Lugo and Rogers collect bronze medals at Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov International

Photo (L to R): Pat Lugo and Jennifer Rogers. Photos by Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com.

VELIKO TARNOVO, Bulgaria – Americans Pat Lugo and Jennifer Rogers each earned bronze medals in the third day of competition at the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov International in Bulgaria.

Wrestling at 65 kg in men’s freestyle, Pat Lugo won his repechage match against Aikhaan Antonov from Russia with a dominant 12-2 technical fall to advance to the bronze-medal match. There, he met up with 2018 U23 European silver medalist Vitalie Bunici from Moldova. Lugo walked away with the 5-3 decision and a bronze medal in his international debut.

In women’s freestyle, Jennifer Rogers scored her medal at 62 kg. She bounced back from a second-round loss, facing Spain’s Lydia Perez in the third-place bout. Rogers emerged victorious with a solid 9-2 win for the bronze.

Two other Americans recorded fifth-place finishes on Saturday, including Nico Provo (MFS 57 kg) and Tanner Farmer (GR 130 kg). Provo moved onto the bronze match after a semifinal loss on Friday but lost in the medal bout to Aliabbas Rzazade of Azerbaijan, 10-0. Farmer was pulled into repechage and won his first match of the day over Roman Kim from Kyrgyzstan with an 8-0 tech fall to advance to the medal match. For bronze, Farmer dropped a 7-1 bout to 2019 U23 European silver medalist Lenard Berei of Romania to take fifth.

One U.S. representative is still in the hunt for a medal tomorrow as Ceron Francisco was pulled into the bronze bout after a semifinal loss at 125 kg in men’s freestyle. Francisco won his tournament opener with a win by injury default over Egor Olar of Moldova. The American led 2-0 at the time of the injury. In the semis, he lost to two-time U23 World medalist Dzianis Khramiankou from Belarus, 7-4. Francisco’s bronze match opponent will be determined in tomorrow’s repechage.

Others that wrestled for the USA today included Alisha Howk (WFS 53 kg), Sophia Mirabella (WFS 57 kg), Gabe Townsell (GR 60 kg) and Robert Perez (GR 67 kg).

Action continues Sunday with repechage at 11 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) and is available to watch live on YouTube.

DAN KOLOV – NIKOLA PETROV INTERNATIONAL
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria | Feb. 17-20, 2022

RESULTS
U.S. men’s freestyle
57 kg: Nico Provo (South Side WC) – FIFTH
WIN Jyotiba Bajrang (India), 8-6
WIN Aid Salihasi (Moldova), 10-0
LOSS Aryian Tiutrin (Belarus)
LOSS Aliabbas Rzazade (Azerbaijan), 10-0

65 kg: Pat Lugo (Hawkeye WC) – BRONZE
WIN Stefan Tonu (Moldova), 5-3
LOSS Islam Dudaev (Albania), 10-0
WIN Aikhaan Antonov (Russia), 12-2
WIN Vitalie Bunici (Moldova), 5-3

125 kg: Ceron Francisco (Titan Mercury WC) – bronze match
WIN Egor Olar (Moldova), injury default
LOSS Dzianis Khramiankou (Belarus), 7-4
vs. opponent to be determined

U.S. women’s freestyle
53 kg: Alisha Howk (Sunkist Kids) – eliminated
WIN Irena Binkova (Bulgaria), 10-0
LOSS Anastasia Blayvas (Germany), 7-2

57 kg: Sophia Mirabella (Team Tornado WC) – eliminated
LOSS Jenna Hemia (Finland), fall

62 kg: Jennifer Rogers (Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC) – BRONZE
WIN Rani Ritu (India), 10-0
LOSS Bilyana Dudova (Bulgaria), 16-5
WIN Lydia Perez (Spain), 9-2

U.S. Greco-Roman
60 kg: Gabe Townsell (California RTC) – eliminated
LOSS Nedyalko Petrov (Bulgaria), 10-0

67 kg: Robert Perez (Greco-Roman Development) – eliminated
LOSS Anshu (India), 7-0

77 kg: RaVaughn Perkins (New York AC) – eliminated
LOSS Joilson Ramos (Brazil), forfeit

130 kg: Tanner Farmer (New York AC) – FIFTH
WIN Singh Mehar (India), 9-0
LOSS Ciurariu Alexuc (Romania), fall
WIN Roman Kim (Kyrgyzstan), 8-0
LOSS Lenard Berei (Romania), 7-1

Schedule (Bulgaria is 7 hours ahead of U.S. ET)
Sunday, Feb. 20
11 a.m. – Repechage (MFS 86, 97, 125; GR 60, 67, 77; WFS 50, 53, 57)
12 p.m. – Finals (MFS 86, 97, 125; GR 60, 67, 77; WFS 50, 53, 57)