POZNAN, Poland – World champion Clarissa Chun won three straight matches to advance to the finals of the Poland Open on Saturday.

Chun pinned Russia’s Alina Moreva in the first period of the semifinals and now advances to the women’s freestyle finals at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. against Germany’s Jaqueline Schellin.

Ali Bernard, Chun’s 2008 Olympic teammate, will wrestle for a bronze medal. Bernard won the first period over World champion Stanka Zlateva of Bulgaria before dropping the semifinal match 5-0, 0-1, 2-3 at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

The U.S. men’s freestyle team also competed at the Ziolkowski International, held simultaneously with the Poland Open on Saturday.

Nick Simmons was one of the bright spots at 55 kg/121 lbs. Simmons opened by recording a first-period pin against past World champion and Olympic bronze medalist Radoslav Velikov of Bulgaria. He followed with a three-period win over 2009 World silver medalist Sezar Akgul of Turkey. He then lost to Vladislav Andreyev of Belarus in the quarterfinals.

Simmons still has a chance to win a medal since Andreyev reached the finals, putting Simmons into the repechage.

Andreyev placed third in the European Championships and second in the Dave Schultz Memorial International this year.

Josh Churella also has a chance to win a medal. Russia's Soslan Ramonov, who beat Churella in the quarterfinals, advanced to the finals at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. That moved Churella into the repechage.

ZIOLKOWSKI INTERNATIONAL
JULY 30, POZNAN, POLAND

Men’s freestyle results

U.S. freestyle performances

55 kg/121 lbs. – Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Radoslav Velikov (Bulgaria), fall 1st period
WIN Sezar Akgul (Turkey), 7-3, 0-1, 1-0
LOSS Vladislav Andreyev (Belarus)

55 kg/121 lbs. – Troy Nickerson, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)
LOSS Sezar Akgul (Turkey)

55 kg/121 lbs. - Obe Blanc, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
WIN Oleg Pervachuk (Ukraine)
LOSS Nurlan Nakenaliev (Kyrgyzstan)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Chase Pami, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Pedro Soto (Puerto Rico)
LOSS Adam Sobieraj (Poland)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Josh Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
WIN Zhan Safian (Belarus)
LOSS Soslan Ramonov (Russia)

84 kg/185 lbs. – Jon Reader, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Alan Bzykav (Belarus)
LOSS Serdar Boke (Turkey)

84 kg/185 lbs. – Keith Gavin, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC)
LOSS Istan Vereb (Hungary)

84 kg/185 lbs. – Raymond Jordan, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Aleksej Isiaev (Belarus)
LOSS Ehsan Amini (Iran)

POLAND OPEN
JULY 30, POZNAN, POLAND

U.S. women’s freestyle performances

48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Liliana Santos (Portugal), 3-0, 4-0
WIN Melanie Lesaffre (FRA), 3-0, 3-2
WIN Alina Moreva (Russia), fall 1:27
Vs. Jaqueline Schellin (Germany)

55 kg/121 lbs. – Ashley Hudson, Wildwood, Mo. (Gator WC)
WIN Vania Guerreiro (Portugal), 1-0, 2-1	
LOSS Joice Silva (Brazil), 0-1, 0-1

72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Gator WC)
WIN Marina Gastl (Austria), 2-0, 2-1
LOSS Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria), 5-0, 0-1, 2-3