2021 Cadet World Champion Bo Bassett (Photo courtesy of Josh Conklin; JoshConklinPhotos.com)On the final day of competition in men's freestyle at the Cadet World Championships, the American team won two out of three medal round matches. The highlight of the day was the performance by Bo Bassett in the 45 kg finals. Bassett only needed a minute and 27 seconds to dispose of Alikhan Ashinov (Russia) to clinch his world title. Despite giving up the initial takedown, Bassett was undeterred and picked up a pair of his own before muscling Ashinov to his back with a cow catcher. A few seconds later the Russian was pinned. Two previous opponents met the same fate as Ashinov, since Bassett pinned three and teched his semifinal opponent 13-2.
Also picking up hardware was Nate Jesuroga at 51 kg. In the bronze medal match, the Iowa native also surrendered the first takedown, but gave up nothing afterwards. Jesuroga tied the match (though he owned criteria) in the waning seconds of the opening period, then blew the bout open in the second. He would go on to win, 6-2.
Gavin Nelson at 92 kg was shut out by Kazakhstan's Kamil Kurugliyev 4-0 in his bid for a bronze medal.
Team USA's final medal haul includes a pair of golds (Bassett, Meyer Shapiro), three silvers (Luke Lilledahl, James Rowley, Jim Mullen), and a bronze (Jesuroga). That was good enough for a second place finish, as a team, just four points behind India. The American's did finish ahead of third-place Russia, for the first time in Cadet World competition.
Also, on Wednesday, the Cadet Women's team took the mat for the first time. Four of the five who competed today are still in the medal hunt on Thursday. Audrey Jimenez (49 kg) and Lillian Freitas (73 kg) advanced to the semifinals and will wrestle for a bronze medal. Angie Dill (43 kg) and Savannah Cosme (57 kg) have to fight through repechage matches before wrestling for a medal.
Jimenez led all American women's competitors with three victories on the day, each coming via technical superiority, 10-0. Freitas had a pair of wins, one via tech and another by fall. Both fell in the semis by two points.
Wednesday's Cadet World Championship Results
Men's Freestyle
45 kg - Bo Bassett (USA)
(W) vs. Alikhan Ashinov (Russia) Fall 1:27 - Gold Medal Match
51 kg - Nate Jesuroga (USA)
(W) vs. Tigran Buniatyan (Armenia) 6-2 - Bronze Medal Match
92 kg - Gavin Nelson (USA)
(W) vs. Kamil Kurugliyev (Kazakhstan) - Bronze Medal Match
Women's Freestyle
43 kg - Angie Dill (USA)
(W) vs. Julia Dolna (Poland) Fall :55
(L) vs. Tannu (India) 13-0
Repechage Opponent - Yelyzaveta Kulakivska (Ukraine)
49 kg - Audrey Jimenez (USA)
(W) vs. Neha Kiran Chougale (India) 10-0
(W) vs. Laura Ganikyzy (Kazakhstan) 10-0
(W) vs. Sarah Lins (Austria) 10-0
(L) vs. Svenja Jungo (Switzerland) 8-6
Bronze Medal Opponent - Winner of Fabiana Rinella (Italy)/Delia Voiculescu (Romania)
57 kg - Savannah Cosme (USA)
(L) vs. Selvi Ilyasgolu (Turkey) 6-0
Repechage Opponent - Khaliun Byambasuren (Mongolia)
65 kg - Grace Stem (USA)
(L) vs. Duygu Gen (Turkey) 6-6
73 kg - Lillian Freitas (USA)
(W) vs. Patrycja Dorota Cuber (Poland) Fall :36
(W) vs. Valentina Toreniyazova (Uzbekistan) 10-0
(L) vs. Kseniya Patapovich (Belarus) 3-1
Bronze Medal Opponent - Winner of Milla Andelic (Croatia)/Veronika Nyikos (Hungary)
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