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Overview: Aaron Pico, a native of Whittier, Calif., and sophomore to be at St. John Bosco High School, was the only one of 30 American wrestlers to win a gold medal in three styles at the FILA Cadet Worlds, held Aug. 20-26 in Zrenjanin, Serbia.
Pico won all five matches at 138.75 pounds in men’s freestyle on Aug. 25, including an 8-6 win over Japan’s Yuhi Fujinami in the Sports Complex.
“Nothing really changed in the final. I met with my coach and stuck with my game plan, which was to attack and get the guy tired. He was a good opponent and he didn’t get tired. I was able to score during some situations and that was the difference in the match. There is a big difference wrestling internationally and wrestling in the United States. Fortunately, I got the win. I am super happy, and overall, I think I did good,” Pico told TheMat.com.
Overall, men’s freestyle left Serbia with the best record of the three American teams, with a winning record (13-12), compared to 9-10 in women’s freestyle and 9-11 in Greco-Roman.
But women’s freestyle produced three medal winners — a silver by Regina Doi at 88 pounds, while her twin sister Marina (both from Kingsburg, Calif.) and Teshya Alo of Honolulu, Hawaii, settled for third place at 83.75 and 123.25 pounds, respectively — while Cade Olivas and Jon Jay Chavez also earned bronze medals at 92.5 and 152 pounds in Greco-Roman.
Russia won team championships in all three styles. The U.S. finished sixth in women’s freestyle, ninth in men’s freestyle and 13th in Greco-Roman.
Men’s Freestyle
Aaron Pico (top) defeated Japan’s Yuhi Fujinami for the 138.75-pound freestyle title in the Cadet Worlds.
Top 15 Team Standings
Pl. Country Points
1. Russia 85
2. Azerbaijan 66
3. Iran 56
4. India 51
5. Japan 46
6. Kazakhstan 36
7. Turkey 31
Georgia 31
9. United States 23
10. Moldova 20
11. Ukraine 18
12. Armenia 16
13. Kyrgyzstan 13
14. Belarus 12
Germany 12
U.S. Results/Medal Winners
42 kg/92.5 lbs. – Austin Gomez, Carol Stream, Ill. (DNP)
Gold – Ryo Matsui (Japan)
Silver – Younes Emamchoghaei (Iran)
Bronze – Viktor Terzi (Ukraine)
Bronze – Jatin Jatin (India)
46 kg/104.25 lbs. – Devin Brown, Saegertown, Pa. (DNP)
• lost to Balasz Egyed (Hungary), 7-5
Gold – Darhan Kalkenov (Kazakhstan)
Silver – Fasil Hasanov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Takuto Otoguro (Japan)
Bronze – Kheyrolla Ghahramani (Iran)
50 kg/110 lbs. – Spencer Lee, Saegertown, Pa., 7th place
Gold – Abdulagav Shakhbanov (Russia)
Silver – Mahir Amiraslanov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Toshohiro Hasegawa (Japan)
Bronze – Iralki Mkheidze (Georgia)
54 kg/119 lbs. – Stevan Micic, Cedar Lake, Ind. (DNP)
Gold – Andriy Yatsenko (Ukraine)
Silver – Imam Tesaev (Russia)
Bronze – Yerlan Abylkhan (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Zandanbud Zanabazar (Mongolia)
58 kg/127.75 lbs. – Sean Fausz, Alexandria, Ky., 9th place
Gold – Selim Kozan (Turkey)
Silver – Ramaz Zoidze (Georgia)
Bronze – Mahammadali Aliyev (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Uruzbeg Tcomartov (Russia)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Aaron Pico, Whittier, Calif. (Champion)
Gold – Aaron Pico (USA)
Silver – Yuhi Fujinami (Japan)
Bronze – Bakar Ayubov (Russia)
Bronze – Teymur Mammadov (Azerbaijan)
69 kg/152 lbs. – Jon Jay Chavez, Boise, Idaho, 10th place
Gold – Abdulmuslim Mukhuddinov (Azerbaijan)
Silver – Kamran Ghasempour (Iran)
Bronze – Tariel Gaphrindashvili (Georgia)
Bronze – Alberts Juvcenko (Latvia)
76 kg/167.5 lbs. – Bo Nickal, Allen, Texas (5th place)
Gold – Batyrbek Tcakulov (Russia)
Silver – Balraj Balraj (India)
Bronze – Ali Mojerloo (Iran)
Bronze – Linus Van Rensburg (South Africa)
85 kg/187.4 lbs. – Angus Arthur, Laingsburg, Mich. (DNP)
Gold – Abdulrashid Sadulaev (Russia)
Silver – Muhammed Enes Altun (Turkey)
Bronze – Zhassulan Yermembet (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Nuramagomed Gadzhiyev (Azerbaijan)
100 kg/220 lbs. – Lance Benick, Scandia, Minn. (DNP)
Gold – Znaur Kotciev (Russia)
Silver – Aliasghar Akbarizarinkolaei (Iran)
Bronze – Givi Matcharashvili (Georgia)
Bronze – Turkhan Gurbanov (Azerbaijan)
Women’s freestyle
Regina Doi (top) earned silver at the Cadet Worlds where her twin sister Marina and Teshya Alo captured bronze.
Final Team Standings
Pl. Country Points
1. Russia 74
2. Japan 71
3. Ukraine 52
4. Kazakhstan 45
5. Romania 35
6. United States 33
7. India 30
8. Germany 27
9. Azerbaijan 20
10. Belarus 19
Poland 19
12. Hungary 16
13. Turkey 15
14. Bulgaria 14
Mexico 14
Norway 14
U.S. Results/Medal Winners
38 kg/83.75 lbs. – Marina Doi, Kingsburg, Calif. (Third place)
Gold – Oksana Livach (Ukraine)
Silver – Christina Zoltan (Romania)
Bronze – Marina Doi (USA)
Bronze – Ramona Eriksen (Norway)
40 kg/88 lbs. – Regina Doi, Kingsburg, Calif. (Runner-up)
Gold – Svetlana Ankicheva (Kazakhstan)
Silver – Regina Doi (USA)
Bronze – Mizuki Kosaka (Japan)
Bronze – Veronika Gurskaya (Russia)
43 kg/94.75 lbs. – Sariyah Jones, Modesto, Calif. (DNP)
Gold – Elvira Abilkairova (Kazakhstan)
Silver – Miglena Selishka (Bulgaria)
Bronze – Nadezhda Sokolova (Russia)
Bronze – Amiru Tanaka (Japan)
46 kg/101.25 lbs. – Harriet Symington, Bethesda, Md. (DNP)
Gold – Zainab Magomedova (Russia)
Silver – Olena Kremzer (Ukraine)
Bronze – Miho Igarashi (Japan)
Bronze – Adrianis Castillo (Venezuela)
49 kg/108 lbs. – Cadence Lee, Los Altos Hills, Calif. (8th place)
Gold – Kika Kagata (Japan)
Silver – Alina Kazmova (Russia)
Bronze – Luisa Springmann (Germany)
Bronze – Kataryna Mashkevych (Ukraine)
52 kg/114.5 lbs. – Gabrielle Garcia, Anaheim, Calif. (DNP)
Gold – Mayu Mukaida (Japan)
Silver – Luiza Suleymanova (Russia)
Bronze – Laman Gurbanova (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Viktorya Didkivska (Ukraine)
56 kg/123.25 lbs. – Teshya Alo, Honolulu, Hawaii (3rd place)
Gold – Maria Kotsareva (Russia)
Silver – Alexandra Wolczynska (Poland)
Bronze – Madina Barkbergenova (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Teshya Alo (USA)
60 kg/132.25 lbs. – Becka Leathers, Choctaw, Okla., 7th place
Gold – Ramona Galambos (Hungary)
Silver – Laura Charashvili (Belarus)
Bronze – Kriszta Incze (Romania)
Bronze – Shiomi Imai (Japan)
65 kg/143.25 lbs. – Alexis Porter, Ballston Lake, N.Y. (DNP)
Gold – Masako Furuichi (Japan)
Silver – Nicole Amann (Germany)
Bronze – Daria Shisterova (Russia)
Bronze – Zhamila Bakgergenova (Kazakhstan)
70 kg/154.25 lbs. – Alyssa LaFrancis, Vista, Calif. (10th place)
Gold – Anastasiia Shustova (Ukraine)
Silver – Mei Shindo (Japan)
Bronze – Francy Radelt (Germany)
Bronze – Vanessa Yacarias Romero (Mexico)
Greco-Roman
Jon Jay Chavez (top) of Idaho competed in both freestyle and Greco, earning a bronze in the upper-body style.
Team Standings
Pl. Country Points
1. Russia 62
2. Azerbaijan 53
3. Kyrgyzstan 41
4. Ukraine 40
5. Georgia 38
6. Turkey 30
Belarus 30
8. Iran 27
Hungary 27
10. Armenia 25
Kazakhstan 25
12. Japan 23
13. Bulgaria 20
United States 20
15. Uzbekistan 19
U.S. Results/Medal Winners
42 kg/92.5 lbs. – Cade Olivas, Fontana, Calif. (3rd place)
Gold – Emin Shafershayev (Ukraine)
Silver – Nurbek Maksatbekov (Kyrgyzstan)
Bronze – Slavik Galstyan (Armenia)
Bronze – Cade Olivas (USA)
46 kg/104.4 lbs. – Tanner Cox, Mapleton, Utah (DNP)
Gold – Mohammad Soltani Monfared (Iran)
Silver – Vladislav Melnikov (Russia),
Bronze – Javokhir Mirakohmedov (Uzbekistan)
Bronze – Kanan Cafarov (Azerbaijan)
50 kg/110 lbs. – Kyle Norstrem, Valrico, Fla. (9th place)
Gold – Mikail Rahmanov (Azerbaijan)
Silver – Artur Palitaeiv (Ukraine)
Brown – Nuzupbek Topchubaev (Kyrgyzstan)
Bronze – Kamariddin Zayniddinov (Uzbekistan)
54kg/119 lbs. – Taylor Lamont, Mapleton, Utah (11th place)
Gold – Kazuya Koyanagi (Japan)
Silver – Kirill Gorshenin (Russia)
Bronze – Hortl Miklos (Serbia)
Bronze – Maksym Yevtushenko (Ukraine)
58kg/127.75 lbs. – Devin Bahr, LaCrosse, Wisc. (DNP)
Gold – Kinsinger Etienne (Germany)
Silver – Molnar Pavlo (Ukraine)
Bronze – Torba Erik (Hungary)
Bronze – Kavjaradze Levani (Georgia)
63kg/138.75 lbs. – Anthony Giraldo, Guttenberg, N.J. (DNP)
Gold – Takhoev Azamat (Russia)
Silver – Galkinas Paulius (Lithuania)
Bronze – Sakou Uladzimir (Belarus)
Brown – Koryun Amiryan (Armenia)
69 kg/152 lbs. – Jon Jay Chavez, Boise, Idaho (3rd place)
Gold – Asen Sasaki (Japan)
Silver – Serkhan Akkoyun (Turkey)
Bronze – Jon Jay Chavez (USA)
Bronze – Termirlan Shadukaev (Kazakhstan)
76 kg/167.5 lbs. – Kimball Bastian, Mapleton, Utah (DNP)
Gold – Islam Abbasov (Azerbaijan)
Silver – Bertain Papp (Hungary)
Bronze – Ali Cengiz (Turkey)
Bronze – Mairbek Adigeunov (Russia)
85 kg/187.4 lbs. – Angus Arthur, Laingsburg, Mich. (DNP)
Gold – Soslan Fanziyev (Azerbaijan)
Silver – Muhammed Can Bicak (Turkey)
Bronze – Vladimir Shavlokhashvili (Russia)
Bronze – Denislav Zlatev (Bulgaria)
100kg/220 lbs. — Roy Nash, West Valley City, Utah (9th place)
Gold – Zviad Gorsheinin (Georgia)
Silver – Boban Zivanovic (Serbia)
Bronze – Beksultan Makmudov (Kyrgyzstan)
Bronze – Evgeni Genchev (Bulgaria)