Simmons, Fekete win gold medals at Olympics Hopes Tournament in Budapest, Hungary

Nick Simmons (E. Lansing, Mich./Michgan State WC) and Nik Fekete (E. Lansing, Mich./Michigan State WC) claimed gold medals in freestyle at the Olympic Hopes Tournament in Budapest, Hungary. Simmons, competing at 55 kg/121 lbs., won his weight class without giving up a single point, and wrestling for less than three total minutes. In the gold-medal finals, he pinned Dobodzi of Hungary in just 42 seconds. Simmons pinned Niyazov of Turkmenistan with a spladle and defeated Szabo of Hungary 10-0 to win his pool. He scored a 10-0 technical fall over a German athlete in the semifinals. According to Dr. Dave Bennett, USA Wrestling's National Developmental Coach who is working with the athletes on this tour, Simmons had a devastating front headlock the entire tournament. Fekete was the champion at 96 kg/211.5 lbs., pinning Graf of Germany in the gold-medal finals. The athletes went to a clinch to start the second period, and Fekete scored the fall with a re-throw technique. To reach the finals, Fekete defeated Balough of Hungary, 7-3, Eichen of Germany, 4-1 and by a 10-0 technical fall over Marton of Hungary. Information on the U.S. Greco-Roman and women competitors in the Olympics Hopes tournament will be posted when available, as will information on the Veterans World Championships.