Two American wrestlers won gold medals at the Henri Deglane International in Nice, France, on Nov. 23-24.

Capturing titles were freestyle wrestlers Nate Gallick (Chattanooga, Tenn./Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs.

The tournament featured competition in freestyle and Greco-Roman. In the combined team score, Russia won the title, followed by host France in second and the United States in third. 

Gallick captured the freestyle gold medal at 60 kg/132 lbs., defeating Benjamin Bonin of France in the finals, with a pin in 29 seconds. In the semifinals, Gallick defeated Abil Ibrahimov of Azerbaijan, 0-1, 2-0, 1-0. 

Hrovat won the gold medal in freestyle at 84 kg/185 lbs., defeating Soslan Kosoev of Russia in the finals, 5-2, 6-0. His semifinal victory was over American Clint Wattenberg, 1-1, 4-1. 

Hrovat was a member of the 2006 U.S. World Team. Gallick was a 2005 University World champion.

Overall, the U.S. won seven medals, five in freestyle and two in Greco-Roman.

The U.S. won a pair of Greco-Roman silver medals, captured by Mark Rial (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and R.C. Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Both train full-time at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado.

Rial was beaten in the gold medal finals by Airunat Kuchinov of Russia, 6-0, 0-6, 2-3. He beat an opponent from France in the semifinals.

Johnson was defeated by Vasili Teploukov of Russia in the finals, 0-1, 0-6. He defeated Vincent Vidal of France in the semifinals.

The U.S. also got a silver medal in freestyle from Trent Paulson (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs.  Paulson was defeated in the gold-medal finals by 2007 World bronze medalist Chamsulvara Chamsulvaraev of Azerbaijan, 0-6, 0-3. 

Paulson won a tight 0-1, 1-1, 2-0 decision over Magomed Zubairov of Russia, 0-1, 1-1, 2-0.  He also scored an impressive quarterfinal win over Jesse Jantzen (Cambridge, Mass./New York AC), 1-4, 1-0, 8-1.

The U.S. captured two bronze medals in freestyle from Wattenberg and Ryan Churella (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs.

Wattenberg came back after his loss to Hrovat to win a bronze medal, stopping Loic Bertrand of France in the finals match, 1-0, 8-1.

Churella won his bronze-medal match over Luca Lampis of France, 4-0, 5-0. His semifinal loss was to Chamsulvara Chamsulvaraev of Azerbaijan, 0-2, 2-3.

More complete results will be posted when available.

HENRI DEGLANE CHALLENGE
At Nice, France, Nov. 23-24

U.S. Freestyle placements

55 kg/121 lbs. - Grant Nakamura, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), dnp

60 kg/132 lbs. - Nate Gallick, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Sunkist Kids), gold medal

60 kg/132 lbs. - Jason Kutz, Bethlehem, Pa. (New York AC), dnp

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Teyon Ware, Norman, Okla. (New York AC), 5th

74 kg/163 lbs. - Ryan Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC), bronze medal

74 kg/163 lbs. - Trent Paulson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), silver medal

74 kg/163 lbs. - Jesse Jantzen, Cambridge, Mass. (New York AC), 5th

84 kg/185 lbs. - Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC), gold medal

84 kg/185 lbs. - Clint Wattenberg, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC), bronze medal

84 kg/185 lbs. - Travis Pascoe, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids), dnp

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Damion Hahn, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC), dnp

U.S. Greco-Roman placements

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Mark Rial, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), silver medal

84 kg/185 lbs. - John Wechter, East Lansing, Mich. (Sunkist Kids), dnp

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - R.C. Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), silver medal

Coaches - Sean Bormet, Sonny Greenhalgh