Talented young U.S. freestyle wrestlers to compete at Deglane Challenge in France, Nov. 24-25
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Kyven Gadson of the Sunkist Kids, shown at the 2017 World Team Trials, will compete at the Henri Deglane Challenge in France. Photo by John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com
A team of talented U.S. men’s freestyle wrestlers will compete at the 43rd Henri Deglane Challenge in Nice, France, November 24-25.
The team includes 2015 World Team member Zach Rey (Bethlehem, Pa./Lehigh Valley AC), who was second in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at 125 kg/275 lbs. Rey was an NCAA champion for Lehigh.
2017-18 Freestyle National Team member Kyven Gadson (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids/Cyclone WC) is competing at 97 kg/213 lbs. on the tour. Gadson placed second in the 2017 World Team Trials and was a 2017 U.S. Open champion. Gadson won an NCAA title for Iowa State.
A past National Team member, Tyler Graff (Blacksburg, Va./Titan Mercury WC/Southeast RTC), is entered at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. Graff was a NCAA runner-up at Wisconsin.
Nazar Kulchytskyy (Madison, Wis./Titan Mercury WC), who recently won a gold medal at the 20th Dave Schultz Memorial International in Colorado Springs, Colo., will also be on this tour, at 74 kg/163 lbs.
Tim McCall (Raleigh, N.C./Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack RTC), who was second at the Dave Schultz Memorial at 97 kg/213 lbs., is also on the team.
There will be nine U.S. athletes on the tour. Also competing for the USA are Frank Perrelli (Bethlehem, Pa./Titan Mercury WC/Lehigh Valley WC) at 57 kg/125.5 lbs., Joey Ward (Chapel Hill, N.C. (Sunkist Kids/Tarheel RTC) at 65 kg/143 lbs., Evan Henderson (Chapel Hill, N.C./Titan Mercury WC/Tarheel RTC) at 65 kg/143 lbs. and Micah Burak, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC/OTC) at 97 kg/213 lbs.
Leading the U.S. delegation is Assistant National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson, a 1992 Olympic champion and two-time World champion. Also coaching the U.S. wrestlers are Jeff Buxton of the Lehigh Valley WC and Wayne Boyd of the Titan Mercury WC.
The Henri Deglane Challenge includes men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle competition, featuring the six Olympic weight classes in each discipline. No U.S. women wrestlers are expected to enter.
HENRI DEGLANE CHALLENGE
At Nice, France, Nov. 24-25
U.S. Men’s Freestyle roster
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Frank Perrelli, Bethlehem, Pa., (Titan Mercury WC/Lehigh Valley WC)
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Tyler Graff, Blacksburg, Va. (Titan Mercury WC/Southeast RTC)
65 kg/143 lbs. – Joey Ward, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Sunkist Kids/Tarheel RTC)
65 kg/143 lbs. – Evan Henderson, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC/Tarheel RTC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Nazar Kulchytskyy, Madison, Wis. (Titan Mercury WC)
97 kg/213 lbs. – Kyven Gadson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids/Cyclone WC)
97 kg/213 lbs. – Tim McCall, Raleigh, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack RTC)
97 kg/213 lbs. – Micah Burak, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC/OTC)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Zach Rey, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley WC)
Assistant National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach – Jeff Buxton, Easton, Pa.
Coach – Wayne Boyd, Palm Springs, Calif.
Referee - Cody Goessl, Omaha, Neb.
Event schedule
Friday, November 24
Men’s Freestyle – 65 kg, 86 kg, 125 kg and Women’s Freestyle – 53 kg, 63 kg, 75 kg
Saturday, November 25
Men’s Freestyle 57 kg, 74 kg, 97 kg and Women’s Freestyle – 48 kg, 58 kg, 69 kg
A team of talented U.S. men’s freestyle wrestlers will compete at the 43rd Henri Deglane Challenge in Nice, France, November 24-25.
The team includes 2015 World Team member Zach Rey (Bethlehem, Pa./Lehigh Valley AC), who was second in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at 125 kg/275 lbs. Rey was an NCAA champion for Lehigh.
2017-18 Freestyle National Team member Kyven Gadson (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids/Cyclone WC) is competing at 97 kg/213 lbs. on the tour. Gadson placed second in the 2017 World Team Trials and was a 2017 U.S. Open champion. Gadson won an NCAA title for Iowa State.
A past National Team member, Tyler Graff (Blacksburg, Va./Titan Mercury WC/Southeast RTC), is entered at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. Graff was a NCAA runner-up at Wisconsin.
Nazar Kulchytskyy (Madison, Wis./Titan Mercury WC), who recently won a gold medal at the 20th Dave Schultz Memorial International in Colorado Springs, Colo., will also be on this tour, at 74 kg/163 lbs.
Tim McCall (Raleigh, N.C./Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack RTC), who was second at the Dave Schultz Memorial at 97 kg/213 lbs., is also on the team.
There will be nine U.S. athletes on the tour. Also competing for the USA are Frank Perrelli (Bethlehem, Pa./Titan Mercury WC/Lehigh Valley WC) at 57 kg/125.5 lbs., Joey Ward (Chapel Hill, N.C. (Sunkist Kids/Tarheel RTC) at 65 kg/143 lbs., Evan Henderson (Chapel Hill, N.C./Titan Mercury WC/Tarheel RTC) at 65 kg/143 lbs. and Micah Burak, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC/OTC) at 97 kg/213 lbs.
Leading the U.S. delegation is Assistant National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson, a 1992 Olympic champion and two-time World champion. Also coaching the U.S. wrestlers are Jeff Buxton of the Lehigh Valley WC and Wayne Boyd of the Titan Mercury WC.
The Henri Deglane Challenge includes men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle competition, featuring the six Olympic weight classes in each discipline. No U.S. women wrestlers are expected to enter.
HENRI DEGLANE CHALLENGE
At Nice, France, Nov. 24-25
U.S. Men’s Freestyle roster
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Frank Perrelli, Bethlehem, Pa., (Titan Mercury WC/Lehigh Valley WC)
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Tyler Graff, Blacksburg, Va. (Titan Mercury WC/Southeast RTC)
65 kg/143 lbs. – Joey Ward, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Sunkist Kids/Tarheel RTC)
65 kg/143 lbs. – Evan Henderson, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC/Tarheel RTC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Nazar Kulchytskyy, Madison, Wis. (Titan Mercury WC)
97 kg/213 lbs. – Kyven Gadson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids/Cyclone WC)
97 kg/213 lbs. – Tim McCall, Raleigh, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack RTC)
97 kg/213 lbs. – Micah Burak, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC/OTC)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Zach Rey, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley WC)
Assistant National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach – Jeff Buxton, Easton, Pa.
Coach – Wayne Boyd, Palm Springs, Calif.
Referee - Cody Goessl, Omaha, Neb.
Event schedule
Friday, November 24
Men’s Freestyle – 65 kg, 86 kg, 125 kg and Women’s Freestyle – 53 kg, 63 kg, 75 kg
Saturday, November 25
Men’s Freestyle 57 kg, 74 kg, 97 kg and Women’s Freestyle – 48 kg, 58 kg, 69 kg
