Day 2 World Cup Notes: Japan wins wild third place bout, plus a 39-point match, Pool B tiebreakers and more
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
The Japan delegation went crazy during the heavyweight bout of the third-place dual, as they pulled off a big win over Cuba. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors.
Third place goes to Japan over Cuba in wild 6-4 match
The fans at the World Cup had some great entertainment in the third place match, which some considered one of the best dual meets of the entire weekend. Japan and Cuba put on a show which wrestling fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena will be talking about for a long time.
Cuba had a nice start at 57 kg, as young Reineri Andreeu Ortega gave 2017 World champion Yuki Takahashi of Japan a tough battle in a 7-5 loss. A takedown by Andreeu gave him the lead at 2-1 at the break. But Takahashi won the second period, and pumped his fist after getting out with a win.
At 61 kg, one of Cuba’s top stars, World medalist Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez fell behind Kazuya Koyangi, 5-0, then turned on the jets. Two takedowns closed it to 5-4. As time was running out, Bonne hit a chestlock, which initially was scored for him, and both corners threw in bricks. The jury gave both athletes two points, making it 7-6 for Koyangi. A desperation throw by Bonne was blocked, making the final score 9-6 for Koyangi.
Conditioning was a factor in the win at 65 kg by Daichi Takatani of Japan over highlight-machine Alejandro Enrique Valdes Tobier, 10-8. Valdes, who dominated his earlier foes, got up big, and led 8-3 at the break. Takatani kept coming back with takedowns, and took the lead at 9-8 with just seconds left. Cuba’s challenge was denied, and Japan was up three matches to none, and had all of the momentum.
Franklin Maren Castillo of Cuba stopped the bleeding at 70 kg, with a solid 8-4 win over Keisuke Otoguro to slow down the momentum a bit.
But Japan won another big bout over one of Cuba’s best at 74 kg. In a battle of World medalists, Yuhi Fujinami of Japan dominated Livan Lopez Azcuy in a 16-5 technical fall. Fujinami opened with a takedown and two turns to lead 6-0, when Lopez started a bit of a comeback, closing it to 10-5. Fujinami closed the door with a takedown and three turns to end it.
Another past World medalist, Sohsuke Takatani, quickly dispatched Yoan Zulueta Morales at 79 kg, in a 10-0 technical fall with a takedown and four consecutive leg laces. Japan led 5-1 on the scoreboard, had beaten some top Cuban athletes, and it felt like it was all over.
Nobody told the Cuban team, however, which reeled in three straight wins. Getting the mini-streak going was Yurieski Torreblanca Queralta who beat Shota Shirai, 4-1 at 86 kg. The next win was even closer, a 4-4 criteria win at 92 kg by Lazaro Hernandez Luis over Takashi Ishiguro.
Multiple World medalist Reineris Salas Perez scored three big four-point moves to secure a 12-0 technical fall over Japan’s Taira Sonoda at 97 kg. Salas hit two slick foot sweeps, then finished it off with a lateral drop throw.
After nine bouts, the team score was 5-4 for Japan, which led in classification points 20-17. Mathematically, a Cuban win at heavyweight, where they did not allow Japan to score a technical point,would tie the dual at 5-5 and the classification points at 20-20. If Cuba got a technical fall without giving up a point or scored a fall, Cuba would clinch the win.
The fans got their money’s worth when Taiki Yamamoto of Japan and Yudenny Alapajon Estevez of Cuba battled to win for their team. Alapajon led 2-0, when Yamamoto eliminated the shutout possibility by scoring to tie it at 2-2. Yamamoto could lose now by decision and Japan still wins the dual meet. Alapajon needed something more, and he came back to take a 5-4 lead. When Yamamoto forced a stepout to tie it at 5-5, Cuba threw in a brick and the protest was denied. Yamamoto’s 6-5 win gave Japan the win, and the celebration of the Japanese team started on the center of the mat even before the referee was able to raise Yamamoto’s arm in victory.
39 points scored by Gaphrindashvili (GEO) and Iderkuu (MGL) in 79 kg bout
There was some extra excitement during Georgia’s 6-4 victory over Mongolia for fifth place at the Freestyle World Cup. The match at 79 kg between Tariel Gaphrindashvili of Georgia and Gantulga Iderkhuu of Mongolia was a high scoring, see-saw battle which included a ton of offense and very little defense.
As time ran out and the scoreboard read 22-17 in favor of Gaphrindashvili, the Georgian had enough energy left for a celebration on the mat. The combined 39 points was by far the most of any match in the tournament.
Gaphrindashvili, who speaks some English, did not have enough left for a post-victory interview, however. When UWW’s Eric Olanowski approached Gaphrinishvili for comment, his response was something like, “I can’t even breathe right now, let alone think about speaking English.” End of interview.
They keep Classification Points for a reason, check out Pool B
World Cup dual meets are scored based upon wins. If a team gets six or more match wins in a dual meet, they win. It doesn’t matter what kind of win a team gets, each win counts as one point.
They do keep classification points for two reasons. Classification points go like this:
5 – Pin, forfeit, injury default, disqualification win
4 – Technical fall win
3 – Decision win
1 – Loss when the loser scores a point or more in a tech fall or decision.
First, if any dual meets end at 5-5, the classification points break the tie. And in the pool, when teams are tied with the same record, classification points determine the team’s placement in the pool, which sets the medal round pairings.
Both of these tiebreakers were needed on Saturday morning in Pool B. In the final pool dual meet, Cuba jumped to a lead over Kazakhstan, and looked to be cruising to a win. However, Kazakshtan won the last three matches to tie the bout at 5-5. In those three final wins, Kazakhstan got technical falls from Ilishkhan Chilayev (92 kg) and Daulet Shabanbay (125 kg). When it went to classification points, Kazakhstan won 22-21.
With the win, Pool B had three teams with 1-2 records. Back to the classification points chart. Cuba scored 58 classification points in their three duals and took second in the pool even after the loss to Kazakhstan. Mongolia had 54 classification points to take third in the pool. Kazakhstan’s big upset of Cuba was not enough to move up, as their 50 classification points in their three duals gave them fourth in the pool.
Iowa connections all over the place
Wrestling is important in Iowa, and the 2018 World Cp coming to Iowa City is a big deal in this community. The focus is often on the traditional college power, the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, but from border to border in this state, wrestling is valued.
Connections to Iowa is everywhere in this World Cup. Leading the effort for Team USA is an NCAA champion from Iowa, National Freestyle Coach Bill Zadick. One of the Assistant National Freestyle Coaches is 1992 Olympic champion Kevin Jackson, an NCAA finalist at Iowa State and head coach for the Cyclones before returning to USA Wrestling’s National coaching staff.
All three of the Honorary Coaches have strong Iowa connections. Mike Duroe, who wrestled for Drake, is the head coach at Cornell College, and is a longtime Hawkeye WC coach. J Robinson, who is best known for his stint as a champion coach at Minnesota, was an Iowa assistant coach and invented the “Intensive Camp” concept during his time in Iowa. And, of course, World and Olympic champion Dan Gable went from undefeated high school star from Waterloo, to win two NCAA titles for Iowa State. As head coach at Iowa, Gable powered the Hawkeyes to 15 NCAA titles, one of the greatest sports coaches on the planet.
The team features three athletes with Iowa backgrounds. No. 1 at 57 kg is Thomas Gilman, who was a three-time All-American for Iowa. Kyven Gadson, another high school star from Waterloo, was an NCAA champion at Iowa State. Joe Colon, who was also a high school star in Iowa, was an All-American at Northern Iowa, and won his match at 61 kg on Saturday.
Iowa head wrestling coach Tom Brands and his entire staff were everywhere during the event. In addition to being there for Team USA, they helped support Gilman in his matches, including former Iowa NCAA champion and Hawkeye WC club coach Mark Perry.
USA Wrestling staff members on site with an Iowa connection included National Teams Operations Manager Jaimie McNab, who is Laurens, and went Simpson College.
Of course, there were a ton of Iowans who helped organize the event, led by Iowa City/Coralville CVB chief Josh Schamberger. Add in the thousands of Iowans in the stands cheering for Team USA at each session, and you can understand the Iowa flavor of this year’s World Cup.
Third place goes to Japan over Cuba in wild 6-4 match
The fans at the World Cup had some great entertainment in the third place match, which some considered one of the best dual meets of the entire weekend. Japan and Cuba put on a show which wrestling fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena will be talking about for a long time.
Cuba had a nice start at 57 kg, as young Reineri Andreeu Ortega gave 2017 World champion Yuki Takahashi of Japan a tough battle in a 7-5 loss. A takedown by Andreeu gave him the lead at 2-1 at the break. But Takahashi won the second period, and pumped his fist after getting out with a win.
At 61 kg, one of Cuba’s top stars, World medalist Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez fell behind Kazuya Koyangi, 5-0, then turned on the jets. Two takedowns closed it to 5-4. As time was running out, Bonne hit a chestlock, which initially was scored for him, and both corners threw in bricks. The jury gave both athletes two points, making it 7-6 for Koyangi. A desperation throw by Bonne was blocked, making the final score 9-6 for Koyangi.
Conditioning was a factor in the win at 65 kg by Daichi Takatani of Japan over highlight-machine Alejandro Enrique Valdes Tobier, 10-8. Valdes, who dominated his earlier foes, got up big, and led 8-3 at the break. Takatani kept coming back with takedowns, and took the lead at 9-8 with just seconds left. Cuba’s challenge was denied, and Japan was up three matches to none, and had all of the momentum.
Franklin Maren Castillo of Cuba stopped the bleeding at 70 kg, with a solid 8-4 win over Keisuke Otoguro to slow down the momentum a bit.
But Japan won another big bout over one of Cuba’s best at 74 kg. In a battle of World medalists, Yuhi Fujinami of Japan dominated Livan Lopez Azcuy in a 16-5 technical fall. Fujinami opened with a takedown and two turns to lead 6-0, when Lopez started a bit of a comeback, closing it to 10-5. Fujinami closed the door with a takedown and three turns to end it.
Another past World medalist, Sohsuke Takatani, quickly dispatched Yoan Zulueta Morales at 79 kg, in a 10-0 technical fall with a takedown and four consecutive leg laces. Japan led 5-1 on the scoreboard, had beaten some top Cuban athletes, and it felt like it was all over.
Nobody told the Cuban team, however, which reeled in three straight wins. Getting the mini-streak going was Yurieski Torreblanca Queralta who beat Shota Shirai, 4-1 at 86 kg. The next win was even closer, a 4-4 criteria win at 92 kg by Lazaro Hernandez Luis over Takashi Ishiguro.
Multiple World medalist Reineris Salas Perez scored three big four-point moves to secure a 12-0 technical fall over Japan’s Taira Sonoda at 97 kg. Salas hit two slick foot sweeps, then finished it off with a lateral drop throw.
After nine bouts, the team score was 5-4 for Japan, which led in classification points 20-17. Mathematically, a Cuban win at heavyweight, where they did not allow Japan to score a technical point,would tie the dual at 5-5 and the classification points at 20-20. If Cuba got a technical fall without giving up a point or scored a fall, Cuba would clinch the win.
The fans got their money’s worth when Taiki Yamamoto of Japan and Yudenny Alapajon Estevez of Cuba battled to win for their team. Alapajon led 2-0, when Yamamoto eliminated the shutout possibility by scoring to tie it at 2-2. Yamamoto could lose now by decision and Japan still wins the dual meet. Alapajon needed something more, and he came back to take a 5-4 lead. When Yamamoto forced a stepout to tie it at 5-5, Cuba threw in a brick and the protest was denied. Yamamoto’s 6-5 win gave Japan the win, and the celebration of the Japanese team started on the center of the mat even before the referee was able to raise Yamamoto’s arm in victory.
39 points scored by Gaphrindashvili (GEO) and Iderkuu (MGL) in 79 kg bout
There was some extra excitement during Georgia’s 6-4 victory over Mongolia for fifth place at the Freestyle World Cup. The match at 79 kg between Tariel Gaphrindashvili of Georgia and Gantulga Iderkhuu of Mongolia was a high scoring, see-saw battle which included a ton of offense and very little defense.
As time ran out and the scoreboard read 22-17 in favor of Gaphrindashvili, the Georgian had enough energy left for a celebration on the mat. The combined 39 points was by far the most of any match in the tournament.
Gaphrindashvili, who speaks some English, did not have enough left for a post-victory interview, however. When UWW’s Eric Olanowski approached Gaphrinishvili for comment, his response was something like, “I can’t even breathe right now, let alone think about speaking English.” End of interview.
They keep Classification Points for a reason, check out Pool B
World Cup dual meets are scored based upon wins. If a team gets six or more match wins in a dual meet, they win. It doesn’t matter what kind of win a team gets, each win counts as one point.
They do keep classification points for two reasons. Classification points go like this:
5 – Pin, forfeit, injury default, disqualification win
4 – Technical fall win
3 – Decision win
1 – Loss when the loser scores a point or more in a tech fall or decision.
First, if any dual meets end at 5-5, the classification points break the tie. And in the pool, when teams are tied with the same record, classification points determine the team’s placement in the pool, which sets the medal round pairings.
Both of these tiebreakers were needed on Saturday morning in Pool B. In the final pool dual meet, Cuba jumped to a lead over Kazakhstan, and looked to be cruising to a win. However, Kazakshtan won the last three matches to tie the bout at 5-5. In those three final wins, Kazakhstan got technical falls from Ilishkhan Chilayev (92 kg) and Daulet Shabanbay (125 kg). When it went to classification points, Kazakhstan won 22-21.
With the win, Pool B had three teams with 1-2 records. Back to the classification points chart. Cuba scored 58 classification points in their three duals and took second in the pool even after the loss to Kazakhstan. Mongolia had 54 classification points to take third in the pool. Kazakhstan’s big upset of Cuba was not enough to move up, as their 50 classification points in their three duals gave them fourth in the pool.
Iowa connections all over the place
Wrestling is important in Iowa, and the 2018 World Cp coming to Iowa City is a big deal in this community. The focus is often on the traditional college power, the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, but from border to border in this state, wrestling is valued.
Connections to Iowa is everywhere in this World Cup. Leading the effort for Team USA is an NCAA champion from Iowa, National Freestyle Coach Bill Zadick. One of the Assistant National Freestyle Coaches is 1992 Olympic champion Kevin Jackson, an NCAA finalist at Iowa State and head coach for the Cyclones before returning to USA Wrestling’s National coaching staff.
All three of the Honorary Coaches have strong Iowa connections. Mike Duroe, who wrestled for Drake, is the head coach at Cornell College, and is a longtime Hawkeye WC coach. J Robinson, who is best known for his stint as a champion coach at Minnesota, was an Iowa assistant coach and invented the “Intensive Camp” concept during his time in Iowa. And, of course, World and Olympic champion Dan Gable went from undefeated high school star from Waterloo, to win two NCAA titles for Iowa State. As head coach at Iowa, Gable powered the Hawkeyes to 15 NCAA titles, one of the greatest sports coaches on the planet.
The team features three athletes with Iowa backgrounds. No. 1 at 57 kg is Thomas Gilman, who was a three-time All-American for Iowa. Kyven Gadson, another high school star from Waterloo, was an NCAA champion at Iowa State. Joe Colon, who was also a high school star in Iowa, was an All-American at Northern Iowa, and won his match at 61 kg on Saturday.
Iowa head wrestling coach Tom Brands and his entire staff were everywhere during the event. In addition to being there for Team USA, they helped support Gilman in his matches, including former Iowa NCAA champion and Hawkeye WC club coach Mark Perry.
USA Wrestling staff members on site with an Iowa connection included National Teams Operations Manager Jaimie McNab, who is Laurens, and went Simpson College.
Of course, there were a ton of Iowans who helped organize the event, led by Iowa City/Coralville CVB chief Josh Schamberger. Add in the thousands of Iowans in the stands cheering for Team USA at each session, and you can understand the Iowa flavor of this year’s World Cup.
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