Hildebrandt wins first gold for USA at Matteo Pellicone, Snyder, Anthony and Shai collect bronzes

ROME, Italy – The USA collected four medals, including its first gold, at the Matteo Pellicone International on Friday in Rome, Italy. Winning a title for the USA was Sarah Hildebrandt at 50 kg.

Hildebrandt, who debuted at 50 kg today, capped off an impressive day with a buzzer-beating win over two-time World silver medalist Emilia Vuc of Romania.

Hildebrandt scored first, drawing a passivity point from Vuc to lead 1-0 at the break. In the second period, Hildebrandt went on the shot clock, but Vuc was able to pick up a takedown on the edge.

With about 13 seconds left, a scramble ensued with Hildebrandt trailing 2-1. The American got behind Vuc and had her in a quad pod as the clock ticked down. With two seconds left, Hildebrandt flattened Vuc on the mat to take the win.

Vuc’s corner challenged the call, but it failed, adding another point for Hildebrandt for a 4-2 victory.

Three wrestlers claimed bronze medals on Friday, including Victoria Anthony, Katherine Shai and Kyle Snyder.

Also wrestling at 50 kg, two-time World Team member Anthony took out Devi Nirmala of India to collect bronze.

Anthony took a 1-0 lead into the break, thanks to a step out. In the second period, she registered another step out and maintained a 2-0 lead for most of the final frame. With just seconds left, Nirmala tried to expose the American in a scramble, but Anthony ended up on top for two. Nirmala eventually scored a reversal, but it was not enough as Anthony won, 4-1.

Competing at 53 kg, National Team member Shai was dominant on her way to bronze, defeating Meng Hsieh of Taipei.

Shai led 2-0 at the break with a passivity point and a step out. About halfway through the second period, Shai scored a takedown. She kicked up a notch in the last 90 seconds, recording a pair of takedowns and a tilt as the clock ran out for a 10-0 win and a bronze medal.

At 97 kg, 2016 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Snyder bulldozed through 2018 World bronze medalist Abraham Conyedo of Italy for the bronze medal.

Snyder rattled off six takedowns to end the match early with 12-1 technical fall. Conyedo’s only point came from a step out in the first period.

Whitney Conder fell in her bronze-medal match at 50 kg, losing to 2018 Senior World bronze medalist Oksana Livach from Ukraine, 10-2.

The tournament wraps up tomorrow with the right remaining men’s freestyle weights (57-61-65-70-74-79-86-92 kg). Watch all the action live beginning at 4:30 a.m. ET on Flowrestling.org.

MATTEO PELLICONE INTERNATIONAL

at Rome, Italy (UWW Ranking Series)

Men’s freestyle results
97 kg: Kyle Snyder (Titan Mercury WC/Nittany Lion WC) - BRONZE
WIN Iliskhan Chilayev (Kazakhstan), 10-0
WIN Ibrahim Bolukbasi (Turkey), 12-4
LOSS Mohammadhossein Mohammadian (Iran), fall 4:33
WIN Bo Nickal (USA), forfeit
WIN Abraham Conyedo Ruano (Italy), 12-1

97 kg: Bo Nickal (Nittany Lion WC) – 7TH
WIN Georg Stark Seregelyi (Germany), 11-1
LOSS Mohammadhossein Mohammadian (Iran), 10-0
WIN Alisher Yergali (Kazakhstan), 13-12
LOSS Kyle Snyder (USA), forfeit

97 kg: Hayden Zillmer (Gopher WC RTC) – 11TH
WIN Valerr Andriitsevv (Ukraine), 2-2
LOSS Abraham Conyedo Ruano (Italy), 6-5

125 kg: Tony Nelson (Gopher WC RTC) - eliminated
LOSS Nick Mathuin (Germany), 5-4

Women’s freestyle results
50 kg: Sarah Hildebrandt (New York AC/USOPTC) – GOLD
WIN Ana Torres Rubio (Spain), fall 1:33
WIN Victoria Anthony (USA), 7-5
WIN Devi Nirmala (India), 8-2
WIN Emilia Vuc (Romania), 4-2

50 kg: Victoria Anthony (Sunkist Kids) – BRONZE
WIN Tabatha Grunewald (France), 10-0
LOSS Sarah Hildebrandt (USA), 7-5
WIN Ana Torres Rubio (Spain), 10-0
WIN Devi Nirmala (India), 4-1

50 kg: Whitney Conder (Army WCAP) – FIFTH
WIN Jacqueline Mollocana Eleno (Ecuador), 7-4
WIN Milana Dadasheva (Russia), fall 5:54
LOSS Emilia Vuc (Romania), 2-1
LOSS Oksana Livach (Ukraine), 10-2

53 kg: Katherine Shai (Titan Mercury WC) – BRONZE
LOSS Luisa Valverde (Ecuador), fall 2:52
WIN Samantha Stewart (Canada), fall 4:48
WIN Meng Hsieh (Taipei), 10-0

53 kg: Areana Villaescusa (Army WCAP) – 11TH
LOSS Annika Wendle (Germany), fall 5:30