Nolf in finals, McKenna, Zapf, Marsteller to go for bronze at Zagreb Open

Eleven U.S. men’s freestyle athletes competed at the Zagreb Open in Zagreb, Croatia, on Wednesday. The tournament is the first United World Wrestling Senior Ranking Tournament of the new year.

Jason Nolf had a strong day in Zagreb, advancing to the finals where he matches up against Hossein Abouzaripashkolaei of Iran at 74 kg. Nolf cruised to victory by technical fall in his first two matches. In the quarterfinals, he used a 7-0 decision to get past Murad Kuramagomedov of Hungary. Nolf pinned Georgios Kougioumtsidis of Greece in just 35 seconds in the semifinals, reaching the final match later this afternoon.

The U.S. sees three athletes that will wrestle for bronze later today in Joey McKenna (65 kg), Doug Zapf (70 kg) and Chance Marsteller (86 kg). McKenna won his opening match by 11-0 technical fall, before dropping a 5-2 decision to Vazgen Tavanyan of Armenia. He battled back in his repechage match, and will face Sebastian Rivera of Puerto Rico for bronze. Zapf fell in a close 6-5 decision in his first round of the round-robin bracket at 70 kg before winning his second round match. He is set to face Marc Dietsche of Switzerland for bronze. At 86 kg, Marsteller went 3-1, falling in the semifinals. He is slated to face Arsenii Dzhioev of Azerbaijan for bronze later today.

Zane Richards, competing at 57 kg, won his first match of the day against Ahmet Duman of Turkey. Richards fell in the following round, but was pulled into repechage as his opponent advanced. His tournament came to an end after he dropped his repechage match to Muhammat Karavus of Turkey. Max Dean bounced back from a loss in his opening match to pick up the 8-8 decision over Ethan Ramos of Puerto Rico. Dean’s tournament came to an end after falling to  Arsenii Dzhioev of Azerbaijan.

Quincy Monday got off to a great start in his first match of the tournament, besting Patryk Olenczyn of Poland by 15-4 technical fall. Monday tied up the lace and fired off a series of turns for the opening round win. In the round of 16, Monday won by technical superiority over Yash of UWW. Monday’s momentum came to a halt when he fell to Dzhabrail Gadzhiev of Azerbaijan in a close 5-4 decision.

Brandon Courtney, Michael McGee, Nahshon Garrett and Zahid Valencia dropped their opening matches, bringing their tournaments to an end.

The U.S. men’s freestyle returns to the mat in Zagreb, Croatia, at 6 p.m. local time for medal matches. Local time is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time.

At Zagreb, Croatia, January 10-14

Day One – Qualification Round and Repechage Results

57 kg: Zane Richards (Titan Mercury WC/Illinois RTC)

WIN Ahmet Duman (Turkey), 5-2 decision

LOSS Aman Aman (UWW), 11-0 tech. fall

LOSS Muhammat Karavus (Turkey), 17-7 tech. fall

57 kg: Brandon Courtney (Sunkist Kids)

LOSS Luka Gvinjilia (Georgia), 5-2 decision

61 kg: Michael McGee (Sunkist Kids)

LOSS Aliabbas Rzazade (Azerbaijan), 5-4 decision

65 kg: Joey McKenna (Titan Mercury WC/Pennsylvania RTC), in bronze medal match

WIN Ziraddin Bayramov (Azerbaijan), 11-0 tech. fall

LOSS Vazgen Tavanyan (Armenia), 5-2 decision

WIN Khamzat Arsamerzouev (France), 3-3 decision

vs Sebastian Rivera (Puerto Rico), bronze medal match

65 kg: Nahshon Garrett (Titan Mercury WC/Lehigh Valley AC)

LOSS Nino Leutert (Switzerland), 10-8 decision

70 kg: Doug Zapf (Pennsylvania RTC), in bronze medal match

LOSS Giorgi Elbakidze (Georgia), 6-5 decision

WIN Daniel Antal (Hungary), 4-0 decision

LOSS Akaki Kemertelidze (Georgia), 8-4 decision

vs Marc Dietsche (Switzerland), bronze medal match

74 kg: Jason Nolf (Titan Mercury WC/Nittany Lion WC), in finals

WIN Anthony Montero Chirinos (Venezuela), 11-0 tech. fall

WIN Ramazan Ramazanov (Bulgaria), 12-2 tech. fall

WIN Murad Kuramagomedov (Hungary), 7-0 decision

WIN Georgios Kougiomtsidis (Greece), fall 0:35

vs Hossein Abouzaripashkolaei (Iran), finals

74 kg: Quincy Monday (Titan Mercury WC/NJRTC)

WIN Patryk Olenczyn (Poland), 15-4 tech. fall

WIN Yash Yash (UWW), 10-0 tech. fall

LOSS Dzhabrail Gadzhiev (Azerbaijan), 5-4 decision

86 kg: Chance Marsteller (Titan Mercury WC/NYC RTC), in bronze medal match

WIN Pedro Ceballos (Venezuela), 4-0

WIN Osman Nurmagomedov (Azerbaijan), 3-1

WIN Vladimeri Gamkrelidze (Georgia), 8-5

LOSS Magomed Ramazanov (Bulgaria), 10-0 technical fall

vs Arsenii Dzhioev (Azerbaijan), bronze medal match

86 kg: Zahid Valencia (Sunkist Kids)

LOSS Valentyn Babii (Ukraine), 10-2 decision

86 kg: Max Dean (Titan Mercury WC/Nittany Lion WC)

LOSS Magomed Ramazanov (Bulgaria), 8-3 decision

WIN Ethan Ramos (Puerto Rico), 8-8 decision

LOSS Arsenii Dzhioev (Azerbaijan), 8-3 decision

(local time, six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time)

Wednesday, January 10

10:00 a.m. – Qualification and repechage - MFS 57 kg, 61 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg

6:00 p.m. – Finals - MFS 57 kg, 61 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg

Thursday, January 11

10:00 a.m. - Qualification and repechage - MFS 79 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg WFS 50 kg, 55 kg

6:00 p.m. – Finals - MFS 79 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg WFS 50 kg, 55 kg

Friday, January 12

10:00 a.m. – Qualification and repechage - WFS 59 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, 68 kg  GR 77 kg, 87 kg

5:00 p.m. – Official Ceremony

6:00 p.m. – Finals - WFS 59 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, 68 kg  GR 77 kg, 87 kg

Saturday, January 13

10:00 a.m. – Qualification and repechage – WFS 53 kg, 57 kg, 72 kg, 76 kg GR 63 kg, 67 kg

6:00 p.m. – Finals – WFS 53 kg, 57 kg, 72 kg, 76 kg GR 63 kg, 67 kg

Sunday, January 14

10:00 a.m. – Qualification and repechage – GR 55 kg, 60 kg, 72 kg, 82 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg6:00 p.m. – Finals – GR 55 kg, 60 kg, 72 kg, 82 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg