Fausz and Hemida power through to U23 World finals with gritty semifinals wins

BUCHAREST, Romania – The USA has guaranteed itself two more World medals as Sean Fausz and Youssif Hemida grinded out tough semifinal wins to earn bid to the U23 World Championships finals in Bucharest, Romania.

Fausz, who took fourth at the U23 World Team Trials and is serving as an alternate, battled his way to the 61 kg finals.

To guarantee himself a U23 World medal, Fausz took out two-time Junior World champion Iman Sadeghikouka of Iran in a tight 2-0 match.

Fausz scored both points in the first period, coming from a passivity point and a failed challenge from Iran. Several scrambles ensued throughout the match, but Fausz showed his smarts and poise to hold on for the win.

“Well, I got fourth at the U23 Trials, so I shouldn’t even be here, but I got the call to represent the U.S., and I couldn’t pass up that opportunity,” Fausz said. “I had limited training for this, but I came out with the mindset of giving it my all and having some fun. So far, it’s paid off.”

Tomorrow night, Fausz will wrestle for gold and will take on 2018 U23 European champion Magomedrasul Idirsov of Russia.

Hemida beat a past age-group World medalist for the second time today, defeating 2011 Cadet World bronze medalist Rolandi Andriadze of Georgia.

Hemida led 1-0 at the break, but Andriadze came back to take the lead with a passivity point and a step out. In the final minute, Hemida pushed the pace for a step out and moments later grabbed a takedown for a 4-2 decision.

In tomorrow’s finals, Hemida will face 2015 Junior World champion Said Gamidov of Russia for the 125 kg title.

“I feel good. I tested myself today,” Hemida said. “Coach (Kerry) McCoy told me that I would be tough to beat if I keep my hands and feet moving and if I wrestled at a high pace. I’m really happy that I was able to come out here against some of the better guys in the world and put it all on them and break some of them.”

The medal matches are set for Sunday at 6 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET) live on Trackwrestling.com.

Two U.S. athletes were eliminated from the tournament, including 2016 NCAA champion Myles Martin at 86 kg and two-time NCAA qualifier Christian Brunner at 92 kg.

Gankhuyang Gabaantar of Mongolia, who defeated Martin in the quarterfinals, failed to make the finals, losing to Kamran Ghasempour of Iran in the semis and ending Martin’s 2018 U23 World Championships.

Earlier in the day at 92 kg, Brunner lost to Bogdan Hrytsay of Ukraine. Hrytsay fell in the semifinals to Shamil Zubraiov of Azerbaijan, ending Brunner’s tournament.

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

U.S. men’s freestyle draws
61 kg: Sean Fausz (Alexandria, Ky./Wolfpack WC)
WIN Joshua Bodnarchuk (Canada), 12-2
WIN Minghu Liu (China), 9-4
WIN Iman Sadeghikoukandeh (Iran), 2-0
vs. Magomedrasul Idrisov (Russia)

74 kg: Alex Smythe (Eden, N.Y./Univ. of Buffalo)
LOSS Tyler Rowe (Canada), 6-2

86 kg: Myles Martin (Penns Grove, N.J./Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)
WIN Javrail Shapiev (Uzbekistan), 9-6
LOSS Gankhuyang Gabaantar (Mongolia), 6-1

92 kg: Christian Brunner (East Dundee, Ill./Boilermaker RTC)
WIN Zoltan Gergen (Romania), 10-0
LOSS Bogdan Hrytsay (Ukraine), 1:47

125 kg: Youssif Hemida (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Terrapin WC)
WIN Yasuhiro Yamamoto (Japan), 6-1
WIN Samhan Jabrailov (Moldova), fall 3:24
WIN Rolandi Andriadze (Georgia), 4-2
vs. Said Gamidov (Russia)