COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Tervel Dlagnev took the next step toward a return trip to the World Championships with his win over Dom Bradley in the 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Challenge Tournament finals at the World Team Trials.

Dlagnev, a 2009 World bronze medalist, now advances to Saturday night’s final-round series of the U.S. World Team Trials at the Mid-America Center. 

Dlagnev has used the experience of wrestling with the World's elite to his advantage in the past 12 months. He feels confident he can represent the United States well once again if he can get past Les Sigman in tonight's best-of-three championship finals.

"I got a lot of confidence from wrestling in the Worlds," he said after beating 2009 Junior World champion Bradley 2-1, 3-0. "I've wrestled all those guys and beaten a lot of them, and I just want to keep working to be the best on that day."

Dlagnev qualified to represent the United States last year in the same arena he's competing in this year, and he looked back on that experience as a great opportunity for him.

"It was a great experience, and that's the reason everyone's here, to try to be a World Champion," he said. "I'm making steps toward that, and that first opportunity was good, but I feel I still have a lot left in me and I praise God that I have this opportunity."

Dlagnev opened up his offense in his semifinal match against past NCAA Division III champion Blake Gillis, beating him 7-0, 5-0. He had to approach things a little differently in the Challenge finals against a quicker and stronger Bradley.

Bradley won an early scramble to push Dlagnev out for a quick lead, but on the restart Dlagnev was able to control and get a two-point exposure to win the period. He dominated the second period, taking Bradley down three times to advance to the finals.

"I opened up a little bit that first match, but the second guy was a big, strong and mobile dude, and I didn't want to do too many things," Dlagnev said. "I just wrestled smart and was able to come out on top, and now I'm excited for the chance at Sigman."

Dlagnev and Sigman have quite the history together. In college, Sigman was the dominant wrestler in the rivalry with nine wins in as many matches, including a 1-0 decision in the 2006 NCAA Div. II finals that allowed him to become a four-time champion.

Recently, Dlagnev has enjoyed more success, winning three of five matchups with his rival, including a win over Sigman in the New York Athletic Club International finals last November.

Sigman earned the automatic trip to the finals by beating Dlagnev in a three-period thriller in the finals at the U.S. Open Championships in Cleveland earlier this year. Dlagnev is looking forward to another matchup with Sigman.

"It's a lot of fun," he said of the rivalry. "I have a lot of respect for him going back to college. He's not a showboat, just a good wrestler and that's how I want to represent myself.

"We can be friends off the mat and opponents, on, and I feel that's what we are," he added. "We grind on each other and make each other better, so it should be fun."

And how does Dlagnev plan to go after his long-time foe?

"I guess we'll see tonight," he said with a smile.