Funicello wins second career World Beach bronze medal
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by Gary Abbott
DURRES, ALBANIA - For the second straight year, Jeff Funicello (Mesa, Ariz./American Pankration) won a bronze medal in the Under 85 kg/187.75 lbs. division at the World Beach Wrestling Championships on Sunday.
Funicello won his preliminary matches before losing a match to a Turkish opponent in the semifinals. The wrestler who defeated Funicello went on to win the gold medal.
It was the second medal won by Funicello during the World Wrestling Games in Albania this year. He also claimed a bronze medal in the Grappling competition on Saturday.
The other three U.S. wrestlers who participated in the Beach World Championships were defeated and did not win a medal.
2007 World Beach bronze medalist Carlos Dolmo (Bronx, N.Y./Blast Double NY) won his opening match of the tournament in the Over 85 kg/185 lbs. division. He was then defeated in the quarterfinals by 2006 Beach World champion Ali Reza Kaya of Turkey, 2-0. Kaya went on to win the gold medal.
Mike Proulx (Bath, Maine/unattached) lost in the second round at Under 85 kg to his teammate Jeff Funicello.
Neil Cook (Rochester, N.Y./Team Titan) fell in his opening match at Under 85 kg to the eventual champion from Turkey.
Names of opponents are not currently available.
WORLD BEACH WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Durres, Albania, Sept. 21
Under 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Jeff Funicello, Mesa, Ariz. (American Pankration), bronze medal
Under 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Mike Proulx, Bath, Maine, dnp
1-1 record
Under 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Neil Cook, Rochester, N.Y. (Team Titan), dnp
0-1 record
Under 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Carlos Dolmo, Bronx, N.Y. (Blast Double NY), dnp
1-1 record
Funicello won his preliminary matches before losing a match to a Turkish opponent in the semifinals. The wrestler who defeated Funicello went on to win the gold medal.
It was the second medal won by Funicello during the World Wrestling Games in Albania this year. He also claimed a bronze medal in the Grappling competition on Saturday.
The other three U.S. wrestlers who participated in the Beach World Championships were defeated and did not win a medal.
2007 World Beach bronze medalist Carlos Dolmo (Bronx, N.Y./Blast Double NY) won his opening match of the tournament in the Over 85 kg/185 lbs. division. He was then defeated in the quarterfinals by 2006 Beach World champion Ali Reza Kaya of Turkey, 2-0. Kaya went on to win the gold medal.
Mike Proulx (Bath, Maine/unattached) lost in the second round at Under 85 kg to his teammate Jeff Funicello.
Neil Cook (Rochester, N.Y./Team Titan) fell in his opening match at Under 85 kg to the eventual champion from Turkey.
Names of opponents are not currently available.
WORLD BEACH WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Durres, Albania, Sept. 21
Under 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Jeff Funicello, Mesa, Ariz. (American Pankration), bronze medal
Under 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Mike Proulx, Bath, Maine, dnp
1-1 record
Under 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Neil Cook, Rochester, N.Y. (Team Titan), dnp
0-1 record
Under 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Carlos Dolmo, Bronx, N.Y. (Blast Double NY), dnp
1-1 record
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