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