Jordan Holm (right) and his coach Dan Chandler after Holm won the Dave Schultz Memorial on Thursday. Larry Slater photo.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Jordan Holm became the first American to strike gold at the 2013 Dave Schultz Memorial International.

Holm captured a Greco-Roman championship at 84 kg/185 lbs. on Thursday night at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

Holm, 31, won by injury default over Danyal Gajiyev of Kazakhstan in the finals at 84 kg/185 lbs. Holm earned his first Schultz title.

“I’ve been working on staying in solid position and looking to score on my feet,” said Holm, who went 4-0 on Thursday. “I felt pretty comfortable. I just need to keep working and keep grinding. There are small differences between winning and losing in Greco. It’s been a good month for me. I’m looking forward to getting ready for the U.S. Open and the World Team Trials.”

Holm, second at the 2012 Olympic Team Trials, is off to a strong start this season.

“Jordan really had a nice tournament,” said Dan Chandler, Holm’s coach for the Minnesota Storm. “He really went out and asserted himself over all of his opponents. He got some good throws and really dominated his weight class.” 

American John Wechter, 32, who is doing his residency as an orthopedic surgeon in Minneapolis, placed second at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. 

Junior World champion Vilius Laurinaitis of Lithuania defeated Wechter 1-0, 2-0 in the finals. Laurinaitis is 20 years old.

“I was so impressed with what John did,” Chandler said. “He had a great day. He was real explosive and stayed in good position. He was very dominant.”

China’s Shihu Wang was named Outstanding Wrestler after pinning Kazakhstan’s Yerbol Konyratov in the finals at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. 

Kazakhstan won the team title with China finishing second.

2012 Olympic bronze medalist Johan Euren of Sweden rallied to defeat 2011 World bronze medalist Nurmakhan Tinaliyev of Kazakhstan in the finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Euren captured his second Schultz title. He also won this event in 2011.

World silver and bronze medalist Almat Kebispayev of Kazakhstan swept Feihu Wan of China 2-0, 4-2 in the finals at 60 kg/132 lbs. Kebispayev was fifth in the 2012 Olympics.

American Joe Betterman battled back to place third at 60 kilos after dropping his first-round match to Wan. Betterman, a three-time winner of this event, won six straight matches Thursday to finish third.

The second of three days of competition is set for Friday with freestyle wrestling taking place. First whistle is scheduled for 9 a.m. in Colorado Springs.

FINALS RESULTS
	
55 kg/121 lbs.
Awen Fan (China) won by injury default over Nursultan Kalmurzaev (Kazakhstan)

60 kg/132 lbs.
Almat Kebispayev (Kazakhstan) dec. Feihu Wan (China), 2-0, 4-2

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Shihu Wang (China) pinned Yerbol Konyratov (Kazakhstan), 0-1, 2-0, 0:42

74 kg/163 lbs.
Doszhan Kartikov (Kazakhstan) dec. Sharur Vardanyan (Sweden), 1-0, 1-0

84 kg/185 lbs.
Jordan Holm (Minnesota Storm) won by injury default over Danyal Gajiyev (Kazakhstan)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Vilius Laurinaitis (Lithuania) dec. John Wechter (Minnesota Storm), 1-0, 2-0

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Johan Euren (Sweden) dec. Nurmakhan Tinaliyev (Kazakhstan), 0-2, 2-0, 1-0