Thursday Session I Blog: Bey possible for repechage, Schultz, Koontz, Woods eliminated in Greco-Roman
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
After the first session, in Greco-Roman Group One, only Kamal Bey remains possible for repechage. Sanan Suleymanov of Azerbaijan must beat Malkhas Amoyan of Armenia in the semifinals for Bey to get back in. Eliminated and not eligible for repechage are Brady Koontz (55 kg), Spencer Woods (82 kg) and Cohlton Schultz (130 kg)
___77 kg quarterfinals
Sanan Suleymanov (Azerbaijan) dec. Demeu Zhadrayev (Kazakhstan), 5-1
Malkhas Amoyan (Armenia) dec. Viktor Nemes (Serbia), 3-1
Akzhol Makhmudov (Kyrgyzstan) dec. Aram Vardanyan (Uzbekistan), 6-0
Nao Kusaka (Japan) tech fall Iuri Lomadze (Georgia), 10-0 3:11
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In the 77 kg quarterfinals, Sanan Suleymanov (Azerbaijan) won his match, keeping hopes alive for Kamal Bey getting back into repechage. Suleymanov must win his semifinal on Thursday night for Bey to earn a spot in repechage.
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55 kg quarterfinals
Eldaniz Azizli (Azerbaijan) dec. Marlan Mukashev (Kazakhstan), 6-0
Poya Soulat Dad Marz (Iran) dec. Adem Burak Uzun (Turkey), 3-0
Jasurbek Ortikboev (Uzbekistan) tech fall Denis Mihai (Romania), 9-0 2:09
Nugzari Tsurtsumia (Georgia) tech fall Artiom Deleanu (Moldova), 10-0 1:58
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In the 55 kg quarterfinals, Denis Mihai of Romania was defeated by Jasurbek Ortikboev of Uzbekistan, eliminating Brady Koontz (USA) from the tournament.
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82 kg quarterfinals
Burhan Akbudak (Turkey) tech fall Kristoffer Zakarias Berg (Sweden), 9-1 4:16
Rafig Huseynov (Azerbaijan) dec. Aues Gonibov (Individual Neutral Athletes), 10-5
Alireza Mohmadipiani (Iran) dec. Yaroslav Filchakov (Ukraine), 4-1
Mihail Bradu (Moldova) pin Gela Bolkvadze (Georgia), 45:29
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130 kg quarterfinals
Riza Kayaalp (Turkey) tech fall Heiki Nabi (Estonia), 9-0 1:46
Lingzhe Meng (China) dec. Iakobi Kajaia (Georgia), 3-1
Amin Mirzazadeh (Iran) dec. Romas Fridrikas (Lithuania), 1-1
Oscar Pino Hinds (Cuba) tech fall Alin Alexuc ciurariu (Romania), 9-0 4:14
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In the 130 kg quarterfinals, Romas Fridrikas of Lithuania was defeated by Amin Mirzazadeh of Iran, 1-1 on criteria. This eliminated Cohlton Schultz (USA) who lost to Fridrikas in the previous round.
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GR 55 kg 1/8 final - Denis Mihai (Romania) tech. fall Brady Koontz (USA), 9-0
Koontz hit with passivity, 1-0 for Mihai. Koontz hit with a foul blocking a lift for two points and a caution, now score is 3-0. Mihai lifted and threw Koontz for two points, 5-0. Mihai lifted and threw Koontz out of bounds for four points and finished the match with a 9-0 technical fall.
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Spencer Woods is eliminated at 82 kg, after the wrestler who beat him, Stanislaw Shafarenko (Individual Neutral Athlete) was defeated in his next match.
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GR 130 kg 1/8 final - Romas Fridrikas (Lithuania) pin Cohlton Schultz (USA), 0:57
Fridrikas body locks Schultz to the mat and closes off the pin in 57 seconds.
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77 kg 1/16 final – Sanan Suleymanov (Azerbaijan) tech fall Kamal Bey (USA), 8-0
Suleymanov gets a four-point throw and a turn to make it 6-0. He lifts and takes down Bey to finalize the match at 8-0 in the first period.
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The opponent for Emma Bruntil in the 68 kg women's freestyle bronze medal bout tonight will be World medalist Koumba Larroque of France, who won her repechage match.
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Brady Koontz (USA) with arm raised in victory over Hyeokjin Jeon (KOR) at 2023 Worlds. Photo by Durwood Tenny.
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GR 55 kg preliminary - Brady Koontz (USA) dec. Hyeokjin Jeon (Korea), 7-3
Jeon hit for passivity, 1-0. Koontz turns Jeon, 3-0. Add a gut wrench to make it 5-0 and another gut wrench and its 7-0. We go to the break with Koontz up 7-0. Koontz hit for passivity, 7-1. Jeon turns Koontz, 7-3. There is no more scoring. Koontz wins 7-3.
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Cohlton Schultz (USA) pins Marcel Albini (CZE) at 2023 Worlds. Photo by Durwood Tenny.
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GR 130 kg preliminary - Cohlton Schultz (USA) pin Marcel Albini (Czechia) , 5:03
Albini hit for passivity, 1-0. Schultz runs Albini off the mat for a step out, 2-0. We go to the break with Schultz leading 2-0. Schultz his with passivity, closing to 2-1. Albini not able to turn, Schultz gets a reversal 3-1, and turns Albini to extend to 5-1. Schultz hip tosses Albini to mat, gets the fall with 57 seconds left.
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GR 82 kg preliminary - Stanislaw Shafarenko (Individual Neutral Athlete) dec. Spencer Woods (USA), 5-3
Shafarenka hit with passivity, 1-0 for Woods. We go to the break with Woods leading 1-0. Woods hit with passivity, 1-1 now, with Shafarenko taking criteria. Gut wrench by Shafarenka makes it 3-1, then another turn makes it 5-1. Woods gets a takedown to make it 5-3. Time runs out and Shafarenka gets the 5-3 victory.
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Kamal Bey (USA) with coach Spenser Mango during 2023 World Championships. Larry Slater photo.
GR 77 kg preliminary - Kamal Bey (USA) v Fabio Dietsche (Switzerland)
Bey hit for passivity, Dietsche up 1-0, tries to lift Bey who blocks the throw and gets two points on the exposure, 2-1 for Bey. Kamal comes hard on a pummel and forces a step out, now 3-1. We go to the break with Bey leading. On the edge, Kamal moves away and forces a step out, now leading, 4-1. Time runs out and Bey wins his first match, 4-1.
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The Greco-Roman competition begins with four weight classes, and Team USA aims to get off to a good start. Three past World Team members hit the mats, with Kamal Bey (77 kg), Cohlton Schultz (130 kg) and Spencer Woods (82 kg) bringing their experience with them. Bey, a past Junior World champion, looks to get on a run in a loaded weight class. Schultz, a multiple World medalist at the age-group level, seeks his first Senior World medal. Woods will compete in his second straight Senior Worlds. Brady Koontz has his Senior World debut at 55 kg.
The USA has no athletes in the women’s freestyle Group Three repechage this morning. We will watch to see who earns the right to compete against Emma Bruntil in a 68 kg bronze medal match.
The team race is over in regards to the top two nation. Japan has clinched first place, and the United States won’t be caught for second place. The only question is which nation claims the third place trophy. China has a big lead for third place, but Mongolia could make a run for that final trophy. With Amit Elor in the finals at 72 kg, Team USA has clinched seven medals, which matches its best performance ever. If Bruntil gets her bronze, a new record would be set with an eighth medal for the USA women.
