Glaude and Bullock win first U23 women's freestyle medals in U.S. history

BUCHAREST, Romania – The U.S. women’s freestyle program won its first U23 World medals on Thursday night as Alex Glaude and Kori Bullock won bronzes at 68 kg and 76 kg, respectively, in Bucharest, Romania.

Both from McKendree University, Glaude and Bullock picked up the first medals of the tournament for the Red, White and Blue as well as the 32nd and 33rd World medals for the USA in 2018.

At 68 kg, Glaude faced Khishigmaa Munkhbat from Mongolia. Down 5-0 with less than 30 seconds remaining, Glaude snagged a takedown but wasn’t able to secure any more points on top. The wrestlers were brought to their feet with eight seconds left on the clock.

Needing a four-pointer to win the match, Glaude, with her coaches and team behind her, blasted the Mongolian to her back to take a 6-5 lead as the clock ran out. Munkhbat’s corner challenged, but it failed, giving Glaude another point and a 7-5 win to secure the USA’s first U23 women’s freestyle medal in history.

“I just have the best support system,” Glaude said. “It’s taken me so long to believe in myself, and along the way, my friends and family believed for me. I’m crying so much because I finally believed in myself and saw what they saw. I almost gave up out there, but hearing my corner and thinking about everyone who has pushed me this far is what helped me finish that match.”

Bullock, brand new to the international scene, bested 2017 U23 World silver medalist Gracelynn Doogan from Canada for bronze at 76 kg. Doogan led 1-0 at the break with a passivity point, but the second period saw all the scoring come from Bullock, who capitalized on two attempts from the Canadian.

The 2018 Final X runner-up held on for a 4-1 win and a bronze medal, helping the USA break its record for World medals in a year with 33.

“This [bronze] is a big step,” Bullock said. “I’m just stepping on to the USA Wrestling scene and the World scene. I think it will give me a little recognition but bring around more help for me to get better internationally.”

At 55 kg, Dominique Parrish finished fifth in the world, besting her ninth-place finish at the 2017 U23 Worlds. Competing in Thursday night’s bronze-medal bout, Parrish led Germany’s Elena Brugger 1-0 at the break and added a takedown early in the second period. Shortly after, Brugger scored a takedown and went right into a leg lace for six turns and a 14-3 technical fall.

Brugger is now a three-time age-group World medalist, adding to her 2016 Junior World bronze and 2014 Cadet World bronze.

The final day of women’s U23 Worlds action begins Friday at 10:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. ET) live on Trackwrestling.

2018 U23 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Bucharest, Romania, Nov. 12-18

U.S. women’s freestyle results

50 kg: Cody Pfau (Brush, Colo./Titan Mercury WC) – SEVENTH
WIN Dominika Szynkowska (Poland), fall 3:31
LOSS Namuuntsetseg Tsogt Ochir (Mongolia), 15-4

55 kg: Dominique Parrish (Scotts Valley, Calif./Sunkist Kids) - FIFTH
LOSS Saki Igarashi (Japan), 3-0
WIN Chelsey Sicard (Canada), 11-0
LOSS Elena Brugger (Germany), 14-3

59 kg: Abigail Nette (Saint Rose, La./Lion WC)
LOSS Zelfira Sadraddinova (Russia), fall 2:27

68 kg: Alexandria Glaude (West Sacramento, Calif./Titan Mercury WC/Bearcat WC) – BRONZE
WIN Alla Belinska (Ukraine), 5-3
LOSS Miwa Morikawa (Japan), 7-2
WIN Natalia Strzalka (Poland), fall 0:56
WIN Khishigmaa Munkhbat (Mongolia), 7-5

76 kg: Korinahe Bullock (Cahokia, Ill./Bearcat WC) – BRONZE
WIN Zagardulum Naigalsuren (Mongolia), fall 1:29
LOSS Aysegal Ozbege (Turkey), 2-1
WIN Gracelyn Doogan (Canada), 4-1