Gray wins bronze as women’s freestyle ends at 2013 Worlds

Adeline Gray nearly made the most of moving up a weight class as the native of Colorado defeated Yasemin Adar of Turkey), 8-2, to capture a bronze medal at 72 kilos in women’s freestyle at the FILA World Championships on Friday in Budapest, Hungary.

Adeline Gray (left) competed for the first time at 72 kilos on the Worlds stage after winning both a gold and bronze medal in the past at 67 kilos. (Bob Mayeri image)

This marked the third World medal earned by Gray, who competed at 67 kilos before this World tournament; winning a gold medal in 2012 and a bronze in 2011. To earn this medal, Gray had to rally from a 2-0 deficit to score three takedowns and a two-point nearfall.

Gray’s victory also clinched a third-place finish for the U.S. women in the team race on the final day of women’s freestyle at the Worlds with 37 points. Japan clinched the team title with 48, one point more than Mongolia. The American team left Hungary with three medals in seven weight classes: all bronze as Alyssa Lampe (48k) and Elena Pirozkhova (63k) also finished third. In the last two Worlds, the U.S. has earned seven medals.

In the only other women’s weight contested, American Veronica Carlson split two matches and did not place at 67 kilos.

The FILA Worlds will continue on both Saturday and Sunday as the Greco-Roman tournament is completed with three weight classes on each day.

2013 FILA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sept. 20 •  Budapest, Hungary
Women’s freestyle U.S. Highlights

67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Veronica Carlson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)

1^st round — won by injury default over Nadia Anter (Egypt), injury default

Veronica Carlson (top) lost to China’s Zhangting Zhou, but appeared to put her in trouble during their 67 kilo bout. (Bob Mayeri image)

Trailing 3-0 after Anter took Carlson to her back, the American fought off a throw by the Egyptian and scored a takedown on the edge of the mat. In the process, Anter injured her knee and was unable to continue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xt4ZaeUKR-w
Quarterfinal — lost by TF to Zhangting Zhou (China), 0-8

Zhou used a front headlock to take a 5-0 lead a minute into the match, the completed the technical fall when she countered a single by Carlson, who ended up on her back for exposure points. Carlson was eliminated when Zhou lost to Canada’s Stacie Anaka in the semifinals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CVpctJENJcU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CgfrOD3vKV4

Medalists

Gold —Alina Stadnik (Ukraine) defeated Stacie Anaka (Canada)

Bronze — Nasanb Ochirbat (Mongolia) defeated Zhangting Zhou (China)

Bronze — Sara Dosho (Japan) defeated Aline Focken (Germany)

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72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)

1^st round — pinned Andrea Alaya Gutierrez (Colombia), fall 1:01

            Gray actually trailed 2-0 after Gutierrez countered a Gray through with a trip, but the American came right back to score a single, then immediated put in a strong bar and pinned the Colombian wrestler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1g4PFFukUpY
Quarterfinal — lost by TF to Fengliu Zhang (China), 2-9

            The final points came at 4:33 when the Chinese wrestler used a spin around and back point to defeated Gray. Zhang also scored on a single at the 1:25 mark and added three more back points against the American, who got on the board with a strong double 40 seconds into the second period.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=axV1iSKiW94
Repechage — defeated Guzel Manyurova (Kazakhstan), 2-1

            Trailing 1-0 after getting pushed out in the first period, Gray finally scored a takedown 30 seconds into the second period to defeated the 2012 Olympic silver medalist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FniYEpVkoXc
Bronze Medal — defeated Yasemin Adar (Turkey), 8-2

Gray’s medal opportunities in the Papp Laszlo Sports Arena appeared in jeopardy early on during her final match as Adar caught Gray and an upperbody lock and almost took the American to her back. But Gray was able to return to her feet where she used a front headlock for her first takedown, then used a strong half to build a 4-2 lead at intermission.

In the second period, Gray was put in a 30-second “shot clock” situtation and responded with an arm drag at the 4:50 mark. Gray’s final points came on a spin-around with 15 seconds left in the match.

Other Medalists

Gold —Fengliu Zhang (China) pinned Natalia Vorobeva (Russia)

Bronze — Burmaa Ochibat (Mongolia) defeated Svetlana Saenko (Moldovia)