Erickson takes fifth, Moss eighth and Rau 10th in Greco on last day of University Worlds in Hungary

U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers Kade Moss, Josef Rau and Toby Erickson pose with their coaches on the final day of the University World Championships in Hungary. Photo courtesy of Tommy Owen.


PECS, Hungary - Toby Erickson (East Helena, Mont./New York AC/USOEC) placed fifth at 130 kg/286 lbs. in Greco-Roman, the top U.S. finish on the final day of competition at the University World Championships.


In his bronze-medal bout, Erickson was defeated by Boris Vainshtein of Russia, 0-5.Vainshtein was third in the 2009 Maccabiah Games.


In his first bout, Erickson was pinned by 2012 Junior World champion Balint Lam of Hungary. When Lam reached the finals, Erickson was drawn back into the repechage in the bronze-medal round.


Erickson is a past Junior World bronze medalist. He is currently ranked No. 2 in the USA on the Senior level in his weight class.


Penn State wrestler Kade Moss (South Jordan, Utah/Nittany Lion WC) finished with a 1-1 record at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. He opened with a 4-2 win over Marat Shokarov of Russia, then was defeated by Roman Gaiduk of Ukraine, 2-5. When Gaiduk failed to reach the finals, Moss was not eligible for the repechage. He finished eighth in the standings.


At 85 kg/187 lbs., Josef Rau (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) dropped his opening bout to Tadeusz Michalik of Poland, 0-8. When Michalik failed to reach the finals, Rau was not eligible for the repechage. He finished 10th., Rau is a past NCAA Div. III national champion for Elmhurst College.

UNIVERSITY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Pecs, Hungary, July 10


Greco-Roman results


66 kg/145.5 lbs.

Gold – Krisztian Jager (Hungary)

Silver – Abdulsamet Gunal (Turkey)

Bronze – Donior Islamov (Moldova)

Bronze – Roman Gaiduk (Ukraine)

5th – Nurtas Utepmergenov (Kazakhstan)

5th – Edgar Melkumov (Poland)


75 kg/165 lbs.

Gold – Laszlo Szabo (Hungary)

Silver – Olaksandr Kukhta (Ukraine)

Bronze – Arkadiusz Kulynycz (Poland)

Bronze – Soh Sakabe (Japan)

5th – Rashid Kochiyev (Kazakhstan)

5th – A. Henuveina (Belarus)


85 kg/187 lbs.

Gold – Metahan Basar (Turkey)

Silver – Nikolay Bayryakov (Bulgaria)

Bronze – Yayhen Valkhanovich (Belarus)

Bronze – Tadeusz Michalkik (Poland)

5th – Janos Tosi (Hungary)

5th – Nikolay Grachev (Russia)


130 kg/286 lbs.

Gold – Balint Lam (Hungary)

Silver – Ismail Guzel (Turkey)

Bronze – Mateusz Fafinski (Poland)

Bronze – Boris Vainshtein (Russia)

5th – Lyubomir Dmitrov (Bulgaria)

5th – Toby Erickson (USA)


U.S. Greco-Roman performances


66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Kade Moss, South Jordan, Utah (Nittany Lion WC), 8th

WIN Marat Shokarov (Russia), 4-2

LOSS Roman Gaiduk (Ukraine), 2-5


85 kg/187 lbs. - Josef Rau, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 10th

LOSS Tadeusz Michalik (Poland), 0-8


130 kg/286 lbs. - Toby Erickson, East Helena, Mont. (New York AC/USOEC), 5th

LOSS Balint Lam (Hungary), pin

LOSS Boris Vainshtein (Russia), 0-5