Snyder Wins Yarygin, Is Actually Captain America

Kyle Snyder became the first American to win the Yarygin tournament since Steve Mocco in 2009. The annual tournament in Siberia is difficult for many reasons leaving what Snyder accomplished another impressive addition to his legacy. 

The organizers of the tournament decided to separate the bracket with all Russians on one side leaving Snyder with international opponents on his side. He cruised to the finals, but fell behind early to the Russian. Down 4-1, Snyder did what he usually does as few big men can keep up the punishing pace the living superhero sets. Snyder took a 6-4 lead before a takedown with the Russian's legs split and he gave up laying flat on his back exhausted, giving Snyder the pin at 5:02. 

Yarygin Memorial gold medalists from the USA in men's freestyle
(Named Krasnoyarsk Tournament through 1993, then named in honor of late Ivan Yarygin) 
1990 - Jim Scherr (198); 1991 - Dave Schultz (163); 1991 - Chris Campbell (198); 1992 - Kendall Cross (125.5); 1993 - Tom Brands (136.5); 1993 - Kurt Angle (220); 1998 - Lincoln McIlravy (152); 2005 - Joe Williams (163); 2005 - Daniel Cormier (211.5); 2009 - Steve Mocco (264.5), 2017 – Kyle Snyder (213.75)

Sarah Hildebrandt claimed silver besting three opponents on the way to the finals before falling to Japan. She seems to be picking up a level early in this cycle and it'll be interesting to see her fight for a world team spot this year. 

IVAN YARYGIN MEMORIAL GRAND PRIX
At Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Jan. 28

Women’s freestyle results

53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Gold - Mayu Mukaida (Japan) 
Silver - Otgontsetseg Davaasukh (Mongolia) 
Bronze - Ekaterina Poleshchuk (Russia) 
Bronze - Sumiya Erdenechimeg (Mongolia) 
5th - Otgonjargal Ganbaatar (Mongolia)
5th - Stalvira Orshush (Russia)

55 kg/121 lbs. 
Gold - Sae Nanjo (Japan) 
Silver - Sarah Hildebrandt (USA)
Bronze - Battsetseg Altantsetseg (Mongolia)
Bronze - Aleksandra Andreeva (Russia) 
5th - Davaanchimeg Erkhembayar (Mongolia)
5th - Nadezhda Tretyakova (Russia) 

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold - Orkhon Purevdorj (Mongolia)
Silver - Inna Trazhukova (Russia) 
Bronze - Taybe Yusein (Bulgaria)
Bronze - Ayaka Ito (Japan)
5th - Anzhela Fomenko (Russia) 
5th - Anna Sherbakova (Russia) 

75 kg/165 lbs.
Gold - Urtnasar Ganochir (Mongolia)
Silver - Alena Starodubtseva (Russia) 
Bronze - Elena Perepelkina (Russia)
Bronze - Bayarzaya Tserendorj (Mongolia) 
5th - Gulmaral Erkebaeva (Kazakhstan)
5th - Aiperi Medet Kyzy (Kyrgyzstan)

U.S. women’s freestyle results

55 kg/121 lbs.- Sarah Hildebrandt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC/OTC), silver medal
WIN Nahezhda Tretyakova (Russia), 10-0 tech. fall
WIN Marina Sedneva (Kazakhstan), 4-4
WIN Aleksandra Andreeva (Russia), pin
LOSS Sae Nanjo (Japan), pin 

Men’s freestyle results

61 kg/134 lbs.
Gold - Akhmed Chakaev (Russia)
Silver - Gadzhimurad Rashidov (Russia) 
Bronze - Rei Higuchi (Japan) 
Bronze - Viktor Rassadin (Russia)
5th - Bulat Batoev (Russia)
5th - Nachin Kuular (Russia) 

86 kg/189 lbs.
Gold - Dauren Kurguliev (Russia)
Silver - Mahammasjavad Ebrahimizivlaei (Iran) 
Bronze - Ahmed Magamaev (Russia) 
Bronze - Vladislav Valiev (Russia) 
5th - Aleksander Zelenkov (Russia) 
5th - Shamil Kudiyamagomedov (Russia) 

125 kg/275 lbs.
Gold - Alan Khugaev (Russia) 
Silver - Anzor Boltukaev (Russia) 
Bronze - Zolboo Natsagsuren (Mongolia) 
Bronze - Jaber Sadeghzadehnoukoulaei (Iran) 
5th - Seyedreza Mousavikhani (Iran) 
5th - Kazbek Khubulov (Russia)

U.S. men’s freestyle results

61 kg/ 134 lbs.- Cody Brewer, Evanston, Ill (Chicago RTC), dnp/16th
WIN Usman Shakhgiriyev (Russia), 5-2
LOSS Gadzhimurad Rashidov (Russia), 12-1 tech fall
LOSS Rei Higuchi (Japan), pin

125 kg/ 275 lbs.- Nick Gwiazdowski, Raleigh, N.C. (New York AC), dnp/14th
LOSS Adlan Ibragimov (Russia), 6-4

65 kg/143 lbs.
Gold - Ilyas Bekbulatov (Russia)
Sikver - Cherman Valiev (Russia) 
Bronze - Alan Gogaev (Russia) 
Bronze - Mohammed Mehdi Yeganehjafari (Iran)
5th - Semyon Tereshenko (Russia) 
5th - Lkhamgarmaa Narmadakh (Mongolia)

70 kg/154 lbs.
Gold - Israil Kasumov (Russia)
Silver - Zaurbek Sidakov (Russia)
Bronze - Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (Russia)
Bronze - Alibek Akbaev (Russia)
5th - Timur Bizhoev (Russia)
5th - Ildus Giniyatullin (Russia)

97 kg/213 lbs.
Gold - Kyle Snyder (USA)
Silver - Rasul Magomedov (Russia)
Bronze - Yuri Belonovski (Russia)
Bronze: Hossein Ghorbanali Ramezanianjelodar (Iran)
5th - Vladislav Baitsaev (Russia)
5th - Munkhzhargal Belgutei (Mongolia)

U.S. men’s freestyle results on Sunday

97 kg/ 213 lbs.- Kyle Snyder, Woodbine, Md. (Titan Mercury WC), gold medal
WIN Chaganxhana (China), 11-0 tech. fall
WIN Munkhzhargal Belgutei (Mongolia), 11-1 tech. fall
WIN Hossein Ghorbanali Ramezanianjelodar (Iran) 11-1 tech. fall
WIN Rasul Magomedov (Russia), 5:02