Merrill to semis, Motyka, Fugitt and Khosravy await repechage at U17 Worlds
by Ellen Paddock, USA Wrestling
Cody Merrill at the 2022 USMC Nationals. Photo by Tony Rotundo.
ROME, Italy – Cody Merrill advanced to the 92 kg Greco-Roman semifinal match at the U17 World Championships after recording a technical fall and a pin in the first session on Tuesday in Rome.
The Ontario, California native will wrestle 2022 U17 European bronze medalist Darius Kiefer of Germany for a shot at gold at 11 a.m. ET today.
In match one, Merrill defeated Arsen Ruslanov of Kyrgyzstan 9-0 with a feet-to-back move, two takedowns and a step out. In his second bout, he reversed Romania’s Florin Manolache to his back for a fall in the first period.
Arvin Khosravy, Zan Fugitt and Davis Motyka await repechage, meaning if their opponents that defeated them earlier in the day advance to the finals, they will be pulled back into the tournament.
Khosravy won his opening bout at 71 kg in dominating fashion with two takedowns, two turns and a step out to defeat Marco Begle of Austria, 9-0. He then fell to 2021 U17 World silver medalist Anri Putkaradze of Georgia 10-0.
At 45 kg, Davis Motyka lost 2-1 to Ionut Mereuta of Romania, who was fifth at the 2022 U17 European Championships. Motyka was hit twice with passivity and successfully defended any offense from Mereuta. As the clock wound down, Motyka scored on a step out and a takedown. Romania challenged the takedown and won.
Zan Fugitt lost 9-0 to Armenia’s Gaspar Terteryan at 60 kg, a two-time U17 European bronze medalist.
Elyle Francisco was eliminated at 51 kg after his opponent Peter Tokok of Hungary did not advance to the finals. Against Tokok, Francisco controlled the match at the start and turned him in par terre to lead 3-2 at the break. In the second period, Francisco was thrown twice for four points, losing 12-2.
Yesterday, Joel Adams earned a spot in the 65 kg finals and will wrestle Ahoura Bouveiri of Iran, who placed seventh at the 2022 U17 Asian Championships. Finals begin at noon U.S. ET today.
Watch all the action live on FloWrestling and follow along on USA Wrestling’s Twitter (@USAWrestling) for live updates.
2022 U17 World Championships
at Rome, Italy | July 25-31
U.S. Greco-Roman results:
45kg: Davis Motyka (Kingston, Pa./XCalibur Athletics) – awaiting repechage
LOSS Ionut Mereuta (Romania), 2-1
48 kg: Christian Castillo (Glendale, Ariz./Thorobred Wrestling Club) – eliminated
LOSS Said Khalilov (Azerbaijan), 4-2
51kg: Elyle Francisco (Anchorage, AK./Anchorage Youth Wrestling Academy) –eliminated
LOSS Peter Totok (Hungary), 12-3
55 kg: Nick Treaster (Newton, Kans./Newton Wrestling Club) – eliminated
LOSS Halil Cinar (Turkey), 7-0
60kg: Zan Fugitt (Nixa, Mo.) – awaiting repechage
LOSS Gaspar Terteryan (Armenia), 9-0
65 kg: Joel Adams (Omaha, Neb./The Best Wrestler) – gold medal match
WIN Takaku Suzuki (Japan), 8-0
WIN Saya Brunner (Switzerland), 10-0
WIN Aleksandre Rusitashvili (Georgia), 6-0
WIN Petro Shafranskyi (Ukraine), 6-0
vs. Ahoura Bouveiri (Iran), seventh at 2022 U17 Greco-Roman Asian Championships
71kg: Arvin Khosravy (Woodland Hills, Calif.) – awaiting repechage
WIN Marco Begle (Austria), 9-0
LOSS Anri Putkaradze (Georgia), 10-0
80 kg: Cole Han-Lindemyer (Farmington, Minn./Pinnacle Wrestling Club) – eliminated
LOSS Taizo Yoshida (Japan), 8-4
92kg: Cody Merrill (Ontario, Calif./Daniel Cormier Wrestling Club) - semifinals
WIN Arsen Ruslanov (Kyrgyzstan), 9-0
WIN Florin Manolache (Romania), fall
vs. Darius Kiefer (GER), third at 2022 U17 European Championships
110 kg: Koy Hopke (Amery, Wis./Pinnacle Wrestling Club) – eliminated
WIN Maxim Ukraintsev (Kazakhstan), 8-0
LOSS Dmytro Stryzhekozin (Ukraine), 8-0
Schedule (six hours ahead of U.S. EST)
Tuesday, July 26
4:15 a.m. – Opening Ceremony
5 p.m. – Semifinals (GR 45, 51, 60, 71, 92 kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (GR 48, 55, 65, 80, 110 kg)
Wednesday, July 27
11:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (WFS 43, 49, 57, 65, 73 kg), repechage (GR 45, 51, 60, 71, 92 kg)
5 p.m. – Semifinals (WFS 43, 49, 57, 65, 73 kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (GR 45, 51, 60, 71, 92 kg)
Thursday, July 28
11:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (WFS 40, 46, 53, 61, 69 kg), repechage (WFS 43, 49, 57, 65, 73 kg)
5: p.m. – Semifinals (WFS 40, 46, 53, 61, 69 kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (WFS 43, 49, 57, 65, 73 kg)
Friday, July 29
11:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (FS 48, 55, 65, 80, 110 kg), repechage (WFS 40, 46, 53, 61, 69 kg)
5 p.m. – Semifinals (FS 48, 55, 65, 80, 110 kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (WFS 40, 46, 53, 61, 69 kg)
Saturday, July 30
11:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (FS 45, 51, 60, 71, 92 kg), repechage (GR 48, 55, 65, 80, 110 kg)
5 p.m. – Semifinals (FS 45, 51, 60, 71, 92 kg)
6 p.m. – Finals (FS 48, 55, 65, 80, 110 kg)
Sunday, July 31
4:30 p.m. – Repechage (FS 45, 51, 60, 71, 92 kg)
6 p.m. Finals (FS 45, 51, 60, 71, 92 kg)