By Gary Abbott
USA Wrestling
ISTANBUL, Turkey – Led by six medalists, including three individual champions, the United States won the team title at the respected Yasar Dogu International, a United World Wrestling ranking tournament, on Sunday.

In the three-day event, the United States scored 150 points, ahead of runner-up Iran with 146 points and third place Turkey with 125 points in a very strong field of competitors.

The United States is the defending World Team Champions in men’s freestyle wrestling and all 10 of its 2018 World Team members competed in the Yasar Dogu event. Team USA used the Yasar Dogu in its preparations for the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in October. UWW ranking events set the seeds for the 2018 World Championships.

Gold medals went to 2017 World silver medalist Thomas Gilman (Iowa City, Iowa/Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC), who was the Nebraska winner of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award in 2012, at 57 kg/125.5 lbs., Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC/New York RTC) won a gold medal at 79 kg/174 lbs.and David Taylor (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC), who was the Ohio and National winner of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award in 2009, at 86 kg/189 lbs.

A silver medal went to 2012 Olympic champion and four-time World champion Jordan Burroughs (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids/Nebraska WTC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. Bronze medals went to 2016 Olympic champion Kyle Snyder (Columbus, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) at 97 kg/213.75 lbs. and 2017 World bronze medalist Nick Gwiazdowski (Raleigh, N.C./Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack RTC), who was the New York winner of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award in 2011, at 125 kg/275 lbs.

“There has been high-level wrestling at the Yasar Dogu. Our team has wrestled very well and given great effort the last couple of days. We won several medals and earned some points towards seeds at the World Championships. Technically and tactically, we have done some very good things and have some areas where we can and will make adjustments. We will definitely take everything we can learn from this event to improve over the next 2 ½ months. Our men remain hungry and eager to move forward, excited for this future opportunity,” said National Freestyle Coach Bill Zadick.

Taylor had a dominant performance to remember. Four matches. Four pins. In the championship finals, Taylor came out and put away 2017 European silver medalist Murad Suleymanov of Azerbaijan in 1:22, the fastest of his four falls. To reach the finals, he put away Azamat Dauletbekov of Kazakhstan in 4:37, 2017 World silver medalist Boris Makoev of Slovakia in 3:50 and Ahmet Bilici of Turkey in 4:05.

Dake faced 2011 Junior World bronze medalist Ibrahim Yusubov of Azerbaijan in the finals. He scored a first-period technical call, reeling off three takedowns and two gut wrenches to reach the 11-0 victory. To reach the finals, he had a pair of pins, putting away Olympic medalist Jabrail Hasanov of Azerbaijan in 5:37 and Ayhan Sucu of Turkey in 1:01.

Dake and Taylor will be competing in their first Senior World Championships in Budapest, after a successful career in many other international competitions. Dake won four NCAA titles for Cornell and Taylor won a pair for Penn State.

Gilman defeated 2018 Takhti Cup bronze medalist Dzmichyk Rynchynau of Belarus, 10-5 in the finals. Gilman converted a double leg takedown for four points to blow the match open. He won all four of his bouts by decision, including a clutch 6-6 victory over 2018 European U23 bronze medalist Taras Markoych of Ukraine in the semifinals. Gilman was a star at the University of Iowa.

In a highly anticipated finals, Burroughs dropped a controversial 10-10 match by criteria to two-time World champion and Olympic bronze medalist Frank Chamizo of Italy. It was a rematch of their “Super Match” feature at the 2018 Beat the Streets Benefit in New York City, won by Burroughs. Burroughs was a two-time NCAA champion for Nebraska.

With about 35 seconds left and Burroughs in the lead, Burroughs scored a takedown and Chamizo reversed him for one. Chamizo challenged and officials gave Chamizo four points on the reversal to tie it 8-8. Another Chamizo takedown made it 10-8. Burroughs came hard, got a caution and one against Chamizo and another stepout to tie it at 10-10. Burroughs almost got a takedown as time ran out. The criteria went to Chamizo.

Snyder manhandled 2017 European champion Riza Yilidrim of Turkey in an 11-0 technical fall for the bronze. Snyder recovered strong from a 3-3 criteria loss to Aslanbek Alborov of Azerbaijan in the semifinals. Snyder won three NCAA titles for Ohio State.

Gwiazdowski need some last-second heroics to secure a 6-4 win over Nick Matuhin of Germany in the bronze-medal match. With the bout tied at 4-4, and criteria in favor of Matuhin, Gwiazdowski was able to score two points for exposure during the scramble as time was running out to get the final two points for victory. Gwiazdowski was a two-time NCAA champion for NC State.

Yasar Dogu International
Istanbul, Turkey
July 27-29, 2018

Men’s Freestyle Medalists

57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Gold - Thomas Gilman (USA)
Silver - Dzmichyk Rynchynau (Belarus)
Bronze – Vicky Vicky (India)
Bronze – Suleyman Atli (Turkey)
Gold match – Gilman dec. Rynchynau, 12-5
Bronze Match – Atli dec. Markoyvch, 10-6
Bronze match – Vicky dec. Arakelian, 9-7

61 kg/134 lbs.
Gold - Mohammadbagher Yakhkeshi (Iran)
Silver - Sandeep Tomar (India)
Bronze - Hasanzada Mircalal (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Andrei Bekreneu (Belarus)
Gold bout - Yakhkeshi dec. Tomar, 8-2
Bronze bout - Mircalal dec. Andreyeu, 2-1
Bronze bout - Bekreneu dec. Gasimov, 4-1

65 kg/143 lbs.
Gold - Mehran Nasiriafrachali (Iran)
Silver- Ali Rahimzada (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Madiyar Burkhan (Kazakshtan)
Bronze - Daulet Niyazbekov (Kazakhstan)
Gold bout - Nasiriafrachali dec. Rahimzada , 2-0
Bronze bout - Burkhan dec. Moradgholiei, 14-9
Bronze bout - Niyazbekov tech. fall Svyryd, 10-0

70 kg/154 lbs.
Gold - Bajrang Bajrang (India)
Silver - Andriy Kvyatkovskyy (Ukraine)
Bronze- Aghahuseyn Mustafayev (Azerbaijan)
Bronze- Mustafa Kaya (Turkey)
Gold bout - Bajrang inj. dft. Kvyatkovskyy, 0:00
Bronze bout - Mustafayev dec. Aksoy, 3-0
Bronze bout - Kaya dec. Emamichogaei, 12-5

74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Frank Chamizo (Italy)
Silver - Jordan Burroughs (USA)
Bronze - Bolat Sakayev (Kazakshtan)
Bronze - Nurlan Bekzhanov (Kazakhstan)
Gold bout – Chamizo dec. Burroughs, 10-10
Bronze bout - Sakayev dec. Azamat, 3-2
Bronze bout - Bekzhanov dec. Dadashpourkerikalaei, 4-4

79 kg/174 lbs.
Gold - Kyle Dake (USA)
Silver - Ibrahim Yusubov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze- Cabrayil Hasanov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Rustam Dudaiev (Ukraine)
Gold bout – Dake tech. fall Yusubov, 11-0
Bronze bout - Hasanov dec. Sucu, 4-0
Bronze bout - Dudaiev dec. Izbassarov, 7-0

86 kg/189 lbs.
Gold - David Taylor (USA)
Silver- Murad Suleymanov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Boris Makoev (Slovakia)
Bronze - Fatih Erdin (Turkey)
Gold bout – Taylor pin Suleymanov, 1:22
Bronze bout - Makoev dec. Bilici, 10-9
Bronze bout - Erdin tech. fall Ziantdinov, 12-2

92 kg/202.5 lbs.
Gold - Mohammadjavad Ebrahimizivlaei (Iran)
Silver - Alireza Karimimachiani (Iran)
Bronze - Ivan Yankouski (Belarus)
Bronze - Hajy Rajabau (Belarus)
Gold Bout - Ebrahimizivlaei dec. Karimimachiani, 2-2
Bronze bout - Yankouski dec. Sagaliuk, 2-1
Bronze bout - Rajabau inj. dft. Boke, 0:00

97 kg/213 lbs.
Gold - Aslanbek Alborov (Azerbaijan)
Silver - Mojtaba Goleij (Iran)
Bronze - Kyle Snyder (USA)
Bronze - Faith Yasarli (Turkey)
Gold bout - Alborov inj. dft. Goleij
Bronze bout - Snyder tech. fall Yildirim, 11-0
Bronze bout – Yasarli dec. Antriitsev, 1-1

125 kg/275 lbs.
Gold - Oleksandr Khotsianivskyi (Ukraine)
Silver - Yadollah Mohebi (Iran)
Bronze – Nick Gwiazdowski (USA)
Bronze - Danylo Kartavyi (Ukraine)
Gold bout - Khotsianivskyi dec. Mohebi, 9-6
Bronze bout - Gwiazdowski dec. Matuhin, 6-4
Bronze bout – Kartavyi dec. Civelek, 12-3

U.S. Men’s Performances

57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Thomas Gilman, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC), gold medal
WIN Berdakh Primbayev (Kazakhstan), 11-3
WIN Suleyman Atli (Turkey), 7-5
WIN Taras Markovych (Ukraine), 6-6
WIN Dzimchyk Rynchynau (Belarus), 10-5

61 kg/134 lbs.
Nahshon Garrett, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
LOSS Hasanzada Mircalal (Azerbaijan), 14-7

65 kg/143 lbs.
Logan Stieber, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC), dnp/11th
LOSS Daulet Niyazbekov (Kazakhstan), 6-4

70 kg/154 lbs.
James Green, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska WTC)
LOSS Sefa Aksoy (Turkey), 5-4

74 kg/163 lbs.
Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska WTC), silver medal
WIN Saeed Zervanatareq (Iraq), 10-0
WIN Nurykan Azamat (Belarus), win by cautions
WIN Bolat Sakayev (Kazakhstan), 9-5
LOSS Frank Chamizo (Italy), 10-10

79 kg/174 lbs.
Kyle Dake, Ithaca, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC/New York RTC), gold medal
WIN Jabrail H86 kg/189 lbs.asanov (Azerbaijan), fall 5:37
WIN Ayhan Sucu (Turkey), 1:01
WIN Ibrahim Yusubov (Azerbaijan), tech. fall 11-0

David Taylor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC), gold medal
WIN Azamat Dauletbekov (Kazakhstan), pin 4:37
WIN Boris Makoev (Slovakia), pin 3:50
WIN Ahmet Bilici (Turkey), pin 4:05
WIN Murad Suleymanov (Azerbaijan), pin 1:22

92 kg/202.5 lbs.
J’den Cox, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC/OTC)
LOSS Serdar Boke (Turkey), 2-2

97 kg/213.75 lbs.
Kyle Snyder, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC), bronze medal
WIN Alireza Goodarzi (Iran), 10-0
LOSS Aslanbek Alborov (Azerbaijan), 3-3
WIN Riza Yilidrim (Turkey), tech. fall 11-0

125 kg/275 lbs.
Nick Gwiazdowski, Raleigh, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack RTC), bronze medal
WIN Sumit (India), tech. fall 10-0
WIN Duman Bultrikov (Kazakhstan), tech. fall 10-0
LOSS Oleksandr Khotsianivskyi (Ukraine), 4-3
WIN Nick Matuhin (Germany), 6-4

Team Standings (18 Nations Competed)
1. USA, 150 pts.
2. Iran, 146
3. Turkey, 125
4. Azerbaijan, 121
5. Ukraine, 117
6. India, 111
7. Kazakhstan, 100
8. Belarus, 98
9. Italy, 25
10. Turkmenistan, 18