MONTERREY, MEXICO • Kamal Bey and Ellis Coleman were back on the mat collecting medals, and this time it was at the Pan-Am Championships just south of the border. For both Coleman and Bey, each of whom are Oak Park-River Forest and Team Illinois alums, the tournament would be important not only in their preparation for the World Championships come September in Croatia, but it would also be an opportunity to bond with their team, a collective mix of old and new faces.
For Coleman, who has been on age-level World Teams since 2011, he was not only the eldest statesman, but he was given the honor of being the team captain for USA Greco. And, for someone who has been part of several teams with several talented wrestlers, Coleman expressed strong feeling about this group.
“In a team meeting,” Coleman shared, “I told the guys that there’s something unique and special about this team. We have five experienced and five new guys. Since many of the guys have age-level world medals, we know we’re capable of getting things done because we’ve done them before.”
As for Coleman, personally, after a six-year absence from the Pan-Am’s, he is someone who has collected more than a few medals; however, never the one he came for. So, aside from his team goals, he had some individual Pan-Am goals he was seeking as well.
“Being here is huge,” Coleman commented. “As a team, we’re a few weeks out of the Trials, and now we have time to train for the Worlds. Personally, I’ve never won Pan Am’s before, and I’ve been here five, six, seven times. I have a couple silver and bronze medals, but I would like to take home a gold.”
For Coleman, who felt very good about his chances coming in at 63kg, he would end up missing out on his Pan-Am gold; he would have to settle for silver. However, on his way to the finals, he was able to get to his takedowns and get to his top position where he feels strongest in scoring.
In his opening match, Coleman won a 7-1 decision over Hector Sanchez of Mexico, and in his second round, he received a forfeit.
Now in the semifinals, Coleman faced and defeated Chile’s Matias Munoz by fall in 2:57; he was now headed to the finals.
Coleman’s gold medal match opponent was Jeremy Peralta of Ecuador, and although Coleman lead at the break, 4-3, after sinching a body lock, Peralta came back with two heavy lifts and throws from passivity to win the match, 12-4.
As for Bey’s tournament, he was able to pick up right where he left off at the US Open: dominating.
In his opening matches at 77kg, Bey won 9-0 and 11-2 over Ryan Cibas of Peru and Calebe Correra of Brazil. However, in the finals, Bey would have a very experienced, a very physically strong, and a very explosive opponent in Argentina’s Arsen Julfalakyn.
For Bey, the match would be about staying in the fight and scoring when opportunities presented themselves. He was also going to have to adjust his traditional attacks a bit. Normally, Bey is the smaller wrestler in height in his bouts, which allows him to Greco under his opponents, but this would not be the case with Julfalakyn, who was smaller in height than Bey.
The two wrestlers would be given the final stage of the championships for a matchup that many were interested in. And, once the opening whistle blew, it was Bey who came out Greco-ing first.
With an almost immediate 6-0 lead for the American after a drag that led to a takedown, and an explosive lift and throw out of bounds, the match was easily working in Bey’s favor. After the throw, however, there was a challenge. After the review, Bey won the challenge and was awarded with another point, now up 7-0, and one point away from Pan-Am gold.
To Julfalakyan’s credit, however, he kept coming. And after the Argentinean scored a takedown of his own, a throw by as Bey was looking for a push-out point, as well as an exposure of a lift and tip, Bey’s lead was cut to three, 7-4, heading into the break.
Coming out of the break, Julfalakyan’s momentum continued as he was awarded top position in par terre, and then tied the bout, 7-7, with a gut wrench. But, in the end, it would be Bey who would score one final takedown off a defensive high dive and go behind as a scramble ensued, and then another takedown, defensively, as Julfalakyan tried to score in the closing minute off a duck under.
The win for Bey was what he needed. He was challenged and he had to fight for everything—and this was the type of fight he needed to work through to keep refining his skills as he prepares for the Worlds.
“Wrestling a guy like Julfalakyan,” Bey said of his final’s opponent, “he is a warrior. I had to be ready and just stay in the fight. I was able to capitalize where he extended himself, and I was able to score points. It was fun. This is definitely a step in the right direction, pushing through and finishing these types of tough matches.”
Individually, Bey appears to be gaining ground and confidence in his wrestling. As a team, Bey commented on the progress that is being made, and where they are headed—all positive.
After the Pan-Am’s are completed, Team USA Greco will head out to Azerbaijan for training before they move over to Budapest for a ranking series tournament.
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Here is a look at Ellis Coleman’s tournament at 63kg:
RD.16 • defeated Hector Sanchez, Mexico • Dec, 7-1
QTR-F • defeated Lisandro Cabrera, Paraguay • Forfeit
SEMI-F • defeated Matian Munoz, Chile • Fall, 2:57
FINAL • defeated by Jeremy Peralta, Ecuador • TS, 12-4
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Here is a look at Kamal Bey’s tournament at 77kg:
QTR-F • defeated Ryan Cubas, Peru • TS, 9-0
SEMI-F • defeated Calebe Correra, Brazil • TS, 11-2
FINAL • defeated Arsen Julfalakyan, Argentina • Dec, 11-7
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• TC LIFONTI / LEAD WRITER FOR ILLINOIS MATMEN / tclifonti.com
