Felix qualifies for bronze-medal match at Medved International in Belarus
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by Gary Abbott
MINSK, Belarus - Danny Felix (Morgantown, W.Va./Sunkist Kids) has qualified for a bronze-medal match at the Alexander Medved International on Friday.
Felix won his first two matches, then was defeated in the semifinals by 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Rizvan Gadzhiev of Belarus. Felix was a member of the 2009 U.S. World Team.
"Danny wrestled with much more fire in this tournament to reach the third-place match. In the semifinals, he got taken down in the last three seconds of the first period and didn't finish the clinch in the second period, which cost him a trip to the finals," said Assistant National Freestyle Coach Brandon Slay.
"Learning lessons like these in the clinch and how to finish periods strong are very painful yet extremely valuable as long as our team corrects them and changes heading into the U.S. Open, World Team Trials, and World Championships in Moscow," continued Slay.
Also going 2-1 in the first session was Shawn Bunch (Columbus, Ohio/Gator WC) at 60 kg/132 lbs.
In the first round, Bunch avenged a loss from the 2009 World Championships after defeating Anatoli Guidea of Bulgaria. In his third match, Bunch was beaten by Aliaskandr Kontoev of Belarus. Bunch also lost to Kontoev in the Freestyle World Cup last weekend.
"Shawn Bunch got to avenge his first-round loss from the 2009 Worlds against Guidea from Bulgaria, which was a solid win. He lost for the second time in less than week to Kontoev from Belarus. Bunch is learning that he must hand fight harder and create better set ups to his attacks to beat the best," said Slay.
The U.S. had five wrestlers in the men's freestyle tournament on Friday.
"Medved is a very solid tournament, and we are seeing many of the same wrestlers who competed in the World Cup and against us in the Russian duals in Vladikavkaz and Nilchik. And, since these are some of the best wrestlers in the world, this tournament is great experience for Team USA," said Slay.
ALEXANDER MEDVED INTERNATIONAL
At Minsk, Belarus, March 12, 2010
U.S. first session results
55 kg/121 lbs. - Danny Felix, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Evgen Popov (Russia), 1-0, 3-0
WIN Ramil Rejepov (Turkmenistan), 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Rizvan Gadzhiev (Belarus), 1-1, 1-0
55 kg/121 lbs. - Paul Donahoe, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
WIN Nodar Aribidze (Russia), 2-0, 3-0
LOSS Ghenadie Tulbea (Moldova), 6-1, 6-0
LOSS Muslim Gabibov (Russia, 1-0, 1-0
60 kg/132 lbs. - Shawn Bunch, Columbus, Ohio (Gator WC)
WIN Anatoli Guidea (Bulgaria), 3-0, 1-0
WIN Shamil Mutaev (Russia), 2-0, 2-3, 6-0
LOSS Aliaskandr Kontoev (Belarus), 1-0, 1-0
60 kg/132 lbs. - Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Andrehs Vasilijevs (Latvia), pin
LOSS Rahul Mann (India, 8-2, 3-0
74 kg/163 lbs. - Lloyd Rogers, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
LOSS Muslim Dadaev (Russia), pin
Felix won his first two matches, then was defeated in the semifinals by 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Rizvan Gadzhiev of Belarus. Felix was a member of the 2009 U.S. World Team.
"Danny wrestled with much more fire in this tournament to reach the third-place match. In the semifinals, he got taken down in the last three seconds of the first period and didn't finish the clinch in the second period, which cost him a trip to the finals," said Assistant National Freestyle Coach Brandon Slay.
"Learning lessons like these in the clinch and how to finish periods strong are very painful yet extremely valuable as long as our team corrects them and changes heading into the U.S. Open, World Team Trials, and World Championships in Moscow," continued Slay.
Also going 2-1 in the first session was Shawn Bunch (Columbus, Ohio/Gator WC) at 60 kg/132 lbs.
In the first round, Bunch avenged a loss from the 2009 World Championships after defeating Anatoli Guidea of Bulgaria. In his third match, Bunch was beaten by Aliaskandr Kontoev of Belarus. Bunch also lost to Kontoev in the Freestyle World Cup last weekend.
"Shawn Bunch got to avenge his first-round loss from the 2009 Worlds against Guidea from Bulgaria, which was a solid win. He lost for the second time in less than week to Kontoev from Belarus. Bunch is learning that he must hand fight harder and create better set ups to his attacks to beat the best," said Slay.
The U.S. had five wrestlers in the men's freestyle tournament on Friday.
"Medved is a very solid tournament, and we are seeing many of the same wrestlers who competed in the World Cup and against us in the Russian duals in Vladikavkaz and Nilchik. And, since these are some of the best wrestlers in the world, this tournament is great experience for Team USA," said Slay.
ALEXANDER MEDVED INTERNATIONAL
At Minsk, Belarus, March 12, 2010
U.S. first session results
55 kg/121 lbs. - Danny Felix, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Evgen Popov (Russia), 1-0, 3-0
WIN Ramil Rejepov (Turkmenistan), 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Rizvan Gadzhiev (Belarus), 1-1, 1-0
55 kg/121 lbs. - Paul Donahoe, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
WIN Nodar Aribidze (Russia), 2-0, 3-0
LOSS Ghenadie Tulbea (Moldova), 6-1, 6-0
LOSS Muslim Gabibov (Russia, 1-0, 1-0
60 kg/132 lbs. - Shawn Bunch, Columbus, Ohio (Gator WC)
WIN Anatoli Guidea (Bulgaria), 3-0, 1-0
WIN Shamil Mutaev (Russia), 2-0, 2-3, 6-0
LOSS Aliaskandr Kontoev (Belarus), 1-0, 1-0
60 kg/132 lbs. - Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Andrehs Vasilijevs (Latvia), pin
LOSS Rahul Mann (India, 8-2, 3-0
74 kg/163 lbs. - Lloyd Rogers, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
LOSS Muslim Dadaev (Russia), pin
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