U.S. Greco-Roman team to compete in Sofia, Bulgaria, at Dan Kolov /Nikola Petrov March, 22-25

Ildar Hafizov at the 2017 U.S. Open. Photo by: Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers are Warriors 

A team of nine Greco-Roman wrestlers representing the United States are set to battle at the Dan Kolov/Nikola Petrov 56th annual International Wrestling Tournament in in Sofia, Bulgaria, on March 22-25.

The tournament also includes a men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle division. However, the U.S. will not being sending delegations in those styles.

Leading the U.S Greco-Roman team is 2012 Olympian and two-time Senior World Team member Ellis Coleman (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S Army WCAP) wrestling at 67 kg/147.7 lbs. Coleman is a two-time Junior World bronze medalist.

A 2008 Olympian for Uzbekistan and now a 2017 U.S. Greco-Roman World Team member, Ildar Hafizov (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) will compete at 60 kg/132 lbs.

2017 U.S. World Team member and three-time Pan American champion Pat Smith (Minneapolis, Minn. /Minnesota Storm) will wrestle for the U.S. at 72 Kg/158.7 lbs.

Two-time World team member Patrick Martinez (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) will wrestle at 87 kg/191 lbs.

U.S. Greco-Roman stand-out and 2018 Armed Forces double champion Daniel Miller (Berlin, Md./U.S. Marines), will compete at 87 kg/191.8 lbs. Miller won international bronze medals at the Hungarian Grand Prix, S.A. Lavrikov and Paris International last season.

A three-time Armed Forces champion in freestyle, Ryan Mango (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) will compete at 63 kg/138.8.

Max Nowry (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), a 2012 University World champion, will wrestle at 55 kg/121 lbs.

2017 National Team member John Stefanowicz (Jacksonville, N.C./U.S. Marines) will represent the U.S at 80 kg/176.37 lbs.

A two-time Armed Forces champion in freestyle Mike Fuenffinger (Colorado Springs, Colo./Minnesota Storm) will compete at 60 kg/132.2 lbs.


DAN KOLOV/NIKOLA PETROV

AT Sofia, Bulgaria, March 22-25


U.S. Greco-Roman Roster:
55kg/121.2 lbs. – Max Nowry (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
60kg/132.2 lbs. – Ildar Hafizov (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP)
60kg/132.2 lbs. – Mike Fuenffinger (Colorado Springs, Colo./Minnesota Storm)
63kg/138.8 – Ryan Mango (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP)
67kg/147.7 – Ellis Coleman (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S Army WCAP)
72kg/158.7 – Pat Smith (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm)
80kg/176.37 – John Stefanowicz (Jacksonville, N.C./U.S. Marines)
87kg/191.8 – Patrick Martinez (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
97kg/213.8 – Daniel Miller (Berlin, Md./U.S. Marines)
U.S. Delegation
Coach – Spenser Mango (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Coach – Shon Lewis (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Referee – Kevin Maxwell (Utica, N.Y.)
Event Schedule (ET +7 hrs.)
Thursday March 22nd
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Elimination rounds (55, 63, 72, 82 kg)
4:30 p.m. – Semi-finals (55,63,72,82 kg)
Friday March 23rd
10.00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Elimination rounds (87, 97, 130 kg) Repechages (55,63,72,82 kg)
4:00 p.m. – Semi-finals (87, 97, 130 kg)
5:00 p.m. – Finals (55, 63, 72, 82 kg)
Saturday March 24th
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Elimination rounds (60, 67, 77 kg) Repechages (87, 97, 130 kg)
4:30 p.m. – Semi-finals (60, 67, 77 kg)
5:00 p.m. – Finals (87, 97, 130 kg)
Sunday March 25th
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Repechages (60, 67, 77 kg)
3:00 p.m. – Finals (60, 67, 77 kg)