Spenser Mango, shown at the 2008 Olympics, was one of eight Americans to earn victories against Serbia on Saturday. Larry Slater photo.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Olympian Spenser Mango supplied the spark.

Seven of his American teammates provided the exclamation mark.

Mango delivered a dramatic early win before the U.S. overcame an early deficit to down Serbia 8-3 in a Greco-Roman dual meet on Saturday afternoon at Coronado High School.

The U.S. trailed 3-1 before winning the final seven bouts. The dual meet was held during a break in the Westside Classic, a USA Wrestling sanctioned event. A large crowd of young wrestlers, families and fans cheered on the American squad during the dual meet.

“It was a really cool event,” U.S. National Coach Steve Fraser said. “I’m so happy (U.S. Assistant National Coach) Momir Petkovic planned it and set it up. It was a great experience for our guys and we put on a good show for the fans here. It was just a great, great event.”

Mango, a 2008 Olympian who has made the last two World Teams, pumped up the crowd when he drove Serbia’s Dragan Desic to his back and recorded a second-period fall at 55 kg/121 lbs. Desic is a past Junior World Team member for Serbia.

“It was a lot of fun to get back out there and compete,” Mango said. “I need some more matches anyway, since I’ve missed most of this season, so this was a good opportunity for me.” 

Mango, 24, recently joined the U.S. Army’s World Class Athlete Program and looked strong in a dominant performance at the U.S. Open. Mango is looking for his first World-level medal this year. He is a past World University champion.

“Spenser is wrestling really well,” Fraser said. “He’s a tough kid and he just has to keep getting matches in because he hasn’t wrestled a lot this season. I think he totally has the talent and the skills to win a World medal this year. He is a great athlete and he has the right attitude. He’s ready for a breakthrough this year, for sure.”

Mango knows this is a pivotal year with the 2012 Olympics in London just over a year away.

“At the Olympic Training Center, you see the sign every day with the countdown to the Olympics,” Mango said. “The Olympics are right around the corner. I’m trying to make myself better so I can get to that level again. And when you get there, you want to bring home some medals for the U.S.”

Mango has put an extra emphasis on one area of his wrestling.

“Defense,” he said. “Defense wins titles. You may not be able to take everybody down, but you can stop everybody. That plays a huge factor. I know I need to get better in that area.”

Andy Bisek turned in one of the most impressive performances with his 4-3, 7-0 win over Milos Amidzic at 74 kg/163 lbs. Bisek executed a pair of spectacular lifts in the second period to put the match away.

“I hit an arm drag and I was able to bring him down and get behind him,” Bisek said. “I had a trapped arm when I lifted him. It was good to get the crowd into it. We were a little behind in the matches, so it was nice to bring our team back.”

U.S. Open champion Ben Provisor looked strong in sweeping two straight periods from Petar Balo at 84 kg/185 lbs. Balo is a past World Team member for Serbia.

The U.S. also received victories from Anton Gottfredson (74 kg/163 lbs.), Cameron Duckworth (96 kg/211.5 lbs.), Moises Hernandez (96 kg/211.5 lbs.), John Lorenz (96 kg/211.5 lbs.) and Pete Kowalczuk (120 kg/264.5 lbs.).

Kowalczuk swept past World Team member Milos Spasic 4-0, 6-0 in the final match of the dual.

“We started off a little slow,” Fraser said. “But the guys rallied. What I was really happy with was that some of our young guys really stepped up and showed some things they haven’t been able to show in a while. It was a good learning experience.”

Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner and World champion Dremiel Byers were among those in attendance on Saturday.

USA 8, SERBIA 3
May 14, 2011, Colorado Springs, Colo.

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Nemanja Pavlovic (Serbia) dec. Pete Kowalczuk (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 0-1, 1-0, 5-3

55 kg/121 lbs. – Spenser Mango (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) pinned Dragan Desic (Serbia), 2-0, 1:32

60 kg/132 lbs. – Mate Nemes (Serbia) dec. Jimmy Chase (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), 0-4, 1-0, 3-0

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Viktor Nemes (Serbia) dec. Donavan Depatto (Camp LeJeune, N.C./U.S. Marine Corps), 6-0, 1-0

74 kg/163 lbs. – Anton Gottfredson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dec. Marko Devcic (Serbia), 1-0, 6-0

74 kg/163 lbs. – Andy Bisek (Colorado Springs, Colo./Minnesota Storm) dec. Milos Amidzic (Serbia), 4-3, 7-0

84 kg/185 lbs. – Ben Provisor (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dec. Petar Balo (Serbia), 2-0, 1-0

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Cameron Duckworth (Portland, Ore./OTC) dec. Zoltan Varga (Serbia), 1-0, 2-0

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – John Lorenz (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) dec. Dejan Franjkovic (Serbia), 1-0, 1-0

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Moises Hernandez (Camp LeJeune, N.C./U.S. Marine Corps) dec. Ronald Bin (Serbia), 1-0, 5-0

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Kowalczuk dec. Milos Spasic (Serbia), 4-0, 6-0