Esposito, Hrovat win silver medals in Medved International in Belarus

restlers won silver medals on the second day of competition at the Alexander Medved International in Minsk, Belarus, October 20.

Placing second in their weight classes were Zack Esposito (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs.

Esposito was defeated in the championship finals by Albert Batirov of Belarus, 0-3, 1-0, 0-3. Batirov hit a chest lock for three points from the clinch in the first period. Esposito won the second period on a takedown with 15 seconds left. In the deciding third period, Batirov scored another counter chestlock to win the period.

Esposito opened the tournament with three straight wins. He stopped Z. Kambarov of Azerbaijan, 6-0, 6-0. His next two wins went the full three period, stopping A. Anhmatomedov of Russia, 1-1, 5-3, 4-0, then Z. Usuhov of Russia, 1-1, 3-0, 5-0.

“Zack has great potential,” said National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson. “He can consistently win at this level.”

Hrovat was beaten in the gold-medal match by R. Koulov of Russia, 1-3, 1-0, 0-2. Hrovat dropped the first period when he went out of bounds attempting a chest lock throw. In the second period, he won the clinch for the win. Hrovat lost the final period when he attempted a double-overhook throw with 15 seconds left and landed on his back.

He won two matches to qualify for the finals, defeating Chibko of Belarus, 2-0, 2-0, then pinning H. Magomed of Russia in 1:30 in the semifinals.

Hrovat was a member of the 2006 U.S. World Team and currently holds a No. 2 national ranking in the United States.

Placing fifth at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. was Jared Frayer (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) with a 3-2 record.

Frayer opened the tournament with a three-period win over three-time U.S. World Team member Chris Bono of the United States, 1-1, 3-2, 7-0. He followed with a second period pin of A. Studvmajok of Belarus. He was defeated in the third round by eventual champion Albert Batirov of Belarus, 0-1, 0-2.

After a win over O. Rossoh of Ukraine in the wrestleback rounds, Frayer lost in the bronze-medal match to R. Adhmov of Russia, 0-2, 0-1. Adhmov scored two takedowns in the first period, then won the second period on the clinch from the defensive position.

The competition concludes on Sunday, with action at 96 kg/211.5 pounds and 120 kg/264.5 lbs. The United States has won four medals during the first two days of competition.

ALEXANDER MEDVED INTERNATIONAL
at Minsk, Belarus, October 19-21

Freestyle medalists

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold – Albert Batirov (Belarus)
Silver – Zack Esposito(USA)
Bronze – Z. Ushuhov (Russia)
Bronze – R. Adhmov (Russia)

74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - D Klhpoddov (Russia)
Silver - D. Komhsar (Ukraine)
Bronze - Shrotnx (Ukraine)
RUS A. Megomedov (Russia)

84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold - Koulov (Russia)
Silver – Andy Hrovat (United States)
Bronze - H. Magomed (Russia)
Bronze – (Russia)

U.S. performances

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jared Frayer, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 5th
WIN Chris Bono (USA), 1-1, 3-2, 7-0
WIN A. Studvmajok (Belarus), 1-0, pin 1:00
LOSS Albert Batirov (Belarus), 0-1, 0-2
WIN O. Rossoh (Ukraine)
LOSS R. Adhmov (Russia), 0-2, 0-1

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Chris Bono, Ringgold, Ga. (Sunkist Kids), dnp
LOSS Jared Frayer (USA), 1-1, 2-3, 0-7

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Zach Esposito, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC), 2nd
WIN Z. Kambarov (Azerbaijan), 6-0, 6-0
WIN A. Anhmatomedov (Russia), 1-1, 5-3, 4-0
WIN Z. Usuhov (Russia), 1-1, 3-0, 5-0
LOSS Albert Batirov (Belarus), 0-3, 1-0, 0-3

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Eric Larkin, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), dnp
WIN M.Taurovskey (Russia), 1-0, 0-1, 3-0
LOSS Usuhov (Russia), 0-1, 6-0, 1-1

74 kg/163 lbs. - Casey Cunningham, Mt. Pleasant, Mich. (Sunkist Kids), dnp
LOSS A. Magomedov (Russia), 0-1, 6-0, 0-1

74 kg/163 lbs. - Donny Pritzlaff, Madison, Wis. (New York AC), dnp
WIN Magomed Ebragemov (Russia), 3-0 6-0
LOSS V. Shrotnx (Ukraine), 0-1, 0-1

84 kg/185 lbs. - Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC), 2nd
WIN Chibko (Belarus), 2-0 2-0
WIN H. Magomed (Russia), pin 1:30
LOSS R. Koulov (Russia), 1-3, 1-0, 0-2

84 kg/185 lbs. - Clint Wattenberg, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC), dnp
WIN Aigym (Russia)
LOSS Goneharoe (Belarus)

84 kg/185 lbs. - Lee Fullhart, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), dnp
LOSS Goneh

restlers won silver medals on the second day of competition at the Alexander Medved International in Minsk, Belarus, October 20.

Placing second in their weight classes were Zack Esposito (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs.

Esposito was defeated in the championship finals by Albert Batirov of Belarus, 0-3, 1-0, 0-3. Batirov hit a chest lock for three points from the clinch in the first period. Esposito won the second period on a takedown with 15 seconds left. In the deciding third period, Batirov scored another counter chestlock to win the period.

Esposito opened the tournament with three straight wins. He stopped Z. Kambarov of Azerbaijan, 6-0, 6-0. His next two wins went the full three period, stopping A. Anhmatomedov of Russia, 1-1, 5-3, 4-0, then Z. Usuhov of Russia, 1-1, 3-0, 5-0.

“Zack has great potential,” said National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson. “He can consistently win at this level.”

Hrovat was beaten in the gold-medal match by R. Koulov of Russia, 1-3, 1-0, 0-2. Hrovat dropped the first period when he went out of bounds attempting a chest lock throw. In the second period, he won the clinch for the win. Hrovat lost the final period when he attempted a double-overhook throw with 15 seconds left and landed on his back.

He won two matches to qualify for the finals, defeating Chibko of Belarus, 2-0, 2-0, then pinning H. Magomed of Russia in 1:30 in the semifinals.

Hrovat was a member of the 2006 U.S. World Team and currently holds a No. 2 national ranking in the United States.

Placing fifth at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. was Jared Frayer (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) with a 3-2 record.

Frayer opened the tournament with a three-period win over three-time U.S. World Team member Chris Bono of the United States, 1-1, 3-2, 7-0. He followed with a second period pin of A. Studvmajok of Belarus. He was defeated in the third round by eventual champion Albert Batirov of Belarus, 0-1, 0-2.

After a win over O. Rossoh of Ukraine in the wrestleback rounds, Frayer lost in the bronze-medal match to R. Adhmov of Russia, 0-2, 0-1. Adhmov scored two takedowns in the first period, then won the second period on the clinch from the defensive position.

The competition concludes on Sunday, with action at 96 kg/211.5 pounds and 120 kg/264.5 lbs. The United States has won four medals during the first two days of competition.

ALEXANDER MEDVED INTERNATIONAL
at Minsk, Belarus, October 19-21

Freestyle medalists

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold – Albert Batirov (Belarus)
Silver – Zack Esposito(USA)
Bronze – Z. Ushuhov (Russia)
Bronze – R. Adhmov (Russia)

74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - D Klhpoddov (Russia)
Silver - D. Komhsar (Ukraine)
Bronze - Shrotnx (Ukraine)
RUS A. Megomedov (Russia)

84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold - Koulov (Russia)
Silver – Andy Hrovat (United States)
Bronze - H. Magomed (Russia)
Bronze – (Russia)

U.S. performances

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jared Frayer, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 5th
WIN Chris Bono (USA), 1-1, 3-2, 7-0
WIN A. Studvmajok (Belarus), 1-0, pin 1:00
LOSS Albert Batirov (Belarus), 0-1, 0-2
WIN O. Rossoh (Ukraine)
LOSS R. Adhmov (Russia), 0-2, 0-1

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Chris Bono, Ringgold, Ga. (Sunkist Kids), dnp
LOSS Jared Frayer (USA), 1-1, 2-3, 0-7

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Zach Esposito, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC), 2nd
WIN Z. Kambarov (Azerbaijan), 6-0, 6-0
WIN A. Anhmatomedov (Russia), 1-1, 5-3, 4-0
WIN Z. Usuhov (Russia), 1-1, 3-0, 5-0
LOSS Albert Batirov (Belarus), 0-3, 1-0, 0-3

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Eric Larkin, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), dnp
WIN M.Taurovskey (Russia), 1-0, 0-1, 3-0
LOSS Usuhov (Russia), 0-1, 6-0, 1-1

74 kg/163 lbs. - Casey Cunningham, Mt. Pleasant, Mich. (Sunkist Kids), dnp
LOSS A. Magomedov (Russia), 0-1, 6-0, 0-1

74 kg/163 lbs. - Donny Pritzlaff, Madison, Wis. (New York AC), dnp
WIN Magomed Ebragemov (Russia), 3-0 6-0
LOSS V. Shrotnx (Ukraine), 0-1, 0-1

84 kg/185 lbs. - Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC), 2nd
WIN Chibko (Belarus), 2-0 2-0
WIN H. Magomed (Russia), pin 1:30
LOSS R. Koulov (Russia), 1-3, 1-0, 0-2

84 kg/185 lbs. - Clint Wattenberg, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC), dnp
WIN Aigym (Russia)
LOSS Goneharoe (Belarus)

84 kg/185 lbs. - Lee Fullhart, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), dnp
LOSS Goneh