VARNA, Bulgaria – Parker Betts (St. Michael, Minn./Minnesota Storm) won a bronze medal at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. on the first day of the Petko Sirakov – Ivan Iliev Junior Open in Vama, Bulgaria on Friday.

Betts dropped his first match to the eventual runner-up, Nazari Arman of Iran, 0-1, 0-2. When Arman reached the finals, Betts was pulled back into the repechage.

He won his first repechage match over Barbazan Tiberiu of Romania, 4-1, 1-0. In his bronze-medal match, he defeated Khamitov Almas of Kazazhstan, 0-2, 4-0, 1-0.

It was the second week in a row that Betts has won an international medal in a Junior event. Last week, he won a bronze at the Austrian Junior Greco-Roman Open.

The first day of action saw matches in the 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and 120 kg/264.5 lbs. weight classes. 

Three other U.S. athletes competed on Friday. Going 2-2 at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. was Nick Alvarez (Miami, Fla.), who fell just short of the medal rounds.

Wrestlers in the 50 kg/ 110 lbs., 60 kg/132 lbs. and 74 kg/163 lbs. will compete on the second day and the final day will be the 55 kg/121 lbs., 84 kg/185 lbs. and 96 kg/211.5 lbs. weight classes. 

PETKO SIRAKOV – IVAN ILIEV JUNIOR OPEN
At Vama, Bulgaria, March 16, 2012

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – John Bozarth, El Paso, Ill. (USOEC)
LOSS Amanzadehjin Hamed (Iran), 3-4 , 0-1
LOSS Petor Ivanov (Bulgaria), 3-5, 4-6 

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Dillon Cowan, Harvard, Ill. (USOEC)
LOSS Rustem Yerzhanov (Kazakhstan), 0-1, 0-6
LOSS Nick Alvarez (USA), 2-4, 0-6

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Nick Alvarez, Miami, Fla. (USOEC)
WIN Motoi Razan (Romania), 4-2, 6-0
LOSS Amzeyev Abylaikhan (Kazakhstan), 2-4, 0-6
WIN Dillon Cowan (USA), 4-2, 6-0
LOSS Nurtay Nurgaliyev (Kazakhstan), 0-1, 0-1

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Parker Betts, St. Michael, Minn. (USOEC), 3rd
LOSS Nazari Arman (Iran), 0-1, 0-2 
WIN Barbazan Tiberiu (Romania), 4-1, 1-0
WIN Khamitov Almas (Kazazhstan), 0-2,  4-0, 1-0