Makoyed wins gold at Matteo Pellicone, defeats a World silver medalist and a U23 World Champion
by Ellen Paddock, USA Wrestling
Makoyed is interviewed after winning the Matteo Pellicone ranking event. Photo courtesy of Terry Steiner.
Yelena Makoyed made her debut in major Senior-level international competition with some noise. On her way to a gold medal at the Matteo Pellicone ranking event in Italy, she defeated several decorated wrestlers, asserting herself as a force on the international stage.
Makoyed of Cardinal WC/TMWC met Anastasiya Alpyeyeva of Ukraine in the gold medal match. Alpyeyeva is a 2021 U23 World Champion and 2018 Junior World bronze medalist. Makoyed, who is second on the National Team, a two-time NCWWC national champion for North Central College and a 2021 Junior Pan American champion dominated the match from the start.
In the first period, Makoyed scored two takedowns and took Alpyeyeva to her back from the seatbelt position to lead 6-0 at the break. A snap-down go-behind to a gut wrench sealed the technical fall, 10-0, and Team USA’s first gold medal of the event.
Makoyed’s journey to the finals was equally impressive. She defeated Epp Mae, a two-time Olympian and 2021 World silver medalist from Estonia. Additionally, she posted wins over Martina Kuenz of Austria, 10-2, Francy Raedelt of Germany by fall and Cataline Axente of Romania by fall.
Amanda Martinez of Cardinal WC/TMWC, who is third on the National Team, also competed today and finished eighth at 57 kg. She drew Patrycja Gill of Poland who was a 2019 Junior World champion and fell 10-1. Gil finished with bronze.
Three Greco-Roman weight classes competed alongside the women this morning. Patrick Smith of Minnesota Storm, Kamal Bey of Army WCAP and Spencer Woods of Army WCAP.
Bey finished eighth in the final standings after losing to 2022 European champion Robert Fritsch of Hungary. Fritsch, who finished with bronze, was defeated in the semifinals by Zoltan Levai of Hungary, eliminating Bey from the tournament.
At 82 kg Woods fell to fifth place finisher Matteo Maffezzoli of Italy, a 2022 Muhamet Malo International runner-up 5-4. Maffezzoli lost in the semifinals to Rasoul Garmsiri of Iran, eliminating Woods from the tournament. Smith was forced to withdraw due to injury.
The action will continue tomorrow with the remaining six women’s freestyle weights (50 kg, 53 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 65 kg, 72 kg). 2022 U.S. Senior World Team member Abigail Nette, Final X runner-up and 2022 Pan American champion Skylar Grote, 2022 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament bronze medalist Marilyn Garcia and Emma Bruntil, who was third in the World Team Trials process will highlight the competition for Team USA.
The action can be streamed live on FloWrestling. Rome is six hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern time zone.
MATTEO PELLICONE RANKING SERIES EVENT
At Rome Italy, June 22, 2022
Final results
WFS
57 kg
Gold - Alina Akobiia (Ukraine)
Silver - Elvira Kamaloglu (Turkey)
Bronze - Giullia Rodrigues Penalber (Brazil)
Bronze - Patrycja Gil (Poland)
62 Kg
Gold - Iryna Koliadenko (Ukraine)
Silver - Ilona Prokopevniuk (Ukraine)
Bronze - Lais Nunes (Brazil)
68 Kg
Gold - Alla Belinska (Ukraine)
Silver - Irina Ringaci (Moldova)
Bronze - Wiktoria Choluj (Poland)
76 Kg
Gold - Yelena Makoyed
Silver - Anastasiya Alpyeyeva (Ukraine)
Bronze - Martina Kuenz (Austria)
Greco-Roman
72 Kg
Gold – Kristupas Sleiva (Lithuania)
Silver - Ulvi Ganizade (Azebaijan)
Bronze - Selcuk Can (Turkey)
Bronze - Valentin Petic (Moldova)
77 Kg
Gold - Zoltan Levai (Hungary)
Silver - Amin Yavar Kaviyaninejad (Iran)
Bronze - Robert Attila Fritsch (Hungary)
Bronze - Per Albin Olofsson (Sweden)
82 Kg
Gold - Mihail Bradu (Moldova)
Silver - Rasoul Sadegh Garmsiri (Iran)
Bronze - Daniel Cataraga (Moldova)
Bronze - Exauce Mukubu (Norway)
U.S. women's freestyle performances
57 kg - Amanda Martinez (Cardinal WC/TMWC), 8th place
LOSS Patrycja Gill (Poland), 10-1
76 kg - Yelena Makoyed (Cardinal WC/TMWC), Gold Medal
WIN Martina Kuenz (Austria), 10-2
WIN Epp Mae (Estonia), 8-7
WIN Francy Raedelt (Germany), Fall 3:52
WIN Cataline Axente (Romania), Fall 2:01
WIN Anastasiya Alpyeyeva (Ukraine), tech. fall 10-0
U.S. Greco-Roman performances
72 kg - Patrick Smith (Minnesota Storm)
LOSS Haavard Joergensen (Norway), FF
77 kg - Kamal Bey (Army WCAP), 8th place
LOSS Robert Fritsch (Hungary), 5-1
82 kg - Spencer Woods (Army WCAP), 7th place
LOSS Matteo Maffezzoli (Italy), 5-4
Remaining Schedule (six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone)
Friday, June 24
10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds and repechage (WFS 50, 53, 55, 59, 65, 72 & FS 97,125)
6 p.m. – Medal matches (WFS 50, 53, 55, 59, 65, 72 & FS 97, 125)
Saturday, June 25
10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds and repechage (FS 57, 61, 65, 70, 74, 79, 86, 92)
7 p.m. – Medal matches (FS 57, 61, 65, 70, 74, 79, 86, 92)