Mocco into men’s freestyle finals; three to go for bronze at U17 World Championships

AMMAN, Jordan – The United States saw one men’s freestyle athlete advance to the gold medal match following the semifinals at the U17 World Championships in Amman, Jordan. Three athletes will wrestle for bronze from the first men’s freestyle group of the tournament.

At 110 kg, Michael Mocco delivered an outstanding performance in the semifinals, securing a technical fall over Gigia Lukunidze of Georgia, 10-0. Mocco initiated the scoring with a step out, quickly adding another to lead 2-0. A takedown pushed his advantage to 4-0, and he secured the win by locking up a leg lace. Mocco advanced to the finals with the victory, and will face Yedige Kassimbek of Kazakhstan in the final bout.

Henry Aslikyan fell in the semifinals to Amirabbas Alizadeh of Iran in a closely contested match that ended 6-4. Aslikyan started strong, taking a 4-0 lead with a pair of takedowns before the break. Alizadeh rallied in the second period, scoring a crucial takedown and rolling through for an additional two points in the final second. Aslikyan will have a chance to wrestle for bronze on Saturday.

At 55 kg, Keanu Dillard dropped his semifinal bout to Kursantbek Isakov of Kyrgyzstan, 10-2. Dillard opened the scoring, but Isakov turned the tide with a throw that earned him four points. He maintained control throughout the match, adding two more points with a takedown and finishing strong with another four points on the edge. Dillard will compete for bronze.

In the 80 kg bracket, Emmitt Sherlock will compete for a bronze medal after falling to Reza Afshar of Iran in the semifinals. Afshar won the match 8-0, gaining an early advantage with a takedown and a step out, leading 3-0 at the break. He continued in the second period by exposing Sherlock twice, further extending his lead. Despite a challenge from the U.S. side, the score remained 8-0.

Nathaniel Askew’s tournament came to an end at 65 kg after Bakdaulet Akimzhan of Kazakhstan lost in the semifinals.

Action continues Saturday at 3 a.m. ET in Amman, Jordan. Men’s freestyle preliminary rounds for the five remaining weights will be contested in the morning, with semifinals and medal matches slated to begin at 10 a.m. ET. All of the action will be broadcast live on FloWrestling.

At Amman, Jordan, August 23, 2024

48 kg

Amirabbas Alizadeh (Iran) dec. Henry Aslikyan (United States), 6-4

Ulugbek Rashidov (Uzbekistan) dec. Chingis Saryglar (AIN), 7-5

55 kg

Kursantbek Isakov (Kyrgyzstan) dec. Keanu Dillard (United States), 10-2

Joseph Bachmann (Puerto Rico) dec. Huseyn Huseynov (Azerbaijan), 5-2

65 kg

Rustamzhan Kakharov (Kyrgyzstan) dec. Bakdaulet Akimzhan (Kazakhstan), 12-5

Ramazan Abdulkadyrov (AIN) dec. Umut Uslu (Turkiye), 4-4

80 kg

Reza Afshar (Iran) dec. Emmitt Sherlock (United States), 8-0

Nikoloz Maisuradze (Georgia) dec. Artur Kostiuk (Ukraine), 4-0

110 kg

Michael Mocco (United States) tech. fall Gigia Lukunidze (Georgia), 10-0

Yedige Kassimbek (Kazakhstan) dec. Abolfazl Nezhad (Iran), 4-3

48 kg: Henry Aslikyan (Panorama City, Calif./ Birmingham Community Charter HS Wrestling), in bronze medal match

WIN Eren Yalcin (Turkey), 10-0

WIN Tsimur Selachnik (AIN), 10-0

WIN Armen Papikyan (Armenia), 12-2 tech. fall

LOSS Amirabbas Alizadeh (Iran), 6-4

55 kg: Keanu Dillard (Bethlehem, Pa./Steller Trained Wrestling), in bronze medal match

WIN Ryenchinpeljee Bavuudorj (Mongolia), 5-4

WIN Zorab Aloiev (Ukraine), 3:52

WIN Tundzhai Verdiev (AIN), 4-1

LOSS Kursantbek Isakov (Kyrgyzstan), 10-2

65 kg: Nathaniel Askew (Fayetteville, N.C./Tar Heel WC), eliminated

WIN Yeghishe Mosesyan (Armenia), 4-3

WIN David Boicea (Romania), 4-0

LOSS Bakdaulet Akimzhan (Kazakhstan), 3-0

80 kg: Emmitt Sherlock (Linthicum, Md./HeadHunters WC), in bronze medal match

WIN Takeharu Nishihara (Japan), 11-0 tech. fall

WIN Aldat Kesaev (AIN), 2-2

LOSS Reza Afshar (Iran), 8-0

110 kg: Michael Mocco (Parkland, Fla./ ATT/Mocco Wrestling Academy), in gold medal match

WIN Mukhamad Gantemirov (Azerbaijan), 16-6 tech. fall

WIN Yaraslau Kokhan (AIN), 11-0

WIN Gigia Lukunidze (Georgia), 10-0