Ragan runs to Ivan Yarygin finals, three Americans seek bronze on men's freestyle side
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by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
Photo: Alli Ragan (USA) defeats Bilyana Dudova (BUL) in the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix semifinals. Photo by Max Rose-Fyne, United World Wrestling.
KRASNOYARSK, Russia - Leading the American charge on day one of the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix was two-time World medalist Alli Ragan, who qualified for the 59 kg/130 lbs. gold-medal match with wins in two close contests.
A first-period single leg conversion was all Ragan needed in her 2-2 criteria win over talented Russian Uliana Tukurenova. She proceeded to win a back-and-forth, 9-6 bout over European champion Bilyana Dudova of Bulgaria. Two four-point headlocks, one at the onset of each period, bolstered Ragan over her Bulgarian foe.
Standing opposite Ragan in the 59 kg finals is Ningning Rong of China. Rong finished in fifth place at last year's World Championships at 58 kg/128 lbs. She was a Poland Open bronze medalist in 2017 and earned bronze at the 2015 Asian Junior Championships.
With a win in the finals, Ragan would become just the seventh U.S. woman, and 18th individual American, to win this prestigious event.
Joining Ragan in the medal round are men's freestyle competitors Frank Molinaro, Tony Ramos and Frank Perrelli, all of whom will compete for bronze medals.
Molinaro posted a 1-1 record to begin his tournament at 70 kg/154 lbs. The 2016 Olympian looked sharp in his opener, an 11-0 finish over Mongolia's World Military champion Lkhangarmaa Narmandakh. Molinaro came up short to 2016 World champion Magomed Kurbanaliev of Russia in an 8-5 semifinal bout. To claim bronze, Molinaro will need to defeat Georgia's Levan Kelekhsashvili.
Ramos, a two-time U.S. World Team member at 57 kg/125 lbs., qualified for a 61 kg/134 lbs. bronze-medal match following a 2-1 effort. He cradled Munkh-Erdene Altansuyd of Mongolia to win by pin with four seconds left in his first bout. World silver medalist Gadzhimurad Rashidov of Russia delivered Ramos his only loss, by 11-0 tally. Ramos received a forfeit in the repechage to set up a bronze match against 2016 Ivan Yarygin champion Aleksander Bogomoev of Russia.
A forfeit from Islam Keneshov of Kyrgyzstan sent Perrelli to the quarterfinals where he edged Minghu Liu of China on criteria, 3-3. Perrelli converted on a step out with short time remaining to get the win. In the 57 kg semifinals, Perrelli was ousted by defending champion Zaur Uguev of Russia, 8-3. He is matched against Khuresh Ool Donduk Ool of Russia this evening.
Two-time U.S. World Team member Victoria Anthony finished with a 1-1 record for the tournament at 50 kg/110 lbs. Anthony impressed early with a fall in 3:30 over Hyangmi Hong of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. In the quarterfinals, she took a 3-0 lead over Russia's Anzhelika Vetoshkina to the break, but was stymied in the second frame, falling 10-3.
NCAA champion Cory Clark dropped an 8-6 contest to 2014 University World champion Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg of Mongolia in his only match at 61 kg. Clark surrendered the deciding takedown in the waning moments of the bout after leading on criteria, 6-6.
The next session of wrestling is set to begin at 6 a.m. (ET) with the opening ceremonies, followed by the first batch of medal matches at approximately 6:45 a.m. (ET). A live stream of the event is being provided to U.S. residents at Trackwrestling.com.
2017 IVAN YARYGIN GRAND PRIX
At Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Jan. 25
U.S. men's freestyle results
57 kg/125.5 lbs. - Frank Perrelli, Charlottesville, Va. (Titan Mercury WC)
WIN Islam Keneshov (Kyrgyzstan), Forfeit
WIN Minghu Liu (China), 3-3
LOSS Zaur Uguev (Russia), 8-3
BRONZE Khuresh Ool Donduk Ool (Russia)
61 kg/134 lbs. - Tony Ramos, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Sunkist Kids/Tar Heel WC)
WIN Munkh-Erdene Altansuyd (Mongolia), Fall 5:56
LOSS Gadzhimurad Rashidov (Russia), 11-0
WIN Abil Ussun (Kazakhstan), Forfeit
BRONZE Aleksander Bogomoev (Russia)
61 kg/134 lbs. - Cory Clark, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC), dnp
LOSS Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (Mongolia), 8-6
70 kg/154 lbs. - Frank Molinaro, Blacksburg, Va. (Titan Mercury WC/Southeast RTC)
WIN Lkhangarmaa Narmandakh (Mongolia), 11-0
LOSS Magomed Kurbanaliev (Russia), 8-5
BRONZE Levan Kelekhsashvili (Georgia)
U.S. women's freestyle results
50 kg/110 lbs. - Victoria Anthony, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), dnp
WIN Hyangmi Hong (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), Fall 3:30
LOSS Anzhelika Vetoshkina (Russia), 10-3
59 kg/130 lbs. - Alli Ragan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Uliana Tukurenova (Russia), 2-2
WIN Bilyana Dudova (Bulgaria), 9-6
GOLD Ningning Rong (China)
KRASNOYARSK, Russia - Leading the American charge on day one of the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix was two-time World medalist Alli Ragan, who qualified for the 59 kg/130 lbs. gold-medal match with wins in two close contests.
A first-period single leg conversion was all Ragan needed in her 2-2 criteria win over talented Russian Uliana Tukurenova. She proceeded to win a back-and-forth, 9-6 bout over European champion Bilyana Dudova of Bulgaria. Two four-point headlocks, one at the onset of each period, bolstered Ragan over her Bulgarian foe.
Standing opposite Ragan in the 59 kg finals is Ningning Rong of China. Rong finished in fifth place at last year's World Championships at 58 kg/128 lbs. She was a Poland Open bronze medalist in 2017 and earned bronze at the 2015 Asian Junior Championships.
With a win in the finals, Ragan would become just the seventh U.S. woman, and 18th individual American, to win this prestigious event.
Joining Ragan in the medal round are men's freestyle competitors Frank Molinaro, Tony Ramos and Frank Perrelli, all of whom will compete for bronze medals.
Molinaro posted a 1-1 record to begin his tournament at 70 kg/154 lbs. The 2016 Olympian looked sharp in his opener, an 11-0 finish over Mongolia's World Military champion Lkhangarmaa Narmandakh. Molinaro came up short to 2016 World champion Magomed Kurbanaliev of Russia in an 8-5 semifinal bout. To claim bronze, Molinaro will need to defeat Georgia's Levan Kelekhsashvili.
Ramos, a two-time U.S. World Team member at 57 kg/125 lbs., qualified for a 61 kg/134 lbs. bronze-medal match following a 2-1 effort. He cradled Munkh-Erdene Altansuyd of Mongolia to win by pin with four seconds left in his first bout. World silver medalist Gadzhimurad Rashidov of Russia delivered Ramos his only loss, by 11-0 tally. Ramos received a forfeit in the repechage to set up a bronze match against 2016 Ivan Yarygin champion Aleksander Bogomoev of Russia.
A forfeit from Islam Keneshov of Kyrgyzstan sent Perrelli to the quarterfinals where he edged Minghu Liu of China on criteria, 3-3. Perrelli converted on a step out with short time remaining to get the win. In the 57 kg semifinals, Perrelli was ousted by defending champion Zaur Uguev of Russia, 8-3. He is matched against Khuresh Ool Donduk Ool of Russia this evening.
Two-time U.S. World Team member Victoria Anthony finished with a 1-1 record for the tournament at 50 kg/110 lbs. Anthony impressed early with a fall in 3:30 over Hyangmi Hong of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. In the quarterfinals, she took a 3-0 lead over Russia's Anzhelika Vetoshkina to the break, but was stymied in the second frame, falling 10-3.
NCAA champion Cory Clark dropped an 8-6 contest to 2014 University World champion Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg of Mongolia in his only match at 61 kg. Clark surrendered the deciding takedown in the waning moments of the bout after leading on criteria, 6-6.
The next session of wrestling is set to begin at 6 a.m. (ET) with the opening ceremonies, followed by the first batch of medal matches at approximately 6:45 a.m. (ET). A live stream of the event is being provided to U.S. residents at Trackwrestling.com.
2017 IVAN YARYGIN GRAND PRIX
At Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Jan. 25
U.S. men's freestyle results
57 kg/125.5 lbs. - Frank Perrelli, Charlottesville, Va. (Titan Mercury WC)
WIN Islam Keneshov (Kyrgyzstan), Forfeit
WIN Minghu Liu (China), 3-3
LOSS Zaur Uguev (Russia), 8-3
BRONZE Khuresh Ool Donduk Ool (Russia)
61 kg/134 lbs. - Tony Ramos, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Sunkist Kids/Tar Heel WC)
WIN Munkh-Erdene Altansuyd (Mongolia), Fall 5:56
LOSS Gadzhimurad Rashidov (Russia), 11-0
WIN Abil Ussun (Kazakhstan), Forfeit
BRONZE Aleksander Bogomoev (Russia)
61 kg/134 lbs. - Cory Clark, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC), dnp
LOSS Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (Mongolia), 8-6
70 kg/154 lbs. - Frank Molinaro, Blacksburg, Va. (Titan Mercury WC/Southeast RTC)
WIN Lkhangarmaa Narmandakh (Mongolia), 11-0
LOSS Magomed Kurbanaliev (Russia), 8-5
BRONZE Levan Kelekhsashvili (Georgia)
U.S. women's freestyle results
50 kg/110 lbs. - Victoria Anthony, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), dnp
WIN Hyangmi Hong (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), Fall 3:30
LOSS Anzhelika Vetoshkina (Russia), 10-3
59 kg/130 lbs. - Alli Ragan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Uliana Tukurenova (Russia), 2-2
WIN Bilyana Dudova (Bulgaria), 9-6
GOLD Ningning Rong (China)
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