Euro Olympic Qualifier 65kg

[mrh1645]

The Euro Olympic Qualifier tournament is this weekend. The top 2 will qualify for Olympics. This will shed some light on who Molinaro might see in Mongolia.

The top contenders at 65kg for the 2 Euro qualification spots are:

Mustafa Kaya (Turkey) -- ranked #5 in the world by Flo (there are 3 Turks listed on entry list but only 1 can wrestle in the tourney and Kaya is the top guy for them at the weight)

Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (Poland) -- ranked #9 in the world by Flo. Wrestled for Russia up until 2012.

Borislav Novachkov (Bulgaria) -- ranked #19 in the world by Flo -- 3xAA at Cal Poly

David Safaryan (Armenia) -- NR, but was the world champ at 66kg in 2013.

Zurabi Iakobishvili (Georgia) -- NR, but won Medved tourney in Feb. where Pico finished 3rd. There are two other Georgians on entry list, including Kelekhsashvili who was 5th at 2013 World Championships. Whoever wrestles for Georgia will be tough.

Azamat Nurikov (Belarus) -- NR, but finished 3rd at 70kg in recent European Championships and 5th at 70kg in 2015 World Championships

 

[dunkej01]

The Euro Olympic Qualifier tournament is this weekend. The top 2 will qualify for Olympics. This will shed some light on who Molinaro might see in Mongolia.

The top contenders at 65kg for the 2 Euro qualification spots are:

Mustafa Kaya (Turkey) -- ranked #5 in the world by Flo (there are 3 Turks listed on entry list but only 1 can wrestle in the tourney and Kaya is the top guy for them at the weight)

Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (Poland) -- ranked #9 in the world by Flo. Wrestled for Russia up until 2012.

Borislav Novachkov (Bulgaria) -- ranked #19 in the world by Flo -- 3xAA at Cal Poly

David Safaryan (Armenia) -- NR, but was the world champ at 66kg in 2013.

Zurabi Iakobishvili (Georgia) -- NR, but won Medved tourney in Feb. where Pico finished 3rd. There are two other Georgians on entry list, including Kelekhsashvili who was 5th at 2013 World Championships. Whoever wrestles for Georgia will be tough.

Nicely done. Thank you!

 

[tikk10]

Thanks mrh1645.

Here's the website that will stream that tournament, if you're awake very early tomorrow morning (starts 3:30 am EST). Won't be me. Same website will likely be the source streaming the Mongolia and Turkey tournaments, though I've noticed that Flo sometimes runs streams.

This Wikipedia page is a pretty thorough tally of which nations and wrestlers have to date qualified each weight, including women's and greco.

 

[manatree]

Japan hasn't qualified the weight yet, so one can assume that #20 Ishida will be going to Mongolia.

The latest (March 31) FLO Freestyle rankings really reinforces our place in the world of international wrestling. Of the 120 ranked wrestlers (20x6 weights) the USA had 7 ranked wrestlers. Iran has 15, Russia 31 and the former Soviet Republics 36. If the USSR was alive today, they would have 56% of the ranked wrestlers. Makes you wonder what an open international competition would look like.

Our ranked guys as of 3.31.2016:
65kg: 18-Brent Metcalf
74kg: 1-Jordan Burroughs & 20-Andrew Howe
97kg: 3-Kyle Snyder & 12-Jake Varner
125kg: 13-Tervel Dlagnev & 20-Zachery Rey

 

[NoVa Lion]

The Euro Olympic Qualifier tournament is this weekend. The top 2 will qualify for Olympics. This will shed some light on who Molinaro might see in Mongolia.

The top contenders at 65kg for the 2 Euro qualification spots are:

Mustafa Kaya (Turkey) -- ranked #5 in the world by Flo (there are 3 Turks listed on entry list but only 1 can wrestle in the tourney and Kaya is the top guy for them at the weight)

Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (Poland) -- ranked #9 in the world by Flo. Wrestled for Russia up until 2012.

Borislav Novachkov (Bulgaria) -- ranked #19 in the world by Flo -- 3xAA at Cal Poly

David Safaryan (Armenia) -- NR, but was the world champ at 66kg in 2013.

Zurabi Iakobishvili (Georgia) -- NR, but won Medved tourney in Feb. where Pico finished 3rd. There are two other Georgians on entry list, including Kelekhsashvili who was 5th at 2013 World Championships. Whoever wrestles for Georgia will be tough.

Azamat Nurikov (Belarus) -- NR, but finished 3rd at 70kg in recent European Championships and 5th at 70kg in 2015 World Championships

I thought it was the top 3 at the Mongolia meet qualified a spot for the Olympics and the top 2 at the Turkey meet the week after.

 

[mrh1645]

NoVa Lion, I believe you are correct. 7 spots left to qualify - two at this weekend's Euro Qualifier, three at World Qualifier in Mongolia, and two at 2nd World Qualifier in Turkey.

 

[RoarLions1]

Japan hasn't qualified the weight yet, so one can assume that #20 Ishida will be going to Mongolia.

The latest (March 31) FLO Freestyle rankings really reinforces our place in the world of international wrestling. Of the 120 ranked wrestlers (20x6 weights) the USA had 7 ranked wrestlers. Iran has 15, Russia 31 and the former Soviet Republics 36. If the USSR was alive today, they would have 56% of the ranked wrestlers. Makes you wonder what an open international competition would look like.

Our ranked guys as of 3.31.2016:
65kg: 18-Brent Metcalf
74kg: 1-Jordan Burroughs & 20-Andrew Howe
97kg: 3-Kyle Snyder & 12-Jake Varner
125kg: 13-Tervel Dlagnev & 20-Zachery Rey

Good info, though the USA Wrestlers don't travel to as many international competitions (Europe and Asia, mostly), and it does reflect in their rankings, imo.

 

[manatree]

Perhaps it is time for USA Wrestling to start finding ways to send wrestlers to more international competition as well as encouraging better competition to come to the Dave Schultz & Bill Farrell tourneys. Also need to do a lot more to develop FS & GR to the youth. I realize it is heresy to some, but I think changing the folkstyle rules a bit towards freestyle would be a help as well.

 

[El-Jefe]

Perhaps it is time for USA Wrestling to start finding ways to send wrestlers to more international competition as well as encouraging better competition to come to the Dave Schultz & Bill Farrell tourneys. Also need to do a lot more to develop FS & GR to the youth. I realize it is heresy to some, but I think changing the folkstyle rules a bit towards freestyle would be a help as well.

... and yet, of the 6 FS winners: 2 competed at NCAAs this year, and 2 more are college assistant coaches who participate in folkstyle practices.

 

[CholleyVandine]

The full list of wrestlers for the European Olympic qualifier is posted on the UWW website. Dave Habat will be wrestling for Slovenia.


Perpelita, Andrei Moldova
Gadzhiev, Magomedmurad Poland
Graf, Steven Switzerland
Novachkov, Borislav Bulgaria
Safaryan, David Armenia
Lukacs, Norbert Hungary
Bucur, George Romania
Mitrov, Dejan Former Yugoslave Republic of Macedonia
Arzoumanidis, Nikos Greece
Kviatkovski, Andrey Ukraine
Habat, David Slovenia
Nurikov, Azamat Belarus
Semisorow, Alexander Federal Republic of Germany
Iakobishvili, Zurabi Georgia
Kaya, Mustafa Turkey
Ausserleitner, Maximilian Austria

 

[dunkej01]

... and yet, of the 6 FS winners: 2 competed at NCAAs this year, and 2 more are college assistant coaches who participate in folkstyle practices.

My opinion is the save wrestling movement will bare fruit soon in the form of medals and top team finishes.

I don't have the statistics but it feels like more kids are doing Fargo then ever before.

With the advent of flo and social media more kids are certainly watching the Olympic styles than before.

The tv coverage of the trials was great. Did we have that 4 years ago? I don't know if we did but I know I didn't watch it and certainly wasn't glued to my laptop watching it.

It's a slow slog coming back from the abyss but kids like pico and what we will send to cadet and junior world's this year figure to make the USA great again.

 

[manatree]

... and yet, of the 6 FS winners: 2 competed at NCAAs this year, and 2 more are college assistant coaches who participate in folkstyle practices.

Apples to oranges. The college/folk guys had a good showing this one tournament against USA caliber competition. That was not a full strength, international caliber tourney. Not to mention that Snyder has an extra year+ freestyle training under his belt that no other college wrestler has. We're making small strides, but we are still kilometers away from the balance and depth of the international powers.

 

[Pennstate1985]

Here are the two guys who qualified their country for the Olympics from today's European tournament at 65kg:

Andriy Kvyatkovskyi(UKR)
Magomedmurad Gadzhiev(POL)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_European_Wrestling_Olympic_Qualification_Tournament#65_kg

Hat tip to Roar for the link...

 

[manatree]

Looks like FLO ranked #5 Mustafa Kaya (Turkey) & #19 Borislav Novachkov (Bulgaria) both lost in the Quarters. I guess it is safe to assume that both, along with #20 Tomotsugu Ishida (Japan), will be going to Mongolia.

ALso, as mrh1645 mentioned earlier, David Safaryan (Armenia), Zurabi Iakobishvili (Georgia), and Azamat Nurikov (Belarus) will most likely be going as well.

THere are 37 countries that have not yet qualified at 65kg. Of course, that does not necessarily mean that all 37 will be competing in the final two qualifiers.

 

[Pennstate1985]

Here are the world rankings at both 65kg and 70kg as of 4/13/2016. Not sure our Olympic qualifier results got into the rankings. At 65kg, Metcalf is 19th and Logan Stieber is 13th. At 70kg, James Green is 4th(!!), and Aaron Pico is 16th. Frank is unranked, but I would say that since Frank beat Logan, Brent, and Aaron, he's probably somewhere around 10-15 world ranking.

http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestlin.../UWW-Mens-Freestyle-World-Rankings-April-2016

65kg
1. Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) – Europe No.1 (2)
2. Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) – Medved Prizes No.1 (1)
3. Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) – World No.2 (3)
4. Sayed Ahmad MOHAMMADI (IRI) – World No.3 (4)
5. Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) – European Games No.1 (5)
6. Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (6)
7. Meysam NASIRI (IRI) – Asia No.1 (7)
8. Israil KASUMOV (RUS) – Europe No.3 (4@70)
9. BATCHULUUN Batmagnai (MGL) – Yasar Dogu No.1 (8)
10. Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR) – Dan Kolov No.1 (10)
11. Mustafa KAYA (TUR) – Europe No.2 (16)
12. BATBOLD Nomin (MGL) – Mongolian Open No.2 (7@61)
13. Logan STIEBER (USA) – Medved Prizes No.3 (12)
14. GANZORIG Mandakhnaran (MGL) – Yarygin GP No.3 (13)
15. Ilyas BEKBULATOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.5 (11)
16. Yogeshwar DUTT (IND) – Asian OG Qualifier No.1 (nr)
17. Semyon RADULOV (UKR) – Europe No.3 (nr)
18. Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB) – Pan Am OG Qualifier No.2 (nr)
19. Brent METCALF (USA) – Pan Am Games No.1 (17)
20. Surkho RASHITKHANOV (BLR) – European U23 (nr)

70kg
1. Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) – World No.1 (1)
2. Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) – Europe No.1 (9@65)
3. Yakup GOR (TUR) – World No.3 (2)
4. James GREEN (USA) – World No.3 (3)
5. Azamat NURIKOV (BLR) – Europe No.3 (5)
6. David TLASHADZE (GEO) – Europe No.2 (13)
7. BUYANJAV Batzorig (MGL) – Asia No.3 (20)
8. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (8)
9. Evgheni NEDEALCO (MDA) – Dan Kolov No.1 (6)
10. Miroslav KIROV (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.3 (7)
11. Rasul ARSANALIEV (RUS) – European U23, No.1 (18)
12. Gadjimurad OMAROV (AZE) – European U23 No.2 (9)
13. Nikolay KURTEV (BUL) – Europe No.3 (nr)
14. Evgeni ZHERBAEV (RUS) – Buryatia Cup No.1 (nr)
15. Zurabi IAKOBASHVILI (GEO) – Medved Prizes No.1 (10)
16. Aaron PICO (USA) – Medved Prizes No.3 (11)
17. Khabib MAGOMEDOV (RUS) – Medved Prizes No.3 (12)
18. Nurlan BEKZHANOV (KAZ) – Asia No.2 (14)
19. Adam BATIROV (BRN) – Asia No.1 (15)
20. Muhammad NADERI – Takhti Cup No.1 (16)


So, out of the 65kg top 20, only #11 Kaya of TUR, and #20 Rashitkhanov of BLR are eligible to win a berth in the last two tournaments. The others are either already in the Olympics or are ineligible because a teammate has already qualified. A few of the 70kg guys may try to qualify for 65kg, but only #2 on that list has earned a berth in the Olympics at 65kg so it must be quite difficult. See James Green results. Only #'s 6, 9, 10, and 19 at 70kg would be eligible anyway since the others reside in countries that already have claimed a berth. Of course, like Frank, any unranked guy could take a spot.

I think Frank has a reasonable chance to qualify, but I don't want to raise my expectations too high either as each country will be sending a Frank Molinaro to qualify and make his dream come true as well.

 

[mrh1645]

Pennstate 1985

I'll definitely be cheering for Frank! It will, however, be a very tough task, but so was winning the trials and he accomplished that.

Regarding the rankings, UWW rankings do not, I believe, take into account national championships, only International tournaments. Thus, USA Oly team trials, Russian nationals, etc. are ignored. As was mentioned, Gadzhiev (Poland) and Ukraine's Andriy Kvyatkovskyy got the two Euro qualification spots. Using UWW rankings, the following could be in Mongolia:

#11 (65) -- Mustafa Kaya (Turkey) lost in quarters to Iakobishvili 11-10 at Euro qualifier
#15 (70) -- Zurabi Iakobishvili (Georgia) lost in semis to Kvyatkovskyy 2-2 at Euro qualifier
#5 (70) -- Azamat Nurikov (Belarus) lost in quarters to Kvyatkovskyy 6-4 at Euro qualifier
#19 (70) -- Adam Batirov (Bahrain) -- former Russian Nationals champion lost in Asian qualifier
Borislav Novachkov (Bulgaria) lost in quarters to Gadzhiev 7-0 at Euro qualifier
David Safaryan (Armenia) lost in semis to Gadzhiev 7-2 at Euro qualifier.
Expect the Japanese and South Korean wrestlers to be good.

 

[tikk10]

I guess the one benefit in Frank's favor, perhaps offsetting the ridiculous travel, is that his top challengers will have one week to recover/make weight whereas he'll have had two.

 

[Pennstate1985]

To be honest, when I started the analysis, I expected Frank's situation to be more hopeless that it turned out to be. I thought more top 20 guys would be at the last two tourneys, but forgot that so many top 20 are from the same countries and only count as one. That said, the competition will be fierce, and Frank will still have to wrestle like he did last weekend or better to have a shot at qualifying the weight.

There were 16 guys trying to qualify 65kg in Europe today. I expect an equal if not greater number for Mongolia and Turkey. Lots of wrestling just to get into a position to take an Olympic slot.