USA Goes 3-for-3 in Gold-Medal Matches, Russia Wins Team Title

ATHENS, Greece – The 2017 UWW Cadet World Championships wrapped up on Sunday night with the United States winning all three of its World title matches at the Ano Liosia Olympic Hall in Athens, Greece. 

Returning World champion Kurt MCHENRY (USA) repeated his golden performance from last year, winning the 46kg title over 2016 Cadet World bronze medalist Giorgi Gegelashvili of Georgia with a 12-4 decision after a late comeback attempt from Gegelashvili. 

Other Americans making it to the top of the podium were international newcomers Aaron BROOKS and Daniel KERKVLIET at 76kg and 100kg. Both faced off against Cadet European champions from Russia. 

Brooks ran out to a 12-3 lead over Arsamag KHOSTIKOEV (RUS) in the first period, thanks, in part, to a four-point throw on the edge to open scoring. Khostikoev landed two takedowns in the second period, but it was not enough as Brooks held on for a 12-7 win. 

In the night’s finale, Kerkvliet clashed with Ismail-Bek NIROV (RUS) in the 100kg finals. A very active Kerkvliet drew a passivity point in the first period, but Nirov took the lead on criteria with a step out to close out the first period. Nirov went back on the activity clock and was unable to score, ultimately giving the American a 2-1 win for gold. 

Russia did pick up a gold medal from Cadet European champion Inar KETIIA at 63 kg, who recorded a first-period 10-0 technical fall over Cadet Asian champion Kenshin ITO (JPN) for his first World medal. Ketiia had an impressive run, surrendering only six points throughout the tournament and shutting out three of his five opponents. 

In the 54kg final, Cadet Asian silver medalist Mehdi ESHGHIAVASOUKOLAEI (IRI) won a decisive 6-0 match against Kagata YAMAGUCHI (JPN). 

Despite an impressive night from the Americans, which included two wins over Russian opponents, Russia walked away with 77 points and the World team title in freestyle, defeating second-place USA’s 66 points. 

Rounding out the top-five teams were Azerbaijan with 61 points, Iran with 53, and Japan with 42. 

Results

46kg:
GOLD:  Kurt Nnamdi MC HENRY JUNIOR (USA) df. Giorgi GEGELASHVILI (GEO) by VPO1, 12-4  
BRONZE:  Magomed ABDURAKHMANOV (RUS) df. Adem Burak UZUN (TUR) by VPO1, 5-4  
BRONZE:  Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) df. Tofig ALIYEV (AZE) by VSU, 11-0  

54kg:
GOLD:  Mehdi Akhbar ESHGHIVASOUKOLAEI (IRI) df. Kanata YAMAGUCHI (JPN) by VPO, 6-0  
BRONZE:  Vladyslav OSTAPENKO (UKR) df. Roberto ALEJANDRO BLANCO (MEX) by VPO1, 5-4  
BRONZE:  Imam GANISHOV (RUS) df. Himanshu KUMAR (IND) by VPO1, 3-2  

63kg:
GOLD:  Inar KETIIA (RUS) df. Kenshin ITO (JPN) by VSU, 10-0  
BRONZE:  Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) df. Byambadorj ENKHBAYAR (MGL) by VSU, 11-0  
BRONZE:  Jacori Tyrese TEEMER (USA) df. Francois ROSSOUW (RSA) by VFA, 8-0  

76kg:
GOLD:  Aaron Marquel BROOKS (USA) df. Arsamag KHOSTIKOEV (RUS) by VPO1, 13-8  
BRONZE:  Meysam Enayatollah ZAREE (IRI) df. Oleksandr VYSHNIAK (UKR) by VPO1, 3-1  
BRONZE:  Piotr CARASENI (MDA) df. Erlan BEKTENALIEV (KGZ) by VSU, 11-0  

100kg:
GOLD:  Daniel Gregory Clifton KERKVLIET JR (USA) df. Ismail-Bek NIROV (RUS) by VPO1, 2-1  
BRONZE:  Seyedmehdi Seyedabasali HASHEMIJOUYBARI (IRI) df. Temraz ISMAYILOV (AZE) by VSU, 10-0  
BRONZE:  Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM) df. Radu LEFTER (MDA) by VSU, 10-0