BATTLE AT THE FALLS - NIAGARA FALLS
U.S., Canada, Ukraine deliver with great show
By Craig Sesker NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario, Canada –
Women’s freestyle wrestling continues to grow and build on all levels, and that was clearly evident during the exciting Battle at the Falls event on May 31. Teams from the United States, Canada
and Ukraine put on a great show during three action-packed dual meets held before a supportive crowd at the Gale Centre. The dual capped World Wrestling
Month as the sport continues its quest to maintain its spot on the Olympic Games program. The U.S. downed Ukraine 16-13 in the
first dual meet before Canada topped Ukraine 20-11. Canada defeated the U.S. 18-10 in the final dual. The U.S. started its dual against Canada with a big win when Carlene Sluberski, from nearby Fredonia, N.Y., defeated Natasha Kramble 11-0 at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. “This was a great event and it was awesome to get an opportunity to wrestle here,” Sluberski said. “They put on a pret- ty big show and I think all the teams enjoyed it. I was really nervous in my first match and I really wanted to put on a bet- ter show in my second match.” American Veronica Carlson looked
strong in earning a 9-0 win over Canada’s Stacie Anaka in a battle of past Junior World medalists at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. “This event was really important,” Carlson said. “A big factor with the International Olympic Committee is gen- der equality. Women’s wrestling is a growing sport. To capitalize on this event here is really important for us as a global community of women’s wrestlers, and events like this will help our sport grow.” Canada capped the win over the U.S.
when World champion Jessica MacDonald earned a 10-0 win in the final match at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. Americans Katherine Fulp-Allen and Brittney Roberts earned impressive come-from-behind wins over past World medalists in the Ukraine dual.
18 USA Wrestler
American Erin Clodgo battles Canada’s Justine Bouchard at the Battle at the Falls on May 31 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Rick Denham photo.
Fulp-Allen trailed by a point late in the
match with Irina Husyak before gaining a takedown and exposure with 12 seconds left to earn an exciting 8-6 win at 55 kg/121 lbs. “Down 6-5, I knew I still had time and I
had to wait until the right moment to set up what I needed,” Fulp-Allen said. “It was pretty exciting to get the team going with a win. I definitely think the new rules cater to my style of wrestling where we can score more points now.” With the U.S. leading Ukraine 13-12 in
the team score entering the final bout, Roberts rallied with a takedown with a minute left to knock off past World cham- pion Katerina Burmistrova 5-4 at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. “It was super exciting,” Roberts said. “I
knew I had to win for us to win the dual. I wanted to perform for our team. It was exhilarating to get that last takedown to win the match.” Two-time Junior World medalist Alli
Ragan also delivered with a big win at 59
kg/130 lbs. Ragan stormed out quickly with two headlocks on her way to down- ing past World medalist Natalya Synyshyn 12-4 at 59 kg/130 lbs. World champion Elena Pirozhkova fol-
lowed with an impressive 10-0 win over past World champion Ganna Vasilenko at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. The dual meet took place two days
after the International Olympic Committee Executive Board placed wrestling, along with baseball/softball and squash, on the short list of sports to be considered for inclusion in the 2020 Olympics. The final vote, by the 101-member IOC, will take place Sept. 8 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The IOC Executive Board had recom- mended in February that wrestling be removed as a core Olympic sport in 2020. The event in Canada capped a great
month for wrestling where the Rumble on the Rails event in New York City and the United 4 Wrestling event in Los Angeles were held. The U.S., Iran and Russia
Continued on page 19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44