Kollin Moore battles back to win spot in the U23 World finals

BUCHAREST, Romania – 2017 Junior World bronze medalist Kollin Moore guaranteed himself a World medal at another age-group, posting a big come-from-behind win in the semifinals to advance to the 97 kg finals of the U23 World Championships in Bucharest, Romania.

A two-time NCAA All-American for Ohio State, Moore faced off against Magamed Zakariiev of Ukraine in the semis, but fell to an early 8-2 deficit.

In a second-period scramble, Moore was awarded a takedown and two sets of exposure points to tie the match 8-8 and carry the lead on criteria. Shortly after, Moore picked up another takedown and held off ferocious attempts from Zakariiev to claim a 10-8 decision.

“I knew he was a big upper-body guy, but I didn’t know he was good at crotch lifts, so I had to adjust in the match and pick my shots better,” Moore said. “Six minutes is a long time, especially in freestyle. You can always rack up points really easily, so I don’t think I ever got down on myself in that match.”

In tomorrow’s finals, Moore will take on 2017 Junior World silver medalist Givi Matcharashvili of Georgia. The two met up in the 2017 Junior World semifinals with the Georgian taking a 16-4 tech fall win.

“I need to be real solid on my defense. [Matcharashvili] has a real gas tank on him. I need to stay solid, get to my attacks and finish shots a lot sooner than I did in the semis,” Moore said.

Jack Mueller (57 kg) and Hayden Hidlay (70 kg) were pulled back into repechage tonight and will continue the hunt for a medal on Saturday.

Tomorrow, Mueller will face Alireza Sarlak of Iran, who finished seventh at the 2017 Junior World Championships. Should he win, Mueller will advance to the bronze match, where he will battle Wanhao Zhou of China, who took fifth at last year’s U23 World Championships.

Hidlay was pulled into repechage after David Baev of Russia advanced to the 70 kg semifinals, thanks to a caution-and-one call that was awarded to the Russian after the match.

In order to advance to the bronze match, Hidlay will have to win two repechage matches on Saturday. First, he will take on Aidyn Tazhigali of Kazakhstan, who was fifth at the 2016 Junior Asian Championships before battling 2017 Junior Asian fifth-placer Ramazon Ibodov of Uzbekistan.

Should Hidlay win both bouts, he will take on 2016 Junior World champion Enes Uslu of Turkey for bronze.

Colton McCrystal and David McFadden wrapped up their U23 World Championships at 65 kg and 79 kg, respectively.

McCrystal’s came to a close when Morteza Ghiasi Cheka of Iran dropped a 4-4 match on criteria to 2016 Olympic silver medalist Rei Higuchi of Japan in the closing seconds of the semifinals, failing to make the finals and pull McCrystal into repechage.

McCrystal lost to the Iranian earlier on Friday in the quarterfinals.

2017 Junior World silver medalist Isa Shapiev of Uzbekistan, who beat McFadden in the quarterfinals, fell short of the finals, losing to 2015 Junior World champion Gadzhi Nabiev of Russia, ending McFadden’s run at the tournament.

2018 U23 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

at Bucharest, Romania


U.S. men’s freestyle first-round pairings

57 kg: Jack Mueller (Dallas, Texas/Cavalier WC)
WIN Darthe Capellan (Canada), 13-3
LOSS Toshihiro Hasewaga (Japan), 9-4
vs. Alireza Sarlak (Iran)

65 kg: Colton McCrystal (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa/Nebraska WTC)
WIN Nurgazy Abdurazakov (Kyrgyzstan), fall 5:09
WIN Haji Ali (Bahrain), 14-4
LOSS Morteza Ghiasi Cheka (Iran), 10-0

70 kg: Hayden Hidlay (Lewistown, Pa./Wolfpack WC)
WIN Alexander Chaves (Canada), 10-0
LOSS David Baev (Russia), 6-5
vs. Aidyn Tazhigali (Kazakhstan)

79 kg: David McFadden (West Milford, N.J./Southeast RTC)
WIN Muhammet Kucukyildirim (Turkey), 12-4
WIN Uladzislau Yeliseyeu (Belarus), 10-0
LOSS Isa Shapiev (Uzbekistan), 12-9

97 kg: Kollin Moore (Burbank, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)
WIN Igor Ovsiannikov (Russia), 6-5
WIN Nishan Randhawa (Canada), 10-0
WIN Yunus Dede (Turkey), 11-1
WIN Magamed Zakariiev (Ukraine), 10-8
vs. Givi Matcharashvili (Georgia)