UPDATED: Mocco wins gold at Medved International in Belarus
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by Gary Abbott
MINSK, BELARUS - 2008 U.S. Olympian Steve Mocco (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC) won a gold medal at 120 kg/264.5 pounds on the final day of the Alexander Medved International on Sunday.
Mocco won four matches on the way to the title, including a victory over Aiaal Lazarev of Krygysztan in the championship finals. He was the only American competing on Sunday.
"Steve wrestled very well from start to finish today. He had a good attack rate each period, executed great mat strategy in the zone, and scored with a nice technical balance. He was dominant," said U.S. coach Sean Bormet.
The U.S. won four medals during the weekend at this competitive international event. Capturing a silver medal at 84 kg/185 lbs. was Travis Pascoe (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids). Winning bronze medals were Trent Paulson (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Nick Simmons (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs.
"Today was a good day for American wrestling," said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones. "After the tournament, we spoke about getting better as a country and what skills work at this level. We definitely are focusing on the fundamental skills of freestyle wrestling as we rebuild the program."
"As for Steve, he wasn't tested today. Coach (Roman) Ruderman drove Steve to focus on using different techniques during his bouts, techniques that he will need to beat the best wrestlers in the world later this year," said Jones.
Zones discussed what this performance means to the freestyle program.
"I was proud of our effort. However, we all know the best tournament in the world this weekend was in Tehran (at the World Cup). We need to keep it in perspective, but we will enjoy the victory," he said.
ALEXANDER MEDVED INTERNATIONAL
At Minsk, Belarus, March 8
U.S. performances
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Steve Mocco, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC)
WIN Ghazimurad Mutiev (Russia)
WIN Bartlomie Bartnick (Poland)
WIN Ismail Eldesoky (Egypt)
WIN Aiaal Lazarev (Krygysztan)
Mocco won four matches on the way to the title, including a victory over Aiaal Lazarev of Krygysztan in the championship finals. He was the only American competing on Sunday.
"Steve wrestled very well from start to finish today. He had a good attack rate each period, executed great mat strategy in the zone, and scored with a nice technical balance. He was dominant," said U.S. coach Sean Bormet.
The U.S. won four medals during the weekend at this competitive international event. Capturing a silver medal at 84 kg/185 lbs. was Travis Pascoe (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids). Winning bronze medals were Trent Paulson (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Nick Simmons (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs.
"Today was a good day for American wrestling," said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones. "After the tournament, we spoke about getting better as a country and what skills work at this level. We definitely are focusing on the fundamental skills of freestyle wrestling as we rebuild the program."
"As for Steve, he wasn't tested today. Coach (Roman) Ruderman drove Steve to focus on using different techniques during his bouts, techniques that he will need to beat the best wrestlers in the world later this year," said Jones.
Zones discussed what this performance means to the freestyle program.
"I was proud of our effort. However, we all know the best tournament in the world this weekend was in Tehran (at the World Cup). We need to keep it in perspective, but we will enjoy the victory," he said.
ALEXANDER MEDVED INTERNATIONAL
At Minsk, Belarus, March 8
U.S. performances
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Steve Mocco, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC)
WIN Ghazimurad Mutiev (Russia)
WIN Bartlomie Bartnick (Poland)
WIN Ismail Eldesoky (Egypt)
WIN Aiaal Lazarev (Krygysztan)
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