U.S. World Team Trials freestyle preview at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
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by Craig Sesker
Steve Mocco and Tervel Dlagnev have made their mark internationally this season.
The top two American freestyle heavyweights have combined to win eight events, including six by Mocco, and add another four medals during the 2008-09 season.
Now they both take aim at making their first World Team.
Mocco, a 2008 Olympian who placed seventh in Beijing, China, owns a slight edge over Dlagnev entering the U.S. World Team Trials on May 30-31 at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Mocco did lose to Dlagnev in the finals of November's New York AC International event, but Mocco came back to beat Dlagnev in three periods in April's U.S. Nationals finals in Las Vegas.
Mocco advances to the best-of-3 finals of the World Team Trials by virtue of his win at the U.S. Nationals.
Dlagnev will need to win the Challenge Tournament to earn the right to face Mocco in the final-round series.
Dlagnev's toughest obstacle in the Challenge Tournament may come from former college rival Les Sigman, who placed third at the U.S. Nationals. Dlagnev rallied to beat Sigman in the semifinals of the U.S. Nationals.
Dlagnev was a World University champion in 2008. Sigman was a four-time NCAA Division II champion for Nebraska-Omaha and Dlagnev won two D-II titles for Nebraska-Kearney.
Talented University of Missouri heavyweight Dom Bradley placed fourth in Vegas. Ryan Tomei was fifth, followed by Bubba Gritter and Michael Irving.
Zack Rey and Jarod Trice finished 1-2 at University Nationals to earn berths in the World Team Trials.
2009 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS - 120 KG/264.5 LBS.
1st - Steve Mocco, Coralville, Iowa (New York AC) dec. Tervel Dlagnev, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 2-2, 1-0
3rd - Les Sigman, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) dec. Dominique Bradley, Blue Springs, Mo. (Sunkist Kids), 1-1, 3-0
5th - Ryan Tomei, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Pitt) pinned Ryan Gritter, Mount Pleasant, Mich. (Gator WC), 1:59
7th - Michael Irving, Durham, N.C. (Gator WC) dec. Trey McLean, Merlin, Ore. (unattached), 3-1, 5- 1
2009 U.S. WORLD TEAM TRIALS QUALIFIERS - 120 KG/264.5 LBS.
U.S. Nationals Champion - Steve Mocco, Coralville, Iowa (New York AC)
U.S. Nationals, second place - Tervel Dlagnev, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, third place - Les Sigman, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Dominique Bradley, Blue Springs, Mo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, fifth place - Ryan Tomei, Irwin, Pa. (Pitt)
U.S. Nationals, sixth place - Ryan Gritter, Mount Pleasant, Mich. (Gator WC)
U.S. Nationals, seventh place - Michael Irving, Durham, N.C. (Gator WC)
Northern Plains Regional Champion - To be determined
University Nationals Champion - Zack Rey, Hopatcong, N.J. (Lehigh Valley AC)
University Nationals Runner-up - Jarod Trice, Highland Park, Mich. (Central Michigan RTC)
The top two American freestyle heavyweights have combined to win eight events, including six by Mocco, and add another four medals during the 2008-09 season.
Now they both take aim at making their first World Team.
Mocco, a 2008 Olympian who placed seventh in Beijing, China, owns a slight edge over Dlagnev entering the U.S. World Team Trials on May 30-31 at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Mocco did lose to Dlagnev in the finals of November's New York AC International event, but Mocco came back to beat Dlagnev in three periods in April's U.S. Nationals finals in Las Vegas.
Mocco advances to the best-of-3 finals of the World Team Trials by virtue of his win at the U.S. Nationals.
Dlagnev will need to win the Challenge Tournament to earn the right to face Mocco in the final-round series.
Dlagnev's toughest obstacle in the Challenge Tournament may come from former college rival Les Sigman, who placed third at the U.S. Nationals. Dlagnev rallied to beat Sigman in the semifinals of the U.S. Nationals.
Dlagnev was a World University champion in 2008. Sigman was a four-time NCAA Division II champion for Nebraska-Omaha and Dlagnev won two D-II titles for Nebraska-Kearney.
Talented University of Missouri heavyweight Dom Bradley placed fourth in Vegas. Ryan Tomei was fifth, followed by Bubba Gritter and Michael Irving.
Zack Rey and Jarod Trice finished 1-2 at University Nationals to earn berths in the World Team Trials.
2009 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS - 120 KG/264.5 LBS.
1st - Steve Mocco, Coralville, Iowa (New York AC) dec. Tervel Dlagnev, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 2-2, 1-0
3rd - Les Sigman, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) dec. Dominique Bradley, Blue Springs, Mo. (Sunkist Kids), 1-1, 3-0
5th - Ryan Tomei, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Pitt) pinned Ryan Gritter, Mount Pleasant, Mich. (Gator WC), 1:59
7th - Michael Irving, Durham, N.C. (Gator WC) dec. Trey McLean, Merlin, Ore. (unattached), 3-1, 5- 1
2009 U.S. WORLD TEAM TRIALS QUALIFIERS - 120 KG/264.5 LBS.
U.S. Nationals Champion - Steve Mocco, Coralville, Iowa (New York AC)
U.S. Nationals, second place - Tervel Dlagnev, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, third place - Les Sigman, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Dominique Bradley, Blue Springs, Mo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, fifth place - Ryan Tomei, Irwin, Pa. (Pitt)
U.S. Nationals, sixth place - Ryan Gritter, Mount Pleasant, Mich. (Gator WC)
U.S. Nationals, seventh place - Michael Irving, Durham, N.C. (Gator WC)
Northern Plains Regional Champion - To be determined
University Nationals Champion - Zack Rey, Hopatcong, N.J. (Lehigh Valley AC)
University Nationals Runner-up - Jarod Trice, Highland Park, Mich. (Central Michigan RTC)
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