Walz and Jackson into finals, Gadson to wrestle for bronze at Medved International

Minsk, Belarus Two Americans will wrestle in the Medved International finals tomorrow morning. Ty Walz (Titan Mercury WC) and Nate Jackson (New York AC), both churned through their early round opponents to earn finals berths. Kyven Gadson (Sunkist Kids) fell in his semifinal match, and will have the opportunity to wrestle for third.

At 86 kg Jackson picked up three technical falls, 16-6 over Tuskaev of Russia, 10-0 over Ozkaya of Turkey and 12-2 over Chytadze of Belarus. In the finals he will face Javrail Shapiev of Uzbekistan, a former Russian.

Walz received a forfeit in his opening match at 97 kg to Bazrafshan of Canada. In the semifinals he defeated Kharmiaknkou of Belarus, 9-0. Walz will wrestle Romania’s Albert Saritov in the finals. Saritov is also a former Russian and a 2012 World bronze medalist and a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist. Saritov defeated Gadson, 5-4, in the semifinals.

Before falling to Saritov, Gadson defeated Musaev of Kyrgyzstan, 5-0. In the bronze medal match he’ll face Ibrahim Ciftci of Turkey, a 2017 U23 bronze medalist

Darian Cruz (New York AC) defeated fellow American Frank Perrelli (Titan Mercury WC) 2-1, in his opening bout at 57 kg. He would then drop to Tuskaev of Russia, 3-0, eliminating Perrelli from the tournament. Tuskaev would lose his next match ending Cruz’s hopes of wrestling for bronze.

Frank Molinaro (Titan Mercury WC), went 0-1 at 65 kg. He dropped his match to Omarov of Russia 6-4. Omarov failed to advance to the finals ending Molinaro’s tournament.

The rest of the American contingent will begin wrestling tomorrow at 3:30 a.m. Finals will start at 8:30 a.m.

Medved International

at Minsk, Belarus (Aug. 9-11)

Event Schedule (based upon U.S. Eastern Standard Time)

Friday, Aug. 9

3:30 a.m. – Preliminary rounds (MFS 57, 65, 74, 86, 97, WFS 50, 55, 59, 65, 72)

11:00 a.m. – Semifinals (MFS 57, 65, 74, 86, 97, WFS, 50, 55, 59, 65, 72)

Saturday, Aug. 10

3:30 a.m. - Preliminary rounds (MFS 61, 70, 79, 92, 125, WFS, 53, 57, 62, 68, 76)

3:30 a.m. - Repechage (MFS 57, 65, 74, 86, 97, WFS, 50, 55, 59, 65, 72)

8:30 a.m. – Semifinals (MFS 61, 70, 79, 92, 125, WFS, 53, 57, 62, 68, 76)

8:30 a.m. – Finals (MFS, 57, 65, 74, 86, 97, WFS, 50, 55, 59, 65, 72)

U.S. men’s freestyle results

57kg: Darian Cruz (Allentown, Pa./Lehigh Valley WC/New York AC)

WIN Frank Perrelli (USA), 2-1

LOSS A. Tuskaev (Russia), 3-0

57kg: Frank Perrelli (Charlottesville, Va./Lehigh Valley AC/Titan Mercury WC)

LOSS Darian Cruz (USA), 2-1

65kg: Frank Molinaro (Norman, Oklahoma/OKRTC/Titan Mercury WC)

LOSS S. Omarov (Russia), 6-4

86kg: Nate Jackson (Princeton, N.J./NJRTC/New York AC)

WIN R. Abdulaev (Russia), 16-6

WIN M. Ozkaya (Turkey), 10-0

WIN R. Chytadze (Belarus), 12-2

97kg: Ty Walz (Blacksburg Va./SERTC/ Titan Mercury WC)

WIN A. Bazrafshan (Canada), Forfeit

Win Kharmiaknkou (Belarus), 9-0

97kg: Kyven Gadson (Waterloo, Iowa/CRTC/Sunkist Kids)

WIN M. Musaev (Kyrgyzstan), 5-0

LOSS  A Saritov (Russia), 5-4