Four Freestyle Team USA members to headline U.S. team at Medved International in Belarus, Sept. 16-17
Share:
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Kendrick Maple scores a takedown in the 2017 World Team Trials finals. Photo by John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com
Four members of the 2017-18 U.S. Freestyle National Team headline a six-athlete U.S men’s freestyle team that will compete in the highly respected Alexander Medved International in Minsk, Belarus, Sept. 16-17.
Team USA members on the tour with a No. 2 national team ranking, after taking second at the 2017 Freestyle World Team Trials, include Kendric Maple (Lincoln, Neb./Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska RTC) at 61 kg/134 lbs. and Dom Bradley (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids/Nebraska RTC) at 125 kg/275 lbs.
Maple, an NCAA champion for Oklahoma, was a U.S. Open champion in 2017 and U.S. Open runner-up in 2015
Bradley, an All-American for Missouri in college, was a 2009 Junior World champion and won U.S. Open titles in 2013 and 2016.
Members on the Freestyle National Team with a No. 3 team ranking who will be in Minsk are Nathan Tomasello, (Parma, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. and B.J. Futrell (Philadelphia, Pa./Titan Mercury WC/Pennsylvania RTC) at 65 kg/143 lbs.
Tomasello, an NCAA champion for Ohio State and three-time All-American, enters his senior year with the Buckeyes this year. Futrell, an All-American for Illinois, was a 2014 University World silver medalist.
Also on the tour are a pair of talented athletes who were fourth at the 2017 U.S. World Team Trials, Tyler Graff (Blacksburg, Va./Titan Mercury WC/Southeast RTC) at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. and Richard Perry (Philadelphia, Pa./New York AC/Pennsylvania RTC) at 86 kg/189 lbs.
Graff was an NCAA runner-up for Wisconsin, while Perry was a star for Bloomsburg. Graff was a member of the Freestyle National team in 2016-17.
This will be the first major competition for U.S. men’s freestyle wrestlers since the World Championships were held in Paris, France in late August, where the USA won the team title.
Assistant National Freestyle Coach Joe Russell will coach the team, with international wrestling leader Paul Kieblesz serving as Team Leader.
There will be a women’s freestyle competition as well at the Medved International, but the USA will not have any women entries.
MEDVED INTERNATIONAL
At Minsk, Belarus, Sept. 16-17
Men’s freestyle roster
57 kg/125.5 lbs. - Nathan Tomasello, (Parma, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)
57 kg/125.5 lbs. - Tyler Graff, Blacksburg, Va. (Titan Mercury WC/Southeast RTC)
61 kg/134 lbs. - Kendric Maple, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska RTC)
65 kg/143 lbs. – B.J. Futrell, Philadelphia, Pa. (Titan Mercury WC/Pennsylvania RTC)
86 kg/189 lbs. - Richard Perry, Philadelphia, Pa. (New York AC/Pennsylvania RTC)
125 kg/275 lbs. - Dom Bradley, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska RTC)
Team Leader: Paul Kieblesz, New York, N.Y.
Assistant National Freestyle Coach: Joe Russell, Colorado Springs Colo.
Medical: Corey James, Colorado Springs Colo.
Referee: Jose Delgado, McKinney, Texas
Event Schedule
Saturday, September 16
Men’s freestyle: 57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 97 kg
Sunday, September 17
Men’s freestyle: 61 kg, 70 kg, 86 kg, 125 kg
Four members of the 2017-18 U.S. Freestyle National Team headline a six-athlete U.S men’s freestyle team that will compete in the highly respected Alexander Medved International in Minsk, Belarus, Sept. 16-17.
Team USA members on the tour with a No. 2 national team ranking, after taking second at the 2017 Freestyle World Team Trials, include Kendric Maple (Lincoln, Neb./Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska RTC) at 61 kg/134 lbs. and Dom Bradley (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids/Nebraska RTC) at 125 kg/275 lbs.
Maple, an NCAA champion for Oklahoma, was a U.S. Open champion in 2017 and U.S. Open runner-up in 2015
Bradley, an All-American for Missouri in college, was a 2009 Junior World champion and won U.S. Open titles in 2013 and 2016.
Members on the Freestyle National Team with a No. 3 team ranking who will be in Minsk are Nathan Tomasello, (Parma, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. and B.J. Futrell (Philadelphia, Pa./Titan Mercury WC/Pennsylvania RTC) at 65 kg/143 lbs.
Tomasello, an NCAA champion for Ohio State and three-time All-American, enters his senior year with the Buckeyes this year. Futrell, an All-American for Illinois, was a 2014 University World silver medalist.
Also on the tour are a pair of talented athletes who were fourth at the 2017 U.S. World Team Trials, Tyler Graff (Blacksburg, Va./Titan Mercury WC/Southeast RTC) at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. and Richard Perry (Philadelphia, Pa./New York AC/Pennsylvania RTC) at 86 kg/189 lbs.
Graff was an NCAA runner-up for Wisconsin, while Perry was a star for Bloomsburg. Graff was a member of the Freestyle National team in 2016-17.
This will be the first major competition for U.S. men’s freestyle wrestlers since the World Championships were held in Paris, France in late August, where the USA won the team title.
Assistant National Freestyle Coach Joe Russell will coach the team, with international wrestling leader Paul Kieblesz serving as Team Leader.
There will be a women’s freestyle competition as well at the Medved International, but the USA will not have any women entries.
MEDVED INTERNATIONAL
At Minsk, Belarus, Sept. 16-17
Men’s freestyle roster
57 kg/125.5 lbs. - Nathan Tomasello, (Parma, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)
57 kg/125.5 lbs. - Tyler Graff, Blacksburg, Va. (Titan Mercury WC/Southeast RTC)
61 kg/134 lbs. - Kendric Maple, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska RTC)
65 kg/143 lbs. – B.J. Futrell, Philadelphia, Pa. (Titan Mercury WC/Pennsylvania RTC)
86 kg/189 lbs. - Richard Perry, Philadelphia, Pa. (New York AC/Pennsylvania RTC)
125 kg/275 lbs. - Dom Bradley, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska RTC)
Team Leader: Paul Kieblesz, New York, N.Y.
Assistant National Freestyle Coach: Joe Russell, Colorado Springs Colo.
Medical: Corey James, Colorado Springs Colo.
Referee: Jose Delgado, McKinney, Texas
Event Schedule
Saturday, September 16
Men’s freestyle: 57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 97 kg
Sunday, September 17
Men’s freestyle: 61 kg, 70 kg, 86 kg, 125 kg
