Howk drops Junior World semifinal heartbreaker in controversial call
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by Taylor Miller, USA Wrestling
TRNAVA, Slovakia – U.S. women’s freestyle representative Alisha Howk fell in the semifinals of the 2018 Junior World Championships in Trnava, Slovakia, after a very close call that was decided after the buzzer.
Howk, a 2017 Cadet World Team member, faced Aktenge Keunimyaeva of Uzbekistan, who is a two-time age-group Asian medalist and took fifth at the Senior Asian championships in February.
Keunimyaeva opened scoring with four points from a front headlock, but Howk was on the board just moments later, scoring on a takedown.
By the end of the first period, Howk had a 6-4 lead after picking up another takedown, followed by a leg lace.
In the second period, the Uzbek scored late on exposure, and USA challenged the call, saying it was Howk’s points. The challenge failed, resulting in another point for Keunimyaeva. With 44 seconds left, Howk trailed 7-6.
As the clock ticked down, Howk shot in on a single and got behind her opponent. At the buzzer, the Wisconsin native was awarded two points on a leg lace. Uzbekistan challenged and the call went in favor of Keunimyaeva, resulting in an 8-6 loss for Howk.
Tomorrow night, Howk will wrestle for bronze at 53 kg. Her opponent will be decided in tomorrow morning’s repechage.
2018 U.S. Open champion Alex Hedrick wrapped up her 2018 Junior World Championships after Viktoria Vaulina of Russia, who defeated Hedrick earlier in the day, fell in the semifinals to an opponent form China.
Tomorrow night’s medal matches will take place at 6 p.m. local time (12 p.m. ET) live on Trackwrestling.com.
2018 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Trnava, Slovakia
U.S. women’s freestyle results
53 kg: Alisha Howk (River Falls, Wisc./Sunkist Kids)
WIN Nina Kollarova (Slovakia), fall 0:29
WIN Ellada Makhyaddinova (Kazakhstan), fall 2:09
LOSS Aktenge Keunimyaeva (Uzbekistan), 8-6
57 kg: Alex Hedrick (Fair Oaks, Calif./Titan Mercury WC)
LOSS Viktoria Vaulina (Russia), 10-0
62 kg: Alexandria Liles (Allen, Texas/Musky WC)
LOSS Hedda Strand (Norway), 3-3
65 kg: Jayden Laurent (Green Bay, Wisc./Musky WC)
LOSS Yue Zhang (China), fall 2:52
72 kg: Alyvia Fiske (Napa, Calif./Titan Mercury WC)
LOSS Zsuszanna Molnar (Slovakia), 1:04
