Brooks and Elam punch tickets to Junior World finals, Fix falls in semifinal stunner

TRNAVA, Slovakia – 2017 Cadet World champion Aaron Brooks and international newcomer Zach Elam strolled into the Junior World finals on Friday night in Trnava, Slovakia, while 2017 Junior World champion Daton Fix was upended in the 57 kg semis.

After a successful morning session, Brooks kept it rolling, defeating two-time age-group World bronze medalist Orhan Abasov of Azerbaijan.

Brooks led Abasov, 5-0, scoring on steps out and cautions. With less than 30 seconds left, Abasov, who had been dinged twice for head butting, was hit with his third caution of the match, ending the bout immediately and advancing Brooks to the finals at 79 kg.

Tomorrow night, Brooks will face Hayato Ishiguro of Japan, who was third at the Japanese Senior World Team Trials earlier this year.

A World Team alternate just a few weeks ago, Mizzou wrestler Elam demonstrated a little Tiger Style, advancing to the 97 kg Junior World finals in his international debut.

In the semis, Elam faced Junior Asian silver medalist Serik Bakytkhanov from Kazakhstan. The American dominated the match from start to finish, only giving up one point on a step out.

Elam collected multiple takedowns for an eventual 14-1 technical fall.

For the gold medal, Elam will have to go through Ali Aliev champion Magomedkhan Magomedov of Russia. Magomedov also has a silver from the 2017 Alexander Medved tournament.

2017 Junior World champion Daton Fix fell to Naveen Naveen of India in the 57 kg semifinals. Fix led 2-0 at the break with a step out and shot clock point. In the second period, Naveen was awarded two takedowns on the edge and a step out to pick up five points. Trailing by three in the final minute, Fix scored on a takedown but wasn’t able to score on a turn. When the clock ran, the scoreboard read 5-4 in favor of Naveen.

Fix will wrestle for bronze tomorrow night. His opponent will be decided tomorrow morning during repechage.

At 70 kg, Brady Berge was pulled into tomorrow’s repechage after Razambek Zhamlaov of Russia advanced to the 70 kg finals. To begin his day tomorrow, Berge will face Aleksander Kuryshta of Belarus, who was 19th at last year’s Junior Worlds.

Tomorrow’s action will begin at 10:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. ET) with repechage action. Medal matches will take place at 6 p.m. (12 p.m. ET) live on Trackwrestling.com

2018 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

at Trnava, Slovakia

U.S. men’s freestyle results

57 kg: Daton Fix (Sand Springs, Okla./Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy RTC)
WIN Ahmet Tas (Turkey), 10-0
WIN Andrey Dzhelep (Ukraine), 10-0
LOSS Naveen Naveen (India), 5-4

65 kg: Domonick Demas (Dublin, Ohio/OKRTC)
WIN Ikhtiyor Normurodov (Uzbekistan), inj. default, 10-4
LOSS Gegham Galstyan (Armenia), 8-4

70 kg: Brady Berge (Mantorville, Minn./Nittany Lion WC)
LOSS Razambek Zhamalov (Russia), 13-3
vs. Aleksander Kuryshta (Belarus)

79 kg: Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md./USOTC)
WIN Daniar Meldebek (Kazakhstan), 12-1
WIN Andrian Grosul (Moldova), 9-4
WIN Orhan Abasov (Azerbaijan), win by cautions
vs. Magomedkhan Magomedov (Russia)

97 kg: Zach Elam (Kansas City, Mo./Team Central WC)
WIN Kunai Nurdavletov (Kyrgyzstan), fall 3:37
WIN Han Hyunsu (Korea), 13-2
WIN Serik Bakytkhanov (Kazakhstan), 12-1
vs. Hayato Ishiguro (Japan)