2021 U17 World Champion Erica Pastoriza in the 2022 semifinalsCompetition in Greco-Roman at the U17 World Championships wrapped up on Wednesday, while the women's freestyle team hit the mat for the first time. Yesterday, the Greco team hit an important milestone as Joel Adams won the first gold medal by an American since Cohlton Schultz did so in 2017. Today more history was rewritten as Cody Merrill won a bronze medal at 92 kg. It marked the first time since 2013 that the American Greco squad had earned more than one medal at U17 Worlds. In 2013, it was Cade Olivas and Jon Jay Chavez who brought home the hardware.
Merrill made it to the semifinals on Tuesday, which clinched a berth in today's bronze medal matchup. His opponent was Marcell Gyuricza (Hungary), an eleventh-place finisher at the European Championships in freestyle. Gyuricza got on the board first with a point via passivity, but could not add to it in the ensuing par terre exchange. With just over :20 seconds remaining in the opening period, Merrill got on the board with a push and led via criteria.
Despite his lead, Merrill pushed the pace in the second and seemingly wore down his Hungarian opponent. With under a minute remaining in the contest, Gyuricza pulled Merrill into a front headlock; however, the American quickly drug out of it and hustled around for an insurance takedown. Gyucricza conceded victory and sat down with about :04 seconds left on the clock and didn't pursue a winning score. That made the final 3-1 in Merrill's favor.
While the majority of the world team's focused on Rome, Merrill was in action less than a week ago, winning a Junior National freestyle title at one of the deepest weights in Fargo (195 lbs)
Day one in women's freestyle was productive as 2021 U17 world champion Erica Pastoriza put herself in a position to repeat as she made the 43 kg finals. Right off the bat, Pastoriza faced what proved to be her toughest challenge of the day with Elvina Karimzada (Azerbaijan). Pastoriza prevailed 7-4, but not without a fight from Karimzada. At the 2021 World Championships, Karimzada was fifth in the 40 kg weight class won by Pastoriza, though the two did not meet.
In both the quarter and semifinals, Pastoriza was able to open up her offense and won via tech. All that's standing between her and a date with US history (possibly the first woman to win multiple U17 world titles) is 2022 Asian Champion Ritika (India).
In addition to Pastoriza, three other US women are in the medal hunt. Shelby Moore (57 kg), Sydney Perry (65 kg), and Kaiulani Garcia (73 kg) are all in repechage at their respective weights. Each will need two wins tomorrow to claim a bronze medal.
92 kg Greco-Roman
Bronze Medal Match - Cody Merrill (USA) over Marcell Gyuricza (Hungary) 3-1
60 kg Greco-Roman
Repechage - Yussuf Ashrapov (Kazakhstan) over Zan Fugitt 14-5
71 kg Greco-Roman
Repechage - Arvin Khosravy (USA) over Mihael Lukac (Croatia) 3-1
Bronze Medal Match - Ibrahim Ozdemire (Turkey) over Arvin Khosravy (USA) 5-3
43 kg Women's Freestyle
Qualification - Erica Pastoriza (USA) over Elvina Karimzada (Azerbaijan) 7-4
Quarterfinals - Erica Pastoriza (USA) over Dominika Konkel (Poland) 10-0
Semifinals - Erica Pastoriza (USA) over Arina Abdullina (Kazakhstan) 12-2
Finals Matchup Erica Pastoriza (USA) vs. Ritika (India)
49 kg Women's Freestyle
Round of 16 - Fabiana Rinella (Italy) over Audrey Jimenez (USA) 9-2
57 kg Women's Freestyle
Qualification - Shelby Moore (USA) over Michalina Ignaszak (Poland) 11-0
Round of 16 - Shelby Moore (USA) over Alina Filipovych (Ukraine) 11-8
Quarterfinals - Sowaka Uchida (Japan) over Shelby Moore (USA) 10-0
Repechage Matchup - Shelby Moore (USA) vs. Mirijam Hansen (Norway)/Annatina Lippuner (Switzerland) winner
65 kg Women's Freestyle
Round of 16 - Sydney Perry (USA) over Szonja Szabo (Hungary) 5-0
Quarterfinals - Anju Sato (Japan) over Sydney Perry (USA) 3-0
Repechage Matchup - Sydney Perry (USA) vs. Daria Konstantynova (Ukraine)
73 kg Women's Freestyle
Qualification - Priya (India) over Kaiulani Garcia (USA) 3-1
Repechage Matchup - Dominika Pochowska (Poland) vs. Kaiulani Garcia (USA)
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