Eierman, McBryde and Singletary keep repechage hopes alive after first session of U23 Worlds

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Three American men’s freestyle wrestlers await their repechage fate after completing the first session of competition on Monday at the U23 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Making his international debut, Muhamed McBryde advanced to the quarterfinals at 79 kg.

In his opening bout, McBryde recorded a decisive 5-0 win over 2019 Junior European bronze winner Erik Reinbok of Estonia, thanks to a two second-period takedowns.

McBryde then fell in the quarterfinals to 2016 Junior World bronze medalist Tariel Gaphrindashvili of Georgia, 4-2. Gaphrindashvili countered a McBryde single for a takedown and exposure to lead 4-0 at the break. McBryde closed in with a takedown in the second period but it was not enough for the victory.

In tonight’s semifinals, Gaphrindashvili will face off against 2019 U23 European runner-up Ramazan Sari of Turkey. Should the Georgian win, McBryde will be pulled back into repechage, giving the American a chance to wrestle for a bronze medal, which will take place on Tuesday.

2019 Pan American Games bronze medalist and 2018 Senior National Team member Jaydin Eierman wrestled a pair of matches at 65 kg this morning, going 1-1.

In his World Championships debut, Eierman defeated Abolfazl Hajipouramiji from Iran with a fall with a spladle late in the first period. In his second bout of the day, Eierman and Ernazar Akmataliev of Kyrgyzstan produced a dramatic finish with 24 points scored in the final frame of action. Akmataliev had his hand raised in a 13-13 win on criteria.

A two-time age-group Asian Championships medalist, Akmataliev eventually advanced to the semifinals at 65 kg. Should he win tonight, he will pull Eierman into repechage.

At 97 kg, Ohio State wrestler Chase Singletary dropped his first bout to 2017 U23 World silver medalist Dzianis Khramiankou of Belarus.

Singletary struck first with a takedown, but Khramiankou, also a two-time Junior World medalist, was overwhelming en route to a 16-6 technical fall.

In the semifinals, Khramiankou will wrestle 2017 U23 World champion Mojtaba Goleij of Iran, who earlier in the day, took down 2018 U23 World champion Givi Matcharashvili of Georgia in the quarterfinals.

Should Khramiankou advance to the finals, he will pull Singletary into repechage action.

Two U.S. wrestlers wrapped up their U23 World tournaments on Monday afternoon.

Three-time NCAA All-American for Michigan Alec Pantaleo, who wrestled at 70 kg, went 1-1 in the first session.

Looking solid in both matches, Pantaleo picked up an 8-0 win over 2016 Cadet World silver medalist Stefan Tonu of Moldova in the first round before getting edged out by Daud Ibragimov of Azerbajian.

Ibragimov lost in the quarterfinals to Cherman Valiev of Russia to knock Pantaleo out of the competition.

At 57 kg, 2017 Junior Pan American silver medalist Gabriel Townsell was eliminated from competition.

In his only match of the day, Townsell dropped a tough battle to Roberti Dingashvili of Georgia. Townsell scored first with a takedown, but Dingashvili responded with a five-point move to take a big lead. The American battled the entire bout but was unable to overcome the deficit, losing 7-5.

Dingashvili eventually lost in the quarterfinals to end Townsell’s tournament.

The semifinals will take place Monday night at 6 p.m. local time (12 p.m. ET) live on Trackwrestling. Follow @USAWrestling on Twitter for live updates.

2019 U23 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

at Budapest, Hungary (Oct. 28-Nov. 3)

U.S. men’s freestyle results
57 kg: Gabriel Townsell (Oak Park, Ill./California RTC) – eliminated
LOSS Robert Dingashvili (Georgia), 7-5

65 kg: Jaydin Eierman (Columbia, Mo./Titan Mercury WC)
WIN Abolfazl Hajipouramiji (Iran), fall 2:51
LOSS Ernazar Akmataliev (Kyrgyzstan), 13-13

70 kg: Alec Pantaleo (Canton, Mich./Titan Mercury WC) – eliminated
WIN Stefan Tonu (Moldova), 8-0
LOSS Daud Ibragimov (Azerbaijan), 9-8

79 kg: Muhamed McBryde (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Wrestling Club RTC)
WIN Erik Reinbok (Estonia), 5-0
LOSS Tariel Gaphrindashvili (Georgia), 4-2

97 kg: Chase Singletary (Naples, Fla./Ohio RTC/ Titan Mercury WC)
LOSS Dzianis Khramiankou (Belarus), 16-6