Cortez, Black advance to semifinals in Greco-Roman at U20 World Championships

PONTEVEDRA, Spain – The United States kicked off action at the 2024 U20 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain, this morning. Two athletes advanced to the semifinal round, slated to begin at 6 p.m. local time. Three athletes await their repechage fate following the next session.

At 55 kg, Isaiah Cortez went 3-0 in the first session. Cortez began his tournament by edging out Anil Mor of India in the qualification round. Trailing 6-0 early due to passivity, a turn, and a takedown, Cortez stormed back with a four-point move and a step out, making it 7-4 at the break. A series of exchanges in the second period saw the score tighten, but Cortez’s takedown to lead on criteria at 8-8 and a lost challenge by Mor’s corner secured him a 9-8 victory.

In the next round, Cortez bested Peter Totok of Hungary. Totok threw Cortez for four points early, but Cortez countered with a reversal and a turn to make it 4-3. He then forced a step out and gained a passivity point before sealing the match with a late takedown, winning 7-4.

The quarterfinal match at 55 kg was one of the most thrilling of the first session, with Cortez pulling out a victory over Maxim Sarmanov of Moldova. Cortez fell behind 5-0 after being put down and Sarmanov scored four with a throw on the edge. Cortez responded with an exposure, and after a successful challenge by Team USA, he closed the gap to 6-4. Cortez then capitalized on a passivity call against Sarmanov, taking the lead. A takedown with less than 20 seconds remaining in the period sends Cortez through.

At 63 kg, Otto Black also secured a place in the semifinals. Black started strong against Dejan Berkec of Serbia, scoring a takedown and converting a passivity call into a turn to take a 5-0 lead. Berkec managed to add a point when Black was put down, but Black maintained his defense to win 5-1.

In the quarterfinals, Black faced Enes Ulku of Turkey, who jumped ahead 5-0 with a combination of moves after Black was called for passivity. Black capitalized on a passivity call against Ulku, getting a turn and a throw to take a 7-5 lead. Ulku added one point on a reversal and attempted to add more points, but a successful U.S. challenge confirmed Black's narrow 7-6 victory.

In the 77 kg bracket, Aydin Rix McElhinney was defeated by Alireza Abdevali of Iran. McElhinney fell behind 4-0 after a takedown and a turn, and although he managed to score on a reversal and a late takedown, he couldn't close the gap, falling 7-3.

At 87 kg, Ryder Rogotzke faced a tough opening match against Patrik Gordan of Romania. Gordan secured an early takedown and followed with a four-point throw and a turn, resulting in an 8-0 technical fall.

Aden Attao, competing at 130 kg, dropped his opening match to Hungary’s Laszlo Darabos of Hungary. Darabos controlled the match with a takedown, two turns, a passivity call and two on the edge to secure a 9-0 victory.

All three of Rix McElhinney, Rogotzke and Attao’s opponents have advanced to the semifinals. The trio will await their repechage fate in the next session.

The U.S. will compete in two groups over the course of the Greco-Roman event. Group one, which starts on Sept. 2, is comprised of Cortez, Black, Rix McElhinney, Rogotzke and Attao. Group two starts a day later, featuring Cory Land, Joel Adams, Patrick Brackett, Arian Khosravy and Soren Herzog.

A full set of brackets and match-by-match results is available on UWW Arena. A live broadcast of the event is available for the U.S. market at FloWrestling.com.

Stay tuned to TheMat.com and USA Wrestling’s social media platforms for complete coverage of the U20 World Championships. 

55 kg

Isaiah Cortez (United States) vs. Aibek Aitbekov (Kazakhstan)

Ali Ahmadi Vafa (Iran) vs. Alibek Amirov (Individual Neutral Athlete)

63 kg 

Erzu Zakriev (Individual Neutral Athlete) vs. Anri Khozrevanidze (Georgia)

Otto Black (United States) vs. Yurik Hoveyan (Armenia)

77 kg 

Magomed Iarbilov (Individual Neutral Athlete) vs. Irfan Mirzoiev (Ukraine)

Alireza Abdevali (Iran) vs. Tornike Mikeladze (Georgia)

87 kg 

Asan Zhanyshov (Kyrgyzstan) vs. Patrik Gordan (Romania)

Joju Samadov (Azerbaijan) vs. Temirlan Turdakyn (Kazakhstan)

130 kg

Laszlo Darabos (Hungary) vs. Aleksandr Melekhov (Individual Neutral Athlete)

Abolfazl Fathitazangi (Iran) vs. Aramayis Harutyunyan (Armenia)

Monday, Sept. 2

10 a.m. – Qualification Rounds (GR 55-63-77-87-130 kg)

6 p.m. – Semifinals (GR 55-63-77-87-130 kg)

Tuesday, Sept. 3

10 a.m. – Qualification Rounds (GR 60-67-72-82-97 kg), Repechage (GR 55-63-77-87-130 kg)

4:45 p.m. – Semifinals (GR 60-67-72-82-97 kg)

6 p.m. – Medal Matches (GR 55-63-77-87-130 kg)

Wednesday, Sept. 4

10 a.m. –Repechage (GR 60-67-72-82-97 kg)

6 p.m. – Medal Matches (GR 60-67-72-82-97 kg)

* All times listed local to Pontevedra, Spain (GMT+2), which is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.

55 kg: Isaiah Cortez (Los Banos, Calif./Gilroy HS Wrestling), in semifinals

WIN Anil Mor (India), 9-8

WIN Peter Totok (Hungary), 7-4

WIN Maxim Sarmanov (Moldova), 9-6

63 kg: Otto Black (Parker, Colo./Colorado Top Team WC), in semifinals

WIN Dejan Berkec (Serbia), 5-1

WIN Enes Ulku (Turkey), 7-6

77 kg: Aydin Rix McElhinney (South Berwick, Maine/Northern Colorado WC), awaiting repechage

LOSS Alireza Abdevali (Iran), 7-3

87 kg: Ryder Rogotzke (Lakeland, Minn./Ohio RTC), awaiting repechage

LOSS Patrik Gordan (Romania), 8-0

130 kg: Aden Attao (Boise, Idaho/Beaver Dam RTC/New York AC), awaiting repechage

LOSS Laszlo Darabos (Hungary), 9-0