Rodriguez and Hattendorf cruise to Cadet World semifinals

SOFIA, Bulgaria – In their international debuts, Cristelle Rodriguez and Skylar Hattendorf secured spots in the 2019 Cadet World Championships women’s freestyle semifinals on Wednesday in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Rodriguez, wrestling at 49 kg, dominated 2018 U15 Asian silver medalist Antim Antim of India in her first match.

Trailing 4-0 early in the match, Rodriguez scored a takedown and leg lace to take a 4-4 advantage into the break. In the second period, Rodriguez rattled off two takedowns and exposure to claim a 10-5 victory.

In the quarterfinals, Rodriguez shut down 2018 Cadet European champion Valeriya Kapustsina of Belarus. Leading 3-0 after the break, Rodriguez maintained her lead and added a four-point takedown at the buzzer to move onto the semifinals with a 7-2 win.

In the semis, Rodriguez will face Yung Hsun Lin of Taipei, who was ninth at the 2019 Cadet Asian Championships.

Putting together a successful session at 57 kg, Hattendorf overcame Alina Kasabieva of Russia in the first match.

Kasabieva, a 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival bronze medalist, held a 4-0 lead late in the match, but the American fought back with a four-point hip toss to lead on criteria. The two exchanged step outs in the final 15 seconds, but Hattendorf’s four-pointer gave her the advantage in a 5-5 win.

To win the quarterfinals, Hattendorf pinned 2019 Cadet Nordic bronze medalist Maajar Plaser of Estonia in 2:17.

In the semifinals, Hattendorf will face 2019 Cadet European bronze medalist Birgul Soltanova of Azerbaijan.

Three other Americans await their repechage fate tonight.

At 43 kg, 2019 U15 World champion Alex Szkotnicki dropped a 2-0 heartbreaker to Nagisa Harada of Japan in the first round, giving up a step out point and a shot clock penalty point, despite getting in deep on several shots.

Should Harada win her semifinal against 2019 Cadet Asian bronze medalist Nazik Mirlan Kyzy of Kyrgyzstan this evening, Szkotnicki will be pulled into repechage.

Lillian Freitas, competing at 65 kg, won her first bout with a 2-1 decision over Sandra Escamilla Menchaca of Mexico. In the quarterfinals, Freitas suffered at 7-1 loss to 2017 Cadet World champion and 2018 Cadet World bronze medalist Sonam Sonam from India.

Should Sonam win her semifinal against 2018 Cadet World bronze medalist and 2019 Cadet European champion Ekaterina Glukhareva of Russia, Freitas will be pulled into repechage.

At 73 kg, 2018 Cadet Pan American champion and three-time Fargo champion Kennedy Blades breezed through her first-round match, pinning Daria Klimovich of Belarus in 21 seconds. In her quarterfinals, Blades had an exciting back-and-forth battle with 2018 Cadet World silver medalist Julia Fridlund of Sweden but ultimately lost, 9-5.

(Note: Fridlund lost to American Macey Kilty in the 2018 Cadet World finals.)

Should Fridlund win her semifinals match 2019 Cadet Asian champion Yifeng Lu of China, Blades will be pulled back into repechage.

The semifinals will take place Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. ET live on Trackwrestling.com.

2019 CADET WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

at Sofia, Bulgaria, July 28-Aug. 4

Women’s freestyle results

43 kg: Alexandra Szkotnicki (Riva, Md./Southern Maryland WC Wolfpack)
LOSS Nagisa Harada (Japan), 2-0

49 kg: Cristelle Rodriguez (Fresno, Calif./Red Wave Wrestling)
WIN Antim Antim (India), 10-5
WIN Valeriya Kapustsina (Belarus), 7-2
vs. Yung Hsun Lin (Taipei)

57 kg: Skylar Hattendorf (Hooksett, N.H./Maine Trappers)
WIN Alina Kasabieva (Russia), 5-5
WIN Maarja Plaser (Estonia), fall 2:17
vs. Birgul Soltanova (Azerbaijan)

65 kg: Lillian Freitas (Modesto, Calif./Pitman Wrestling)
WIN Sandra Escamilla Menchaca (Mexico), 2-1
LOSS Sonam Sonam (India), 7-1

73 kg: Kennedy Blades (Broadview, Ill./Izzy Style WC/Wyoming Seminary)
WIN Daria Klimovich (Belarus), fall 0:21
LOSS Julia Fridlund (Sweden), 9-5