KHASAVJURT, Russia – Senior Zahid Valencia gets set to join 17 of the top men's freestyle wrestlers for USA Wrestling at the 2019 Continental Cup, Friday in Khasavjurt, Russia.
Valencia will wrestle at 86 kg and compete in his first international competition since winning a silver medal at the 2017 Junior Worlds in Tampere, Finland. A three-time Junior World Team member, Valencia represented the U.S. in 2015 at Bahia, Brazil and 2016 at Macon, France.
Joining Valencia on the 17 man roster for USA Wrestling will include three members that have medaled at a World Championship - 2017 Senior World silver medalist Thomas Gilman, 2018 Junior World champion Mekhi Lewis and 2017 U23 World bronze medalist Ty Walz.
The two-time national champion will hit the mat Friday in a matchup against Russian, Omar Ziiautdinov with the winner facing the winner of Tamerlan Tapsiev (Russia)/Khabib Gadzhiev (Russia).
The Continental Cup will span from Friday, Oct. 11 to Saturday, Oct. 12. Valencia's weight class schedule is as follows:
Friday, Oct. 11
11 a.m. local (1 a.m. AZ time) – Qualification rounds (Freestyle 57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg)
5 p.m. local (7 a.m. AZ time) – Semifinals (57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg)
Saturday, Oct. 12
11 a.m. local (1 a.m. AZ time) – Repechage (57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg)
5:30 p.m. local (7:30 a.m. AZ time) – Finals (57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg)
*Khasavjurt, Russia is 10 hours ahead of Tempe, Arizona.
Fans can follow updates from Russia @ASUWrestling and @USAWrestling on Twitter.
Valencia will wrestle at 86 kg and compete in his first international competition since winning a silver medal at the 2017 Junior Worlds in Tampere, Finland. A three-time Junior World Team member, Valencia represented the U.S. in 2015 at Bahia, Brazil and 2016 at Macon, France.
Joining Valencia on the 17 man roster for USA Wrestling will include three members that have medaled at a World Championship - 2017 Senior World silver medalist Thomas Gilman, 2018 Junior World champion Mekhi Lewis and 2017 U23 World bronze medalist Ty Walz.
The two-time national champion will hit the mat Friday in a matchup against Russian, Omar Ziiautdinov with the winner facing the winner of Tamerlan Tapsiev (Russia)/Khabib Gadzhiev (Russia).
The Continental Cup will span from Friday, Oct. 11 to Saturday, Oct. 12. Valencia's weight class schedule is as follows:
Friday, Oct. 11
11 a.m. local (1 a.m. AZ time) – Qualification rounds (Freestyle 57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg)
5 p.m. local (7 a.m. AZ time) – Semifinals (57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg)
Saturday, Oct. 12
11 a.m. local (1 a.m. AZ time) – Repechage (57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg)
5:30 p.m. local (7:30 a.m. AZ time) – Finals (57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg)
*Khasavjurt, Russia is 10 hours ahead of Tempe, Arizona.
Fans can follow updates from Russia @ASUWrestling and @USAWrestling on Twitter.