Martinez, Walz win bronze medals at Medved; Anthony not allowed to weigh-in and kept out of finals
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Video captures of Isaiah Martinez and Ty Walz of the USA after bronze-medal wins at the Medved International.
MINSK, Belarus – The United States claimed a pair of men’s freestyle bronze medals on Saturday from National Team members Isaiah Martinez (Champaign, Ill./Titan Mercury WC/Illini WC) at 74 kg and Ty Walz (Blacksburg, Va./Titan Mercury WC/SERTC) at 97 kg
Martinez had a strong first period and continued his control in the second, on the way to an 11-2 victory over Magomed Dibirgadzhiev of Russia in the bronze-medal bout. Dibirgadzhiev was second in the 2017 Russian Nationals.
Martinez scored a four-point takedown and two-point double leg takedown for a 6-0 lead at the break. In the second period, after a takedown by Dibirgadzhiev and a stepout forced by Martinez, it was put away late when Martinez drove Dibirgadzhiev to his back for his final four points and the win.
Martinez won his first two bouts on Friday, stopping Ivan Kusyak of Ukraine, 8-0 and Andrius Mazeika of Lithuania, 11-8. He was edged in the semifinals by Azamat Nurykau of Belarus, 8-5, when Nurykau scored four points in the final 12 seconds.
Martinez was a two-time NCAA champion and four-time finalist for Illinois, and a member of the 2017 U23 World Team.
Walz had to win two matches on Saturday to claim his bronze medal. With a stunning high single leg takedown with 10 seconds left in the bronze-medal match, Walz defeated 2012 Olympic silver medalist Valerii Andriitsev of Ukraine, 2-2 by criteria. Andriitsev led 1-0 at the break when Walz was placed on the shot clock and could not score. He made it 2-0 in the second, when he forced Walz into a stepout. Walz kept coming hard to get the clutch winning takedown at the end.
Walz won a bronze medal at the 2017 U23 World Championships, and was a multiple All-American for Virginia Tech. In addition to his Olympic silver medal, Andriitsev won a 2014 World bronze medal and was fifth at the 2016 Olympic Games.
To reach to bronze bout, Walz had a 2-1 win in repechage against Zaynulla Kurbanov of Russia. On Friday, Walz won his first bout 7-1 over Chaoqiang Yang of China, before a loss to 2014 World University champion Fatih Yasarli of Turkey. When Yasarli made the finals, Walz came back in repechage.
The USA was denied a medal in the women’s 50 kg weight class in a controversial way. Victoria Anthony (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) reached the finals on Friday with three technical falls. Organizers reportedly made a schedule change overnight which was not told to the USA and some other delegations.
There was a problem at weigh-in where Anthony went to the scale and was not allowed to weigh-in, with "too late" as explanation. This affected other countries as well. This occurred to another wrestler in her 50 kg weight class, Tatiana Yafremenka of Belarus, who was in repechage, but was late and was also pulled out of the event. USA leaders made a strong objection to this decision, but it was not permitted. Anthony was out of the tournament, without a medal.
Elena Vostrikova of Russia, who Anthony had defeated by a 10-0 technical fall in the semifinals, ended up winning the gold medal.
In the bronze medal match at 55 kg, 2016 Olympian Haley Augello (Chapel Hill, N.C./Sunkist Kids/Tarheel WC) jumped to a big lead in her match, but was pinned by a cradle in the second-period by Marina Simonyan of Russia to place fifth.
It was a wild match. Augello opened with a takedown and three turns, with a reversal by Simonyan. When Simonyan challenged to call, it was denied, giving Augello a 9-1 lead. Simonyan tried an arm throw, which Augello effectively blocked and scored an apparent winning takedown, but was not given the score. Augello challenged and was denied, making it 9-2. Simonyan scored two more takedowns in the period for it to go to the break at 9-6. Late in that first period, Augello took a hard shot to her face, which required medical attention.
In the second, it was all Simonyan, with a takedown and a counter tilt for a 10-9 lead over Augello. Simonyan locked up a cradle to secure the fall after that.
The Medved International concludes on Sunday, with repechage and medal matches in 10 weight classes which had been contested earlier on Saturday. The USA has two in the finals, two in the bronze-medal bout and another in repechage.
TrackWrestling is attempting to stream the event for free. Five other U.S. wrestlers will start action on Saturday (check out their weigh in story). Minsk is seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone.
ALEXANDER MEDVED INTERNATIONAL
At Minsk, Belarus
U.S. men’s freestyle Group 1 performances
65kg: Joey McKenna, Towaco, N.J. (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC), dnp
LOSS Haji Aliev (Azerbaijan), tech. fall 11-0, 4:04
LOSS Islam Dudaev (Russia)
74kg: Isaiah Martinez, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC/Illini WC), bronze medal
WIN Ivan Kusyak (Ukraine), 8-0
WIN Andrius Mazeika (Lithuania), 11-8
LOSS Azamat Nurykau (Belarus), 8-5
WIN Magomed Dibirgadzhiev (Russia), 11-2
97kg: Ty Walz, Blacksburg, Va. (Titan Mercury WC/SERTC), bronze medal
WIN Chaoqiang Yang (China), 7-1
LOSS Fatih Yasarli (Turkey), tech. fall 10-0, 1:00
WIN Zaynulla Kurbanov (Russia), 2-1
WIN Valerii Andriitsev (Ukraine), 2-2
97 kg: Kyven Gadson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids/Cyclone WC), 9th place
LOSS Murazi Mchedlize (Ukraine), 4-3
U.S. women’s freestyle Group 1 performances
50kg: Victoria Anthony, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), not in standings
WIN Aisha Ualishan (Kazakhstan), tech. fall, 11-0, 3:43
WIN Irina Borissova (Kazakhstan), 15-4, 5:50
WIN Elena Vostrikova (Russia), tech. fall, 10-0, 3:43
** Not permitted to weigh in
55kg: Haley Augello, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Sunkist Kids/Tarheel WC), 5th place
LOSS Maria Sedniva (Kazakhstan), pin 3:47
LOSS Marina Simonyan (Russia), pin 4:53
Men’s freestyle medalists
57 kg
Gold - Muslim Sadulaev (Russia)
Silver - Uladzislau Andreyeu (Belarus)
Bronze - Vladimir Egorov (Macedonia)
Bronze - Khasankhusein Badridinov (Russia)
65 kg
Gold - Vasyl Shuptar (Ukraine)
Silver - Haji Aliyev (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Niurhun Skrabin (Belarus)
Bronze - Islam Dudaev (Russia)
74 kg
Gold - Azamat Nuryakau (Belarus)
Silver - Timur Bizhoev (Russia)
Bronze - Isaiah Martinez (USA)
Bronze - Ali-pasha Umarpashaev (Bulgaria)
86 kg
Gold - Hajy Rajabau (Belarus)
Silver - Murad Suleymanov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Boris Makoev (Slovakia)
Bronze - Fatih Erdin (Turkey)
97 kg
Gold - Aliaksandr Hushtyn (Belarus)
Silver - Fatih Yasarli (Turkey)
Bronze - Murazi Mchedlidze (Ukriane)
Bronze - Ty Walz (USA)
Women’s freestyle medalists
50 kg
Gold - Elena Vostrikova (Russia)
Silver - Valentina Islamova (Kazakhstan)
Bronze - Kseniya Stankevich (Belarus)
Bronze - Namuuntsetseg Tsogt-Ochir (Mongolia)
55 kg
Gold - Marina Sedneva (Kazakhstan)
Silver - Mariia Gurova (Russia)
Bronze - Marina Simonyan (Russia)
Bronze - Davaachimeg Erkhembayar (Mongolia)
59 kg
Gold - Shoovdor Baatarjav (Mongolia)
Silver - Tetiana Omelchenko (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Iuliia Alborova (Russia)
Bronze - Lingling Bao (China)
65 kg
Gold - Chuying Tang (China)
Silver - Mariia Kuznetsova (Russia)
Bronze - Iryna Netreba (Azerbaijan)
72 kg
Gold - Kunming Wang (China)
Silver - Tatiana Kolesnikova (Russia)
Bronze - Zhamila Bakbergenova (Kazakhstan)
MINSK, Belarus – The United States claimed a pair of men’s freestyle bronze medals on Saturday from National Team members Isaiah Martinez (Champaign, Ill./Titan Mercury WC/Illini WC) at 74 kg and Ty Walz (Blacksburg, Va./Titan Mercury WC/SERTC) at 97 kg
Martinez had a strong first period and continued his control in the second, on the way to an 11-2 victory over Magomed Dibirgadzhiev of Russia in the bronze-medal bout. Dibirgadzhiev was second in the 2017 Russian Nationals.
Martinez scored a four-point takedown and two-point double leg takedown for a 6-0 lead at the break. In the second period, after a takedown by Dibirgadzhiev and a stepout forced by Martinez, it was put away late when Martinez drove Dibirgadzhiev to his back for his final four points and the win.
Martinez won his first two bouts on Friday, stopping Ivan Kusyak of Ukraine, 8-0 and Andrius Mazeika of Lithuania, 11-8. He was edged in the semifinals by Azamat Nurykau of Belarus, 8-5, when Nurykau scored four points in the final 12 seconds.
Martinez was a two-time NCAA champion and four-time finalist for Illinois, and a member of the 2017 U23 World Team.
Walz had to win two matches on Saturday to claim his bronze medal. With a stunning high single leg takedown with 10 seconds left in the bronze-medal match, Walz defeated 2012 Olympic silver medalist Valerii Andriitsev of Ukraine, 2-2 by criteria. Andriitsev led 1-0 at the break when Walz was placed on the shot clock and could not score. He made it 2-0 in the second, when he forced Walz into a stepout. Walz kept coming hard to get the clutch winning takedown at the end.
Walz won a bronze medal at the 2017 U23 World Championships, and was a multiple All-American for Virginia Tech. In addition to his Olympic silver medal, Andriitsev won a 2014 World bronze medal and was fifth at the 2016 Olympic Games.
To reach to bronze bout, Walz had a 2-1 win in repechage against Zaynulla Kurbanov of Russia. On Friday, Walz won his first bout 7-1 over Chaoqiang Yang of China, before a loss to 2014 World University champion Fatih Yasarli of Turkey. When Yasarli made the finals, Walz came back in repechage.
The USA was denied a medal in the women’s 50 kg weight class in a controversial way. Victoria Anthony (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) reached the finals on Friday with three technical falls. Organizers reportedly made a schedule change overnight which was not told to the USA and some other delegations.
There was a problem at weigh-in where Anthony went to the scale and was not allowed to weigh-in, with "too late" as explanation. This affected other countries as well. This occurred to another wrestler in her 50 kg weight class, Tatiana Yafremenka of Belarus, who was in repechage, but was late and was also pulled out of the event. USA leaders made a strong objection to this decision, but it was not permitted. Anthony was out of the tournament, without a medal.
Elena Vostrikova of Russia, who Anthony had defeated by a 10-0 technical fall in the semifinals, ended up winning the gold medal.
In the bronze medal match at 55 kg, 2016 Olympian Haley Augello (Chapel Hill, N.C./Sunkist Kids/Tarheel WC) jumped to a big lead in her match, but was pinned by a cradle in the second-period by Marina Simonyan of Russia to place fifth.
It was a wild match. Augello opened with a takedown and three turns, with a reversal by Simonyan. When Simonyan challenged to call, it was denied, giving Augello a 9-1 lead. Simonyan tried an arm throw, which Augello effectively blocked and scored an apparent winning takedown, but was not given the score. Augello challenged and was denied, making it 9-2. Simonyan scored two more takedowns in the period for it to go to the break at 9-6. Late in that first period, Augello took a hard shot to her face, which required medical attention.
In the second, it was all Simonyan, with a takedown and a counter tilt for a 10-9 lead over Augello. Simonyan locked up a cradle to secure the fall after that.
The Medved International concludes on Sunday, with repechage and medal matches in 10 weight classes which had been contested earlier on Saturday. The USA has two in the finals, two in the bronze-medal bout and another in repechage.
TrackWrestling is attempting to stream the event for free. Five other U.S. wrestlers will start action on Saturday (check out their weigh in story). Minsk is seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone.
ALEXANDER MEDVED INTERNATIONAL
At Minsk, Belarus
U.S. men’s freestyle Group 1 performances
65kg: Joey McKenna, Towaco, N.J. (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC), dnp
LOSS Haji Aliev (Azerbaijan), tech. fall 11-0, 4:04
LOSS Islam Dudaev (Russia)
74kg: Isaiah Martinez, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC/Illini WC), bronze medal
WIN Ivan Kusyak (Ukraine), 8-0
WIN Andrius Mazeika (Lithuania), 11-8
LOSS Azamat Nurykau (Belarus), 8-5
WIN Magomed Dibirgadzhiev (Russia), 11-2
97kg: Ty Walz, Blacksburg, Va. (Titan Mercury WC/SERTC), bronze medal
WIN Chaoqiang Yang (China), 7-1
LOSS Fatih Yasarli (Turkey), tech. fall 10-0, 1:00
WIN Zaynulla Kurbanov (Russia), 2-1
WIN Valerii Andriitsev (Ukraine), 2-2
97 kg: Kyven Gadson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids/Cyclone WC), 9th place
LOSS Murazi Mchedlize (Ukraine), 4-3
U.S. women’s freestyle Group 1 performances
50kg: Victoria Anthony, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), not in standings
WIN Aisha Ualishan (Kazakhstan), tech. fall, 11-0, 3:43
WIN Irina Borissova (Kazakhstan), 15-4, 5:50
WIN Elena Vostrikova (Russia), tech. fall, 10-0, 3:43
** Not permitted to weigh in
55kg: Haley Augello, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Sunkist Kids/Tarheel WC), 5th place
LOSS Maria Sedniva (Kazakhstan), pin 3:47
LOSS Marina Simonyan (Russia), pin 4:53
Men’s freestyle medalists
57 kg
Gold - Muslim Sadulaev (Russia)
Silver - Uladzislau Andreyeu (Belarus)
Bronze - Vladimir Egorov (Macedonia)
Bronze - Khasankhusein Badridinov (Russia)
65 kg
Gold - Vasyl Shuptar (Ukraine)
Silver - Haji Aliyev (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Niurhun Skrabin (Belarus)
Bronze - Islam Dudaev (Russia)
74 kg
Gold - Azamat Nuryakau (Belarus)
Silver - Timur Bizhoev (Russia)
Bronze - Isaiah Martinez (USA)
Bronze - Ali-pasha Umarpashaev (Bulgaria)
86 kg
Gold - Hajy Rajabau (Belarus)
Silver - Murad Suleymanov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Boris Makoev (Slovakia)
Bronze - Fatih Erdin (Turkey)
97 kg
Gold - Aliaksandr Hushtyn (Belarus)
Silver - Fatih Yasarli (Turkey)
Bronze - Murazi Mchedlidze (Ukriane)
Bronze - Ty Walz (USA)
Women’s freestyle medalists
50 kg
Gold - Elena Vostrikova (Russia)
Silver - Valentina Islamova (Kazakhstan)
Bronze - Kseniya Stankevich (Belarus)
Bronze - Namuuntsetseg Tsogt-Ochir (Mongolia)
55 kg
Gold - Marina Sedneva (Kazakhstan)
Silver - Mariia Gurova (Russia)
Bronze - Marina Simonyan (Russia)
Bronze - Davaachimeg Erkhembayar (Mongolia)
59 kg
Gold - Shoovdor Baatarjav (Mongolia)
Silver - Tetiana Omelchenko (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Iuliia Alborova (Russia)
Bronze - Lingling Bao (China)
65 kg
Gold - Chuying Tang (China)
Silver - Mariia Kuznetsova (Russia)
Bronze - Iryna Netreba (Azerbaijan)
72 kg
Gold - Kunming Wang (China)
Silver - Tatiana Kolesnikova (Russia)
Bronze - Zhamila Bakbergenova (Kazakhstan)
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