Mike Fuenffinger pulled into repechage at Kolov-Petrov Cup in Bulgaria

SOFIA, Bulgaria – U.S. Army WCAP Greco-Roman wrestler Mike Fuenffinger was pulled back into repechage at 60 kg/132 lbs. on Saturday and will continue his quest for a medal on Sunday at the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Fuenffinger, a 2017 Dave Schultz Memorial International bronze medalist, dropped his first bout to 2017 World champion Kenchiro Fumita of Japan, 14-3. Fumita, however, did earn a spot in the 60 kg finals to pull Fuenffinger back into the competition.

On Sunday, the American will take on Romania’s Tedor Horatau. A win would put Fuenffinger in the bronze-medal match, where 2017 Cadet World fifth-place finiser Ivo Iliev of Bulgaria will be waiting.

2008 Olympian for Uzbekistan and 2017 U.S. World Team member Ildar Hafizov fell in the first round of competition at 60 kg, losing an 8-0 match to Uyar Ahmet of Turkey. Ahmet was unable to advance to the finals, ending Hafizov’s run at the tournament.

Repechage matches are expected to begin at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) on Sunday with the medal matches set for at 5 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET).

DAN KOLOV-NIKOLA PETROV CUP

at Sofia, Bulgaria (March 22-25)

U.S. Greco-Roman results
60 kg/132 lbs. – Ildar Hafizov (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP)
LOSS Uyar Ahmet (Turkey), 8-0

60 kg/132 lbs. – Mike Fuenffinger (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP)
LOSS Kenchiro Fumita (Japan), 14-3
vs. Teodor Horatau (Romania)

63 kg/139 lbs. – Ryan Mango (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP)
WIN Dato Chkhartishvili (Georgia), fall 4:58
LOSS Shinobu Ota (Japan), 12-2

72 kg/158 lbs. – Pat Smith (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm)
LOSS Evrik Nikoghosyan (France), 9-0
LOSS Tomohiro Inoue (Japan), fall 3:42

U.S. freestyle results
57 kg/125 lbs. – Frank Perrelli (Bethlehem, Pa./Titan Mercury WC)
WIN Givi Davidovi (Italy), 9-6
LOSS Baris Kaya (Turkey), 4-2