Dlagnev wins gold, Paulson takes bronze at Heydar Aliyev Golden Grand Prix in Azerbaijan
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by Gary Abbott
BAKU, Azerbaijan - Tervel Dlagnev (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) won a gold medal at the Heydar Aliyev Golden Grand Prix tournament on July 19 in Baku. This event is the final of the FILA Golden Grand Prix series.
Dlagnev, a 2008 World University champion and a member of the 2009 U.S. Freestyle World Team, defeated European champion Ali Isayev (Azerbaijan in the finals, 0-1, 3-0, 1-0. Dlagnev won three matches to capture the tournament title.
Dlagnev had beaten Isayev in a USA vs. Azerbaijan dual meet on Saturday night.
"Tervel was brilliant although he knows this is just a test tournament prior to the world championships. For him and the team, this tournament is a means to an end," said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones.
U.S Freestyle World Team member Trent Paulson (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) captured a bronze medal at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Paulson defeated Ruslan Dibirgaciyev of Azerbaijan, 0-3, 1-0, 2-0 in the bronze medal match.
Paulson went 3-1 in the tournament. His only loss was Andriy Stadnik of Ukraine in the second round, by a 0-3, 3-5 score. Stadnik went on to win the gold medal.
Placing fifth at 60 kg/132 lbs. was 2009 U.S. World Team member Shawn Bunch (Columbus, Ohio/Gator WC). Bunch went 2-2 in the tournament. He lost to Saeed Ahmadi Zarinkolaei of Iran in the bronze-medal match, 0-2, 1-1.
Bunch lost his second match to 2009 European champion Zelimkhan Huseinov of Azerbaijan, who he had defeated in the dual meet on Saturday night.
"Overall, we had three of our six world team members wrestle for a medal today in a tournament that had the quality of a world championship so this gives us an indicator of where we're at," said Jones. "Jake Herbert, Dustin Schlatter, and Darrion Caldwell learned a lot today about making the adjustment to freestyle. They are not there yet but they definitely know what they need to work on. Their number one focus is becoming a student of the sport.
Champions in each weight class at the tournament in Baku received $10,000 with $5,000 for a silver medal and $2,000 for a bronze medal.
"We're proud of the way our men competed this weekend. We talked about being the fastest improving team in the world and after our performance this weekend we're on track," said Jones. "Most of all, we will not underestimate the challenge of winning a world title. Our men must work hard to achieve the goal."
HEYDAR ALIYEV GOLDEN GRAND PRIX
At Baku, Azerbaijan, July 19
Freestyle results
55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Namik Sevdimov (Azerbaijan)
Silver - Yasuhiro Inaba (Japan)
Bronze - Yaser Khalpour (Iran)
Bronze - Hyo-Sub Kim (Korea)
5th - Rizvan Gadziyev (Belarus)
5th - Makhmud Magomedov (Azerbaijan)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold - Zelimkhan Guseinov (Azerbaijan)
Silver - Malkhaz Kurdiani (Georgia)
Bronze - Saeid Ahmadi Zarinkolaei (Iran)
Bronze - Dildosh Mansurov (Uzbekistan)
5th - Shawn Bunch (USA)
5th - Khaybulla Shaalov (Azerbaijan)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold - Andriy Stadnik (Ukraine)
Silver - Khagan Suleymanov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Saied Saledi (Iran)
Bronze - Trent Paulson (USA)
5th - Miroslav Dykun (Great Britain)
5th - Ruslan Dibirgaciyev (Azerbaijan)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Soslan Tigiyev (Uzbekistan)
Silver - Irbek Farniev (Russia)
Bronze - Chamsulvara Chamsulvarayev (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Agil Guliyev (Azerbaijan)
5th - Giya Chikhadze (Ukraine)
5th - Ashraf Aliyev (Azerbaijan)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold - Jamal Mirzaei (Iran)
Silver - Zaurbek Sokhiyev (Uzbekistan)
Bronze - Barzighaleh Aliasgar (Iran)
Bronze - Sharif Sharifov (Azerbaijan)
5th - Ibrahim Aldatov (Ukraine)
5th - Si Riguleng (China)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Gold - Kurban Kurbanov (Uzbekistan)
Silver - Arslanbek Aliyev (Russia)
Bronze - Khetag Gazyumov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Alen Zaseev (Russia)
5th - Belduk Gavashelishvili (Georgia)
5th - Eldar Kurtanidze (Georgia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Gold - Tervel Dlagnev (USA)
Silver - Ali Isayev (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Hamid Saifi (Iran)
Bronze - Giorgi Sakandelidze (Georgia)
5th - Ismail Eldossuki Abdelraouf (Egypt)
5th - Soslan Gagloev (Russia)
U.S. performance
60 kg/132 lbs. - Shawn Bunch, Columbus, Ohio (Gator WC), 5th
WIN Etimad Gurbanov (Azerbaijan), 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Zelimkhan Guseinov (Azerbaijan), 1-0, 0-1, 0-1
WIN Faud Mussayev (Kazakhstan), 2-0, 7-0
LOSS Saeed Ahmadi Zarinkolaei (Iran), 0-2, 1-1
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Trent Paulson, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids), 3rd
WIN Magomedgadzi Abakarov (Russia), 1-0, 0-2, 1-0
LOSS Andriy Stadnik (Ukraine), 0-3, 3-5
WIN Batcorug Bunynjav (Mongolia), 6-0, 3-5, 3-1
WIN Ruslan Dibirgaciyev (Azerbaijan), 0-3, 1-0, 2-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Darrion Caldwell, Rahway, N.J. (Sunkist Kids), dnp
LOSS Koba Kakaladze (Georgia), 2-4, 4-2, 3-1
74 kg/163 lbs. - Dustin Schlatter, Massillon, Ohio (Minnesota Storm), dnp
LOSS Mohammadian Iman (Iran), 1-4, 0-2
74 kg/163 lbs. - Travis Paulson, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids), 9th
WIN Mustafajoukar Meisam (Iran), 0-3, 3-0, 1-1
LOSS Irbek Farniev (Russia), 1-3, 0-4
LOSS Elmur Aliyev (Azerbaijan), 0-2, 0-1
84 kg/185 lbs. - Jake Herbert, Evanston, Ill. (New York AC), 9th
WIN Haji Alijanov (Azerbaijan), 1-1, 1-2, 3-2
LOSS Ibrahim Aldatov (Ukraine), 0-2, 4-3, 8-1
84 kg/185 lbs. - Bryce Hasseman, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC), dnp
LOSS Sharif Sharifov (Azerbajian), 0-1, 1-2
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC), 8th
WIN Leon Rattigan (Great Britain), 1-0, 2-0
LOSS Alan Zaseev (Russia), 3-2, 0-2, 1-4
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tervel Dlagnev, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 1st
WIN Ismail Abdelraouf Eldossuki (Egypt), 3-0, 6-0
WIN Hadi Parviz (Iran), 1-0, 1-0
WIN Ali Isayev (Azerbaijan), 0-1, 3-0, 1-0
Dlagnev, a 2008 World University champion and a member of the 2009 U.S. Freestyle World Team, defeated European champion Ali Isayev (Azerbaijan in the finals, 0-1, 3-0, 1-0. Dlagnev won three matches to capture the tournament title.
Dlagnev had beaten Isayev in a USA vs. Azerbaijan dual meet on Saturday night.
"Tervel was brilliant although he knows this is just a test tournament prior to the world championships. For him and the team, this tournament is a means to an end," said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones.
U.S Freestyle World Team member Trent Paulson (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) captured a bronze medal at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Paulson defeated Ruslan Dibirgaciyev of Azerbaijan, 0-3, 1-0, 2-0 in the bronze medal match.
Paulson went 3-1 in the tournament. His only loss was Andriy Stadnik of Ukraine in the second round, by a 0-3, 3-5 score. Stadnik went on to win the gold medal.
Placing fifth at 60 kg/132 lbs. was 2009 U.S. World Team member Shawn Bunch (Columbus, Ohio/Gator WC). Bunch went 2-2 in the tournament. He lost to Saeed Ahmadi Zarinkolaei of Iran in the bronze-medal match, 0-2, 1-1.
Bunch lost his second match to 2009 European champion Zelimkhan Huseinov of Azerbaijan, who he had defeated in the dual meet on Saturday night.
"Overall, we had three of our six world team members wrestle for a medal today in a tournament that had the quality of a world championship so this gives us an indicator of where we're at," said Jones. "Jake Herbert, Dustin Schlatter, and Darrion Caldwell learned a lot today about making the adjustment to freestyle. They are not there yet but they definitely know what they need to work on. Their number one focus is becoming a student of the sport.
Champions in each weight class at the tournament in Baku received $10,000 with $5,000 for a silver medal and $2,000 for a bronze medal.
"We're proud of the way our men competed this weekend. We talked about being the fastest improving team in the world and after our performance this weekend we're on track," said Jones. "Most of all, we will not underestimate the challenge of winning a world title. Our men must work hard to achieve the goal."
HEYDAR ALIYEV GOLDEN GRAND PRIX
At Baku, Azerbaijan, July 19
Freestyle results
55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Namik Sevdimov (Azerbaijan)
Silver - Yasuhiro Inaba (Japan)
Bronze - Yaser Khalpour (Iran)
Bronze - Hyo-Sub Kim (Korea)
5th - Rizvan Gadziyev (Belarus)
5th - Makhmud Magomedov (Azerbaijan)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold - Zelimkhan Guseinov (Azerbaijan)
Silver - Malkhaz Kurdiani (Georgia)
Bronze - Saeid Ahmadi Zarinkolaei (Iran)
Bronze - Dildosh Mansurov (Uzbekistan)
5th - Shawn Bunch (USA)
5th - Khaybulla Shaalov (Azerbaijan)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold - Andriy Stadnik (Ukraine)
Silver - Khagan Suleymanov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Saied Saledi (Iran)
Bronze - Trent Paulson (USA)
5th - Miroslav Dykun (Great Britain)
5th - Ruslan Dibirgaciyev (Azerbaijan)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Soslan Tigiyev (Uzbekistan)
Silver - Irbek Farniev (Russia)
Bronze - Chamsulvara Chamsulvarayev (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Agil Guliyev (Azerbaijan)
5th - Giya Chikhadze (Ukraine)
5th - Ashraf Aliyev (Azerbaijan)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold - Jamal Mirzaei (Iran)
Silver - Zaurbek Sokhiyev (Uzbekistan)
Bronze - Barzighaleh Aliasgar (Iran)
Bronze - Sharif Sharifov (Azerbaijan)
5th - Ibrahim Aldatov (Ukraine)
5th - Si Riguleng (China)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Gold - Kurban Kurbanov (Uzbekistan)
Silver - Arslanbek Aliyev (Russia)
Bronze - Khetag Gazyumov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Alen Zaseev (Russia)
5th - Belduk Gavashelishvili (Georgia)
5th - Eldar Kurtanidze (Georgia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Gold - Tervel Dlagnev (USA)
Silver - Ali Isayev (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Hamid Saifi (Iran)
Bronze - Giorgi Sakandelidze (Georgia)
5th - Ismail Eldossuki Abdelraouf (Egypt)
5th - Soslan Gagloev (Russia)
U.S. performance
60 kg/132 lbs. - Shawn Bunch, Columbus, Ohio (Gator WC), 5th
WIN Etimad Gurbanov (Azerbaijan), 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Zelimkhan Guseinov (Azerbaijan), 1-0, 0-1, 0-1
WIN Faud Mussayev (Kazakhstan), 2-0, 7-0
LOSS Saeed Ahmadi Zarinkolaei (Iran), 0-2, 1-1
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Trent Paulson, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids), 3rd
WIN Magomedgadzi Abakarov (Russia), 1-0, 0-2, 1-0
LOSS Andriy Stadnik (Ukraine), 0-3, 3-5
WIN Batcorug Bunynjav (Mongolia), 6-0, 3-5, 3-1
WIN Ruslan Dibirgaciyev (Azerbaijan), 0-3, 1-0, 2-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Darrion Caldwell, Rahway, N.J. (Sunkist Kids), dnp
LOSS Koba Kakaladze (Georgia), 2-4, 4-2, 3-1
74 kg/163 lbs. - Dustin Schlatter, Massillon, Ohio (Minnesota Storm), dnp
LOSS Mohammadian Iman (Iran), 1-4, 0-2
74 kg/163 lbs. - Travis Paulson, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids), 9th
WIN Mustafajoukar Meisam (Iran), 0-3, 3-0, 1-1
LOSS Irbek Farniev (Russia), 1-3, 0-4
LOSS Elmur Aliyev (Azerbaijan), 0-2, 0-1
84 kg/185 lbs. - Jake Herbert, Evanston, Ill. (New York AC), 9th
WIN Haji Alijanov (Azerbaijan), 1-1, 1-2, 3-2
LOSS Ibrahim Aldatov (Ukraine), 0-2, 4-3, 8-1
84 kg/185 lbs. - Bryce Hasseman, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC), dnp
LOSS Sharif Sharifov (Azerbajian), 0-1, 1-2
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC), 8th
WIN Leon Rattigan (Great Britain), 1-0, 2-0
LOSS Alan Zaseev (Russia), 3-2, 0-2, 1-4
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tervel Dlagnev, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 1st
WIN Ismail Abdelraouf Eldossuki (Egypt), 3-0, 6-0
WIN Hadi Parviz (Iran), 1-0, 1-0
WIN Ali Isayev (Azerbaijan), 0-1, 3-0, 1-0
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