USA wraps up U23 World Championships in Budapest

Photo of Andrew Berreyesa (82 kg) by Sachiko Hotaka.

BUDAPEST, Hungary – The USA Greco-Roman team wrapped up its competition on Saturday night at the U23 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Three World medalists for the USA went down in the first session of Saturday’s action.

Wrestling at 60 kg, 2016 Junior World bronze medalist Taylor LaMont had a close battle with host country favorite Krisztian Kecskemeti of Hungary in the first round, 5-3.

Kecskemeti failed to make it to the finals, losing to Armen Melikyan of Armenia, ending LaMont’s seventh age-group World Championships.

At 67 kg, 2019 Junior World bronze medalist Peyton Omania dropped his first bout to Giorgi Kurtandize of Georgia in a first-period 9-0 technical fall.

Omania was later eliminated when Kurtanidze lost in the Round of 16 to Khalmurat Ibragimov of Kyrgyzstan.

2018 Junior World silver medalist Andrew Berreyesa fell short in his first bout at 82 kg, losing to Aivengo Rikadze of Georgia, 6-1.

Rikadze then lost in the semifinals to 2019 Russia Nationals bronze medalist Milad Alirzaev of Russia to eliminate Berreyesa from the tournament.

Chad Porter, who was competing in his second World Championships, was edged out in his opening bout at 97 kg Naoki Matsumoto from Japan, 3-2.

Matsumoto then dropped his quarterfinal match to Dzmitry Kaminski from Belarus, knocking Porter out of the U23 World Championships.

At 72 kg, Lenny Merkin suffered a tough 4-0 loss to Aleksandar Erski of Serbia, who competed at the 2019 Senior World Championships, in his World debut.

In the next round, Erski fell to 2013 Cadet World bronze medalist Maksym Yevtushenko of Ukraine, ending Merkin’s tournament.

Across all three styles, the USA leaves Budapest with one gold medal from Bo Nickal at 92 kg in men’s freestyle and a pair of silver medals from Kayla Miracle at 62 kg and Macey Kilty and 68 kg in women’s freestyle.

2019 U23 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Budapest, Hungary (Oct. 28-Nov. 3)
U.S. Greco-Roman results
60 kg: Taylor LaMont (Mapleton, Utah/Sunkist Kids WC) - eliminated
LOSS Krisztian Kecskemeti (Hungary), 5-3
67 kg: Peyton Omania (Concord, Calif./CYC) – eliminated
LOSS Giorgi Kurtanidze (Georgia), 9-0

72 kg: Lenny Merkin (Brooklyn, N.Y./New York AC) – eliminated
LOSS Aleksandar Erski (Serbia), 4-0

82 kg: Andrew Berreyesa (Reno, Nev./New York AC/Finger Lakes WC) - eliminated
LOSS Aivengo Rikadze (Georgia), 6-1
97 kg: Chad Porter (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunkist Kids WC) – eliminated
LOSS Naoki Matsumoto (Japan), 3-2