Snyder, Jensen earn bronze at Henri Deglane Challenge

NICE, France - Day two of the Henri Deglane Challenge saw two more U.S. wrestlers add bronze medals to their resume.

American 2013 Junior World Champion and Olympic Training Center Resident Kyle Snyder continued to impress picking up a bronze medal at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. This marks Snyder’s first medal on the senior level in the international circuit.

Also at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Army WCAP’s Jack Jensen equaled Snyder picking up the second bronze medal at this weight class. Jensen has started this season strong placing in back to back tournaments. Jensen was fourth at the NYAC International earlier this month.

Both Snyder and Jensen dropped one match on the day to eventual finalists. Snyder lost to Leon Rattigan of Great Britain 3-3 on criteria and Jensen lost to Vlad Caras of Romania 4-3.

Three U.S. cadet level athletes were scheduled to compete, but were not permitted to compete in the competition due to a rule prohibiting cadets to wrestle seniors in international competition. Cadets Bo Nickal and Steven Micic were able to emerge victorious in exhibition matches.

Adding Snyder and Jensen’s medals to the American medal count, the U.S. earned a total of six medals at the 2013 Henri Deglane Challenge.

U.S. Coach Bill Zadick was pleased with the overall effort from the team this weekend.

"Team USA wrestled well displaying some skills on which we've been working and came away with quite a few medals," Zadick said. "Being the first competition of the year, we are headed the direction we want and are looking forward to the process."

Day one saw 2012 Women’s Freestyle World Champion Elena Pirozhkova earn her second gold medal in as many weeks at 67 kg/1475.5 lbs.  Amy Fearnside earned a silver medal for the U.S. Women at 51 kg/112.25 lbs.

Olympic Training Center residents Brooks Climmons (84 kg/185 lbs.) and Garrett Ryan (120 kg/264.5 lbs.) were both awarded bronze medals for their performances on day one of the Henri Deglane Challenge, in this their first international competition on the senior circuit.

2013 Henri Deglane Challenge Day Two Results

November 30 in Nice, France

Men’s Freestyle Results

96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Gold - Leon Rattigan GBR

Silver – Vlad Caras ROM

Bronze – Kyle Snyder USA

Bronze – Jack Jensen USA

Kyle Snyder-Bronze

loss v GBR, Leon Rattigan, 3-3, criteria

win v CAN, Jeremy Latour, 7-0

win v GEO, Nodar Kurtanidze, 7-0

Jack Jensen-Bronze

win v CAN Arjun Gill, 3-1

loss v ROU Vlad Caras, 4-3

win v IRI Mehdi Najafae Salehi, 8-1

Special Exhibition

55 kg/121 lbs.

Stevan Micic

win v FRA Sow Adama, 8-0

74 kg/163 lbs

Bo Nickal

win v FRA Stephane Heyer, 8-0