Three Americans win medals on final day of Medved International

Kevin LeValley (far left) captured a silver medal at the Medved International on Sunday.

MINSK, Belarus – Three American freestyle wrestlers earned medals on the second and final day of the Alexander Medved International on Sunday. 

Kevin LeValley (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) earned a silver medal while U.S. teammates B.J. Futrell (Ann Arbor, Mich./Titan Mercury WC/Cliff Keen WC) and Zach Rey (Hopatcong, N.J./Lehigh Valley AC) captured bronze medals in the event.

LeValley went 4-1 on the day at 70 kg/154 lbs. He won his first four bouts, including earning a fall over Russia’s Husey Suynchev in the semifinals. Suynchev placed fifth at the 2014 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix in Russia. 

LeValley fell to Russia’s Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov by a 10-0 decision in the finals. Gazimagomedov was ninth in the Yarygin event earlier this year.

Futrell won his first two matches before losing by decision to Okassor of Kazakhstan at 61 kg/134 lbs. He came back to beat his second and third Russians of the day to earn a bronze medal. 

Futrell defeated Egor Ponomarev of Russia 2-1 in the match for bronze. Ponomarev placed 10th at the 2012 World University Championships.

Rey lost his second match before coming back to earn two straight wins to collect a bronze medal at 125 kg/275 lbs. Rey defeated Daulet Shabanbay of Kazakhstan 3-2 to finish third. Shabanbay placed fifth at the 2012 Olympic Games. 

"Team USA had a much better Day 2 at the Medved,” U.S. Assistant Coach Brandon Slay said. “Our guys wrestled with much more grit and a never-say-die attitude. For example, Kevin LeValley was down 9-0 in the second round and came back to win 12-10.  And B.J. Futrell was down 2-0 in his bronze-medal match and hit a duck under with five seconds left to win.

“Bringing home three medals in one of the toughest tournaments in the World is good, but we didn't win any gold medals so there is nothing of greatness to celebrate. But there are crucial lessons to learn." 

American Jon Reader (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) finished fifth at 86 kg/189 lbs. He went 2-2 in the tournament.

ALEXANDER MEDVED INTERNATIONAL
Minsk, Belarus, March 2

U.S. freestyle performances

61 kg/134 lbs. – B.J. Futrell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Titan Mercury WC/Cliff Keen WC) – 3rd

WIN Medvedov (Russia), 13-1

WIN Ashirov (Kazakhstan), 10-2

LOSS Okassor (Kazakhstan), 1-7

WIN Abakurov (Russia), fall 4:42

WIN Egor Ponomarev (Russia), 2-1

61 kg/134 lbs. – Matt McDonough, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)

LOSS Egor Ponomarev (Russia), 0-13 

70 kg/154 lbs. – Kevin LeValley, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) – 2nd

WIN Azizov (Kazakhstan), 5-2

WIN Omurzhanov (Kazakhstan), 12-10

WIN Mutaliev (Russia), 8-8

WIN Sujnchev (Russia), fall 5:32

LOSS Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (Russia), 0-10

70 kg/154 lbs. – Nate Carr Jr., College Park, Md. (Titan Mercury WC/Terrapin WC)

WIN Nazhmudinov (Russia), default

LOSS Sujnchev (Russia), 2-4 

86 kg/189 lbs. – Jon Reader, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) – 5th

LOSS Mahamedov (Belarus), 11-15

WIN Davlumbaev (Kazakhstan), 12-1

WIN Kasumov (Kazakhstan), 10-0

LOSS Hushtyn (Kazakhstan), fall 2:17

97 kg/213 lbs. – Evan Brown, Dubuque, Iowa (Cyclone WC)

LOSS Makeev (Russia), 0-10 

125 kg/275 lbs. – Zach Rey, Hopatcong, N.J. (Lehigh Valley AC) – 3rd

WIN Dmitri Popov (Kazakhstan), 3-2

LOSS Nurasulov (Russia), 4-7

WIN Ramazanov (Russia), 10-0

WIN Daulet Shabanbay (Kazakhstan), 3-2

125 kg/275 lbs. – Jarod Trice, Mount Pleasant, Mich. (Titan Mercury WC)

WIN Omarov (Russia), 1-1

WIN Nikabyev (Belarus) 6-2

LOSS Dyisenbekov (Kazakhstan), 1-2