Tervel Dlagnev has proven he can wrestle with the best heavyweights on the planet.

Dlagnev earned a bronze medal in his first appearance at the World Championships in 2009.

Dlagnev is back on track again this year and looked impressive in winning April’s U.S. Open freestyle title at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. 

The win by Dlagnev at the U.S. Open clinches him a spot in the best-of-3 finals series at the U.S. World Team Trials, set for June 10-11 in Oklahoma City.

Dlagnev lost to past college rival Les Sigman in the finals of the 2010 World Team Trials. Dlagnev won the Buryatia Republic President’s Cup in Russia earlier this year. He placed third in the Alexander Medved International and the Ivan Yarygin Memorial.

Dlagnev downed 2008 Olympian Steve Mocco in the finals of the U.S. Open. Mocco returned to the mat this season after stepping away from competition for most of last season. Mocco won the Dave Schultz Memorial earlier this year.

Tommy Rowlands, fifth in the World in 2007, is another wrestler with a shot to win this weight class. Rowlands has won the Sunkist, Hargobind and Cerro Pelado events this season.

Rowlands fell to Mocco in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open.

Sigman suffered an injury late in the first period in a semifinal loss to Mocco at the U.S. Open and had to withdraw from the tournament. Sigman is still recovering from his injury and is not expected to compete at the Trials.

Dom Bradley, third in the 2010 World Team Trials, won University Nationals in April.

NCAA All-American Jarod Trice continued his strong season by placing fourth in the U.S. Open. Aaron Anspach, second in the Dave Schultz Memorial to Mocco, finished fifth in the Open.

Dustin Porter qualified for the Trials after placing seventh in the U.S. Open.

Past Junior World Team member Tyrell Fortune also earned a spot in the Trials in this division.

2011 U.S. Open results at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. in freestyle
1st – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids) dec. Steve Mocco, Bethlehem, Pa. (New York AC), 3-0, 1-0
3rd – Tommy Rowlands, Hilliard, Ohio (Sunkist Kids) dec. Jarod Trice, Mount Pleasant, MI (Gator WC), 6-0, 3-0
5th – Aaron Anspach, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) injury default over Les Sigman State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
7th – Dustin Porter, Burton, Ohio dec. Ryan Tomei, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1-0, 2-0

World Team qualifiers at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. in freestyle
U.S. Open Champion – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, second place – Steve Mocco, Bethlehem, Pa. (New York AC)
U.S. Open, third place – Tommy Rowlands, Hilliard, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, fourth place – Jarod Trice, Mount Pleasant, Mich. (Gator WC)
U.S. Open, fifth place – Aaron Anspach, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
U.S. Open, sixth place – Les Sigman, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
U.S. Open, seventh place – Dustin Porter, Burton, Ohio (unattached)
Northern Plains Trials Champion – Blayne Beale, Davenport, Iowa (Panther WC)
University Nationals Champion – Dom Bradley, Blue Springs, Mo. (Sunkist Kids)
University Nationals True Second – Tyrell Fortune, Portland, Ore. (Cougar WC)