Snyder, Jackson aim for gold, Wick, Schultz, Trumble, Parris, wrestle for bronze at Zagreb Open in men's freestyle

ZAGREB, Croatia – The U.S. men’s freestyle team had a strong showing in the first session on day two of the Zagreb Open, United World Wrestling’s first Ranking Series event of the Olympic year, as six athletes will wrestle in medal matches at noon (ET). Two athletes will wrestle for gold, while four remain in the hunt for bronze.

2016 Olympic champion and three-time World champion Kyle Snyder dominated his way to the finals, totaling 35 points and holding his opponents to just one point allowed in the session. Snyder defeated his first three opponents by technical fall, then used a 4-0 decision to push past two-time Senior World Champion at 92 kg Kamran Ghasempour of Iran in the semifinals. Snyder will face Amarali Azarpira of Iran in the finals.

At 92 kg, Nate Jackson earned a spot in the finals. Jackson has had a strong tournament, opening his run in Zagreb with an 11-1 technical fall, followed by a pin just 1:09 into the match against Andro Margishvili of Georgia. He defeated Mirani Maisuradze of Georgia in the semifinals by 10-0 technical fall. Jackson matches up against Andro Margishvili of Georgia for gold later today.

Four athletes will wrestle for bronze in Evan Wick, Eric Schultz, Isaac Trumble and Mason Parris.

Wick went 1-1 in the round-robin bracket at 79 kg, dropping his semifinal match to Mohammed Nokjodilarimi of Iran by 6-6 criteria decision. He is slated to face Abdollah Sheikhazami of Iran for bronze in the first match of the session.

Schultz will see Mirani Maisuradze of Georgia in the bronze medal match at 92 kg. He went 3-1 in the first session, earning one technical fall win and two wins by decision. Schultz bested Maisuradze, 7-1, in their initial matchup in Zagreb.

Trumble, a 2023 U23 World champion, matches up against Vicky of UWW in the hunt for bronze at 97 kg. Trumble saw a win in his first match of the tournament, taking down Erik Thiele of Germany, 8-4. A tough battle saw Trumble drop his next match to Amirali Azarpira of Iran. Trumble fought back to defeat Radoslaw Baran of Poland in a 14-10 decision to secure a spot in the bronze medal match.

At 125 kg, 2023 World bronze medalist Parris will wrestle Giorgi Meshvildishvili of Azerbaijan for bronze. Parris earned wins in his first two matches by technical fall, dropping his semifinal match to Amirreza Masoumi Valadi of Iran, 11-6.

Nick Gwiazdowski, competing at 125 kg, won his first two matches on the day. He defeated Gennadij Cudinovic of Germany in his opening round match, before besting Christian Lance in Lance’s debut in Zagreb. In the quarterfinals, Gwiazdowski dropped his match to Amir Zare of Iran, but was pulled back into repechage. His tournament came to an end after falling to Zhiwei Deng of China.

Michael Macchiavello (97 kg) dropped his opening bout to Azarpira of Iran, and was pulled into repechage following Azarpira’s run to the finals. Macchiavello’s tournament in Zagreb ended after he fell to Baran of Poland, 5-0.

Taylor Lujan went 1-2 in the round-robin bracket at 92 kg and was unable to reach the semifinals. Joey Lavallee fell in both of his matches at 79 kg, bringing his tournament to a close.

U.S. men's freestyle results

79 kg: Joey Lavallee (Titan Mercury WC/NJCRTC), eliminated

LOSS Mohammad Nokhodilarimi (Iran), 7-3

LOSS Abdollah Sheikhazami (Iran), 9-6

79 kg: Evan Wick (Titan Mercury WC/ SoCal RTC), in bronze bout

WIN Denys Pavlov (Ukraine), 10-0

LOSS Avtandil Kentchadze (Georgia), 11-0

LOSS Mohammed Nokjodilarimi (Iran), 6-6

Bronze Match - Abdollah Sheikhazami (Iran)

92 kg: Nate Jackson (New York AC/NJRTC), in finals

WIN Balasz Juhasz (Hungary), 11-1

WIN Andro Margishvili (Georgia), fall 1:09

WIN Miriani Maisuradze (Georgia), 10-0

Gold Medal Match - Andro Margishvili (Georgia)

92 kg: Eric Schultz (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska WTC), in bronze bout

WIN Denys Sahaliuk (Ukraine), 12-2

WIN Miriani Maisuradze (Georgia), 7-1

WIN Taylor Lujan (USA), 12-4

LOSS Andro Margishvili (Georgia), 2-2

Bronze Bout - Mirani Maisuradze (Georgia)

92 kg: Taylor Lujan (Titan Mercury WC/Panther WC), eliminated

LOSS Miriani Maisuradze (Georgia), 11-0

WIN Denys Sahaliuk (Ukraine), inj. def.

LOSS Eric Schultz (USA), 12-4

97 kg: Kyle Snyder (Titan Mercury WC/Nittany Lion WC), in finals

WIN Tuerxunbieke Muheite (China), 11-1

WIN Erhan Yaylaci (Turkey), 10-0

WIN Cristian Sarco Colmenarez (Venezuela), 10-0

WIN Kamran Ghasempour (Iran), 4-0

Gold Medal Match - Amarali Azarpira (Iran)

97 kg: Isaac Trumble (Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack WC), in bronze bout

WIN Erik Thiele (Germany), 8-4

LOSS Amirali Azarpira (Iran), 8-7

WIN Radoslaw Baran (Poland), 14-10

Bronze Bout - Vicky (UWW)

97 kg: Michael Macchiavello (Titan Mercury WC/Lehigh Valley WC), eliminated

LOSS Amirali Azarpira (Iran), 10-0

LOSS Radoslaw Baran (Poland), 5-0

125 kg: Mason Parris (Titan Mercury WC/Cliff Keen WC), in bronze bout

WIN Vakhit Galayev (Azerbaijan), 15-4

WIN Amarveer Dhesi (Canada), 11-0

LOSS Amirreza Masoumi Valadi (Iran), 11-6

Bronze bout - Giorgi Meshvildishvili (Azerbaijan)

125 kg: Nick Gwiazdowski (Titan Mercury WC/Spartan Combat RTC), eliminated

WIN Gennadij Cudinovic (Germany), 10-0

WIN Christian Lance (USA), 4-2

LOSS Amir Zare (Iran), 11-0

LOSS Zhiwei Deng (China), 7-4

125 kg: Christian Lance (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska RTC), eliminated

LOSS Nick Gwiazdowski (United States), 4-2