Staebler collects third World title, Crowd goes wild for Bacsi
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by Taylor Miller, USA Wrestling
BUDAPEST, Hungary – The first four 2018 Greco-Roman World champions were determined on Friday night at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Highlighting the night was Frank Staebler of Germany, who captured his third-straight World title (2015, 2017, 2018), defeating hometown favorite and past World champion Balint Korpasi of Hungary in a tight, yet entertaining, gold-medal match at 72 kg.
Staebler was on the board first and carried a 1-0 lead into the break as Korpasi was dinged with passivity; however, Staebler was unable to capitalize from the top position in par terre, though he was close.
In the second period, the same thing happened to Korpasi, with the crowd playing a large part in getting the passivity called. The Hungarian held onto a 1-1 lead on criteria with just less than a minute left.
Staebler kicked it on and was able to score on a step out in the final minute. The German held on for an eventual 2-1 win.
For his celebration, Staebler, already sporting a mohawk, threw on some sunglasses for his lap around the mat with the Germany flag.
The hungry Hungarian crowd had a reason to celebrate at 82 kg as 2014 World champion Peter Basci of the host country snagged his second World title on Friday night, edging out 2013 World bronze winner Emrah Kus of Turkey.
Kus jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, but the second period, it was all Bacsi, who had a chance on top in par terre after passivity was called on Kus. The Hungarian scored on a gut wrench, causing the crowd to erupt. Trailing on criteria with two cautions, Bacsi later sealed the win with a late step out for an eventual 4-3 decision.
At 55 kg, 2018 European champion Eldaniz Azizli of Azerbaijan sailed to a quick 10-0 technical fall in the lightweight gold-medal match, taking out 2018 Asian champion and 2017 Junior World runner-up Zholaman Sharshenbekov of Kyrgyzstan.
Azizli rolled to the 57-second tech fall by way of two four-point throws and a caution and two.
The Azeri adds to his impressive resume, which already included two Junior World titles and a Junior World bronze.
Winning the gold at 63 kg was Stepan Maryanyan of Russia, who defeated claimed a decisive 6-3 win over 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and two-time World medalist Elmurat Tasmuradov of Uzbekistan.
Maryanyan, a 2017 World bronze medalist and 2010 Junior World champion, secured his gold medal, scoring three points in each period for his first Senior World title.
The eighth day of the 2018 World Championships begins at 10:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. ET) with three Americans—Kamal Bey, G’Angelo Hancock and Adam Coon—starting their tournaments and Ellis Coleman fighting for a chance to wrestle for bronze.
2018 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Budapest, Hungary
Greco-Roman finals results
55 kg
1st - Eldaniz Azizli (Azerbaijan) tech. fall Zholaman Sharshenbekov (Kyrgyzstan), 10-0
3rd - Nugzari Tsurtsumia (Georgia) tech. fall Liguo Cao (China), 11-0
3rd - Ekrem Ozturk (Turkey) dec. Norayr Hakhoyan (Armenia), 4-0
63 kg
1st - Stepan Maryanyan (Russia) dec. Elmurat Tasmuradov (Uzbekistan), 6-3
3rd - Rahman Bilici (Turkey) dec. Hassan Ahmed Mohamed (Egypt), 6-1
3rd - Lenur Temirov (Ukraine) dec. Erbatu Tuo (China), 3-1
72 kg
1st - Frank Staebler (Germany) dec. Balint Korpasi (Hungary), 2-1
3rd - Rasul Chunayev (Azerbaijan) dec. Abuiazid Mantsigov (Russia), 4-3
3rd - Aik Mnatsakanian (Bulgaria) tech. fall Tarek Aziz Benaissa (Algeria), 9-0
82 kg
1st - Peter Bacsi (Hungary) dec. Emrah Kus (Turkey), 4-3
3rd - Viktar Sasunouski (Belarus) dec. Atabek Azisbekov (Kyrgyzstan), 5-1
3rd - Maksim Manukyan (Armenia) dec. Saeid Morad Abdvali (Iran), 4-1
U.S. Greco-Roman results
55 kg/121 lbs. - Sam Hazewinkel, Guthrie, Okla. (Sunkist Kids), 18th/dnp
LOSS Ekrem Ozturk (Turkey), tech. fall 8-0
63 kg /138.75 lbs. - Jesse Thielke, Beresford, S.D. (New York AC/Legends of Gold) –14th/dnp
LOSS Donior Islamov (Moldova), 8-7
72 kg/158.5 lbs. – RaVaughn Perkins, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) – 17th/dnp
LOSS Murat Dag (Turkey), 8-7
82 kg/180.5 lbs. - Geordan Speiller, Oviedo, Fla. (Florida Jets) – 24th/dnp
LOSS Luis Avendano Rojas (Venezuela), inj. dft. 4:52
Team standings
1. Hungary - 53
2. Turkey – 50
3. Russia – 43
4. Azerbaijan – 42
5. Germany – 33
