USA Greco

QUICK RESULTS: Hafizov, Sancho, Rau, & Hancock Qualify USA Greco for Olympics

Photo: Tony Rotundo

It wasn’t a clean sweep for the United States on Friday, but four athletes managed to achieve the Greco-Roman program’s primary objective this season — qualify their weight categories for the upcoming Olympic Games.

Ildar Hafizov (60 kg, Army/WCAP), Alex Sancho (67 kg, Army/WCAP), Joe Rau (87 kg, TMWC/Chicago RTC), and G’Angelo Hancock (97 kg, Sunkist) all won their semifinal bouts this afternoon in Ottawa, Canada. By doing so, the US is guaranteed Olympic berths in their four weight classes.

Patrick Smith (77 kg, Minnesota Storm) and ’18 World silver Adam Coon (130 kg, NYAC/Cliff Keen) were not as fortunate. Smith put together an impressive quarterfinal win over John Yeats (CAN) but fell to recent rival Yovsanys Pena Flores (CUB) in the semifinal round. Coon locked horns with ’17 World bronze Yasmany Acosta Fernandez (CHI), and was in it the entire time, but fell 3-2.

Hafizov, Sancho, Rau, and Hancock will compete in the finals this evening starting at 5:00pm. That is also when Smith and Coon will participate in their bronze matches.

US athletes who qualified their weight categories today receive automatic byes to the best-of-three finals of their respective brackets next month at the Olympic Trials.

A full, thoroughly-detailed recap of today’s action along with notes of interest will be available later today.

2020 Pan-American Olympic Qualifier

March 13 — Ottawa, Canada

TEAM USA RESULTS

60 kg

Ildar Hafizov (Army/WCAP)
WON Andres Montano Arroyo (BRA) 4-3
WON Marat Garipov (BRA) 9-0, TF
WON Samuel Gurria Vigueras (MEX) 7-2
vs. Luis Orta Sanchez (CUB)

67 kg

Alex Sancho (Army/WCAP)
WON Enyer Feliciano (DOM) 7-1
WON Manuel Lopez Salcedo (MEX) 8-1
vs. Julian Horta Acevedo (COL)

77 kg

Patrick Smith (Minnesota Storm)
WON John Yeats (CAN) 8-0, TF
LOSS Yovsanys Pena Flores (CAN) 6-1
vs. Jair Cuero Munoz (COL)

87 kg

Joe Rau (TMWC/Chicago RTC)
WON Luis Avendano Rojas (VEN) 4-4 (criteria)
WON Lesyan Cousin Otomuro (JAM) 9-1, TF
vs. Daniel Gregorich Hechavarria (CUB)

97 kg

G’Angelo Hancock (Sunkist)
WON Luis Rivera Alvarado (MEX) 8-0, TF
WON Luillys Perez Mora (VEN) 9-0, TF
WON Thomas Barreiro (CAN) 9-0, TF
vs. Gabriel Rosillo (CUB)

130 kg

Adam Coon (NYAC/Cliff Keen)
LOSS Yasmany Acosta Fernandez (CHI) 3-2

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