By Dan Lobdell
If the LA World Cup left you with an international wrestling hangover, have no fear—we’ve got your fix for this weekend. America sent eight wrestlers over to Poland for the 25th Ziolkowski Memorial. To view brackets for day 1, go here.
Without a doubt, the biggest star in attendance will be two-time defending world champ Abdulrashid Sadulaev. This will be his final tune-up for the Olympics, as Russia kept him off the World Cup squad.
Sadulaev smashes in 2014 Worlds final:
Leading Team USA is world bronze medalist James Green, who is coming off an undefeated run at the World Cup. He outscored his four opponents 35-2 and beat three world-ranked guys. We may get to see him match up with one of the best in the world in Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL), who is still appealing his WADA suspension from the European qualifier.
Making his Pennsylvania RTC debut is B.J. Futrell, and he’ll be joined by his new teammate in Rich Perry. Earlier this year at the Medved Prizes, Perry opened the eyes of wrestling fans around the world as he won a medal there for the second year in a row.
Stanford All-American Joey McKenna will see his first international action of the year. The 2014 world junior silver medalist is hoping to set himself up for the next quad, and has Olympic silver medalist Jamill Kelly in his corner.
Aside from the stars and stripes, you’ll get to see a few Olympic spots get ironed out for some of the best countries in the world. Russia is sending all three candidates for their heavyweight spot after the madness at Russian Nationals left everyone wondering who would be heading to Rio.
Biylal Makhov helped lead the Dagestani walkout after Russian Nationals, but the three-time world champ is trying to lock up his spot for Brazil here. Although he was second at Nationals at 97kg, five-time world champ Khadjimurat Gatsalov was once again convinced by his coaches to make one last run at heavyweight. He will hope to bookend a legendary career that includes Olympic gold in Athens in 2004.
Russia is also sending Muhamagazi Magomedov, their 125kg national champ. Representing the U.S. is budding freestyle star Nick Gwiazdowski. The two-time NCAA champion from North Carolina State is making his second tour overseas after winning a gold medal at last year’s Grand Prix of Spain. Gwiz was fourth at the Olympic Trials in April.
Make sure to also keep your eye on 57kg. Bulgaria’s spot for Rio could be decided between Vladimir Dubov and Georgi Vangelov. Dubov qualified the weight by running through the Euro qualifier with four 10-0 wins and using a gut wrench any Dan Dennis fan could appreciate. Vangelov was their representative at Worlds in Vegas.
Two Iowa State stars also made the trip to Spala. Pat Downey will be at 86kg; he was an All-American this year for the Cyclones and a 2012 world junior silver medalist. At 97kg, we will see former NCAA champion and 97kg university world team member Kyven Gadson.
Also competing for Team USA is Patrick Martinez (U.S. Army WCAP), the lone Greco team member going. Elena Pirozhkova will be taking the mat at 63kg. In her bracket she could run into Mongolian World Champion Battsetseg Soronzonbold.
Mat 1
Mat 2
Mat 3
Mat 4
Schedule of events:
Elimination Rounds (57, 65, 74, 97kg) – 3am EST Saturday
Medal Matches and Finals – 10am EST
Elimination Rounds (61, 70, 86, 125kg) – 3am EST Sunday
Medal Matches and Finals – 10am EST
U.S. men’s freestyle roster
61 kg/134 lbs. – Earl Hall, Homestead, Fla. (Cyclone WC)
65 kg/143 lbs. - B.J. Futrell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Titan Mercury WC/Cliff Keen WC)
65 kg/143 lbs. - Joey McKenna, Towaco, N.J. (Lehigh Valley AC)
70 kg/154 lbs. - James Green, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska WTC)
86 kg/189 lbs. - Richard Perry, Philadelphia, Pa. (New York AC/Pennsylvania RTC)
86 kg/189 lbs. - Patrick Downey, Baltimore, Md. (New York AC/Cyclone WC)
97 kg/213 lbs. - Kyven Gadson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
125 kg/275 lbs. - Nick Gwiazdowski, Delanson, N.Y. (New York AC/Wolfpack WC)
U.S. women’s freestyle roster
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
U.S. Greco-Roman roster
85 kg/187 lbs. – Patrick Martinez, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
Coach - Matt Azevedo, Philadelphia, Pa.
Coach - Jamill Kelly, Redwood City, Calif.
Coach - Valentin Kalika, Aliso Viejo, Calif.
Referee – Mark Anderson, Augusta, Kansas
Medical – Bruce Ferratt, Fairfax, Va.
Event Schedule
Saturday, June 18
Ziolkowski International – Freestyle 57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 97 kg
Pytlasinski International – Greco-Roman 59 kg, 71 kg, 80 kg, 98 kg
Poland Open – Women 48 kg, 55 kg, 60 kg, 69 kg
Sunday, June 19
Ziolkowski International – Freestyle 61 kg, 70 kg, 86 kg, 125 kg
Pytlasinski International – Greco-Roman 66 kg, 75 kg, 85 kg, 130 kg
Poland Open – Women 53 kg, 58 kg, 63 kg, 75 kg
If the LA World Cup left you with an international wrestling hangover, have no fear—we’ve got your fix for this weekend. America sent eight wrestlers over to Poland for the 25th Ziolkowski Memorial. To view brackets for day 1, go here.
Without a doubt, the biggest star in attendance will be two-time defending world champ Abdulrashid Sadulaev. This will be his final tune-up for the Olympics, as Russia kept him off the World Cup squad.
Sadulaev smashes in 2014 Worlds final:
Leading Team USA is world bronze medalist James Green, who is coming off an undefeated run at the World Cup. He outscored his four opponents 35-2 and beat three world-ranked guys. We may get to see him match up with one of the best in the world in Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL), who is still appealing his WADA suspension from the European qualifier.
Making his Pennsylvania RTC debut is B.J. Futrell, and he’ll be joined by his new teammate in Rich Perry. Earlier this year at the Medved Prizes, Perry opened the eyes of wrestling fans around the world as he won a medal there for the second year in a row.
Stanford All-American Joey McKenna will see his first international action of the year. The 2014 world junior silver medalist is hoping to set himself up for the next quad, and has Olympic silver medalist Jamill Kelly in his corner.
Aside from the stars and stripes, you’ll get to see a few Olympic spots get ironed out for some of the best countries in the world. Russia is sending all three candidates for their heavyweight spot after the madness at Russian Nationals left everyone wondering who would be heading to Rio.
Biylal Makhov helped lead the Dagestani walkout after Russian Nationals, but the three-time world champ is trying to lock up his spot for Brazil here. Although he was second at Nationals at 97kg, five-time world champ Khadjimurat Gatsalov was once again convinced by his coaches to make one last run at heavyweight. He will hope to bookend a legendary career that includes Olympic gold in Athens in 2004.
Russia is also sending Muhamagazi Magomedov, their 125kg national champ. Representing the U.S. is budding freestyle star Nick Gwiazdowski. The two-time NCAA champion from North Carolina State is making his second tour overseas after winning a gold medal at last year’s Grand Prix of Spain. Gwiz was fourth at the Olympic Trials in April.
Make sure to also keep your eye on 57kg. Bulgaria’s spot for Rio could be decided between Vladimir Dubov and Georgi Vangelov. Dubov qualified the weight by running through the Euro qualifier with four 10-0 wins and using a gut wrench any Dan Dennis fan could appreciate. Vangelov was their representative at Worlds in Vegas.
Two Iowa State stars also made the trip to Spala. Pat Downey will be at 86kg; he was an All-American this year for the Cyclones and a 2012 world junior silver medalist. At 97kg, we will see former NCAA champion and 97kg university world team member Kyven Gadson.
Also competing for Team USA is Patrick Martinez (U.S. Army WCAP), the lone Greco team member going. Elena Pirozhkova will be taking the mat at 63kg. In her bracket she could run into Mongolian World Champion Battsetseg Soronzonbold.
Mat 1
Mat 2
Mat 3
Mat 4
Schedule of events:
Elimination Rounds (57, 65, 74, 97kg) – 3am EST Saturday
Medal Matches and Finals – 10am EST
Elimination Rounds (61, 70, 86, 125kg) – 3am EST Sunday
Medal Matches and Finals – 10am EST
U.S. men’s freestyle roster
61 kg/134 lbs. – Earl Hall, Homestead, Fla. (Cyclone WC)
65 kg/143 lbs. - B.J. Futrell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Titan Mercury WC/Cliff Keen WC)
65 kg/143 lbs. - Joey McKenna, Towaco, N.J. (Lehigh Valley AC)
70 kg/154 lbs. - James Green, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska WTC)
86 kg/189 lbs. - Richard Perry, Philadelphia, Pa. (New York AC/Pennsylvania RTC)
86 kg/189 lbs. - Patrick Downey, Baltimore, Md. (New York AC/Cyclone WC)
97 kg/213 lbs. - Kyven Gadson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
125 kg/275 lbs. - Nick Gwiazdowski, Delanson, N.Y. (New York AC/Wolfpack WC)
U.S. women’s freestyle roster
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
U.S. Greco-Roman roster
85 kg/187 lbs. – Patrick Martinez, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
Coach - Matt Azevedo, Philadelphia, Pa.
Coach - Jamill Kelly, Redwood City, Calif.
Coach - Valentin Kalika, Aliso Viejo, Calif.
Referee – Mark Anderson, Augusta, Kansas
Medical – Bruce Ferratt, Fairfax, Va.
Event Schedule
Saturday, June 18
Ziolkowski International – Freestyle 57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 97 kg
Pytlasinski International – Greco-Roman 59 kg, 71 kg, 80 kg, 98 kg
Poland Open – Women 48 kg, 55 kg, 60 kg, 69 kg
Sunday, June 19
Ziolkowski International – Freestyle 61 kg, 70 kg, 86 kg, 125 kg
Pytlasinski International – Greco-Roman 66 kg, 75 kg, 85 kg, 130 kg
Poland Open – Women 53 kg, 58 kg, 63 kg, 75 kg