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Six U.S. National Team members receive draws for Medved International in Belarus

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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling

Isaiah Martinez, pictured in 2018 Final X in Lincoln, will compete in Belarus on Friday. Photo by Richard Immel.


MINSK, Belarus – Six members of the 2018-19 U.S. National Team, four in men’s freestyle and two in women’s freestyle, have weighed in and received their draws for the Alexander Medved International, which begins on Friday.


Three of the U.S. men’s freestyle wrestlers competing on Friday were 2018 Final X runners-up, and are currently ranked No. 2 in the USA in their weight class.


Joey McKenna (Towaco, N.J./Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) opens with one of the toughest wrestlers in the world, three-time World champion and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Haji Aliev of Azerbaijan at 65 kg. McKenna, a Junior World and U23 World medalist, is going into his senior year at Ohio State. There are 15 athletes in his weight class.


Isaiah Martinez (Champaign, Ill./Titan Mercury WC/Illini WC) starts off at 74 kg against Ivan Kusyak of Ukraine, who was second in the 2015 U23 European Championships. Martinez was a two-time NCAA champion and four-time finalist for Illinois. There are 16 athletes in his weight class.


At 97 kg, Kyven Gadson (Ames, Iowa /Sunkist Kids/Cyclone WC) will face 2017 U23 World bronze medalist Murazi Mchedlize of Ukraine. Gadson, an NCAA champion at Iowa State, has 14 wrestlers at his weight class.


The two women competing Friday are also 2018 Final X runners-up, and are currently ranked No. 2 in the USA in their weight class.


Two-time World Team member Victoria Anthony (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids), drew Aisha Ualishan of Kazakhstan to open up at 50 kg. Anthony, a four-time WCWA champion for Simon Fraser, has 14 opponents in her draw.


2016 Olympian and 2017 World Team member Haley Augello (Chapel Hill, N.C./Sunkist Kids/Tarheel WC) battles 2016 Junior World silver medalist Maria Sedniva of Kazakhstan at 55 kg. Augello, who won three WCWA titles for King, has nine athletes in her weight class.


One other men’s freestyle star, Ty Walz (Blacksburg, Va./Titan Mercury WC/SERTC) also competes at 96 kg, and will battle Chaoqiang Yang of China, who was fifth in the 2017 U23 Worlds. Walz, who is No. 3 on the national team, was a 2017 U23 World bronze medalist and starred at Virginia Tech.


This is a UWW ranking series event in both men’s and women’s freestyle. 


TrackWrestling will be attempting to steam it for free. Minsk is seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone.


ALEXANDER MEDVED INTERNATIONAL


At Minsk, Belarus



U.S. men’s freestyle first round draws



65kg: Joey McKenna, Towaco, N.J. (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)

Vs. Haji Aliev (Azerbaijan), 2014, 2015 and 2017 World champion, 2016 Olympic bronze medalist


74kg: Isaiah Martinez, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC/Illini WC)

Vs. Ivan Kusyak (Ukraine), 2nd in 2015 U23 European Championships, 2nd in 2016 Pune Mayors Cup (India)


97kg: Ty Walz, Blacksburg, Va. (Titan Mercury WC/SERTC)

Vs. Chaoqiang Yang (China), 5th in 2017 U23 Worlds, 8th in 2018 Asian Championships


97 kg: Kyven Gadson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids/Cyclone WC)

Vs. Murazi Mchedlize (Ukraine), 3rd in 2017 U23 Worlds, 5th in 2018 European Championships,

U.S. women’s freestyle first round draws


50kg: Victoria Anthony, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)

Vs. Aisha Ualishan (Kazakhstan), dnp in 2018 Yarygin Grand Prix (Russia)


55kg: Haley Augello, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Sunkist Kids/Tarheel WC)

Vs. Maria Sedniva (Kazakhstan), 5th in 2018 Military Worlds, 10th in 2017 World Championships, 2nd in 2016 Junior World Championships

Event Schedule (+7 hrs. U.S. Eastern time)

Friday, September 14

10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (FS 57k, 65k, 74k, 86k, 97k W 50k, 55k, 59k, 65k, 72k)

5:00 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies

6:00 p.m. – Semifinals (FS 57k, 65k, 74k, 86k, 97k W 50k, 55k, 59k, 65k, 72k)

Friday, September 15

10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (FS 61k, 70k, 79k, 92k, 125k W 53k, 57k, 62k, 68k, 76k)

10:30 a.m. – Repechage (FS 57k, 65k, 74k, 86k, 97k W 50k, 55k, 59k, 65k, 72k)

3:30 p.m. – Semifinals (FS 61k, 70k, 79k, 92k, 125k W 53k, 57k, 62k, 68k, 76k)

3:30 p.m. – Finals (FS 57k, 65k, 74k, 86k, 97k W 50k, 55k, 59k, 65k, 72k)

Sunday, September 16

10:30 a.m. – Repechage (FS 61k, 70k, 79k, 92k, 125k W 53k, 57k, 62k, 68k, 76k)

3:00 p.m. – Finals (FS 61k, 70k, 79k, 92k, 125k W 53k, 57k, 62k, 68k, 76k)

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