Byers, Mango advance to semifinals as Dave Schultz Memorial International kicks off

<< Back to Articles
Craig Sesker (USA Wrestling)
02/04/2010


Glenn Garrison gains the upper hand in his match with Steve Horton. Photo by Gary Abbott.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Olympic teammates Dremiel Byers and Spenser Mango highlight the list of Americans who have landed spots in the semifinals of the Dave Schultz Memorial International.

Byers, a past World gold, silver and bronze medalist, downed China's Deli Liu in his first match on Thursday morning at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. He advances to face India's Dharmender Dalal in the Greco-Roman semifinals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Mango won a pair of matches to move into the semis at 55 kg/121 lbs. Mango will face Uzbekistan's Ildar Hafizov in the semis. Mango lost to Hafizov in last weekend's Kit Carson Cup.

Byers is seeking his record fifth Greco-Roman title at the Schultz event. Mango is looking to repeat as Schultz champion.

The semifinals are set for 4 p.m. with the finals set for approximately 5:30. The semifinals and finals will be broadcast live on TheMat.com.

World bronze medalist Justin Ruiz also reached the semis at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Ruiz, back on the mat after taking last season off, will battle Fredrik Schon of Sweden in the semis. Ruiz is seeking his third Schultz title.

2009 World Team member Faruk Sahin also reached the semis at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Sahin is seeking his third Schultz title. 2009 World Team member Jeremiah Davis advanced to the semis at 60 kg/132 lbs.

The three-day tournament continues on Friday with the freestyle competition. The tournament concludes with women's freestyle on Saturday.

SEMIFINAL PAIRINGS

GRECO-ROMAN

55 kg/121 lbs.
Spenser Mango (New York AC) vs. Ildar Hafizov (Uzbekistan)
Aleksandar Kostadinov (Bulgaria) vs. Gyu-Jin Choi (Korea)

60 kg/132 lbs.
Makoto Sasamoto (Japan) vs. Ji-Hyun Jung (Korea)
Ryutaro Matsumoto (Japan) vs. Jeremiah Davis (U.S. Army)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Faruk Sahin (U.S. Army) vs. Min-Chul Kim (Korea)
Glenn Garrison (U.S Army) vs. Dilshod Aripov (Uzbekistan)

74 kg/163 lbs.
Jake Fisher (New York AC) vs. Jakhongir Muminov (Uzbekistan)
Anton Gottfredson (Sunkist Kids) vs. Arizbek Murodov (Uzbekistan)

84 kg/185 lbs.
Christoffe Ljungback (Sweden) vs. Peter Hicks (U.S. Army)
Cheney Haight (New York AC) vs. Dejan Sernek (Slovenia)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Justin Ruiz (New York AC) vs. Fredrik Schoen (Sweden)
John Lorenz (U.S. Army) vs. Robbie Smith (New York AC)

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Dremiel Byers (U.S. Army) vs. Dharmender Dalal (India)
Tim Taylor (U.S. Army) vs. Brandon Rupp (New York AC)