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U.S. women Anthony, Leathers, Gray win gold medals at Bill Farrell International

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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling

Victoria Anthony battles Marika Shidocki of Japan in the 48 kg finals. Photo by Larry Slater.


Three U.S. women claimed gold medals on the first day of the Bill Farrell Memorial International at the New York Athletic Club on Thursday.


In a battle of past Junior World champions at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., two-time Junior World champion Victoria Anthony (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) dominated 2011 Junior World champion Marika Shidocki of Japan in the finals, scoring a pin at 5:50. Anthony, a 2013 World Team member, was leading 7-2 when she tossed and pinned Shidocki.


“I had to get going with my motion, knowing I am not going to get my shots right away, but motion all the time. Wrestling a Japanese girl, whenever you get a chance to wrestle one, they all wrestle pretty similar with their movement. It is great to be here. Spain was my last tournament (in the summer) and it’s November now, so I have been waiting a lot for this,” said Anthony.


In an all-USA final at 58 kg/128 lbs., 2015 Junior World bronze medalist Becka Leathers (Choctaw, Okla./Titan Mercury WC) scored a quick 10-0 technical fall over Lauren Louive (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) in 2:01. She scored takedowns and turns to wrack up her points.


“It is fun. I haven’t competed since Spain (this past summer), so it feels good to be back on the mat. I got sick and I was pretty devastated not going to (Junior Worlds) so it is good to get out here and show I didn’t lose anything,” said Leathers.


Three-time World champion Adeline Gray (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) won a three-athlete round robin at 75 kg/165 lbs. with a pin and a technical fall. In her final bout, Gray turned 2016 Olympian Signe Store of Norway with an arm bar and pinned her in 1:50.


It was Gray’s first competition since the 2016 Olympics. She made a last minute decision to enter.


Japan had a pair of individual champions who won Bill Farrell International titles for the second straight year, Yuka Yago at 53 kg/116.5 lbs. and Ayako Ito at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.


Yago scored a 10-0 technical fall over Oklahoma City’s Rachel Archer (Winlock, Wash./Aires WC) in the finals. Last year, Yago won the title at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.


Ito also had a technical fall in the gold-medal bout, beating veteran Breanne Graham of Canada, 10-0 in 1:21.


The other champion was Canada’s Olivia DiBacco who won both of her round robin bouts at 69 kg/152 lbs. Two-time Junior World Team member Rachel Watters (Ankeny, Iowa/Aires WC) finished second.


The Bill Farrell International continues on Friday with men’s freestyle in the six Olympic weight classes. The event is being held alongside the U.S. Non-Olympic Weight Class World Team Trials.


BILL FARRELL INTERNATIONAL


At New York, N.Y.



Women’s freestyle results



48 kg/105.5 lbs.

Gold – Victoria Anthony (USA/Sunkist) pin Marika Shidocki (Japan), 5:50

Bronze – Erin Golston (NYAC) dec. Amy Fearnside (Titan Mercury WC), 8-7


53 kg/116.5 lbs.

Gold - Yuka Yago (Japan) tech. fall Rachel Archer (USA/Aires WC), 11-0, 3:24

Bronze – Samantha Stewart (Canada) tech. fall Jade Parsons (Canada), 10-0, 3:18


58 kg/128 lbs.

Gold – Becka Leathers (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Lauren Louive (Hawkeye WC), 10-0, 2:01

Bronze – Carla Ponce (Aires WC) won by forfeit over Hannah Taylor (Canada)


63 kg/138.75 lbs.

Gold – Ayako Ito (Japan) tech. fall Breanne Graham (Canada), 10-0, 1:21

Bronze – Jessica Brouillette (Canada) dec. Alexis Porter (NYAC), 5-3


69 kg/152 lbs.

Gold - Olivia DiBacco (Canada)

Silver - Rachel Watters (USA/Aires WC)

Bronze - Tamae Yoshi (Japan)

DiBacco dec. Yoshi, 7-0

DiBacco dec. Watters, 9-8

Watters dec. Yoshi, 8-2


75 kg/165 lbs.

Gold - Adeline Gray (USA/NYAC)

Silver - Signe Fidge Store (Norway)

Bronze – M. Saurez (NYAC)

Store tech fall Saurez, 10-0, 0:44

Gray tech. fall Saurez, 10-0, 1:38

Gray pin Store, 1:50

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