
WIN Din Koshkar (Kazakhstan), 10-6
LOSS Vladimir Zabeyvorota (Russia), 6-4

54 kg/119 lbs. – Ridge Lovett, Post Falls, Idaho (Team Real Life)
WIN Muhammed Acar (Turkey), fall 1:03
WIN Mohammed Hosseinvand (Iran), fall 1:21

58 kg/128 lbs. – Malik Johnson, Florissant, Mo. (Team Punishment)
LOSS Mustafa Safa Yildirim (Turkey), 3-3

63 kg/139 lbs. – Mason Phillips, Stanwood, Wash. (Top Notch Training Center)
WIN Shintaro Yoshinaga (Japan), 12-4
LOSS Shant Khachatryan (Armenia), 12-4

100 kg/220 lbs. – Cohlton Schultz, Parker, Colo. (New York AC)
WIN Edson Acuna Salazar (Mexico), fall 2:43
WIN Kantemir Shibzukhov (Russia), fall 3:40
WIN Seyedmojtaba Hosseini (Iran), 1-0

63 kg/139 lbs. – Mason Phillips, Stanwood, Wash. (Top Notch Training Center)
WIN Shintaro Yoshinaga (Japan), 12-4
LOSS Shant Khachatryan (Armenia), 12-4

100 kg/220 lbs. – Cohlton Schultz, Parker, Colo. (New York AC)
WIN Edson Acuna Salazar (Mexico), fall 2:43
WIN Kantemir Shibzukhov (Russia), fall 3:40