USA lands three champs in Cadet Worlds finale

ATHENS, Greece – The United States went three-for-three in Sunday night’s gold-medal finals of the 2017 Cadet World Championships in Athens, Greece.

Kurt McHenry won his second-consecutive Cadet World title, cruising to a 12-4 victory in the 46 kg/101 lbs. finals of the 2017 Cadet World Championships in Athens, Greece, on Sunday evening.

McHenry’s slick throw-by takedowns were the key in his gold-medal bout against 2016 Cadet World champion Giorgi Gegelashvili. He led 8-0 within the final minute, but the Georgian made it to the scoreboard with a takedown a turn with a trapped-arm gut to cut McHenry’s lead to 8-4. McHenry scored as the buzzer sounded on a four-point throw for a 12-4 win and his second World championship.

In their international debuts, Aaron Brooks and Daniel Kerkvliet also claimed World golds, defeating Russians in the 76 kg/167 lbs. and 100 kg/220 lbs. finals, respectively.

Brooks controlled the first period, scoring on a four-point throw, a pair of takedowns and exposure to lead the Cadet European champion Arsamag Khostikoev of Russia, 12-3, at the break. Khostikoev executed back-to-back takedowns to cut Brooks’ lead to 12-7, but the American didn’t waver, holding on for the championship belt.

At heavyweight, Kerkvliet grinded out a 2-1 triumph over Cadet European champion Ismail-Bek Nirov of Russia. Kerkvliet scored first, drawing a passivity point, but the Russian followed up with a step out for a 1-1 lead on criteria at the break. Kerkvliet continued to push the pace in the second period, getting another point from Russian passivity to seal the win and a gold medal.

Jacori Teemer came away with bronze at 63 kg/139 lbs., defeating South Africa’s Francois Rossouw by a first-period fall. Teemer led 8-0 before the fall, well on his way to a bronze medal.

At 54 kg/119 lbs., Robert Howard was unable to qualify for the bronze-medal bout falling in Sunday morning’s repechage. Howard won his first match, defeating Damirbek Maqsudov of Tajikistan in an 8-0 match. He took on Vladysov Ostapenko of Ukraine, who handed the American an 11-0 loss to end Howard’s 2017 Cadet World Championships.

The U.S. freestyle team finished the tournament with four gold medals and two bronze, with a second-place finish with 66 points, seven points behind Russia’s 73. In addition to McHenry, Brooks, Kerkvliet and Teemer, other World medalists for the squad included Will Lewan with gold at 69 kg/152 lbs. and Gavin Hoffman with bronze at 85 kg/187 lbs.

Across all three U.S. Cadet teams, the Red, White and Blue leaves Athens with five gold, two silver and one bronze.

2017 CADET WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

at Athens, Greece, Sept. 4-10

Final team scores
1. Russia – 73
2. USA – 66
3. Azerbaijan - 61
4. Iran - 53
5. Japan - 42
6. India - 36
7. Turkey - 34
8. Georgia - 29
9. Uzbekistan - 26 
10. Ukraine - 25

Final results

 U.S. men’s freestyle results
42 kg/92 lbs. – Cole Skinner, Middleton, Ohio (G2 World WA) – 5th
LOSS Alihasan Amirli (Azerbaijan), 11-0
WIN Kudaibergen Murat (Kazakhstan), 4-2
LOSS Kasei Tanabe (Japan), 11-4

46 kg/101 lbs. – Kurt McHenry, Leesburg, Va. (Ranger WC) – GOLD
WIN Fotis Papadopoulis (Canada), 10-0
WIN Taiyrbek Zhumashbek Uulu (Kyrgyzstan), 18-8
WIN Adem Uzun (Turkey), 4-2
WIN Magomed Abdurakhmanov (Russia), 5-4
WIN Giorgi Gegelashvili (Georgia), 12-4

50 kg/110 lbs. – Julian Tagg, Broadview Heights, Ohio (Seasons WC) – 7th
WIN Danila Shyrokan (Belarus), 10-3
LOSS Mahir Mammadzada (Azerbaijan), 9-8
WIN Mohamed Al Lakel (Algeria) 12-1
LOSS Akbar Kurbanov (Kazakhstan), 4-2

54 kg/119 lbs. – Robert Howard, Cranford, N.J. (Bitetto Trained) – 13th
LOSS Mehdi Eshghivasoukolaei (Iran), 8-4
WIN Damirbek Maqsudov (Tajikistan), 8-0
LOSS Vladyslov Ostepanek (Ukraine), 11-0

58 kg/128 lbs. – Jordan Decatur, Akron, Ohio (Seasons WC) – 14th
LOSS Georgios Pilidis (Greece), 8-6

63 kg/138 lbs. – Jacori Teemer, Long Beach, N.Y. (Long Beach) - BRONZE
WIN Giorgi Elbakidze (Georgia), fall 3:53
WIN Ahmet Sali Yigit (Turkey), 12-10
WIN Ikhtiyor Normurodov (Uzbekistan), 5-3
LOSS Kenshin Ito (Japan), 3-3
WIN Francois Rossouw (South Africa), fall 1:36

69 kg/152 lbs. – Will Lewan, Chicago, Ill. (Izzy Style) - GOLD
WIN Vishal Kaliramana (India), 6-0
WIN Alinur Takirov (Kyrgyzstan), 6-0
WIN Soslanbek Budaev (Russia), 10-4
WIN Umur Aybey (Turkey), 6-2
WIN Daud Ibragimov (Azerbaijan), 3-1

76 kg/167 lbs. – Aaron Brooks, Hagerstown, Md. (Hagerstown) – GOLD
WIN Lasha Bairamovi (Georgia), 12-2
WIN Alex Hoerner (Germany), 11-0
WIN Filip Jires (Czech Republic), 10-0
WIN Meysam Zaree (Iran), 12-1
WIN Arsamag Khostikoev (Russia), 12-7

85 kg/187 lbs. – Gavin Hoffman, Cogan Station, Pa. (Bison Legend WC) – BRONZE
WIN David Losonczi (Hungary), 10-2
LOSS Abbas Ali Foroutanrami (Iran), 9-3
WIN Brayan Ortiz Valderrama (Colombia), win by forfeit
WIN Bekzat Urkimbay (Kazakhstan), 10-0
WIN Sandeep Mann (India), 7-2

100 kg/220 lbs. – Daniel Kerkvliet, Inver Grove Heights, Minn. (Pinnacle WC)
WIN Radu Lefter (Moldova), 10-0
WIN Filip Jires (Czech Republic), 10-0
WIN Zyamuhammed Saparov (Turkmenistan), 12-2
WIN Ismail Nirov (Russia), 2-1