World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev shooting for the top this season
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by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
It was one of those overseas experiences Tervel Dlagnev would like to forget.
Not only did Dlagnev fall in the quarterfinals of the Ivan Yarygin Memorial International on Jan. 31 in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, the long flight home was even more painful.
Dlagnev started to feel ill toward the end of the trip to Russia, and ended up contracting a fever that resulted in a 101-degree temperature and strep throat.
The 2009 World bronze medalist spent the past week off the mat, trying to recover from the illness. U.S. National Coach Zeke Jones and World silver medalist Jake Herbert also got sick on the trip to Russia.
"I just felt like garbage," Dlagnev said. "It was pretty rough for a few days."
Dlagnev is back feeling better now, and has resumed training. He was on his way to Ames, Iowa, on Tuesday to spend a few days training with Iowa State coach and former U.S. National Coach Kevin Jackson.
Dlagnev is scheduled to compete in an upcoming event in Cuba before he wrestles in the World Cup in Russia and another event in Belarus. He will then wrestle in April's U.S. Open in Cleveland.
Dlagnev had a breakthrough freestyle season at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. in 2009. He knocked off Olympian Steve Mocco in the finals of the U.S. World Team Trials and followed by placing third at the 2009 World Championships in Herning, Denmark.
"I still have so much to learn," he said. "I'm going to get a ton of training and matches in over the next few months. I'm fired up for my next practice and my next match. I want to keep learning and keep improving."
Dlagnev won the New York AC International earlier this season.
"Tervel has followed his training and competition plan to a tee, and is making improvement in his technical and strategic wrestling areas," said Jones, in his second season as U.S. National Coach. "Now if he can tighten down all of his areas of wrestling I see him really making a jump this year. The one thing he has to remember is there are several good American and foreign wrestlers who are gunning for him. He will need to have good match plans for each of them."
Dlagnev went 2-1 in the recent Yarygin event in Russia, traditionally one of the toughest freestyle tournaments in the World.
He beat a competitor from Russia in the first match before he swept Mocco in the second bout. Mocco won the Yarygin tournament in 2009.
Dlagnev then fell to Russia's Alan Dzampaev in the quarterfinals. Dzampaev went on to win a bronze medal.
"It was a good learning experience for me," Dlagnev said. "I beat a tough Russian in the first match, and after I beat Mocco, I felt like I had beaten the toughest guy in the bracket. I kind of let my guard down and wasn't as mentally focused as I should have been in my next match. The Russian came to wrestle. I need to keep my head in every match. I can't let my guard down. I learned a valuable lesson, and in the long run, it will help me."
Dlagnev defeated the wrestler who won the Yarygin tournament, Aleksey Shemarov of Belarus, in the second round of the 2009 Worlds.
Dlagnev is part of a deep and talented heavyweight class in the U.S. In addition to Mocco, Les Sigman has had a strong season. Sigman has won two international events, including the Dave Schultz Memorial International this past weekend.
Dlagnev beat Sigman in the New York AC finals in November.
"It's always going to be a tough match when I wrestle Mocco and Sigman," Dlagnev said. "They push me and make me better. I know I have to be ready to beat quality guys like that. Plus there are other tough guys in the U.S. in our weight class. It's a pretty deep weight right now."
Dlagnev, 24, now lives and trains primarily in Columbus, Ohio, as a member of the Ohio Regional Training Center.
One of his main training partners is Tommy Rowlands, who placed fifth in the 2007 World Championships.
"Moving to Ohio has been great for me," Dlagnev said. "I feel like I'm getting better all the time. Tommy's a really good wrestler and a great athlete. He's helped me a lot. It's a scrap when we wrestle."
Athletic and agile for a heavyweight, Dlagnev is no longer undersized. He actually has to shed a little bit of weight now to make 264.5.
"I feel like I'm matching up a lot better physically with the bigger heavyweights," he said. "Guys can't just grab me and throw me out of bounds now."
It's going to be a busy year for Dlagnev, who is getting married May 8.
He hopes to end the year with a trip to September's World Championships in Moscow, Russia.
"I'm really excited for another opportunity to wrestle in the World Championships," he said. "I can't wait for another shot.
Not only did Dlagnev fall in the quarterfinals of the Ivan Yarygin Memorial International on Jan. 31 in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, the long flight home was even more painful.
Dlagnev started to feel ill toward the end of the trip to Russia, and ended up contracting a fever that resulted in a 101-degree temperature and strep throat.
The 2009 World bronze medalist spent the past week off the mat, trying to recover from the illness. U.S. National Coach Zeke Jones and World silver medalist Jake Herbert also got sick on the trip to Russia.
"I just felt like garbage," Dlagnev said. "It was pretty rough for a few days."
Dlagnev is back feeling better now, and has resumed training. He was on his way to Ames, Iowa, on Tuesday to spend a few days training with Iowa State coach and former U.S. National Coach Kevin Jackson.
Dlagnev is scheduled to compete in an upcoming event in Cuba before he wrestles in the World Cup in Russia and another event in Belarus. He will then wrestle in April's U.S. Open in Cleveland.
Dlagnev had a breakthrough freestyle season at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. in 2009. He knocked off Olympian Steve Mocco in the finals of the U.S. World Team Trials and followed by placing third at the 2009 World Championships in Herning, Denmark.
"I still have so much to learn," he said. "I'm going to get a ton of training and matches in over the next few months. I'm fired up for my next practice and my next match. I want to keep learning and keep improving."
Dlagnev won the New York AC International earlier this season.
"Tervel has followed his training and competition plan to a tee, and is making improvement in his technical and strategic wrestling areas," said Jones, in his second season as U.S. National Coach. "Now if he can tighten down all of his areas of wrestling I see him really making a jump this year. The one thing he has to remember is there are several good American and foreign wrestlers who are gunning for him. He will need to have good match plans for each of them."
Dlagnev went 2-1 in the recent Yarygin event in Russia, traditionally one of the toughest freestyle tournaments in the World.
He beat a competitor from Russia in the first match before he swept Mocco in the second bout. Mocco won the Yarygin tournament in 2009.
Dlagnev then fell to Russia's Alan Dzampaev in the quarterfinals. Dzampaev went on to win a bronze medal.
"It was a good learning experience for me," Dlagnev said. "I beat a tough Russian in the first match, and after I beat Mocco, I felt like I had beaten the toughest guy in the bracket. I kind of let my guard down and wasn't as mentally focused as I should have been in my next match. The Russian came to wrestle. I need to keep my head in every match. I can't let my guard down. I learned a valuable lesson, and in the long run, it will help me."
Dlagnev defeated the wrestler who won the Yarygin tournament, Aleksey Shemarov of Belarus, in the second round of the 2009 Worlds.
Dlagnev is part of a deep and talented heavyweight class in the U.S. In addition to Mocco, Les Sigman has had a strong season. Sigman has won two international events, including the Dave Schultz Memorial International this past weekend.
Dlagnev beat Sigman in the New York AC finals in November.
"It's always going to be a tough match when I wrestle Mocco and Sigman," Dlagnev said. "They push me and make me better. I know I have to be ready to beat quality guys like that. Plus there are other tough guys in the U.S. in our weight class. It's a pretty deep weight right now."
Dlagnev, 24, now lives and trains primarily in Columbus, Ohio, as a member of the Ohio Regional Training Center.
One of his main training partners is Tommy Rowlands, who placed fifth in the 2007 World Championships.
"Moving to Ohio has been great for me," Dlagnev said. "I feel like I'm getting better all the time. Tommy's a really good wrestler and a great athlete. He's helped me a lot. It's a scrap when we wrestle."
Athletic and agile for a heavyweight, Dlagnev is no longer undersized. He actually has to shed a little bit of weight now to make 264.5.
"I feel like I'm matching up a lot better physically with the bigger heavyweights," he said. "Guys can't just grab me and throw me out of bounds now."
It's going to be a busy year for Dlagnev, who is getting married May 8.
He hopes to end the year with a trip to September's World Championships in Moscow, Russia.
"I'm really excited for another opportunity to wrestle in the World Championships," he said. "I can't wait for another shot.
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