U.S. wrestlers receive draws for Trophe Milone tourney in Italy
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by Gary Abbott
The U.S. wrestlers have weighed-in and received their first round draws for the Trophe Milone, a freestyle tournament set for March 10.
There will be 11 U.S. wrestlers competing in the tournament, including a number of athletes who also competed at the Yasar Dogu Tournament in Turkey last week. USA Wrestling's National Freestyle Developmental Coach Dave Bennett is coaching the team.
The two wrestlers who won bronze medals at the Yasar Dogu Tournament are also competing in Italy this week: Zack Esposito (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Steven Mocco (Stillwater, Okla./New York AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Esposito will face Badrnak of Slovakia in the opening round, while Mocco will battle Rares Chintoan of Romania in his opening match.
The U.S. has three wrestlers at 84 kg/185 lbs.: Chris Pendleton (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC), Clint Wattenburg (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC) and Tony Gansen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids).
Pendleton has drawn Hamid of Iran, Wattenburg will wrestle Chatta of Great Britain and Gansen has drawn Sorbello of Italy.
U.S. first round draws
60 kg/132 lbs. - Shawn Bunch, Edinboro, Pa.
vs. Chevtoa (Italy)
60 kg/132 lbs. -Danny Felix, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids)
vs. Pais (France)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Zack Esposito (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC)
vs. Badrnak (Slovakia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Phillip Simpson (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)
vs. Magri (Italy)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Ron Groves, Colorado Springs, Colo.
vs. Lumic (Italy)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Chris Pendleton (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC)
vs. Hamid (Iran)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Clint Wattenburg (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC)
vs. Chatta (Great Britain)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Tony Gansen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)
vs. Sorbello (Italy)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Kyle Cerminara, Colorado Springs, Colo.
vs. Ali Reza Soliemani (Iran)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Steven Mocco (Stillwater, Okla./New York AC)
vs. Rares Chintoan (Romania)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Les Sigmon (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids)
vs. Liperi (Italy)
There will be 11 U.S. wrestlers competing in the tournament, including a number of athletes who also competed at the Yasar Dogu Tournament in Turkey last week. USA Wrestling's National Freestyle Developmental Coach Dave Bennett is coaching the team.
The two wrestlers who won bronze medals at the Yasar Dogu Tournament are also competing in Italy this week: Zack Esposito (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Steven Mocco (Stillwater, Okla./New York AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Esposito will face Badrnak of Slovakia in the opening round, while Mocco will battle Rares Chintoan of Romania in his opening match.
The U.S. has three wrestlers at 84 kg/185 lbs.: Chris Pendleton (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC), Clint Wattenburg (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC) and Tony Gansen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids).
Pendleton has drawn Hamid of Iran, Wattenburg will wrestle Chatta of Great Britain and Gansen has drawn Sorbello of Italy.
U.S. first round draws
60 kg/132 lbs. - Shawn Bunch, Edinboro, Pa.
vs. Chevtoa (Italy)
60 kg/132 lbs. -Danny Felix, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids)
vs. Pais (France)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Zack Esposito (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC)
vs. Badrnak (Slovakia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Phillip Simpson (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)
vs. Magri (Italy)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Ron Groves, Colorado Springs, Colo.
vs. Lumic (Italy)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Chris Pendleton (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC)
vs. Hamid (Iran)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Clint Wattenburg (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC)
vs. Chatta (Great Britain)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Tony Gansen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)
vs. Sorbello (Italy)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Kyle Cerminara, Colorado Springs, Colo.
vs. Ali Reza Soliemani (Iran)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Steven Mocco (Stillwater, Okla./New York AC)
vs. Rares Chintoan (Romania)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Les Sigmon (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids)
vs. Liperi (Italy)
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