UPDATED: Simmons wins bronze medal at Medved International in Belarus

MINSK, BELARUS - Nick Simmons (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) won a bronze medal at 55 kg/121 lbs. on the first day of the Alexander Medved Tournament on Friday. He was the only U.S. athlete competing today.

Simmons had a 4-1 record for the tournament, including a victory in the bronze medal match over Mikhail Zakharov of Kyrgyzstan, 5-1, 1-0.

After winning his first two matches, Simmons defeated 2008 Olympic bronze medalist and 2007 World bronze medalist Rizvan Gadziev of Belarus, 0-3, 3-0, 5-4. His only loss came in the semifinals to the eventual champion Vladislav Andreeu of Belarus, 0-2, 0-1.

"Nick had a big win in the quarterfinals over Gadziev of Belarus in the quarterfinals," said U.S. coach Sean Bormet.

Simmons is currently working as a club coach at Oregon State. He was a four-time NCAA All-American for Michigan State in college.

On Saturday, three men's weights will be contested: 66 kg/145.5 lbs., 74 kg/163 lbs. and 84 kg/185 lbs. Four U.S. wrestlers will compete on Saturday.

ALEXANDER MEDVED INTERNATIONAL
At Minsk, Belarus, March 6

U.S. performance

55 kg/121 lbs. - Nick Simmons (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids), 3rd
WIN Khizri Duduyeu of Belarus, 4-2, 2-2, 4-1
WIN Azar Pashaev of Azerbaijan, 0-1, pin
WIN Rizvan Gadziev of Belarus, 0-3, 3-0, 5-4
LOSS Vladislav Andreeu (Belarus), 0-2, 0-1
WIN Mikhail Zakharov (Kyrgyzstan), 5-1, 1-0

55 kg/121 lbs. results
Gold - Vladislav Andreeu (Belarus)
Silver - Krasimir Krastanov (Great Britain)
Bronze - Asadula Lachinov (Russia)
Bronze - Nick Simmons (USA)
5th - Osip Mikhailov (Russia)
5th - Mikhail Zakharov (Kyrgyzstan)
7th - Balraj Singh (India)
8th - Rizvan Gadziev (Belarus)
9th - Azar Pashaev (Azerbaijan)
10th - Ibrahim Farag (Egypt)

U.S. draws for Saturday

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Trent Paulson, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)
vs. Christophe Clavier (France)

74 kg/163 lbs. - Keith Gavin, Pittsburgh, Pa. (New York AC)
vs. Shamil Abduaev (Russia)

84 kg/185 lbs. - Travis Pascoe, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
vs. Stephan Marczinski (France)

84 kg/185 lbs. - Bryce Hasseman, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC)
vs. Firat Binici (Turkey)

Complete Draws for Saturday66 kg
1. Muhammet Ilkan (TUR)
2. Roman Dermenzhi (MDA)
3. Rafik Alimov (RUS)
4. Faata Nozadze (RUS)
5. Iman Murzaev (AZE)
6. Mirza Tarovski (RUS)
7. Tevfic Odabachi (TUR)
8. Bassam Hamden (EGY)
9. Ali Shabarov (RUS)
10. Yaraslau Zaitsau (BLR)
11. Ignatiy Androsov (TJK)
12. Parahat Kulawev (TKM)
13. Zhan Safyan (BLR)
14. Artisiom Stelmashok (BLR)
15. Magomed Abakarov (RUS)
16. Remat Ramazanov (RUS)
17. Elmir Gambarov (AZE)
18. Pavel Hrybailau (BLR)
19. Azhret Bakharov (RUS)
20. Vagif Kaziev (RUS)
21. Magomed Sumenov (RUS)
22. Siarhei Petrovich (BLR)
23. Magomed Aziev (RUS)
24. Inokentiy Inokentyev (RUS)
25. Gasan Magomedov (RUS)
26. Nourlan Bekhzanov (KAZ)
27. Robert Olle (SVK)
28. Myroslav Dyukin (GBR)
29. Kjor Scupij (UKR)
30. Rustak Masharpov (RUS)
31. Djilali Khan (FRA)
32. Rostislav Pervachuk (UKR)
33. Ibrgim Muchtarov (AZE)
34. Erkin Cetin (TUR)
35. Sakin Zakirov (KAZ)
36. Artur Mamadaliev (RUS)
37. Ramiz Kurbanov (RUS)
38. Gadzhi Ilyasov (RUS)
39. Sadneep Kumar (IND)
40. Trent Paulson (USA)
41. Christophe Clavier (FRA)

74 kg
1. Akmed Aybuev (FRA)
2. Jans Leikhavnieks (LAT)
3. Luga Lampis (FRA)
4. Adlet Damlumbaev (KAZ)
5. Sergie Stepenko (UKR)
6. Zahambulat Abekov (RUS)
7. Musa Murtazaliev (RUS)
8. Ruslan Razbekov (KAZ)
9. Shamil Adbulaev (RUS)
10. Keith Gavin (USA)
11. Aliaksandr Matyl (BLR)
12. Zalimkhan Parangaev (RUS)
13. Khakhaber Kzubetki (SVK)
14. Marat Dzhoev (KAZ)
15. Arsen Tokaev (RUS)
16. Oksay Koksal (TUR)
17. Mazime Francois (FRA)
18. Muslim Rasolov (RUS)
19. Michael Grundy (GBR)
20. Bogdan Danilyuk (UKR)
21. Nasrulla Emeev (RUS)
22. Hasmagomed Dzhabrailov (RUS)
23. Vadzim Zaitsau (BLR)\
24. Rado Jalas (EST)
25. Kevin Huriez (FRA)
26. Idris Irbaykhanov (RUS)
27. Aleksandr Burka (MDA)
28. Dmitro Rochnyak (UKR)
29. Murad Gaidarov (BLR)
30 Tomasz Rogisz (POL)
31. Kamal Malikov (RUS)
32. Rajendra (IND)
33. Magomed Dibirov (RUS)
34. Akhbartag Aylarov (RUS)

84 kg
1, Niyaz Gunyashev (KAZ)
2. Anton Vlasenkov (RUS)
3. Arsen Magomedov (RUS)
4. Kmar Ravinder (IND)
5. Antans Azarevics (LAT)
6. Oleg Druzhnets (GBR)
7. Dzimitry Hancharou (BLR)
8. Roman Bakirov (AZE)
9. Stephan Marczinski (FRA)
10. Travis Pascoe (USA)
11. Omarghadzi Magomedov (RUS)
12, Akhmed Magomedov (RUS)
13. Vasili Kalashnikov (ISR)
14. Zaur Abdulmuslimov (RUS)
15. Ahmet Gulhan (TUR)
16. Radoslaw Marcinkiewiecz (POL)
17. Hanapi Yuposov (RUS)
18. Ali Imamoglu (TUR)
19. Firat Binici (TUR)
20. Bryce Hasseman (USA)
21. Dzmitry Alsheuski (BLR)
22. Aliaksei Isayeu (BLR)
23. Dzimitry Khoulalau (BLR)
24. Dzhafar Dzhafarov (RUS)
25. Ruslan Adaev (RUS)
26. Oleksiy Bilanenko (UKR)
27. Akibek Khapaev (RUS)
28. Ivan Yankouski (BLR)
29. Egor Sinitsin (UKR)
30. Alan Bzykau (BLR)