RACIBORZ, Poland – Two U.S. wrestlers will battle for medals at the respected Pytlasinski International Tournament on Saturday.

Qualifying for the gold-medal match at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. was three-time World medalist Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army).

Qualifying for a bronze-medal match at 84 kg/185 lbs. was Jake Clark (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Air Force).

This is a very strong competition, which many nations use a tuneup for the World Championships, which will be held in Moscow, Russia in September. The 2010 U.S. Greco-Roman World Team has entered the event as part of its preparation for the World Championships.

Byers won three matches, stopping Yannick Szczepanik of France, Lalli Taisto of Finland and Ralf Bohtinger of Germany to reach the finals. He will face Olympic and World champion Khasan Baroev of Russia in the championship finals.

“Dremiel wrestled very well in his three victories today,” said National Greco-Roman coach Steve Fraser. “After losing the first period of the tournament against the French opponent he has been prefect winning all the other periods. He is primed to wrestle Baroev from Russia tonight. The Russian was Olympic champion.”

Byers won a silver medal at the 2009 Pytlasinki International. A 2008 Olympian, Byers has won a 2002 World gold medal, a 2009 World silver medal and a 2007 World bronze medal.

Clark lost his opening match to Nenad Zugaj from Croatia. When Zugaj qualified for the finals, Clark was brought back into the repechage rounds. Clark defeated Damian Janikowski of Poland in his repechage match. He will face Evgeny Bogomolov of Russia in a bronze-medal bout.

Clark is on his second U.S. World Team, after also competing for the U.S. at the 2006 World Championships.

At 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Faruk Sahin (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) dropped his opening match to 2008 Olympic champion Steeve Guenot of France, 0-1, 0-3. When Guenot was beaten in the semifinals, Sahin was not eligible for the repechage.

PYTLASINSKI INTERNATIONAL
At Raciborz, Poland, July 31

U.S. performances on Saturday

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Faruk Sahin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
LOSS Steeve Guenot (France), 0-1, 0-3

84 kg/185 lbs. – Jake Clark, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force)
LOSS Nenad Zugaj (Croatia), 0-3, 1-1, 0-1
WIN Damian Janikowski (Poland), 3-0, 1-0
vs. Evgeny Bogomolov (Russia) in bronze-medal match

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
WIN Yannick Szczepanik (France), 0-1, 1-0, 2-0
WIN Lalli Taisto (Finland), 1-0, 2-0
WIN Ralf Bohtinger (Germany), 2-0, 1-0
Vs. Khasan Baroev (Russia) in gold-medal finals

Gold-medal finals on Saturday

55 kg/121 lbs. – Jani Haapamaki (Finland) vs. Nasyr Mankiev (Russia)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Tero Valimaki (Finland) vs. Migran Artuynyan (Russia)

84 kg/185 lbs. –Nenad Zugaj (Croatia) vs. Vasili Rachiba (Ukraine)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Khasan Baroev (Russia) vs. Dremiel Byers (USA)

U.S. athletes to compete on Sunday

60 kg/132 lbs. – Spenser Mango, St. Louis, Mo. (New York AC)

60 kg/132 lbs. – Jeremiah Davis, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)

74 kg/163 lbs. – Jake Fisher, Boise, Idaho (New York AC)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Justin Ruiz, Boise, Idaho (New York AC)