U.S. Greco wins three matches in day one of Tbilisi Grand Prix

TBILISI, Georgia – World Team members Ildar Hafizov and Pat Smith, along with National Team member Jon Jay Chavez all won matches in the first day of Tbilisi Grand Prix Greco action on Saturday.

Hafizov (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) recorded a win over K. Tchitava of Georgia in his first match of the day at 59 kg/130 lbs. before he was knocked out of the championship bracket by A. Stig of Norway. In the repechage, he lost his final bout of the day to an opponent from Georgia.

At 71 kg/145 lbs., Smith (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) picked up a victory against T. Torosyan of Armenia, pitting him against 2016 World Champion Balint Korpasi of Hungary. Korpasi took the win but did not advance to the finals, leaving Smith no chance to compete for a medal.

Jon Jay Chavez represented the U.S. at 80 kg/176 lbs., taking out Iran’s E. Mahdi in the round of eight. In his second match, he fell to Niko Kelasov from Georgia. In his quest for bronze, Chavez was stopped short by an opponent from Kazakhstan.

World Team member Cheney Haight (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) also competed on Saturday at 80 kg. He lost his first match to Georgia’s V. Kvaratskheli.

The remaining weights, 66 kg, 75 kg, 85 kg and 130 kg, will wrestle Sunday.

TBILISI GRAND PRIX OF V. BALAVADZE AND G. KARTOZIA

At Tbilisi, Georgia, June 10-11

59 kg/130 lbs. – Ildar Hafizov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
WIN K. Tchitava (Georgia)
LOSS A. Stig (Norway)
LOSS opponent from Georgia

71 kg/156 lbs. - Patrick Smith, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
WIN T. Torosyan (Armenia)
LOSS Balint Korpasi (Hungary)

80 kg/176 lbs. - John Jay Chavez, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)
WIN E. Mahdi (Iran)
LOSS Niko Kelasov (Georgia)
LOSS opponent from Kazakhstan

80 kg/176 lbs. - Cheney Haight, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
LOSS V. Kvaratskheli (Georgia)