Riner, Elliott, Michaelson reach U17 Beach World Championships semifinals

Alessandra Elliott (USA) competing in the U17 Beach World Championships. Photo by Cheryl Baynard.


CONSTANTA, Romania – Three U.S. wrestlers have advanced to the semifinals at the U17 Beach World Championships on Thursday morning.


Working their way into the semifinals at 60 kg in the women’s division are Ciara Riner of Huntington, W.Va. and Alessandra Elliott of Staten Island, N.Y. The two Americans will face each other in the semifinals.


Riner won Group B with a 3-0 record. Elliott had to win a knock-out match to advance into Group A, where she had a 2-1 record and placed second in the group. The winner and runner-up in each Group reached the semifinals.


Lars Michaelson has also reached the men’s semifinals at 80 kg, after placing second in Group A with a 2-1 record. There were three groups in his weight class. All three Group winners advanced, and Michaelson was the only Group runner-up to qualify for the semifinals based upon classification points scored.


In Group A, Michaelson lost to Anar Jafari of Azerbaijan, 3-2. Michaelson has drawn Jafari in the semifinals, and will get another chance against him.


By reaching the semifinals, all three athletes have guaranteed themselves a medal match. With Riner and Elliott competing against each other, the USA is guaranteed at least one finalist (and at least one medalist).


The other U.S. athlete entered on Thursday, Kane (Foley) Devall of New Bern, N.C. at 80 kg in the men’s draw, was eliminated with an 0-3 record.


The semifinals begin Constanta is seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone.

UWW Beach Wrestling website

Information on Beach Worlds on UWW website

U17 BEACH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Constanta, Romania, September 1


U.S. U17 women results


60 kg – Ciara Riner, Huntington, W.Va.

WIN Florentina Mantog (Romania), pin 0:08

WIN Evangelia Tranou (Greece), pin, 0:55

WIN Leana Serra (France), 3-2, 1:00

Semifinals – vs. Alessandra Elliott (USA)


60 kg – Alessandra Elliott, Staten Island, N.Y. (Tottenville High School)

WIN Silviana Popescu (Romania), 0:37

WIN Madalina Prisacari (Moldova), pin 0:18

LOSS Lilya Cohen (France), pin, 1:17

WIN Florentia Rotaru (Romania), 3-2, 1:45

Semifinals – Vs. Ciara Riner (USA)


U.S. U17 men results


80 kg – Lars Michaelson, Bremerton, Wash. (NWWC)

WIN Jozsef Jeresztesi (Romania), fall 0:35

WIN Constantin Badea (Romania), fall, 0:11

LOSS Anar Jafarli (Azerbaijan), 3-2, 1:43

Semifinals – Vs. Anar Jafarli (Azerbaijan)


80 kg – Kane (Foley) Devall, New Bern, N.C.

LOSS Andrei Cazacu (Romania), fall, 0:54

LOSS Arthur Giacomazzi (France), 3-0, 0:45

LOSS Lars Olaussen (Norway), 3-0, 0:55

Event Schedule

seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone

Thursday, September 1

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon – U17 Group Rounds

4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – U17 Elimination Rounds and Finals