Jacobs wins bronze medal at the Beach World Championships in Croatia
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by Special to TheMat.com
Jeff Jacobs of the USA in competition at the Beach World Championships in Croatia. Photo by Rusty Davidson.
American Jeff Jacobs won a Bronze Medal Sunday, in day three of United World Wrestling’s World Championship of Beach Wrestling in Fazana, Croatia. Jacobs, a native of New Jersey, competed at 80 kg (176 lbs).
Two other Americans lost their first match and were not pulled into the repechage. Mark Burkart, Alaska, lost his match at 70 kg (154 lbs) to Denis Sivtcev, of Russia, 0-3. Dennis Cannon, Virginia, was defeated by Cengis Zengin 0f Turkey 1-3, at +90 kg (Unlimited).
Jacobs earned his way into the semi-finals by defeating Sabri Demirkran, of Turkey, 3-1 in the first round. He defeated Mustafa Albayrak, also of Turkey, 3-0, in the quarter-finals. Each country is allowed to enter up to three athletes per weight per division. The Turks brought a full Senior Men’s delegation.
In the semi-final match, Jacobs lost to eventual Silver Medalist, Igor Sofroneev, of Russia, 0-2. The American went on to a Bronze Medal victory, by Injury Default, over Eric Barth of Norway. Jacobs was ahead 2-0 when the Norwegian was unable to continue, due to a pre-existing injury.
“I thought all three Americans wrestled well”, said Rusty Davidson. Davidson attended the event, serving as Instructor of Referees, a position assigned by United World Wrestling.
“Jeff looked great in a loaded weight class. He was really proud of his efforts and deserves to be”, Davidson said.
In the Team race, Iran continued their domination in the Senior Men’s Division. The Silver Team Cup went to Greece, who had an exceptional performance in sneaking past perennial power Russia, who took the Bronze Cup.
Greece completed a Trophy sweep in the Women’s Senior Division, adding a third Golden Cup to their collection. The Greek women won the Cadet event Friday and the Juniors Saturday. Romanian women took home the Silver Cup, while Slovenia earned Bronze.
“Our three American guys represented us with a lot of class”, Davidson said. “These athletes make some huge sacrifices to be here. Listening to them talk about the friends they are making, the culture they are experiencing, and seeing them have some success really validates our wrestling lifestyle”.
American Beach Wrestlers travel, self-funded, to both National and International competition. Medalists at USA wrestling’s recent National Championship (May 20-21, Carolina Beach, NC) qualified for a spot on the 2017 World Team.
The U.S. is eligible to field three athletes per weight, both women and men, in the UWW Cadet, Junior and Senior divisions. The site of the 2017 UWW Beach Wrestling World Championship will be announced in early fall.
2016 U.S. medalists also qualify to represent the United States in next summer’s World Beach Games, in San Diego, CA. Additional qualifying opportunities will be announced.
CORRECTION: In an earlier piece, Dennis Cannon’s weight class was published as +100kg. The actual weight class is +90.
American Jeff Jacobs won a Bronze Medal Sunday, in day three of United World Wrestling’s World Championship of Beach Wrestling in Fazana, Croatia. Jacobs, a native of New Jersey, competed at 80 kg (176 lbs).
Two other Americans lost their first match and were not pulled into the repechage. Mark Burkart, Alaska, lost his match at 70 kg (154 lbs) to Denis Sivtcev, of Russia, 0-3. Dennis Cannon, Virginia, was defeated by Cengis Zengin 0f Turkey 1-3, at +90 kg (Unlimited).
Jacobs earned his way into the semi-finals by defeating Sabri Demirkran, of Turkey, 3-1 in the first round. He defeated Mustafa Albayrak, also of Turkey, 3-0, in the quarter-finals. Each country is allowed to enter up to three athletes per weight per division. The Turks brought a full Senior Men’s delegation.
In the semi-final match, Jacobs lost to eventual Silver Medalist, Igor Sofroneev, of Russia, 0-2. The American went on to a Bronze Medal victory, by Injury Default, over Eric Barth of Norway. Jacobs was ahead 2-0 when the Norwegian was unable to continue, due to a pre-existing injury.
“I thought all three Americans wrestled well”, said Rusty Davidson. Davidson attended the event, serving as Instructor of Referees, a position assigned by United World Wrestling.
“Jeff looked great in a loaded weight class. He was really proud of his efforts and deserves to be”, Davidson said.
In the Team race, Iran continued their domination in the Senior Men’s Division. The Silver Team Cup went to Greece, who had an exceptional performance in sneaking past perennial power Russia, who took the Bronze Cup.
Greece completed a Trophy sweep in the Women’s Senior Division, adding a third Golden Cup to their collection. The Greek women won the Cadet event Friday and the Juniors Saturday. Romanian women took home the Silver Cup, while Slovenia earned Bronze.
“Our three American guys represented us with a lot of class”, Davidson said. “These athletes make some huge sacrifices to be here. Listening to them talk about the friends they are making, the culture they are experiencing, and seeing them have some success really validates our wrestling lifestyle”.
American Beach Wrestlers travel, self-funded, to both National and International competition. Medalists at USA wrestling’s recent National Championship (May 20-21, Carolina Beach, NC) qualified for a spot on the 2017 World Team.
The U.S. is eligible to field three athletes per weight, both women and men, in the UWW Cadet, Junior and Senior divisions. The site of the 2017 UWW Beach Wrestling World Championship will be announced in early fall.
2016 U.S. medalists also qualify to represent the United States in next summer’s World Beach Games, in San Diego, CA. Additional qualifying opportunities will be announced.
CORRECTION: In an earlier piece, Dennis Cannon’s weight class was published as +100kg. The actual weight class is +90.
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