Cohlton Schultz advances to Cadet Greco-Roman World semifinals

ATHENS, Greece – USA’s Cadet Greco-Roman team is off to a good start at the 2017 Cadet World Championships in Athens, Greece, putting three in the quarterfinals and advancing one wrestler to tonight’s semifinals.

Cohlton Schultz pinned his way to the 100 kg/220 lbs. semifinals.

In his first match of the day, he challenged Cadet Pan American silver medalist Edson Acuna Salazar of Mexico. Schultz led 2-2 on criteria after the first period, before finishing the match with a takedown and a fall at 2:43.

Sending the American to the semifinals was a second-period pin over Kantemir Shibzukhov of Russia. The two traded passivity points in the first period, but Shibzukhov took at 3-1 lead on a correct throw. Seconds later, with both wrestlers securing headlocks, Schultz was able to maneuver his way to a four-point thrown and put the Russian to his back, where he got the fall.

Tonight, Schultz will face 2017 Cadet European champion Seyedmojta Hosseini of Iran in the semis.

At 50 kg/110 lbs., Lucas Byrd got off to a great start, defeating Yordan Nedzhat of Bulgaria with a fall in the final seconds of his first match. Byrd led 6-0 heading into the second period, where he scored what would be the winning takedown but worked the Bulgarian to his back for the pin at 3:54.

Byrd went on to the quarterfinals after a decisive 10-6 win over Kazakhstan’s Din Koshkar. In his final match of the day, Byrd took on 2016 Cadet World bronze medalist Vladimir Zabeyvorota of Russia. The pair went back and forth throughout the match; however it was Zabeyvorota’s three takedowns that earned him a 6-4 win.

Ridge Lovett impressed in the morning session at 54 kg/119 lbs., collecting two wins by fall. In the first round, he went down 6-0 early in the match against Muhammed Acar of Turkey, but stormed to victory with a big four-point throw, which led to a fall in 1:03.

In his second match, Lovett faced two-time Cadet Asian champion Mohammad Hosseinvand of Iran. Hosseinvand was first on the board with passivity called on Lovett, but seconds later Lovett snagged a takedown and picked up another fall in the first period.

Lovett faced 2017 Cadet European champion Beka Guruli of Georgia in the quarters, where he went up big, leading 7-0 early in the second period. Guruli fought back, scoring several times in the second, including two four-pointers, for an eventual 12-8 win.

Whether or not Byrd and Lovett get pulled back into the repechage will be decided in tonight’s session.

Malik Johnson and Mason Phillips were unable to qualify for medal rounds.

Johnson fell to Mustafa Yildirim of Turkey, 3-3 on criteria, in the first round at 58 kg/128 lbs. Yildirim was then pinned in the second round, ending Johnson’s 2017 Cadet World Championships.

Phillips picked up an impressive 12-4 win over Shintaro Yoshinaga of Japan in the first round at 63 kg/139 lbs., but suffered a tech. fall loss to Shant Khachatryan of Armenia. The Armenia then fell in a tight 4-3 battle in the quarterfinals to wrap up Phillips’ tournament.

The semifinals are set for Monday night at 6:30 p.m. local time (11:30 p.m. ET). Fans can watch live and find brackets on trackwrestling.com.

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