Mango loses bronze on Day 1 of Greco at 2013 Worlds
Spenser Mango competed in his sixth World-level championship tournament when he wrestled at 55 kilos at the 2013 FILA Worlds in Budapest, Hungary, on Friday.
Unfortunately, the native of St. Louis, Mo., still has not earned a medal after Mango lost a close 5-4 decision against Roman Amoyan of Armenia in the bronze medal at the Papp Laszlo Sports Arena.
Spenser Mango earned a shot at a bronze medal when he scored all his points in the final 30 seconds of a 6-2 win against Kanybek Zholchubekov of Kyrgyzstan. (Bob Mayeri image)
Mango, who is now 5-9 in all-time in these events — 2-5 in four Worlds and 3-4 in two Olympics — won his first match against Jani Haapamaki of Finland before losing to eventual gold medalist Gyu-Jin Choi of South Korea in the second round.
Once in repechage (wrestlebacks), Mango defeated Fouad Fajari of Morocco and Kanybek Zholchubekov of Kyrgyzstan to reach the bronze medal match.
This was the first of three days of Greco-Roman action at the FILA Worlds that began on Monday with men’s freestyle and also included women’s freestyle, which ended today. Americans Jesse Thielke (60k), Jordan Holm (84) and Caylor Williams (96k) are scheduled to compete for the U.S. in Greco-Roman on Saturday
Also, National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser announced that the United States will enter 2012 U.S. Olympian Ellis Coleman (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. in the World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Coleman replaces Justin Lester (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) who qualified for the team in the weight class.
“This morning, the coaching staff decided that Justin was not medically able to wrestle and make the weight. We decided to enter World Team Trials runner-up Ellis Coleman, who has been training with the World Team all summer and is ready to replace him. We are disappointed for Justin. Ellis is ready and willing to take on the challenge for the team,” Fraser told TheMat.com.
Ellis Coleman was a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team, competing down a weight class at 60 kg/132 lbs., where he was a teammate with Lester, who was at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Coleman moved up a weight class this season.
He is a two-time Junior World bronze medalist, and will be competing in his first Senior World Championships. Coleman is originally from Oak Park, Ill. He was with the U.S. Olympic Education Center program at Northern Michigan, then became a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete. Coleman joined the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program this season.
FILA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sept. 20 • Budapest, Hungary
Greco-Roman U.S. Highlights
55 kg/121 lbs. – Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 5th place
1st round — defeated Jani Haapamaki (Finland), 4-0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TlJ2pxUHmqY
2nd round — lost to Gyu-Jin Choi (Korea), 2-4
Mango trailed 4-0 before scoring a takedown early in the second period to draw within two points.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lQZRbWzHPDc
Repechage — won by TF over Fouad Fajari (Morocco), 7-0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BBsuTp1_9PM
Repechage — defeated Kanybek Zholchubekov (Kyrgyzstan), 6-2
Mango trailed 2-0 — after getting taken down early in the first period — but earned a shot in the bronze medal match when Mango scored five points off a bear hug with 5:35 left in the match.
The final point came when a Kyrgyzstan challenge was denied.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QsDBE6-JV6M
Bronze Medal — lost to Roman Amoyan (Armenia), 5-4
At the scoring took place within a 30-second frame in the first period, when Mango fought back from being down in par terre by stepping over for back points, but then exchanged additional back points to the Armenia, who first was awarded a 6-2 advantage before the U.S. successfully challenged the call.
Other Medalists
Gold — Won Choi Yun (North Korea) defeated Gyu-Jin Choi (Korea)
Bronze — Peter Modos (Hungary) defeated Ivan Tatarinov (Russia)
