Coleman opens with fall over World medalist; could be pulled back into repechage tonight

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Ellis Coleman tabbed the first win of the tournament for USA Greco-Roman in Friday’s morning session of the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Coleman remains alive in the tournament at 67 kg, despite a second-round and could be pulled back into repechage tonight.

Coleman (Colorado, Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) went 1-1 in the morning session, battling 2014 World bronze medalist Edgardas Venckaitis of Lithuania to begin his competition.

Venckaitis jumped out to a 5-0 lead, thanks to a four-point throw, and carried a comfortable lead into the break. In the second period, Venckaitis tried for big throw, but Coleman landed on top and picked up the fall to move onto the next round.

In the round of 16, Coleman faced two-time World bronze medalist Artem Surkov of Russia. Each wrestler was put down into par terre for passivity, but Surkov was able to secure two gut wrenches on top, which eventually gave the Russian a 5-1 win.

Surkov went on to win his quarterfinal over multiple-time European Championships medalist and 2010 Junior World champion Kamran Mammadov of Azerbaijan, 5-1.

In order for Coleman to be pulled back into repechage, Surkov must win his semis match against Meiirzhan Shermakhanbet from Kazakhstan, who won the 2018 Grand Prix of Hungary.

The other two U.S. Greco athletes were eliminated from the tournament this morning.

Representing the USA at 60 kg was Dalton Roberts (Fowlerville, Mich./New York AC/USOEC), one of the youngest members on the squad. In his tournament opener, Roberts fell to 2016 Junior World runner-up and 2013 Cadet World champion Etienne Kinsinger of Germany in an 11-0 technical fall.

One round later, Kinsinger dropped an 8-1 match to 2012 Junior World silver medalist Victor Ciobanu of Moldova, ending Roberts’ 2018 World Championships.

Roberts wrapped up his fourth World Championships and first on the Senior level. He was also a 2017 U23 World Team member and two-time Junior World Teamer.

At 86 kg, Patrick Martinez (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) wrapped up his third Senior World Championships. Martinez took on 2013 World bronze medalist and 2018 European champion Viktor Lorincz of host country Hungary in the first round.

Lorincz scored initially on passivity and added two gut wrenches when Martinez was put down in par terre. Martinez fought back, but it was not enough as he was defeated, 5-1.

In the round of 16, Lorincz lost a 3-3 bout on criteria to 2017 World bronze winner Robert Kobliashvili of Georgia, ending Matinez’s 2018 Worlds.

Martinez has also represented the U.S. at the 2015 Worlds in Las Vegas and the 2016 Worlds in Budapest.

The semifinal round begins at 4:45 p.m. in Budapest (10:45 a.m. ET). The World Championships are being broadcast by TrackWrestling.

U.S. Greco-Roman results
60 kg/132 lbs. - Dalton Roberts, Fowlerville, Mich. (New York AC/USOEC) 
LOSS Etienne Kinsinger (Germany), 11-0

67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Ellis Coleman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 
WIN Edgardas Venckaitis (Lithuania), fall
LOSS Artem Surkov (Russia), 3-1

87 kg/191.5 lbs. - Patrick Martinez, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/OTC) 
LOSS Viktor Lorincz (Hungary), 5-1

Quarterfinal results

60 kg
Kristian Fris (Serbia) fall Luis Orta Sanchez (Cuba), 3:20
Victor Ciobanu (Moldova) dec. Sailike Walihan (China), 7-6
Sergey Emelin (Russia) dec. Se Ung Ri (North Korea), 7-0
Aidos Sultangali (Kazakhstan) tech. fall Kaly Sulaimanov (Kyrgyzstan), 9-1

67 kg
Meiirzhan Shermakhanbet (Kazakhstan) tech. fall Mohammedreza Gerai (Iran), 9-0
Artem Surkov (Russia) dec. Kamran Mammadov (Azerbaijan), 5-1
Davor Stefanek (Serbia) fall Fredrik Ho Bjerrehuus (Denmark), 0:19
Gevorg Sahakyan (Poland) fall Tsuchika Shimoyamada (Japan), 1:32

87 kg
Islam Abbasov (Azerbaijan) dec. Radzik Kuliyeu (Belarus), 4-1
Zhan Beleniuk (Ukraine) dec. Hossein Nouri (Iran), 4-2
Metehan Basar (Turkey) dec. Roberti Kobliahsvili (Georgia), 1-1
Bekkhan Ozdoev (Russia) dec. Rustam Assakalov (Uzbekistan), 6-4