Team USA Updates At The Zouhaier Sghaier
Team USA Updates At The Zouhaier Sghaier
A daily recap of the results for Team USA at the Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series Event in Tunisia.
Team USA wrapped up their competition in Tunisia on Sunday with 5 wrestlers winning medals. Check out a full recap of their performance below along with a summary of all 19 wrestlers who participated at the Zouhaier Sghaier tournament.
Thomas Gilman’s Roller Coaster Tournament
Despite a small bracket, Gilman faced some of the best 57kg wrestlers in the world Sunday morning in Tunisia. His first-round match came against last year’s world bronze medalist Horst Lehr (GER). While in on a shot, Lehr hit Gilman with a “gator-bacon” and was able to secure one of the more shocking upsets of the tournament, winning by fall.
Gilman, however, responded emphatically with a technical superiority win over Nodirjon Safarov. Because the tournament was divided into pools, Gilman was still able to make the semi-finals based on finishing second in his pool. How was Gilman rewarded with that second-place pool finish? With a world-finals rematch against Iran’s Alireza Sarlak. In that match, Gilman got out to a 8-2 lead early highlighted by a big, four-point finish off a single leg. Sarlak responded strong and closed the gap to 9-7 before Gilman shut the door with a takedown in the final seconds to win 11-7.
Gilman's win over Sarlak:
Then, in the finals, Gilman wrestled one of India's best up-and-coming lightweights - Udit Udit, a 2019 cadet world bronze medalist, who notably defeated the aforementioned Lehr in the semis. Gilman built a 9-2 lead before Udit came storming back with a myriad of takedowns and turns. Gilman was able to hold on for the 9-8 victory but Udit proved he'll be a competitor to watch for years to come.
Gilman's win over Udit:
Gold For Gross
Seth Gross was in a four-man bracket at 61kg and dominated all of his opponents to win gold. Gross’ most impressive win was against 2-time world medalist Suleyman Atli (TUR). In that match, Gross fell behind early but was able to get a takedown and work his gut wrench. Once on top, Gross relentlessly turned Atli and ultimately came away with the 16-5 technical superiority win. This was a great international showing for Gross, proving he will be a major threat for a medal at the world championships in September.
Scoring highlight of Gross' win over Atli:
The Zain Train Could Not Be Stopped
Zain Retherford won gold at 70kg in Tunisia by absolutely decimating his competition Sunday morning. In his four matches, Retherford recorded 2 pins and 2 technical superiority wins, outsourcing his opponents by a combined 32-0. Retherford faced Kazakhstan’s Syrbaz Talgat in the gold medal match on Sunday afternoon. As a past junior world medalist and senior Asian champ, Talgat was the most credentialed opponent Retherford faced but couldn't match Zain's offensive attacks and pressure.
Retherford's finals win over Askarov:
Up And Down Day For Yianni And Marsteller
Yianni Diakohmihalis and Chance Marsteller were the final two competitors in action for Team USA on Sunday and had their highs and lows in Tunisia. Diakomihalis started his day with a controlling win over Tokyo Olympian Agustin Destribats (9-2) before suffering defeat against India’s Sujeet (8-2). He then responded with a 15-5 win over Adlan Askarov (KAZ) to secure his silver medal finish in the 4-man round-robin.
Scoring highlight of Yianni's win over Destribats:
Marsteller found himself in a “pool-of-death” situation in a 4-man round-robin with a world silver medalist, 2022 Euro champ, and 2022 Asian champ. He started his day by defeating both continental champions in consecutive matches - Georgios Kougioumtsidis (11-0) and Ali Savadkoui (9-6). Marsteller then met his match against 2021 world silver medalist Mohammad Nokhodi, losing 10-0. After those 3 battles, Marsteller came up short against Kazakhstan’s Bolat Sakayev in the semi-finals, 6-1. Then for bronze, Marsteller rolled-up (literally with an arm-spin) 2022 Asian silver medalist, Baliyan Gourav (IND), 10-0.
Marsteller's win over Savadkoui:
In total, Team USA had 19 wrestlers take the mats in Tunisia bringing home 14 total medals - 7 golds, 5 silvers, and 2 bronze. Check out the full results for Team USA in both men's and women's freestyle, with links to videos available, below:
Men's Freestyle:
57kg: Thomas Gilman - Gold
- Loss by fall (losing 4-1) to Horst Lehr (GER)
- 11-1 win over Nordirjon Safarov (UZB)
- 11-7 win over Alireza Sarlak (IRI)
- 9-8 win over Udit Udit (IND)
61kg: Seth Gross - Gold
- 14-3 win over Assylzhan Yessengeldi (KAZ)
- 16-5 win over Suleyman Atli (TUR)
- 11-2 win over Aman (IND)
- Forfeit win over Nebi Uzun (TUR)
65kg: Yianni Diakomihalis - Silver
- 9-2 win over Agustin Destribats (ARG)
- 8-2 loss to Sujeet Sujeet (IND)
- 15-5 win over Adlan Askarov (KAZ)
70kg: Zain Retherford - Gold
- Win by fall (winning 6-0) over Sanzhar Doszhanov (KAZ)
- Forfeit win over Haydar Yavuz (TUR)
- Win by fall (winning 6-0) over Karan Karan (IND)
- 11-0 win over Kossai Ajimi (TUN)
- 10-0 win over Syrbaz Talgat (KAZ)
79kg: Chance Marsteller - Bronze
- 11-0 win over Georgios Kougioumtsidis (GRE)
- 9-6 win over Ali Savadkoui (IRI)
- 10-0 loss to Mohammad Nokhodi (IRI)
- 6-1 loss to Bolat Sakayev (KAZ)
- 10-0 win over Baliyan Gourav (IND)
97kg: Kyle Snyder - Gold
- Win by fall (leading 8-0) over Burak Sahin (TUR)
- 12-1 win over Polat Polatci (TUR)
- 11-0 win over Mamed Ibragimov (KAZ)
125kg: Hayden Zillmer - Silver
- 7-0 win over Mohit Mohit (IND)
- 8-2 loss to Geno Petriashvili (GEO)
- 6-5 win over Alisher Yergali (KAZ)
- 8-4 loss to Geno Petriashvili (GEO)
Women's Freestyle:
50kg: Sarah Hildebrandt - Gold
- Win by fall (leading 10-0) over Patricia Bermudez (ARG)
- 5-2 win over Neelam Neelam (IND)
- 11-0 win over Emily Shilson
50kg: Emily Shilson - Silver
- Win by fall (leading 9-0) over Zehra Demirhan (TUR)
- 11-1 win over Lisa Ersel (GER)
- 11-0 loss to Sarah Hildebrandt
53kg: Dom Parrish - 4th
- 7-4 win over Luisa Valverde (ECU)
- 11-0 loss to Antim Antim (IND)
- 10-0 win over Nour Raouafi (TUN)
- 3-1 loss to Karla Godinez (CAN)
- Injury default to Esra Pul (TUR)
57kg: Helen Maroulis - 4th
- 5-3 win over Sandra Paruszewski (GER)
- 8-5 win over Mansi Mansi (IND)
- Win by Fall (winning 8-0) over Amanda Martinez (USA)
- Loss by Fall (winning 7-4) to Elvira Kamaloglu (TUR)
- Forfeited to Mansi Mansi (IND)
57kg: Amanda Martinez - DNP
- Loss by Fall (losing 10-0) to Mansi Mansi (IND)
- 6-0 loss to Sandra Paruszewski (GER)
- Loss by Fall (losing 8-0) to Helen Maroulis (USA)
65kg: Emma Bruntil - Silver
68kg: Tamyra Mensah-Stock - Gold
- 10-0 win over Ranim Saidi (TUN)
- 10-0 win over Nisha Nisha (IND)
- 10-0 win over Grabriela Pedro Da Rocha (BRA)
72kg: Skylar Grote - Bronze
72kg: Marilyn Garcia - DNP
76kg: Dymond Guilford - Silver
- 7-6 win over Yelena Makoyed (USA)
- 10-0 win over Mehtap Gultekin (TUR)
- 10-0 win over Francy Raedelt (GER)
- 5-2 loss to Yelena Makoyed
76kg: Yelena Makoyed - Gold
- 14-1 win over Mehtap Gultekin (TUR)
- 7-6 loss to Dymond Guilford (USA)
- Win by fall (winning 10-6) over Samar Hamza (EGY)
- 5-2 win over Dymond Guilford
76kg: Precious Bell - DNP
Day 2 Update Below
Hildebrandt Takes Out Shilson For Gold
Both Sarah Hildebrandt and Emily Shilson reached the 50kg finals in Tunisia and had to battle some adversity along the way. After cruising to a pin in her opening round match, Hildebrandt faced 2017 cadet world bronze medalist Neelam (IND). Hildebrandt had trouble opening up Neelam and fell behind in the second period, 2-1. However, she responded with a takedown and turn, holding her opponent on her back for the final minute of the mat to win 5-2. Check out highlights of her win over Neelam below:
Similar to Hildebrandt, Shilson dominated with a pin in her opening match. Then in the semi-finals, Shilson’s adversity came in the form of a knee injury. Despite the injury, and noticeable pain, Shilson battled through to tech her semi-final opponent Lisa Ersel and make the finals.
Shilson's win over Ersel:
In the finals, Hildebrandt showed why she's the world team rep for Team USA with a dominating, 11-0 victory over Shilson. Check out highlights of their finals match below:
Kyle Snyder Was Untouchable In Tunisia
Kyle Snyder wrestled three matches Saturday and outscored his opponents by a combined 31-1, winning one match by pin and two by technical superiority. Snyder impressively defeated Kazakhstan’s Mamed Ibragimov for gold, 11-0. Ibragimov is experienced on the senior level with his best finish of 5th at the world championships in 2017.
Snyder's win over Ibragimov for gold:
Zillmer Looking Falls Short Against Petriashvili
With only 6 wrestlers entered at 125kg, Hayden Zillmer wrestled in a round-robin group of 3 to start his tournament. In that pool, Zillmer finished second after defeating India’s Mohit 7-0 before losing to 3-time world champion Geno Petriashvili, 8-2. Zillmer then faced the first-place finisher in the other pool - Alisher Yergali (KAZ). In a back-and-forth bout, Zillmer came out on top, 6-5, to make the finals for another shot at Petriashvili. In that gold medal match, Zillmer was much more competitive and got out to a 4-1 lead against Petriashvili. However, Zillmer was unable to hold it due to Petriashvili's relentless offensive attacks ultimately proving too much for Zillmer's defense. Petriashvili was able to secure 2 takedowns and a gut wrench to win 8-4 and take home gold.
Zillmer and Petriashvili's back and forth gold medal match:
Bruntil Wins Silver, Grote Gets Bronze
Skylar Grote only had only one bout Saturday morning against 2021 world bronze medalist - Buse Tosun. Though she battled hard, Tosun ultimately came away with the 10-0 technical superiority win. Tosun then went on to make the finals with a 6-2 victory over India’s Manju. That win pulled Grote to the third place match where she defeated Manju 10-0 to win bronze. means Grote will now face off against Manju for bronze.
Grote's win over Manju:
Emma Bruntil only had 3 wrestlers in her weight class and went 1-1 in two, razor-thin matches. Bruntil defeated Khadija Jlassi (7-6) but lost to Manju (2-1). However, Jlassi went on to defeat Manju leaving all wrestlers in the bracket with a 1-1 record. After the criteria was sorted out, Bruntil finished second behind Jlassi - the opponent she defeated.
Highlights of Bruntil's win over Jlassi:
Full Results
Along with the above wrestlers, Marilyn Garcia and Dom Parrish were in action Saturday morning. Garcia lost her only match of the tournament to Zaineb Sghaier, 4-1. Sghaier then lost in the next round, eliminating Garcia from the tournament.
Dom Parrish had an up-and-down day in Tunisia going 2-2 and reaching the bronze medal match. In her pool matches, Parrish went 2-1 defeating Luisa Valverde (7-4) and Nour Raoafi (10-0) but losing to Antim Antim (11-0). Then in the semi-finals, Parrish went up against Canada’s Karla Godinez but dropped a close, 3-1 decision. American fans should remember Godinez from her win over Jacarra Winchester earlier this year at the Pan-Am championships. For third, Parrish injury against Esra Pul (TUR) to take 4th place.
Watch highlights of Parrish's come-from-behind victory over Valverde:
Check out the full results for Team USA from Saturday, with links to videos available, below:
50kg: Sarah Hildebrandt - Gold
- Win by fall (leading 10-0) over Patricia Bermudez (ARG)
- 5-2 win over Neelam Neelam (IND)
- 11-0 win over Emily Shilson
50kg: Emily Shilson - Silver
- Win by fall (leading 9-0) over Zehra Demirhan (TUR)
- 11-1 win over Lisa Ersel (GER)
- 11-0 loss to Sarah Hildebrandt
53kg: Dom Parrish - 4th
- 7-4 win over Luisa Valverde (ECU)
- 11-0 loss to Antim Antim (IND)
- 10-0 win over Nour Raouafi (TUN)
- 3-1 loss to Karla Godinez (CAN)
- Injury default to Esra Pul (TUR)
65kg: Emma Bruntil - Silver
72kg: Skylar Grote
72kg: Marilyn Garcia - DNP
97kg: Kyle Snyder - Gold
- Win by fall (leading 8-0) over Burak Sahin (TUR)
- 12-1 win over Polat Polatci (TUR)
- 11-0 win over Mamed Ibragimov (KAZ)
125kg: Hayden Zillmer
- 7-0 win over Mohit Mohit (IND)
- 8-2 loss to Geno Petriashvili (GEO)
- 6-5 win over Alisher Yergali (KAZ)
- 8-4 loss to Geno Petriashvili (GEO)
Up Next For Team USA
The Zouhaier Sghaier will wrap up on Sunday with the final 8 weights in men's freestyle. Taking the mat for the Stars and Stripes will be Thomas Gilman (57kg), Seth Gross (61kg), Yianni Diakomihalis (65kg), Zain Retherford (70kg), and Chance Marsteller (79kg). Check out a full breakdown and preview of the biggest stories at the Zouhaier Sghaier here.
Day 1 Update Below
TMS Dominates For Gold!
Tamyra Mensah-Stock was in a 4-person round-robin at 68kg in Tunisia and absolutely crushed her competition. In three straight matches, the world and Olympic champ tallied three, 10-0 technical superiority victories to secure the gold medal. It’s worth noting that this was Mensah-Stock’s first international competition since the world championships where she surprisingly lost in the semi-finals and went on to take bronze. With less than 2 months until the world championships, Mensah-Stock looks to be wrestling as good as she ever has.
Check out highlights of Mensah-Stock’s win over Ranim Saidi:
Maroulis Shocked In The Semis
In the surprise of the tournament, Turkey’s Elvira Kamaloglu pinned Helen Maroulis with only 36 seconds remaining in their semi-final match. Maroulis looked to be cruising to victory and had built a 7-2 lead prior to the pin. However, Kamaloglu stayed on her offense and her persistence paid off against the world and Olympic champion. After the loss, Maroulis forfeited in the third place match to India's Mansi to take 4th.
Scoring highlights of Kamaloglu’s win over Maroulis:
Makoyed and Guilford Trade Wins - Finish Gold & Silver
Dymond Guilford won the 76kg world team spot over Yelena Makoyed in two straight matches at Final X Stillwater in early June. However, that doesn’t mean they’re done wrestling one another! Guilford and Makoyed met in the second round of their pool in a highly entertaining bout. Guilford got out to a 7-0 lead but Makoyed stormed back before falling just short with a final match score of 7-6.
Guilford's win over Makoyed:
However, that match wasn't the last time they wrestled in Tunisia! The first and second place finishers of each pool were placed in opposite side semi-finals, and both Guilford and Makoyed won their semi-finals matches. Because of that, they met again in the finals with Makoyed coming out on top in a tight, 5-2 decision.
Watch Makoyed's win over Guilford:
The Rest Of Team USA
Along with the above wrestlers, Amanda Martinez and Precious Bell were in action Friday morning. However, both were winless and did not advance to the medal rounds. Check out the full results for Team USA from Friday, with links to videos available, below:
57kg: Helen Maroulis - 4th
- 5-3 win over Sandra Paruszewski (GER)
- 8-5 win over Mansi Mansi (IND)
- Win by Fall (winning 8-0) over Amanda Martinez (USA)
- Loss by Fall (winning 7-4) to Elvira Kamaloglu (TUR)
- Forfeited to Mansi Mansi (IND)
57kg: Amanda Martinez - DNP
- Loss by Fall (losing 10-0) to Mansi Mansi (IND)
- 6-0 loss to Sandra Paruszewski (GER)
- Loss by Fall (losing 8-0) to Helen Maroulis (USA)
68kg: Tamyra Mensah-Stock - Gold
- 10-0 win over Ranim Saidi (TUN)
- 10-0 win over Nisha Nisha (IND)
- 10-0 win over Grabriela Pedro Da Rocha (BRA)
76kg: Dymond Guilford - Silver
- 7-6 win over Yelena Makoyed (USA)
- 10-0 win over Mehtap Gultekin (TUR)
- 10-0 win over Francy Raedelt (GER)
- 5-2 loss to Yelena Makoyed
76kg: Yelena Makoyed - Gold
- 14-1 win over Mehtap Gultekin (TUR)
- 7-6 loss to Dymond Guilford (USA)
- Win by fall (winning 10-6) over Samar Hamza (EGY)
- 5-2 win over Dymond Guilford
76kg: Precious Bell - DNP
Up Next In Tunisia
The rest of Team USA’s women’s squad, along with two weights in men’s freestyle, will take the mat early tomorrow morning (Saturday, July 16) at 5:30 am (ET). Those who will wrestle Saturday for Team USA are Sarah Hildebrandt (50kg), Emily Shilson (50kg), Dom Parrish (53kg), Alisha Howk (55kg), Emma Bruntil (65kg), Amit Elor (72kg), Skylar Grote (72kg), Marilyn Garcia (72kg), Kyle Snyder (97kg), and Hayden Zillmer (125kg). Then, on Sunday, the rest of Team USA’s men’s freestyle team will compete - Thomas Gilman (57kg), Seth Gross (61kg), Yianni Diakomihalis (65kg), Zain Retherford (70kg), and Chance Marsteller (79kg). Check out a full breakdown and preview of the biggest stories at the Zouhaier Sghaier here.