Kilty wins second silver of season, Francis takes fifth at Yasar Dogu
by Taylor Miller-Gregorio, USA Wrestling
Photo of Macey Kilty by Kadir Caliskan, United World Wrestling.
ISTANBUL, Turkey – Team USA opened its competition at the Yasar Dogu, a UWW Ranking Series event, earning a silver medal on Friday from Macey Kilty, who competed at 62 kg in Istanbul, Turkey.
To advance to the finals at 62 kg, Cadet World champion and multiple-time age-group World finalist Macey Kilty went 3-0 in the day’s first session, all decisive wins. Opening the tournament, Kilty registered a first-period pin over Khadizhat Murtuzalieva of Russia in 1:21 and followed up that performance with a 10-5 decision against three-time Senior European medalist Svetlana Lipatova of Russia. In the semifinals, despite giving up the first takedown, Kilty stormed back, racking up 14 unanswered points to fuel a 14-2 technical fall over 2021 European bronze medalist Veranika Ivanova from Belarus and punch her ticket to the finals.
For gold, Kilty faced 2014 Senior World champion and 2015 Senior World silver medalist Tserenchimed Sukhee of Mongolia in a rematch of the 2022 Ivan Yariguin finals that Sukhee won, 11-0. This time, the Mongolian produced a similar outcome, using two four-point takedowns to spur her to a 12-0 win over Kilty. It marks the American’s second international silver medal of the 2022 season.
At 76 kg, Victoria Francis took fifth. After losing her opening bout to 2018 World bronze winner and eventual Yasar Dogu finalist Martina Kuenz of Austria, Francis bounced back, winning two repechage matches, including a victory by pin and a hard-earned 2-1 decision, to send her to the bronze-medal bout. Francis faced off against 2018 U23 World bronze medalist Gulmaral Yerkebayeva from Kazakhstan for third place. Yerkebayeva initially scored from a passivity point against Francis and added a pair of step outs and a takedown for a 5-1 win over the American.
Others who represented the USA in today’s competition were Solin Piearcy at 68 kg and Precious Bell at 76 kg. Both lost their tournament openers and were eventually eliminated when their victors failed to advance to the finals.
Wrestling continues tomorrow with the remaining weights in women’s freestyle (50, 53, 55, 59, 65, 72 kg) as well as the beginning of men’s freestyle (97, 125).
Fans can watch all the action live on FloWrestling and find brackets on United World Wrestling’s website. Qualification rounds begin at 10:30 a.m. local time (2:30 a.m. ET) and medal matches are set for 6 p.m. local time (10 a.m. ET).
Follow @USAWrestling on Twitter for live updates throughout the tournament.
2022 YASAR DOGU INTERNATIONAL – UWW RANKING SERIES EVENT
Feb. 24-27, 2022 | Istanbul, Turkey
U.S. women’s freestyle results
62 kg: Macey Kilty (TarHeel WC/Sunkist Kids) – SILVER
WIN Khadizhat Murtuzalieva (Russia), fall 1:21
WIN Svetlana Lipatova (Russia), 10-5
WIN Veranika Ivanova (Belarus), 14-2
LOSS Tserenchimed Sukhee (Mongolia), 12-0
68 kg: Solin Piearcy (Menlo WC) – eliminated
LOSS Khanum Velieva (Russia), 10-0
76 kg: Precious Bell (Titan Mercury WC) – eliminated
LOSS Ekaterina Bukina (Russia), 12-1
76 kg: Victoria Francis (Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC) – FIFTH
LOSS Martina Kuenz (Austria), 10-2
WIN Melike Kozgun (Turkey), fall 2:54
WIN Catalina Axente (Romania), 2-1
LOSS Gulmaral Yerkebayeva (Kazakhstan), 5-1
Schedule (8 hours ahead of U.S. ET)
Saturday, Feb. 26
10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds & repechage (WFS 50, 53, 55, 59, 65, 72 kg; MFS 97, 125 kg)
6 p.m. – Medal matches (WFS 50, 53, 55, 59, 65, 72 kg; MFS 97, 125 kg)
Sunday, Feb. 27
10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds & repechage (MFS 57, 61, 65, 70, 74, 79, 86, 92 kg)
6 p.m. – Medal matches (MFS 57, 61, 65, 70, 74, 79, 86, 92 kg)