Perez, Melelashvili secure silver as U.S. wraps day two at Druskininkai Cup
The U.S. concluded the Druskininkai Cup in Druskininkai, Lithuania, on Sunday, with three athletes competing on the final day, while the remaining four finished their matches on Saturday. Team USA earned three silver medals and two bronze medals across the competition.
Robert Perez III made a strong run to the finals, ultimately securing a silver medal. His tournament started strong with a first-period pin against Anton Nesterenko (Ukraine), followed by a 4-3 decision over Mannila Nestoni (Finland). However, in the final, Perez faced a tough challenge from his opponent from Sweden, falling 7-1, earning him the silver medal.
Beka Melelashvili also took home a silver medal after an impressive tournament. He began with a dominant 10-0 technical fall over Alexa Gustafsson (Sweden). In a closely contested match in round two, Melelashvili fell short in a 1-1 decision loss to Johans Alexander (Sweden). His final match ended in a 2-1 decision loss to his opponent from Moldova, capping off a strong showing with a silver medal at 82 kg.
At 63 kg, Jonathan Gurule fought hard throughout the tournament, finishing in 5th place. His tournament started with a 3-3 decision win over Bohdan Hryshyn (Ukraine), but he faced a setback in round two with a loss to Mairbek Salimov (Poland), 13-4. In the bronze medal match, Gurule was defeated by Vasyl Myshanych (Ukraine) in a 10-5 decision, ending his event just shy of the podium.
Four athletes finished competition on the first day of action. Max Black secured silver, Billy Sullivan and Michael Altomer won bronze, and Justus Scott wrapped his tournament on Saturday.
Black secured silver on Saturday, with wins over Sullivan and Maxim Sarmanov (Moldova). He had a close match in round two, dropping a 3-1 decision to Mykol Havrychkin (Ukraine).
Sullivan earned a bronze medal in the tournament, holding a record of 2-2. In round one, Sullivan bested Sarmanov, 10-2. He faced a setback in rounds two and three, falling to Black, 8-0. Sullivan ended his tournament strong, defeating Mykol Havrychkin (Ukraine), 6-3.
Altomer faced a tough draw at 87 kg, but battled back for bronze on Saturday. After falling 9-0 to Adam Gardziola (Poland) and 8-0 to Vladysl Diahilev (Ukraine), Altomer secured a fall against Niko Hynninen (Finland). His tournament ended with a close 5-3 decision loss to Islam Aliev (Poland).Druskininkai Cup
At Druskininkai, Lithuania, August 17-18, 2024
U.S. Greco-Roman Results:
60 kg: Billy Sullivan (Colorado Springs, Colo./Army WCAP), bronze
WIN Maxim Sarmanov (Moldova), 10-2 tech. fall
LOSS Olivi Skrzypczak (Poland), 1:21 fall
LOSS Max Black (United States), 8-0 tech. fall
WIN Mykol Havrychkin (Ukraine), 6-3 decision
60 kg: Max Black (Castle Rock, Colo./NMU-National Training Center), silver
WIN Maxim Sarmanov (Moldova), 10-2 tech. fall
LOSS Mykol Havrychkin (Ukraine), 3-1 decision
WIN Billy Sullivan (United States), 8-0 tech. fall
LOSS Olivi Skrzypczak (Poland), 10-0 tech. fall
63 kg: Jonathan Gurule (Peralta, N.M./NMU-National Training Center), 5th place
WIN Bohdan Hryshyn (Ukraine), 3-3 decision
LOSS Mairbek Salimov (Poland), 13-4 tech. fall
LOSS Vasyl Myshanych (Ukraine), 10-5 decision
67 kg: Robert Perez III (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids WC), silver
WIN Anton Nesterenko (Ukraine), 1:48 fall
WIN Mannila Nestoni (Finland), 4-3 decision
LOSS Sweden, 7-1 decision
72 kg: Justus Scott (Colorado Springs, Colo./Army WCAP), eliminated
LOSS Oleh Khalilov (Ukraine), 8-0 tech. fall
LOSS Luka Malobabic (Croatia), 1:11 fall
82 kg: Beka Melelashvili (Philadelphia, Pa./New York AC), silver
WIN Alexa Gustafsson (Sweden), 10-0 tech. fall
LOSS Johans Alexander (Sweden), 1-1 decision
LOSS Moldova, 2-1 decision
87 kg: Michael Altomer (Stuyvesant, N.Y./ Curby 3 Style WC), bronze
LOSS Adam Gardziola (Poland), 9-0 tech. fall
LOSS Vladysl Diahilev (Ukraine), 8-0 tech. fall
WIN Niko Hynninen (Finland), fall
LOSS Islam Aliev (Poland), 5-3 decision
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