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Olympian Spenser Mango leads U.S. to 8-3 win over Serbia in Greco-Roman dual meet

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by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling

Spenser Mango, shown at the 2008 Olympics, was one of eight Americans to earn victories against Serbia on Saturday. Larry Slater photo.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Olympian Spenser Mango supplied the spark.

Seven of his American teammates provided the exclamation mark.

Mango delivered a dramatic early win before the U.S. overcame an early deficit to down Serbia 8-3 in a Greco-Roman dual meet on Saturday afternoon at Coronado High School.

The U.S. trailed 3-1 before winning the final seven bouts. The dual meet was held during a break in the Westside Classic, a USA Wrestling sanctioned event. A large crowd of young wrestlers, families and fans cheered on the American squad during the dual meet.

"It was a really cool event" U.S. National Coach Steve Fraser said. "I'm so happy (U.S. Assistant National Coach) Momir Petkovic planned it and set it up. It was a great experience for our guys and we put on a good show for the fans here. It was just a great, great event."

Mango, a 2008 Olympian who has made the last two World Teams, pumped up the crowd when he drove Serbia's Dragan Desic to his back and recorded a second-period fall at 55 kg/121 lbs. Desic is a past Junior World Team member for Serbia.

"It was a lot of fun to get back out there and compete" Mango said. "I need some more matches anyway, since I've missed most of this season, so this was a good opportunity for me."

Mango, 24, recently joined the U.S. Army's World Class Athlete Program and looked strong in a dominant performance at the U.S. Open. Mango is looking for his first World-level medal this year. He is a past World University champion.

"Spenser is wrestling really well" Fraser said. "He's a tough kid and he just has to keep getting matches in because he hasn't wrestled a lot this season. I think he totally has the talent and the skills to win a World medal this year. He is a great athlete and he has the right attitude. He's ready for a breakthrough this year, for sure."

Mango knows this is a pivotal year with the 2012 Olympics in London just over a year away.

"At the Olympic Training Center, you see the sign every day with the countdown to the Olympics" Mango said. "The Olympics are right around the corner. I'm trying to make myself better so I can get to that level again. And when you get there, you want to bring home some medals for the U.S."

Mango has put an extra emphasis on one area of his wrestling.

"Defense" he said. "Defense wins titles. You may not be able to take everybody down, but you can stop everybody. That plays a huge factor. I know I need to get better in that area."

Andy Bisek turned in one of the most impressive performances with his 4-3, 7-0 win over Milos Amidzic at 74 kg/163 lbs. Bisek executed a pair of spectacular lifts in the second period to put the match away.

"I hit an arm drag and I was able to bring him down and get behind him" Bisek said. "I had a trapped arm when I lifted him. It was good to get the crowd into it. We were a little behind in the matches, so it was nice to bring our team back."

U.S. Open champion Ben Provisor looked strong in sweeping two straight periods from Petar Balo at 84 kg/185 lbs. Balo is a past World Team member for Serbia.

The U.S. also received victories from Anton Gottfredson (74 kg/163 lbs.), Cameron Duckworth (96 kg/211.5 lbs.), Moises Hernandez (96 kg/211.5 lbs.), John Lorenz (96 kg/211.5 lbs.) and Pete Kowalczuk (120 kg/264.5 lbs.).

Kowalczuk swept past World Team member Milos Spasic 4-0, 6-0 in the final match of the dual.

"We started off a little slow" Fraser said. "But the guys rallied. What I was really happy with was that some of our young guys really stepped up and showed some things they haven't been able to show in a while. It was a good learning experience."

Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner and World champion Dremiel Byers were among those in attendance on Saturday.

USA 8, SERBIA 3
May 14, 2011, Colorado Springs, Colo.

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Nemanja Pavlovic (Serbia) dec. Pete Kowalczuk (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 0-1, 1-0, 5-3

55 kg/121 lbs. - Spenser Mango (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) pinned Dragan Desic (Serbia), 2-0, 1:32

60 kg/132 lbs. - Mate Nemes (Serbia) dec. Jimmy Chase (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), 0-4, 1-0, 3-0

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Viktor Nemes (Serbia) dec. Donavan Depatto (Camp LeJeune, N.C./U.S. Marine Corps), 6-0, 1-0

74 kg/163 lbs. - Anton Gottfredson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dec. Marko Devcic (Serbia), 1-0, 6-0

74 kg/163 lbs. - Andy Bisek (Colorado Springs, Colo./Minnesota Storm) dec. Milos Amidzic (Serbia), 4-3, 7-0

84 kg/185 lbs. - Ben Provisor (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dec. Petar Balo (Serbia), 2-0, 1-0

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Cameron Duckworth (Portland, Ore./OTC) dec. Zoltan Varga (Serbia), 1-0, 2-0

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - John Lorenz (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) dec. Dejan Franjkovic (Serbia), 1-0, 1-0

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Moises Hernandez (Camp LeJeune, N.C./U.S. Marine Corps) dec. Ronald Bin (Serbia), 1-0, 5-0

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Kowalczuk dec. Milos Spasic (Serbia), 4-0, 6-0

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