Photo by: Gabor Martin
Omania Claims Bronze at Greco-Roman Junior World Championships
8/18/2019 1:15:00 PM | Wrestling
The redshirt freshman becomes the first Spartan wrestler to earn a world medal since 2011.
TALLINN, Estonia - Michigan State wrestler Peyton Omania claimed the bronze medal Sunday at the Greco-Roman Junior World Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. Omania became the first Spartan wrestler to earn a World medal since Franklin Gomez' silver medal at the 2011 World Championships in Istanbul.
Omania joined teammate Cameron Caffey in the World Championships, which began Friday, Aug. 16.
Omania, a native of Concord, Calif., put together an impressive run to Saturday's semifinals at the Junior World Championships. In his first of five matches on the day, Omania opened with a 13-5 tech fall against Jaekwon Lee of Korea in the Round of 64 and never looked back. Omania came out hot in his Round of 32 match against Italy's Ignazio Sanfilippo, scoring a headlock and arm throw in the first two minutes on his way to a 13-3 win and a spot in the Round of 16.
"Peyton is a world class wrestler and this is validation that he is among the best in the world," said MSU wrestling head coach Roger Chandler. "Coming home with his first medal in three tries shows his development is continuing. I'm proud to be part of his journey and to see his commitment and hard work pays off," Chandler added.
The redshirt freshman recorded his third tech fall of the day in the Round of 16, this time against Saurabh Saurabh of India. Omania trailed early (1-0) before scoring 10 unanswered to grab the 10-1 victory over Saurabh. In quarterfinal action, Omania was challenged by 2016 Cadet World silver medalist Mohammed Reza Mokhtari of Iran. Omania took an early 4-0 lead in the opening minute on his way to a 5-3 lead at the break. A takedown in the second frame proved to be the decider as Omania walked away a 7-3 winner and clinched himself a spot in the semifinal round.
Omania, who made his third World Championships appearance in Tallinn, took on 2019 European Junior champion Giorgi Shotadze of Georgia with a spot to the finals on the line. Shotadze jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, taking down Omania 7-0.
Omania bounced back in a big way in Sunday's bronze medal match against Xin Huang of China. The 2018 U.S. Junior World Team member jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead over Huang, capitalizing on a headlock throw. After racing to a 6-1 lead, Huang battled back to cut the lead to one at 6-5. Omania remained strong and finished out the match on top, winning 6-5 to claim the bronze.
Caffey went 1-2 in the 87 kg division, while Omania went 5-1 while collecting bronze in the at 67 kg. With action starting on Friday, Caffey fell to 2018 Junior World bronze medalist Ilia Ermolenko of Russia (10-0). Ermolenko reached the gold medal match, giving Caffey a repechage match against India's Kumar Sunil early Saturday. Caffey jumped ahead early with a four-point throw and earned a fall with just under four minutes left to move on. In his next repechage match, Caffey matched up against Jacob Logaard of Sweden. In what was a battle until the end, Caffey fell just short (8-7) to end his run at the World Championships.
Results
Peyton Omania - 67kg - (5-1)
64- def. Jaewon Lee (Korea), tech fall 13-5
32- def. Ignazio Sanfilippo (Italy), tech fall 13-3
16- def. Saurabh Saurabh (India), tech fall 10-1
QF- def. Mohammed Reza Mokhtari (Iran), 7-3
SF - Giorgi Shotadze (Georgia) def. Omania, 7-0
BRONZE - def. Xin Huang (China), 6-5
Cameron Caffey - 87kg - (1-2)
64- Ilia Ermolenko (Russia) def. Caffey, tech fall 10-0
1st repechage - def. Kumar Sunil (India), fall
2nd repechage - Jacob Logaard (Denmark) def. Caffey, decision, 8-7
Omania joined teammate Cameron Caffey in the World Championships, which began Friday, Aug. 16.
Omania, a native of Concord, Calif., put together an impressive run to Saturday's semifinals at the Junior World Championships. In his first of five matches on the day, Omania opened with a 13-5 tech fall against Jaekwon Lee of Korea in the Round of 64 and never looked back. Omania came out hot in his Round of 32 match against Italy's Ignazio Sanfilippo, scoring a headlock and arm throw in the first two minutes on his way to a 13-3 win and a spot in the Round of 16.
"Peyton is a world class wrestler and this is validation that he is among the best in the world," said MSU wrestling head coach Roger Chandler. "Coming home with his first medal in three tries shows his development is continuing. I'm proud to be part of his journey and to see his commitment and hard work pays off," Chandler added.
The redshirt freshman recorded his third tech fall of the day in the Round of 16, this time against Saurabh Saurabh of India. Omania trailed early (1-0) before scoring 10 unanswered to grab the 10-1 victory over Saurabh. In quarterfinal action, Omania was challenged by 2016 Cadet World silver medalist Mohammed Reza Mokhtari of Iran. Omania took an early 4-0 lead in the opening minute on his way to a 5-3 lead at the break. A takedown in the second frame proved to be the decider as Omania walked away a 7-3 winner and clinched himself a spot in the semifinal round.
That feeling when your headed to the semifinals at the Junior World Championships 😤 💪 @P8in_ is locked in at #WrestleTallinn ‼️
— Spartan Wrestling (@wrestlingmsu) August 17, 2019
(📸: Kadir Caliskan)#SpartanStrong #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/qrswDI1I8j
Omania, who made his third World Championships appearance in Tallinn, took on 2019 European Junior champion Giorgi Shotadze of Georgia with a spot to the finals on the line. Shotadze jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, taking down Omania 7-0.
Omania bounced back in a big way in Sunday's bronze medal match against Xin Huang of China. The 2018 U.S. Junior World Team member jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead over Huang, capitalizing on a headlock throw. After racing to a 6-1 lead, Huang battled back to cut the lead to one at 6-5. Omania remained strong and finished out the match on top, winning 6-5 to claim the bronze.
WE DID IT!!! 💪🥉
— Spartan Wrestling (@wrestlingmsu) August 18, 2019
2019 UWW Greco-Roman Junior World Championships BRONZE MEDALIST!!
Way to go, @P8in_ !#SpartanStrong #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/cOZhCc02kx
Caffey went 1-2 in the 87 kg division, while Omania went 5-1 while collecting bronze in the at 67 kg. With action starting on Friday, Caffey fell to 2018 Junior World bronze medalist Ilia Ermolenko of Russia (10-0). Ermolenko reached the gold medal match, giving Caffey a repechage match against India's Kumar Sunil early Saturday. Caffey jumped ahead early with a four-point throw and earned a fall with just under four minutes left to move on. In his next repechage match, Caffey matched up against Jacob Logaard of Sweden. In what was a battle until the end, Caffey fell just short (8-7) to end his run at the World Championships.
Results
Peyton Omania - 67kg - (5-1)
64- def. Jaewon Lee (Korea), tech fall 13-5
32- def. Ignazio Sanfilippo (Italy), tech fall 13-3
16- def. Saurabh Saurabh (India), tech fall 10-1
QF- def. Mohammed Reza Mokhtari (Iran), 7-3
SF - Giorgi Shotadze (Georgia) def. Omania, 7-0
BRONZE - def. Xin Huang (China), 6-5
Cameron Caffey - 87kg - (1-2)
64- Ilia Ermolenko (Russia) def. Caffey, tech fall 10-0
1st repechage - def. Kumar Sunil (India), fall
2nd repechage - Jacob Logaard (Denmark) def. Caffey, decision, 8-7
Players Mentioned
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