World Championships

Nagao places 5th at U23 World Championships as Competition Wraps

PONTEVEDRA, Spain – A week full of action that saw a pair of Gophers competing in the U23 World Championships came to a close on Sunday morning, as Gopher freshman Aaron Nagao closed out the weekend with a fifth-place finish.

Action began on Monday morning for Greco-Roman competition, as Michial Foy was slated to compete in the 87-kilogram weight division. He opened up his first World Championships against Croatia’s Filip Smetko, falling by a score of 4-0.

The turning point in the match was Smetko’s ability to convert in par terre position, as he used a gut wrench in the first period to turn Foy following a passivity point to give Foy a three-point deficit going into the break. Following the loss, Foy would need Smetko to reach the finals in order to be pulled back in to repechage, however Smetko would drop his next match and Foy would be eliminated after going 0-1.

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Foy, Nagao to Represent Team USA at U23 World Championships

MINNEAPOLIS – A pair of current Gophers will be heading overseas in hopes of becoming a world champion, as both Michial Foy and Aaron Nagao will compete in the U23 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain next week.

Foy, a sixth-year senior for Minnesota, will be competing on Monday morning at 87 kilograms as the Greco-Roman portion of the tournament gets underway. Foy earned his ticket to the World Championships by winning the 87-kilogram bracket at the U23 World Team Trials earlier this summer, beating opponent Vincent Baker in the Best-of-3 finals.

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Hancock gets bronze medal in Greco-Roman at Senior World Championships; Vera not eligible for repechage

OSLO, Norway – 2020 Olympian G’Angelo Hancock put together a tournament to proud of after winning a bronze medal at 97 kg in Greco-Roman on Saturday evening at Jordal Amfi.

Hancock, competing in his fourth Senior World Championships, defeated 2012 Junior World silver medalist Peter Oehler of Germany by injury default in 3:32 in his bronze-medal match.

Hancock scored first when Oehler was hit for passivity, taking a 1-0 lead. Hancock was not able to turn Oehler on top. Late in the first period, with Oehler attempting to push Hancock off the mat, Hancock executed a slick counter and scored a takedown on the edge for a 3-0 lead going into the break. Early in the second period, Hancock powered Oehler to the mat for an apparent takedown, with Oehler attempting to let the referees know he was hurt. Hancock also turned him before the action was stopped. Officials did not award Hancock any points, but the injury to Oehler’s leg was too severe for him to continue and Hancock was the winner by injury default. Continue reading at teamusa.org →

Vera is possible for repechage, Jones and Omania eliminated in Greco-Roman at Senior Worlds in Oslo

OSLO, Norway – The three U.S. Greco-Roman entries in Group Three of the Greco-Roman tournament at the Senior World Championships were defeated in their first matches on Saturday morning. All three were competing in the first Senior World Championships of their career.

Alan Vera lost in an 8-0 technical fall to 2021 European Junior champion Turpal-Ali Bisultanov of Denmark at 87 kg. Vera was hit for passivity to put Bisultanov up 1-0. Bisultanov hit a gut wrench to make it 3-0, then followed up with a lift near the edge. Vera seemingly blocked the throw, but officials awarded Bisultanov a point for the lift, then a caution and two points for fleeing the mat, to make it 6-0. Bisultanov finished the match off with one more turn from par terre.

Bisultanov won his next two matches to qualify for the semifinals, where he will face No. 1 seed and 2020 Olympic bronze medalist Zurabi Datunashvili of Serbia. Bisultanov must win his semifinals bout against Datunishvili for Vera to be eligible for repechage. Only those who lost to a finalist are eligible for the repechage.
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Hancock to go for bronze in Greco-Roman at Senior World Championships; Roberts, Schultz not eligible for repechage

OSLO, Norway – 2020 Olympian G’Angelo Hancock will compete for a bronze medal on Saturday night, after losing his 97 kg Greco-Roman semifinal match on Friday evening at Jordal Amfi.

Hancock, who is competing in his fourth Senior World Championships, lost a heartbreaking 4-4 criteria decision to Alex Szoke of Hungary in his semifinals match.

Hancock got out to an early lead after a passivity call against Szoke made it 1-0. Hancock worked a hard-fought gut wrench for two points and a 3-0 lead which he took into the break. A passivity call against Hancock in the second period made it 2-1. Hancock defended off the whistle and created action to get back to their feet. Szoke’s corner challenged, believing there was exposure, but the call was confirmed and Hancock’s lead went up to 4-1. Continue reading at teamusa.org →

Hancock qualifies for semifinals at Senior Worlds in Greco-Roman; Roberts, Schultz drop bouts, Provisor loses repechage

OSLO, Norway – 2020 Olympian G’Angelo Hancock got off to a great start at the Senior World Championships in Greco-Roman on Friday, winning his first two matches without allowing a point and qualifying for the semifinals at 97 kg.

Hancock opened with a solid 5-0 victory over two-time U23 European bronze medalist Ibrahim Tigci of Turkey. Tigci was hit for passivity first to make it 1-0, and Hancock turned him with a high gut wrench to lead 3-0 going into the break. In the second period, Hancock locked up a front headlock and powered Tigci to the mat for a takedown and the final 5-0 score

In the quarterfinals, Hancock was in total control in a 6-0 victory over 2018 World silver medalist Kiril Milov of Bulgaria. Milov was hit for passivity, putting Hancock up 1-0. In par terre, Hancock lifted and threw Milov for two points for a 3-0 lead. Milov tried a throw which Hancock countered for a takedown and a 5-0 lead. The Bulgarian corner challenged the call, but it was denied, giving Hancock another point and a 6-0 lead at the break. There was no scoring in the second period, and Milov was not close to getting a successful attack. Continue reading at teamusa.org →