Alli Ragan gets her hand raised after beating Lauren Louive at Final X (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)LINCOLN, Neb. -- Six more wrestlers earned spots on the 2019 World Team with victories in Saturday's opening session at Final X: Lincoln.
Two of the winners came in women's wrestling, while four came in Greco-Roman.
Both Final X winners in the women's wrestling competition were repeat Final X winners: Alli Ragan and Jacarra Winchester.
Ragan, a two-time world silver medalist, dominated Lauren Louive in two straight matches at 59 kilograms. Ragan, who trains with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, won both matches by 10-0 technical fall.
In the first match, Ragan scored three takedowns and two turns to claim a first-period technical fall. It was more of the same in the second match as she rolled to another 10-0 technical fall, scoring three takedowns and two turns again to put the match away in the first period.
A year ago, Ragan won Final X, but was unable to compete at the World Championships due to injury.
"I don't really think about the past," said Ragan. "This is what's most important, it's what's in front of me. I'm here. I'm part of the process. Worlds now. Try to get on top of that podium."
Jacarra Winchester defeated Dominique Parrish in two straight matches (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)Winchester made her second straight World Team with two straight wins over Dominique Parrish at 55 kilograms.
Winchester scored five first-period takedowns in the first match to win 10-0. In the second match, Winchester jumped out to an 8-1 lead at the break. Parrish was able to score a takedown in the final period, but ultimately fell short 8-3 in the second match.
Last year, Winchester competed at the World Championships and fell just short of earning a medal, losing in the bronze-medal match to place fifth.
In Greco-Roman, Ildar Hafizov, Ryan Mango, Raymond Bunker and G'Angelo Hancock secured spots on the World Team.
Ildar Hafizov lifts Mike Fuenffinger at Final X (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)Hafizov, a member of the U.S. Army's World Class Athlete Program, showcased his strong par terre skills on his way to defeating teammate Mike Fuenffinger in two straight matches at 60 kilograms.
In the first match, Hafizov, a 2008 Olympian for Uzbekistan, opened up the scoring early, scoring a point off a passivity, a two-point turn off a high gut wrench and a four-point throw to go up 7-0. Fuenffinger came on strong in the second period, scoring five unanswered points but fell 7-5. The second match was all Hafizov. After scoring a point off passivity, Hafizov scored four consecutive turns to claim a 9-0 technical fall.
Hafizov moved to the United States in 2014. He will see his family at the World Championships in Kazakhstan -- which borders his native Uzbekistan -- for the first time in over five years.
"I think it's a huge opportunity for me personally to go to Kazakhstan and see them because I didn't see them in more than five years since I moved here," said Hafizov. "My father dreaming to come to visit Kazakhstan and see me … little brothers too."
Bunker, a U.S. Open champion, defeated Alex Mossing to earn a spot on the World Team at 72 kilograms for the first time in his career. The 25-year-old U.S. Marine took the first match 3-1 before closing it out with a 7-0 victory. After the match, Bunker dedicated the victory to his mother who is battling cancer.
Ryan Mango celebrates after defeating Xavier Johnson (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)Mango claimed his spot on the World Team by defeating Xavier Johnson in two consecutive matches at 63 kilograms.
Mango came from behind in both matches. In the opening match, Johnson took a 2-0 lead into the break. In the second period, Mango came out with a takedown before using a trap-arm gut wrench to roll to a 13-2 technical fall. In the second match, Johnson once again controlled the early part of the match. He jumped out to a 5-0 lead on the strength of a passivity point and four-point throw. Just like in the first match, Mango battled back. This time he used a step out, passivity and four-point throw to claim a 6-5 come-from-behind victory.
The final Greco-Roman wrestler to earn a spot on the 2019 World Team in the opening session was G'Angelo Hancock, who defeated Lucas Sheridan in two straight matches at 97 kilograms. It marks the third straight year Hancock has made the World Team.
The 21-year-old Hancock opened with first-period technical fall (8-0) over Sheridan. He then closed out the series with a 5-2 victory.
Tonight's Final X session is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET.
Women's wrestling results
59 kilograms: Alli Ragan over Lauren Louive, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Ragan tech. fall Louive, 10-0
Match 2: Ragan tech. fall Louive, 10-0
55 kilograms: Jacarra Winchester over Dominique Parrish, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Winchester tech. fall Parrish, 10-0
Match 2: Winchester dec. Parrish, 8-3
Greco-Roman results
60 kilograms: Ildar Hafizov over Mike Fuenffinger, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Hafizov dec. Fuenffinger, 7-5
Match 2: Hafizov tech. fall Fuenffinger, 9-0
63 kilograms: Ryan Mango over Xavier Johnson, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Mango tech. fall Johnson, 13-2
Match 2: Mango dec. Johnson, 6-5
72 kilograms: Raymond Bunker over Alex Mossing, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Bunker dec. Mossing, 3-1
Match 2: Bunker dec. Mossing, 7-0
97 kilograms: G'Angelo Hancock over Lucas Sheridan, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Hancock tech. fall Sheridan, 8-0
Match 2: Hancock dec. Sheridan, 5-2
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