High School Wrestling: Team USA Cadets Defeat Russia 28-26
Team USA downs Team Russia 28-26 in St. Peterburg, Russia. (pc: Chad Vandiver)
by Derek Levendusky, AWW staff writer
pc: Chad Vandiver
A team of USA Cadets made up of Wyoming Sem wrestlers and several national team members defeated Team Russia 28-26 yesterday in a showcase dual before the Vorobyeva Cup, which will take place today and tomorrow in St. Petersburg, Russia. The dual was tied 6-6 in match wins, but the USA squad was awarded the 28-26 point win based on criteria.
“This is going to be a terrific opportunity for the Sem girls,” said Wyoming Sem Coach Erin Vandiver on Wednesday. “Our team is looking forward to experiencing Russian culture and exploring St. Petersburg. The competition will be very competitive and the training will be intense.”
U.S. winners in the dual included: 2x Cadet World medalist Sterling Dias (NV) in the 46 kg matchup, 2019 Cadet World bronze medalist Kylie Welker (WI) got a fall at 61 kg, and 2019 Cadet World bronze medalist Amit Elor of California got a fall for Team USA at 69 kg. Also picking up wins were Wyoming Sem’s 2019 Cadet World Teamer Kennedy Blades at 69 kg, Abby Duke got a tech fall at 49 kg, and Sophia Smith got a nail-biting 2-2 criteria win at 49 kg..
The dual took place before a large crowd at a St. Petersburg high school. 2012 Olympic champion Natalia Vorobyeva of Russia presented Team USA with a trophy for winning the competition. The U.S. team is in St. Petersburg to compete in the Vorobyeva Cup today and tomorrow, September 28-29.
Dual Results:
42 kg – Gyebyert (Russia) dec. Virginia Foard (USA), 1-1
46 kg – Sterling Dias (USA) tech. fall Biryukova (Russia), 10-0
49 kg – Nafikova (Russia) by fall over Ava Bayless (USA)
49 kg – Abbygale Duke (USA) tech. fall Hramenikova (Russia), 12-1
49 kg – Karpushina (Russia) tech. fall Madison Wellen (USA), 12-2
56 kg – Sophia Smith (USA) dec. Baliutina (Russia), 2-2
57 kg – Solvena (Russia) by fall over Korina Blades (USA)
61 kg – Kylie Welker (USA) by fall over Petlyankova (Russia)
61 kg – Rybkina (Russia) by fall over Elleni Johnson (USA)
65 kg – Giukhareva (Russia) dec. Reese Larramendy (USA), 5-0
69 kg – Amit Elor (USA) by fall over Bezuglova (Russia)
69 kg – Kennedy Blades (USA) dec. Kozlova (Russia), 5-0
Team USA roster for Vorobyeva Cup:
*Sterling Dias (NV, Body Bar 36-40 kg Cadet Champ, silver medalist at 2019 Worlds)
Belle Foard (Wyoming Sem, 40 kg, Body Bar Cadet runner-up)
*Alex Szkotnicki (MD, 43 kg U15 & Body Bar Cadet Champ, DNP at 2019 Worlds)
Madi Wellen (Wyoming Sem, 49 kg, 8th U15 Trials)
Abby Duke (Wyoming Sem, 49 kg, 2x Fargo AA)
Ava Bayless (Wyoming Sem, 49 kg, 3rd place Body Bar)
Sophia Smith (Wyoming Sem, 57 kg, USAW All-American)
*Korina Blades (Wyoming Sem, 57 kg, U15 Champ)
*Skylar Hattendorf (NH, 57 kg Body Bar Cadet Champ, silver medalist at 2019 Worlds)
Elleni Johnson (Wyoming Sem, 61 kg, 6th U15 Trials)
*Mia Macaluso (NY, 61 kg Body Bar 61 kg Cadet runner-up, 2019 Cadet Pan Am Champ & Junior Pan Am Bronze)
*Kylie Welker (WI, 61 kg Body Bar Cadet Champ, bronze medalist at 2019 Worlds)
*Reese Larramendy (Wyoming Sem, 62 kg U15 Champ)
*Amit Elor (CA, 69 kg Body Bar Cadet Champ, bronze medalist at 2019 Worlds)
Dakota Dinielli (Wyoming Sem, 69 kg, 4th U15 Trials)
*Kennedy Blades (Wyoming Sem, 73 kg Body Bar Cadet Champ, DNP 2019 Worlds)
*Tristan Kelly (CO, 73 kg Body Bar Cadet runner-up, 2019 Cadet Pan Am Champ)
*National team members.