Team USA continues to battle for hardware in the Eternal City as both men's and women's freestyles are on the mat. We'll bring you all the action of the second session of Day 5 of the UWW U17 World Championships LIVE from Rome!

The American men's freestyles had a great first round of competition. Christian Castillo at 48kg, Jax Forrest at 55kg, Tyler Kasak at 65kg, and Koy Hopke at 110kg all slugged their way into the semifinals. Additionally, Zach Ryder has a chance to be pulled into the repechage at 80kg if Iran wins his semifinal bout, which would keep the New Yorker's bronze medal hopes alive. 

Just two matches for the distaff squad, but they're big ones. Gabby Gomez at 46kg and Valarie Hamilton at 61kg both wrestle for the ultimate prize. 

For yesterday's live blog, click here. 

For a recap of the previous day's results, check out these links: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5

Men's Freestyle Semifinals

48 Kilograms

Christian Castillo (USA) vs Rassoul Galbouraev (FRA)

1st period: Castillo working from a two-on-one, drives Galbouraev to the edge. Rassoul pivots and forces Castillo's feet to the boundary but a well-timed hip thrust sends France to the mat and Rassoul's head hits out of bounds first to give Castillo the first point of the match. Or does it? France calls for a review. Challenge lost, Castillo leads 2-0 in the first minute still. Back to the two-on-one. An ankle pick on the edge gives Castillo another step out. Now Galbouraev tries some offense but Castillo down blocks and shoves Rassoul out of bounds for another point. 4-0 lead at the break. 

2nd period: All one-pointers for Castillo but a very nice lead as the final 2 minutes start ticking away. A shot by Galbouraev and it looked like Castillo timed his defense correctly but the refs thought differently so Galbouraev gets on the board, 4-1. Castillo with a low attack, Rassoul tries to kick away but Castillo holds fast and collects two more. Transition to a lace and Castillo gets two turns. 10-1 with a minute to go. Galbouraev desperation shot, Castillo doubles him to his back and Galbouraev gives up the fall. He was going to get teched either way. Great win by Castillo as he advances to the gold medal match! 

Christian Castillo was on a whole other level. He gets the fall & is now one match away from a World Title! #UWW #WrestleRome pic.twitter.com/mqNA9P85QC

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) July 29, 2022

Kumar Lalit (IND) vs Vasif Baghirov (AZE): Baghirov jumps out to an early 5-0 lead in the first. Make that 7-0, dominant 1st period by Azerbaijan. Lalit gets on the board with 2 points and a caution. Final minute. Strong comeback at attempt but Baghirov holds him at bay and Azerbaijan is on to the finals where he will face a red hot Christian Castillo of the US of A. 

55 Kilograms

Jax Forrest (USA) vs Vaibhav Patil (IND)

1st period: Crucial team points up for grabs here. Patil shoots in first, Forrest shit the corner and scrambles behind for the first two. The mustached Patil answers with a double leg. Forrest, fighting off a leg lace, squirms out of bounds and is hit for fleeing a hold and a penalty point. Back to par terre, Patil leads 3-2 and Forrest has a caution. No scores, back to neutral. Forrest trying to regain the lead but the period ends in a scramble, still 3-2. 

2nd period: Patil gets in deep with a well-timed knee slide. Forrest defends for a bit but it's two more for 5-2 with a finish by the edge. Back to neutral, 5-2 Patil. Another scramble, Forrest passes a leg but we're wrestling freestyle so that's two more for Patil. Forrest comes out on top in the ensuing scramble and they say they got back to their feet to it's a takedown, not a reversal, and Forrest has four points. Another scramble, this is a wold match and Forrest pulls within a point. It's 7-6 now with 25 seconds left. Forrest with a low shot, Patil defends. Their scrambling. Patil gets behind, does he have two? Whizzer for Forrest. Another wild scramble. Time running out. Jax gets around for two. No points went up for Patil. Times up and the scoreboard says 8-7! Did Forrest do it? India challenges and now we wait. Challenge lost! Forrest wins! Oh wait, half a second left on the clock. They run it down and Jax Forrest with an insane come from behind victory to advance to the finals!

Jax Forrest has ice in his veins! 🥶 Trailing with only 2 seconds on the clock, Forrest refuses to be denied his shot at gold.#UWW #WrestleRome pic.twitter.com/55rC91xcYr

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) July 29, 2022

Jannis Rebholz (GER) vs Daryn Askerbek (KAZ): Askerbek jumos out to a commanding 6-1 lead in the first. Rebholz puts up a good fight but its Askerbek who gets it done. USA vs Azerbaijan in the finals!

65 Kilograms

Tyler Kasak (USA) vs Ankit (IND)

1st period: Another critical USA vs India bout with team race implications. A physical Ankit gets double under and shoves Kasak out of bounds for a step out. Followed up by a fantastic scramble that almost nets Kasak a feet to back but Ankit recovers and gets another step out. Kasak recovers with a slick duck under chained to a gut wrench and takes the lead 4-2. Kasak gets a heavy club (or a head butt, didn't see) and needs injury time. He shakes it off and we restart in neutral, less than a minute left in the period. 360 spin doesn't land for Kasak. Ankit is making this bout extremely physical. Another step out with 11 seconds left in the period makes it 4-3. But Kasak goes right back with a snap down go behind for two. Wait, no weird stuff is happening with the scoreboard. Ankit gets two? And a penalty on Ankit and a point for Kasak? I did not see the two for Ankit anywhere, and I'm hitting the rewind button. Now it's 7-5 Kasak with a caution on Ankit. Very confused but the live blog must go on!

2nd period: Ankit drives Kasak to the boundary, Kasak gets a front headlock on Ankit. They go out of bounds but its ruled grounded. NOW the refs want to double check the scores, 23 seconds into the second period. And Ankit's phantom two gets removed from the board. It's 7-3, and that makes sense to me. Action resumes. Ankit goes for a step out but Kasak circles back and then lifts Ankit out to avoid grounding. Altho grounding is still called and its 7-3 still with a minute seven on the clock. Another referees council ensues. And Kasak gets his point. One of these officials is lacking imo! Anyway, 8-3. Scramble and pancake for Kasak! Ankit on his back. There's the fall! Weird match but Kasak leaves no doubt. Three for three for the Americans in the finals!

Another fall in the semi's! Tyler Kasak puts himself in the finals 🇺🇸

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) July 29, 2022

Ilyas Isayev (AZE) vs Goga Otinashvili (GEO): Azeerbaijan wins. Sorry, wasn't paying attention, was focused on the Kasak match. USA vs Azerbaijan in back-to-back finals tomorrow. 

80 Kilograms

Reza Soleimanian (IRI) vs Muhammadamin Abduloev (TJK): Need Iran to win to pull Ryder back into the repechage. So far, so good as Iran has a 4-0 lead in the first. Makes that a 10-0 tech fall in the second period. Ryder still alive for bronze!

Mor Sachin (IND) vs Yehor Horokh (UKR): India took the lead early and then shut down Ukraine's offense. Sachin advances. 

110 Kilograms

Koy Hopke (USA) vs Khikmatullo Kurbonov (UZB)

1st period: We start with a flurry, but Hopke has a bit more pep in his step and he scoots behind for the first points of the match. He leads 2-0 as we go back to neutral. Another flurry off a Kurbnonov shot and another go behind for Hopke. That makes it 4-0, still in the first. It's almost two more for Hopke after a low leg shot but time runs out and Kubonov successfully defends. 

2nd period: Hopke drops to a single and converts at the edge for a 6-0 lead. Kurbonov battles back and collects two of his own to make it 6-2. Hopke needs a break for injury time but he looks okay as we round the final minute. Kurbonov shooting in but Hopke the superior athlete, he scores two more go-behinds to make it 10-2, or 12-2, I must have missed a score. Anyway, Hopke wins! Great showing by the men's freestyles so far! 4 in the finals and one alive for bronze!

Koy Hopke dominates in the semi’s winning 12-2. Team USA is on a tear! #UWW #WrestleRome pic.twitter.com/9GftoxzF5g

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) July 29, 2022

Mohammadreza Lotfi (IRI) vs Levan Lagvilava (FRA): An battled in the first period as France, perhaps unexpectedly holds a 5-3 lead on Iran. This one stayed wild and I had a hard time keeping up between this and Hopke's match but It's France (possibly via Georgia, dunno for sure, just an educated guess on my part) that wins 11-9. So USA vs France for heavyweight gold!

Women's Freestyle Medal Matches

40 Kilograms

No medal potential for Team USA here, unfortunately. Plus only one bronze medal is being contested as Uzbekistan forfeited to Romania. Meanwhile, Ukraine is leading Turkey 6-2 deep in the one contested bronze-medal bout. And Ukraine overpowers and scores a bronze medal. 

India and Japan in the gold medal match. Japan has the team race all but locked up, however India is giving them a run for their money. India leads here 4-0 in the first. Now 6-0 at the break. Muskan of India too strong for Ezaka of Japan, wins 10-0 to claim gold.

46 Kilograms

Another forfeit in a bronze medal match as India concedes the match to Romania. It's Ukraine vs Hungary in the other match. Ukraine snags the first takedown and points of the match. Hungary answers with a takedown to take the lead via criteria. 45 seconds to go. Ukraine regains the leads with 30 seconds to go. Ukraine holds off a late charge by Hungary and picks up another bronze medal!

Gabby Gomez (USA) vs Koko Matsuda (JPN)

1st period: Gomez will have a very tough Matsuda who went unscored upon on her way to the finals. Matsuda starts things off with a low shot, comes out the back door and collects two. A tight gut wrench to the left makes it 4-0 after 28 seconds. Another shot by Matsuda but Gomez stops her and has a front headlock. Matsuda gets back to her feet and hits a firemans for two, running the score to 6-0. Back to neutral. Another single leg, Matsuda tries to headwheel to the other side, then goes out the back again, She'll expose Gomez for two and the period ends in a scramble. Japan leads 8-0. 

2nd Period: Big hole for Gomez but she's not out yet. Gomez catches another shot and is wrestling from short offense until action is stalemated. Nice sweep single from Gomez but Matsuda circles to face and they're back in neutral. Arm spin gets 2 exposure points after they hit the mat and though she wrestles back to her feet Matsuda has enough points for a tech. Gomez will challenge the exposure. Challenge lost, and in fact they award Matsuda four points for her throw. So the official score is 12-0 but the net result is the same. Excellent tournament from Gomez who brings home hardware for Team USA. 

53 Kilograms

No medal here again, as Ivaldi went 1-1 in Rome and did not get pulled into the repechage. We do get two bronze medal matches, however. France facing off against Chinese Taipei aka Taiwan, and Turkey vs Mongolia. Good back-and-forth in the latter match as its 4-4 at the break. France with a 2-1 lead over Taiwan in the former, also at the halfway mark. France seals the deal with a pin in the second while Turkey wins 9-6 in a frantic bout over Mongolia.

With the bronze medals determined the decks are clear for the gold medal match between Japan and Ukraine. Fast-paced but low-scoring first period, Japan leads 1-0 off an activity clock point. Ukraine gains the leads via criteria with an activity clock point of her own. 36 seconds left after a restart. And a takedown with 10 seconds left gives Ukraine two more points to ice it. Big win for Ukraine over Japan to win a gold medal. 

61 Kilograms

Japan made short work of Moldova in the first bronze medal match to conclude. Japan, who lost to Savita of India in the semifinals, wins via 11-0 tech fall. A classic Taiwan vs Uzbekistan rivalry in the other semifinal bout. And it's Uzbekistan that wins a close 2-1 bout. 

Valarie Hamilton (USA) vs Savita (IND)

1st period: Our last women's match of the tournament. And it doesn't start well for Hamilton, as she gets dumped for four in the first 20 seconds of the match. Savita refuses to let go of the tricep and is keeping Hamilton in danger. Eventually, Hamilton gets to her stomach and we restart after a minute, Savita leading 4-0. Savita shoots in on a single, a scramble ensues. Nice switch attempt from hamilton but Savita prevails and collects two more. Period ends Hamilton trailing 6-0. 

2nd period: Savita tying to muscle Hamilton over with a head and arm, Hamilton bellies out and gives up two more to make it 8-0. Hamilton trying to get on her offense but Savita is stopping her in her tracks. Just one minute to go. Well-timed double from Savita. Hamilton tries a body lock and rolls Savita thru but doesn't stop the original move and it's a 12-0 tech for Savita. Still an excellent performance all-around for Hamilton who will come home with a silver medal!

69 Kilograms

Final three bouts of the women's tournament; no Americans remain. Croatia has Greece in a battle of Southern Mediterranean countries in one bronze match. Former Soviet countries Kyrgyzstan vs Ukraine face off in the other. Two tactical first periods for each bout, Greece and Ukraine with 1-0 leads in their respective bouts. Kyrgyzstan then goes big with a chin and arm reverse whip over -- it was a vicious grip on the chin -- and secures the fall for the bronze medal. Not quite as much action in the other match, as Croatia now leads Greece 3-1 with 36 seconds to go, but Croatia is challenging the last action. Challenge lost and Croatia ultimately wins 6-3. 

A true rivalry of women's wrestling powers in the finals, although the team race is not on the line as Japan has secured first place. Sweep single for two by India in the first minute of action. Period ends India leading 2-0. India put on the clock and gives up a point to Japan in the second. India still leads 1-0 with less than a minute to go. Desperation headlock by Japan in the final seconds doesn't land. Or at least it wasn't called for Japan on the mat. We'll get a challenge with zero seconds on the clock. Challenge lost and Harshita of India defeats Yoshida of Japan to cap off our women's tournament in Rome. 

That's all the action for Day 5. All 10 American men's freestyles wrestle tomorrow in what will be our busiest day in Rome yet. See you then!