Six American men's freestylers advance to finals on last day of Matteo Pellicone

ROME, Italy – Six American men’s freestyle wrestlers have landed spots in Saturday’s finals of the Matteo Pellicone International in Rome, Italy.

This afternoon’s finals will feature two all-USA battles, including at 57 kg, where Thomas Gilman will face Joe Colon, and 86 kg, where Alex Dieringer will take on Zahid Valencia.

Other Americans in the finals are Jordan Oliver at 65 kg and Kyle Dake at 74 kg.

Gilman, a 2017 World silver medalist, opened his tournament with an 11-0 tech fall against Gabit Tolepbay from Kazakhstan, followed by a decisive 12-4 win against Minghu Liu of China.

In the semifinals, Gilman renewed a rivalry with USA teammate and 2019 World Team member Daton Fix. Fix was on the board first, drawing a passivity point, but just before the first period ended, Gilman scored a takedown for a 2-1 lead, which he held onto until the end of the bout.

2018 World bronze medalist at 61 kg Colon moved down to 57 kg for the Olympic year, and earlier today, he showed he is still just as sharp.

To begin the day, Colon took out Stevan Micic of Serbia, who was fifth at the 2019 World Championships, with a 10-4 come-from-behind win to advance to the semis. There, he handled 2017 World bronze medalist Andrii Yatsenko of Ukraine with a 10-6 victory.

At 86 kg, a pair of Junior World runner-ups from the USA will battle for gold.

Dieringer, a 2013 Junior World silver medalist, went 3-0 in the morning session, opening his tournament with a 9-0 shut out over Illia Archaia of Ukraine. He followed it up with an 8-4 victory over 2013 Senior World bronze medalist Rashid Kurbanov of Uzbekistan.

In the semis, Dieringer went head-to-head against 2019 World Teamer Pat Downey, who carried a 1-0 lead into the break. In the second period, Dieringer drew passivity point and added two step outs. In the final seconds, Dieringer was hit with a caution-and-one for fleeing, but he held on for a 3-2 win over the reigning World Team member.

Valencia, a 2017 Junior World silver winner, was dominant in his first two bouts of the day, defeating William Raffi of Italy, 11-1, and 2018 World silver medalist Fatih Erdin of Turkey, 10-0.

Advancing to the finals at 65 kg, Senior Nationals champion Jordan Oliver went unscored upon against his three opponents this morning, outscoring the competition, 21-0.

Oliver opened the day with a 10-0 shutout over Syrbaz Talgat of Kazakhstan. In the quarters, he took down 2019 World Military Games bronze winner Selahattin Kilicsallayan from Turkey, 4-0. To move into the finals, Oliver outwrestled 2019 Junior World champion Erik Arushanian from Ukraine with a dominant 7-0 win.

For gold, Oliver will face Bajrang Bajrang of India.

Two-time World champion Kyle Dake wrestled at 74 kg for the first time in a few years and made a solid run to the finals.

His first bout, Dake outlasted Azamat Nurykau of Belarus, 5-1. He went on to pick up a 10-0 tech fall against Murad Kurmagomedov from Hungary. In the semifinals, Dake edged out Fazil Eryilmaz of Turkey, 3-1.

For gold, Dake will take on 2017 World champion and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Soner Demirtas of Turkey.

Three athletes will wrestle for bronze later today, including Daton Fix at 57 kg, Zain Retherford at 65 kg and Pat Downey at 86 kg.

Medal matches will begin on Saturday at noon ET live on Flowrestling.org.

MATTEO PELLICONE INTERNATIONAL

at Rome, Italy (UWW Ranking Series event)

Men’s freestyle results
57 kg: Thomas Gilman (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC)
WIN Gabit Tolepbay (Kazakhstan), 11-0
WIN Minghu Liu (China), 12-4
WIN Daton Fix (USA), 2-1
vs. Joe Colon (USA)

57 kg: Joe Colon (Titan Mercury WC/Valley RTC)
WIN Stevan Micic (Serbia), 10-4
WIN Andrii Yatsenko (Ukraine), 10-6
vs. Thomas Gilman (USA)

57 kg: Daton Fix (Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy RTC)
WIN Wanhao Zou (China), 7-1
WIN Pedro Mejias Rodriguez (Venezuela), 11-0
LOSS Thomas Gilman (USA), 2-1
vs. Minghu Liu (China)

65 kg: Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids WC/TarHeel WC)
WIN Syrbaz Talgat (Kazakhstan), 10-0
WIN Selahattin Kilicsallayan (Turkey), 4-0
WIN Erik Arushanian (Ukraine), 7-0
vs. Bajrang Bajrang (India)

65 kg: Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion WC)
LOSS Bajrang Bajrang (India), 5-4
WIN Joey McKenna (USA), 10-5
vs. Vasyl Shuptar (Ukraine)

65 kg: Joey McKenna (Titan Mercury WC/Pennsylvania RTC) – eliminated
WIN Abdellatif Mansour (Italy), 12-2
LOSS Bajrang Bajrang (India), 4-2
LOSS Zain Retherford (USA), 10-5

74 kg: Kyle Dake (Titan Mercury WC/Finger Lakes WC)
WIN Azamat Nurykau (Belarus), 5-1
WIN Murad Kurmagomedov (Hungary), 10-0
WIN Fazil Eryilmaz (Turkey), 3-1
vs. Soner Demirtas (Turkey)

74 kg: James Green (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska WTC) – eliminated
LOSS Yones Emamichoghaei (Iran), 15-5

74 kg: Logan Massa (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC) – eliminated
LOSS Murad Kurmagomedov (Hungary), 10-0

86 kg: Alex Dieringer (Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy RTC)
WIN Illia Archaia (Ukraine), 9-0
WIN Rashid Kurbanov (Uzbekistan), 8-4
WIN Pat Downey (USA), 3-2
vs. Zahid Valencia (USA)

86 kg: Zahid Valencia (Sunkist Kids)
WIN William Raffi (Italy), 11-1
WIN Fatih Erdin (Turkey), 10-0
vs. Alex Dieringer (USA)

86 kg: Pat Downey (Titan Mercury WC/NJ RTC)
WIN Osman Gocen (Turkey), 12-5
WIN Ethan Ramos (Puerto Rico), 9-5
LOSS Alex Dieringer (USA), 3-2
vs. Illia Archaia (Ukraine)