Sam Hazewinkel fires in for a takedown on Friday morning. John Sachs photo.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Sam Hazewinkel started the 2009-10 freestyle season with high hopes.

Hazewinkel switched from Greco-Roman to freestyle last season and enjoyed some early success. But he struggled late in the season.

Now Hazewinkel is back for his second full season in freestyle and he looks strong after earning a spot in the semifinals of the Dave Schultz Memorial International on Friday.

Hazewinkel will now battle Uladzislau Adreyeu of Belarus in the semifinals at 55 kg/121 lbs. The semifinals are set for 4 p.m. with the finals to follow at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

“It’s a real good opportunity to get some tough matches in,” Hazewinkel said. “I just have to take advantage of it. It’s a good chance to see where I’m at internationally. Last year was kind of frustrating, but I learned a lot. I still have room to grow, but I’m coming back strong.”

Hazewinkel is in a loaded weight class that also includes 2008 Olympic silver medalist Tomohiro Matsunaga of Japan. Matsunaga lost to American Henry Cejudo in the 2008 Olympic finals.

“I would love a chance to face Matsunaga,” Hazewinkel said. “He’s World class. He’s been at a very high level and he doesn’t make many mistakes. It would be good to wrestle him and see where I stand.”

With Cejudo coming back, the U.S. will have an interesting battle for the World Team spot in 2011.

“I think it’s pretty wide-open,” Hazewinkel said. “We’ve had three different guys on the World or Olympic Team the last three years, so we will have to see what happens.”

Hazewinkel was one of 10 Americans to reach the semifinals. He is joined in the semis by Reece Humphrey, Matt Valenti, Joe Johnston, Ryan Morningstar, Keith Gavin, David Zabriskie, Tyler Lehmann, Steve Mocco and Aaron Anspach.

Mocco, a 2008 Olympian, returned to competition for the first time since early last season. He recorded a 47-second fall in the quarterfinals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Anspach knocked off two-time World bronze medalist Ioannis Arzoumanidis of Greece 2-0, 3-0 in the quarterfinals at 120 kilos. Anspach avenged a loss to Arzoumanidis in last year's Schultz event.

“I was just trying to move him and get him tired,” Anspach said. “Our game plan going into it was to wear him down. I knew conditioning would be a factor.”

The third and final day of the event is set for Saturday with the women’s freestyle competition scheduled.

SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS

55 kg/121 lbs.

Tomohiro Matsunaga (Japan) vs. Rasul Mashezov (Russia)
Uladzislau Andreyeu (Belarus) vs. Sam Hazewinkel (Sunkist Kids)

60 kg/132 lbs.

Reece Humphrey (New York AC) vs. Rizvan Gadzhiev (Belarus)
Shogo Maeda (Japan) vs. Matt Valenti (Lehigh Valley AC)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.

Kohei Fujimoto (Japan) vs. Heinrich Barnes (South Africa)
Haislan Garcia (BMWC) vs. Joe Johnston (MWC)

74 kg/163 lbs.

Magomedmur Gadzhiev (RUS) vs. Matt Gentry (BMWC)
Ryan Morningstar (New York AC) vs. Shamil-Ima Osmanov (RUS)

84 kg/185 lbs.

Keith Gavin (Lehigh Valley AC) vs. Shinya Matsumoto (Japan)
Amarhajy Mahamedae (Belarus) vs. Dejan Bogdanov (Macedonia)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Vladislav Baytsaev (Russia) vs. David Zabriskie (Sunkist Kids)
Tyler Lehmann (Minnesota Storm) vs. Ivan Yankouski (Belarus)

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Steve Mocco (USA) vs. Aleksei Shemarov (Belarus)
Aaron Anspach (Nittany Lion WC) vs. Alan Khugaev (Russia)