Tervel Dlagnev ready to make big splash at U.S. World Team Trials
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by Craig Sesker
Tervel Dlagnev shoots in on Steve Mocco at the 2009 U.S. Nationals. Photo by Larry Slater.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - Tervel Dlagnev is bigger.
He's stronger. And he's more experienced.
Born in Bulgaria, raised in Texas and having attended college at a small school in central Nebraska, Dlagnev has stamped himself a legitimate contender to make his first U.S. World freestyle team at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
A 2008 World University champion, Dlagnev has been on a tear ever since. He upset 2008 Olympian Steve Mocco in the finals of the New York AC International and has excelled in a number of tournaments overseas.
The 23-year-old Dlagnev wrestled well before dropping a close match to Mocco in the finals of April's U.S. Nationals. With that win, Mocco clinched a berth in the finals of the U.S. World Team Trials on Sunday at the Mid-America Center.
Dlagnev will be the No. 1 seed for the Challenge Tournament on Sunday at the Trials. The winner of the Challenge Tournament will meet Mocco in a best-of-3 match series in the finals. The World Team Trials winner advances to September's World Championships in Herning, Denmark.
"The matches with Mocco were pretty interesting," Dlagnev said during Thursday's World Team Trials press conference at the Spring Hill Suites in Council Bluffs. "The match I beat him, he kind of controlled the pace of the match. I was just able to get some takedowns right at the end of periods and scrapped out a win.
"I felt the exact opposite in the U.S. Nationals finals. He didn't get me as tired and he didn't push me out of bounds that much. I didn't feel like I got my offense going as much as I needed to though. I've studied video and learned some things. I hope I can fire up my offense a little more the next time I wrestle him."
Dlagnev was a two-time NCAA Division II champion for the University of Nebraska at Kearney. The UNK campus is just a couple hours' drive away from Council Bluffs, which sits right on the Iowa-Nebraska border.
"My mom, my sister, a couple of people from Texas, and a bunch of friends and teammates from Kearney I know are coming over," Dlagnev said. "It's going to be just like a comfortable hometown tournament for me. There will be less anxiety and more of a comfort level. It's going to be exciting to compete here. It's real nice to have some support."
Dlagnev has made a quick splash since jumping into freestyle competition full-time after he completed his college career in 2008.
In 2009, Dlagnev won a tournament in Ukraine, placed second in an event in Bulgaria and was third in a big tournament in Iran.
"It's been good for me to go overseas and compete against some of the best foreign opponents in the World and win," Dlagnev said. "The eventual goal is to become a World and Olympic champion, so beating a lot of those international guys is pretty huge for me."
Nebraska coach Mark Manning, one of the U.S. World Team freestyle coaches this year, said Thursday that he's watched the progression of Dlagnev.
Dlagnev, who is very quick, agile and explosive for a heavyweight, took part in the recent Sunkist Kids training camp in Lincoln.
"Tervel has really made a lot of progress," Manning said. "I was real impressed with his work ethic and his technique. He's really put himself in position to be a future champion. I like his desire and determination. Tervel has put himself in position to do real well in this sport.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - Tervel Dlagnev is bigger.
He's stronger. And he's more experienced.
Born in Bulgaria, raised in Texas and having attended college at a small school in central Nebraska, Dlagnev has stamped himself a legitimate contender to make his first U.S. World freestyle team at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
A 2008 World University champion, Dlagnev has been on a tear ever since. He upset 2008 Olympian Steve Mocco in the finals of the New York AC International and has excelled in a number of tournaments overseas.
The 23-year-old Dlagnev wrestled well before dropping a close match to Mocco in the finals of April's U.S. Nationals. With that win, Mocco clinched a berth in the finals of the U.S. World Team Trials on Sunday at the Mid-America Center.
Dlagnev will be the No. 1 seed for the Challenge Tournament on Sunday at the Trials. The winner of the Challenge Tournament will meet Mocco in a best-of-3 match series in the finals. The World Team Trials winner advances to September's World Championships in Herning, Denmark.
"The matches with Mocco were pretty interesting," Dlagnev said during Thursday's World Team Trials press conference at the Spring Hill Suites in Council Bluffs. "The match I beat him, he kind of controlled the pace of the match. I was just able to get some takedowns right at the end of periods and scrapped out a win.
"I felt the exact opposite in the U.S. Nationals finals. He didn't get me as tired and he didn't push me out of bounds that much. I didn't feel like I got my offense going as much as I needed to though. I've studied video and learned some things. I hope I can fire up my offense a little more the next time I wrestle him."
Dlagnev was a two-time NCAA Division II champion for the University of Nebraska at Kearney. The UNK campus is just a couple hours' drive away from Council Bluffs, which sits right on the Iowa-Nebraska border.
"My mom, my sister, a couple of people from Texas, and a bunch of friends and teammates from Kearney I know are coming over," Dlagnev said. "It's going to be just like a comfortable hometown tournament for me. There will be less anxiety and more of a comfort level. It's going to be exciting to compete here. It's real nice to have some support."
Dlagnev has made a quick splash since jumping into freestyle competition full-time after he completed his college career in 2008.
In 2009, Dlagnev won a tournament in Ukraine, placed second in an event in Bulgaria and was third in a big tournament in Iran.
"It's been good for me to go overseas and compete against some of the best foreign opponents in the World and win," Dlagnev said. "The eventual goal is to become a World and Olympic champion, so beating a lot of those international guys is pretty huge for me."
Nebraska coach Mark Manning, one of the U.S. World Team freestyle coaches this year, said Thursday that he's watched the progression of Dlagnev.
Dlagnev, who is very quick, agile and explosive for a heavyweight, took part in the recent Sunkist Kids training camp in Lincoln.
"Tervel has really made a lot of progress," Manning said. "I was real impressed with his work ethic and his technique. He's really put himself in position to be a future champion. I like his desire and determination. Tervel has put himself in position to do real well in this sport.
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