UPDATE: Byers wins gold, Betts silver, Mango and Lester bronze in Serbia

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
06/16/2012


BELGRADE, Serbia – The United States won four medals on the final day of the Ljubomir Ivanovic Gedza International on Saturday. All of the U.S. medals were won by athletes who will be competing at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Claiming a gold medal at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. was two-time Olympian Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)

Byers went 3-0 in the competition to claim the gold. He opened with a win over Branco Zivanovic of Serbia, 3-0, 1-0. He then defeated Boban Danov of Macedonia, 5-0, 1-0. He clinched the title with a victory over Nemana Pavlov of Serbia, 1-0, 2-0.

Byers was named Outstanding Wrestler in the tournament based upon his dominance.

Byers, a 2002 World champion and three-time World medalist, competed in the 2008 Olympics and will compete in the London Games in August.

Capturing a silver medal with a 3-1 record at 84 kg/185 lbs. was Olympian Chas Betts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Minnesota Storm). His only loss was to Doran Schengenske of Russia, 0-2, 1-0, 0-1. 

Also winning bronze medals were Olympians Spenser Mango (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Justin Lester (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 74 kg/163 lbs. Both were competing up one weight class from their regular weight division.

The U.S. finished with five medals for the weekend. Mango won a gold medal down at 55 kg/121 lbs. on Friday, and Paul Tellgren won a silver at 55 kg/121 lbs.

Team USA finished second in the team standings with 65 points, behind host Serbia with 108 points. Croatia was third with 41 points. Nine teams entered the tournament.

LJUBOMIR IVANOVIC GEDZA INTERNATIONAL
At Belgrade, Serbia, June 16

U.S. Greco-Roman performances on Saturday

60 kg/132 – Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 3rd
WIN Orozeo Rodriguez (Venezuela) 1-0, 0-1, 1-0
LOSS Kristian Fris (Serbia), 0-3, 2-0, 0-1
WIN Luis Baiz (Venezuela), 1-0, 3-0

74 kg/163 lbs. – Justin Lester, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 3rd
WIN Ninoslav Stefanek (Serbia), 6-0, 2-0
LOSS Bilan Nagliev (Russia), 0-6, 4-0, 0-5
WIN Valdemar Stajer (Serbia), 3-0, 1-0

84 kg/185 lbs. – Ben Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), dnp
LOSS Goran Bulatovic (Serbia), 0-1, 0-3
LOSS Azamat Bikbaev (Russia), 0-1, 0-5
LOSS Dragutin Dukic (Serbia), 2-1, 1-0
LOSS Chas Betts (USA), forfeit

84 kg/185 lbs. – Chas Betts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm), 2nd
WIN Dragutin Dukic (Serbia), 3-0, 6-0
LOSS Azamat Bikbaev (Russia), 0-2, 1-0, 0-1
WIN Goran Bulatovic (Serbia), 1-0, 6-0
WIN Ben Provisor (USA), forfeit

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 1st
WIN Dejan Frankovic (Serbia), 3-0, 1-0
WIN Boban Danov (Macedonia), 5-0, 1-0
WIN Nemanja Pavlovic (Serbia), 1-0, 2-0

Final Greco-Roman results

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Spenser Mango (USA)
Silver – Paul Tellgren (USA)
Bronze - Nikola Markovic (Serbia)
4th – Martin Beslagic (Croatia)

60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold – Luis Liendo (Venezuela)
Silver – Kristijan Fris (Serbia)
Bronze – Davor Tasen (Macedonia)
Bronze – Spenser Mango (USA)
5th – Luis Baez (Venezuela)
6th – Orozeo Rodriguez (Venezuela)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold – Balint Korpasi (Hungary)
Silver – Davor Stefanek (Serbia)
Bronze – Danijel Janecic (Croatia)
Bronze – Desic Dragan (Serbia)
5th – Salim Al Zamezi (Iraq)
5th – Yousif Tameemi (Iraq)

74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold – Bilan Nagliev (Russia)
Silver – Davor Stefanek (Serbia)
Bronze – Danijel Janecic (Croatia)
Bronze – Justin Lester (USA)
5th – Valedmar Stajer (Serbia)
6th – Ninoslav Stefanek (Serbia)

84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold – Azamat Bikbaev (Russia)
Silver – Chas Betts (USA)
Bronze – Dragutin Dukic (Serbia)
4th – Goran Bulatovic (Serbia)
5th – Ben Provisor (USA)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Gold – Tomislav Lavric (Croatia)
Silver – Dejan Frankjkovic (Serbia)
Bronze – Marco Jovanovic (Serbia)
4th – Konstatin Efimati (Russia)
5th – Nikola Knezevic (Montenegro)
6th – Caylor Williams (USA)

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Gold – Dremiel Byers (USA)
Silver – Nemanja Pavlovic (Serbia)
Bronze – Dejan Sokman (Croatia)
Bronze – Dejan Franjkovic (Serbia)
5th – Boban Danov (Macedonia)
6th – Branko Zivanovic (Serbia)

Team Standings
1. Serbia, 108
2. United States, 65
3. Croatia, 41
4. Russia, 28
5. Venezuela
6. Macedonia, 14
7. Iraq, 11
8. Hungary, 10
9. Montenegro, 6