Kyle Dake advances to Yasar Dogu finals after pair of pins

ISTANBUL, Turkey – Kyle Dake was the only American to advance to the finals on the second day of the Yasar Dogu International in Istanbul, Turkey, on Saturday.

Dake secured two falls in his first session of competition, advancing to the finals at 79 kg. To open the tournament, Dake stuck 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and two-time World bronze medalist Jabrail Hasanov of Azerbaijan at the 5:37 mark.

In the semifinals, the four-time NCAA champion took on past Junior World silver medalist Ayhan Sucu of Turkey. Scoring quickly on a takedown and three turns, Dake appeared to have sealed the bout with an additional takedown but he persisted, recording the fall at 1:01.

In Sunday’s finals, Dake will face Ibrahim Yubusov of Azerbaijan, who won a 2012 University World silver and a 2013 Junior World bronze.

At 125 kg, Nick Gwiazdowski will wrestle for bronze tomorrow after getting edged out in the final seconds of the semifinals against Oleksandr Khotsianivskyi of Ukraine, a 2014 University World bronze medalist.

Gwiazdowski bounced back from a 1-0 deficit at the break of the semis with a takedown to take over the lead. In the final minute, a shot from Khotsianivskyi was successful for two, leading to a scramble, where Gwiazdowski got the reversal. With less than 15 seconds remaining, the Ukrainian scored on a step out and held off the American for a 4-3 win.

Prior to the semis loss, Gwiazdowski claimed a pair of 10-0 techs, defeating 2018 Commonwealth Games champion Sumit of India and Duman Bultrikov of Kazakhstan.

Two-time World medalist James Green dropped a close match in his opening bout at 70 kg, falling to Sefa Aksoy of Turkey, 5-4, on a lost challenge at the end of the point. Aksoy, a 2017 Yasar Dogu bronze medalist, lost in the quarterfinals to Andriy Kvyatkovskyy of Ukraine, ending Green’s tournament.

2016 Olympic bronze medalist and 2017 World bronze medalist J’den Cox was eliminated from the tournament after Serdar Boke of Turkey, who beat Cox in the first round, forfeited his semifinals match.

2018 World Team member Nahshon Garrett fell short in his first match of the tournament at 61 kg, losing 14-7 to 2016 U23 European champion Hasanzada Mircalal of Azerbaijan, 14-7. Mircalal lost in the semifinals, ending Garrett’s tournament.

Action continues at 10:30 a.m. ET live on Trackwrestling.com with Thomas Gilman (57 kg), Jordan Burroughs (74 kg) and David Taylor (86 kg) wrestling for gold and Kyle Snyder (97 kg) wrestling for bronze.

2018 YASAR DOGU INTERNATIONAL

at Instanbul, Turkey, July 28

Men’s freestyle results

61 kg/134 lbs. – Nahshon Garrett, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
LOSS Hasanzada Mircalal (Azerbaijan), 14-7

70 kg/154 lbs. – James Green, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska WTC)
LOSS Sefa Aksoy (Turkey), 5-4

79 kg/174 lbs. – Kyle Dake, Ithaca, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC/New York RTC)
WIN Jabrail Hasanov (Azerbaijan), fall 5:37
WIN Ayhan Sucu (Turkey), 1:01
vs. Ibrahim Yusubov (Azerbaijan)

92 kg/202.5 lbs. - J’den Cox, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC/OTC)
LOSS Serdar Boke (Turkey), 2-2

125 kg/275 lbs. - Nick Gwiazdowski, Raleigh, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack RTC)
WIN Sumit (India), 10-0
WIN Duman Bultrikov (Kazakhstan), 10-0
LOSS Oleksandr Khotsianivskyi (Ukraine), 4-3