USA dominates Canada 8-2 in first round of Women's World Cup

Photos courtesy of Team V Sports Performance

The Women’s World Cup is underway in Takasaki, Japan, featuring the top-eight teams in the world. First up for Team USA was our continental rival Team Canada. After splitting the first two weights, Team USA rattled off five-consecutive victories by fall or technical superiority over Canada en route to a lopsided 8-2 dual team victory.

“As a team we came out very aggressive,” said Women’s Freestyle National coach Terry Steiner. “When we’re aggressive we always have a chance to win. We just need to sustain that throughout the competition.”

Coach Steiner was especially pleased with Julia Salata’s 10-0 victory over Canada’s Braxton Stone.

“We haven’t beaten Stone often,” says Steiner, “so that was really good to see Julia perform well against her.”

This was Salata’s first time competing at 65kg, which she felt added to her performance.

“I felt really fast out there,” Salata said. “My feet were moving well and once I got that first takedown I knew I could keep getting in. This was I match that on paper I wasn’t supposed to win so I had no pressure or expectations, I just went out and wrestled.”

2017 Bronze World Medalist Becka Leathers scored a 26-second fall over Canada’s Jade Parsons at 55kg. Leathers’ match ignited the rest of the middle weights for Team USA as the next four athletes all won by tech fall. Leathers had surgery following the 2017 World Wrestling Championships, only going live for the first time less than a month ago. With this being her first competition since the surgery and rehab, she was determined to make an immediate impact.

“I wanted to send a message that I’m still dominant wrestler and to make sure people at home and abroad haven’t forgotten about me,” Leathers said. “Momentum is huge in a dual too so I wanted to set a good tone for the rest of the team.”

Up next for Team USA in Group A is Sweden, followed by Japan.

WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

at Takasaki, Japan

USA 8, Canada 2
50 kg: Victoria Anthony (USA) over Jessica MacDonald (CAN), win by decision 8-4
53 kg: Diana Weicker (CAN) over Haley Augello (USA), win by decision 6-1
55 kg: Becka Leathers (USA) over Jade Parsons (CAN), win by fall 0:26
57 kg: Alli Ragan (USA) over Samantha Stewart (CAN), win by technical superiority 10-0
59 kg: Kayla Miracle (USA) over Emily Schaefer (CAN), win by technical superiority 17-6
62 kg: Mallory Velte (USA) over Jessica Brouillette (CAN), win by technical superiority 11-0
65 kg: Julia Salata (USA) over Braxton Stone (CAN), win by technical superiority 10-0
68 kg: Tamyra Mensah-Stock (USA) over Olivia Di Bacco, win by decision 5-2
72 kg: Erica Wiebe (CAN) over Victoria Francis (USA), win by technical superiority 10-0
76 kg: Adeline Gray (USA) over Justina Di Stasio (CAN), win by decision 10-2