Stith upsets Schwab in American Airlines NYAC International freestyle semifinals
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NEW YORK, N.Y. - The gold medal final pairings have been set in the men's freestyle division of the American Airlines New York Athletic Club International Open at the New York Athletic Club on Sunday.
The biggest upset in the semifinals came at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., when Brian Stith (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) defeated 2008 Olympian Doug Schwab (Iowa City, Iowa/Gator WC), 1-5, 1-0, 2-0.
Schwab controlled the first period, but Stith was able to tie up the bout in the second period with a pushout. The deciding third period went to the clinch, with Schwab winning the ball pull. Stith countered the Schwab attack and scored the winning two-point move with a counter crotch lift.
"We knew Schwab attacks one side of the body very well. We controlled the wrist and controlled the tieup. We slowed it down," said Sunkist Kids coach Joe Seay. "Brian has a very good double, but he was not able to get it. He maintained his position. He knew what he had to do. He is a young wrestler. These are the kind of kids we are looking for. You can't beat the Olympic team member unless you understand position wrestling."
Stith, who was a NCAA runner-up at Arizona State in 2006 and a two-time All-American there, will face Haislan Garcia of Canada in the championship finals.
Schwab was eliminated from medal contention with a consolation semifinal loss to Russia's Darsam Dzhaparov, 0-1, 1-0, 0-2. Schwab had defeated Dzhaparov in a dual meet in New Jersey on Thursday night, 1-0, 2-0.
Another 2008 Olympian, Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC), was defeated in the semifinals at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Hrovat was competing up one weight class from where he normally wrestles, which is 84 kg/185 lbs.
Hrovat was pinned in the third period by Alan Gelogaev, a Russian wrestler who competes for the Gator WC. Gelogaev is currently living and training in Stillwater, Okla., staying with 2008 Olympian Daniel Cormier. Gelogaev will face Nicolai Ceban of Moldova in the finals.
Hrovat won the first period, but Gelogaev was able to throw Hrovat for two three-point moves in the second period. In the deciding third period, Gelogaev secured a body lock and threw Hrovat to his back for the pin.
The third member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team in the field, Steve Mocco (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC), reached the finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs., where he will face 2008 World University champion Tervel Dlagnev (Arlington, Texas/Sunkist Kids). Mocco pinned Fatjon Baro of Albania in the semifinal round.
Mocco is the only 2007 NYAC International Open champion who has qualified for the finals this year.
Eric Leudke (Iowa City, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) qualified for the finals at 84 kg/185 lbs., where he will face Taymuraz Friev of Russia. Leudke defeated Bryce Hasseman (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) in the semifinals, 1-0, 1-0.
The other U.S. wrestler in the finals is Lloyd Rogers (Harrison, Tenn./unattached) who will battle Magomed Zubairov of Russia in the finals. Rogers is a graduate from UT-Chattanooga, and is training there under coach Chris Bono.
NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB INTERNATIONAL OPEN
Men's freestyle finals
55 kg/121 lbs. - Makhmud Magomedov (Russia) vs. Viktor Lebedev (Russia)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Shawn Bunch (Gator WC) vs. Martin Berberyan (Golden Boys)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Brian Stith (Sunkist Kids) vs. Haislan Garcia (Canada)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Magomed Zubairov (Russia) vs. Lloyd Rogers (unattached)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Taymuraz Friev (Russia) vs. Eric Leudke (Sunkist Kids)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Alan Gelogaev (Russia/Gator WC) vs. Nicolai Ceban (Moldova)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tervel Dlagnev (Sunkist Kids) vs. Steve Mocco (New York AC)
The biggest upset in the semifinals came at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., when Brian Stith (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) defeated 2008 Olympian Doug Schwab (Iowa City, Iowa/Gator WC), 1-5, 1-0, 2-0.
Schwab controlled the first period, but Stith was able to tie up the bout in the second period with a pushout. The deciding third period went to the clinch, with Schwab winning the ball pull. Stith countered the Schwab attack and scored the winning two-point move with a counter crotch lift.
"We knew Schwab attacks one side of the body very well. We controlled the wrist and controlled the tieup. We slowed it down," said Sunkist Kids coach Joe Seay. "Brian has a very good double, but he was not able to get it. He maintained his position. He knew what he had to do. He is a young wrestler. These are the kind of kids we are looking for. You can't beat the Olympic team member unless you understand position wrestling."
Stith, who was a NCAA runner-up at Arizona State in 2006 and a two-time All-American there, will face Haislan Garcia of Canada in the championship finals.
Schwab was eliminated from medal contention with a consolation semifinal loss to Russia's Darsam Dzhaparov, 0-1, 1-0, 0-2. Schwab had defeated Dzhaparov in a dual meet in New Jersey on Thursday night, 1-0, 2-0.
Another 2008 Olympian, Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC), was defeated in the semifinals at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Hrovat was competing up one weight class from where he normally wrestles, which is 84 kg/185 lbs.
Hrovat was pinned in the third period by Alan Gelogaev, a Russian wrestler who competes for the Gator WC. Gelogaev is currently living and training in Stillwater, Okla., staying with 2008 Olympian Daniel Cormier. Gelogaev will face Nicolai Ceban of Moldova in the finals.
Hrovat won the first period, but Gelogaev was able to throw Hrovat for two three-point moves in the second period. In the deciding third period, Gelogaev secured a body lock and threw Hrovat to his back for the pin.
The third member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team in the field, Steve Mocco (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC), reached the finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs., where he will face 2008 World University champion Tervel Dlagnev (Arlington, Texas/Sunkist Kids). Mocco pinned Fatjon Baro of Albania in the semifinal round.
Mocco is the only 2007 NYAC International Open champion who has qualified for the finals this year.
Eric Leudke (Iowa City, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) qualified for the finals at 84 kg/185 lbs., where he will face Taymuraz Friev of Russia. Leudke defeated Bryce Hasseman (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) in the semifinals, 1-0, 1-0.
The other U.S. wrestler in the finals is Lloyd Rogers (Harrison, Tenn./unattached) who will battle Magomed Zubairov of Russia in the finals. Rogers is a graduate from UT-Chattanooga, and is training there under coach Chris Bono.
NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB INTERNATIONAL OPEN
Men's freestyle finals
55 kg/121 lbs. - Makhmud Magomedov (Russia) vs. Viktor Lebedev (Russia)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Shawn Bunch (Gator WC) vs. Martin Berberyan (Golden Boys)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Brian Stith (Sunkist Kids) vs. Haislan Garcia (Canada)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Magomed Zubairov (Russia) vs. Lloyd Rogers (unattached)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Taymuraz Friev (Russia) vs. Eric Leudke (Sunkist Kids)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Alan Gelogaev (Russia/Gator WC) vs. Nicolai Ceban (Moldova)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tervel Dlagnev (Sunkist Kids) vs. Steve Mocco (New York AC)
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