David Taylor (far right) receives his World University Games bronze medal. Photo by Bill Zadick

KAZAN, Russia – David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio/Nittany Lion WC) won a bronze medal at 74 kg/163 lbs. in men’s freestyle on the second day of the World University Games.

Taylor, a 2013 U.S. Open runner-up, won in his bronze-medal match against two-time Asian Senior bronze medalist Gombodorj Dorjvaanchig of Mongolia, 10-3.

He opened with a victory over Zurabi Erbotsonashvili, Georgia, 4-1, then scored an 8-0 technical fall over Apostolos Taskoudis of Greece. In the quarterfinals, he was defeated by 2009 and 2010 World champion Denis Tsargush of Russia, by technical fall, 0-8. When Tsargush, who was third at the 2012 Olympics, qualified for the finals, Taylor was drawn back into the repechage rounds.

Taylor earned his spot in the bronze-medal match with a pin over Reza Afzalipaemami of Iran in 6:00 in the first repechage match.

"The quality of athletes and wrestling at the World University Games has been excellent! Russia brought their number one team as did many countries we wrestled. David Taylor wrestled a great first period against two-time world champion Dennis Tsargus. He got his arm trapped in one position and that was the match. He adjusted then dominated on his way to the to the bronze medal. I'm excited by his performance and the manner he and all our team competed. Finishing with another medal is a boost for American wrestling!" said USA Wrestling Assistant National Freestyle Coach Bill Zadick.

Taylor was a 2012 NCAA champion and three-time NCAA finalist for Penn State. He was eighth in the 2007 Junior World Championships while still in high school in Ohio.

Two other U.S. men’s freestyle wrestlers competed on Friday, going 1-1 in their competition. After their loss, they did not qualify for the repechage rounds when their opponent failed to reach the finals.

At 60 kg/132 lbs., Wisconsin All-American Tyler Graff (Loveland, Colo./Badger WC) defeated Valodya Frangulyan of Armenia in his first bout by technical fall, 9-2. He lost his next bout to Vasyl Shuptar of Ukraine, 6-10.

Micah Burak (Colorado Springs, Colo./Hawkeye WC), an All-American at Penn, stopped  Rafael Toth of Hungary at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in his opener, 8-5. He was beaten in round two by Alikhan Jumayev of Kazakhstan, 0-6.

Complete results from the day, including the list of medalists, will be posted when available.

The women’s freestyle competition begins on Saturday with four weight classes. The four U.S. athletes have weighed in and received their draws: Victoria Anthony at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Sarah Hildebrandt at 55 kg/121 lbs., Jennifer Page at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and Brittney Roberts at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES
At Kazan, Russia, July 12

Men’s freestyle results

60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold - Bekkhan Goygereev (Russia)
Silver - Behnam Ehsanpoor (Iran)
Bronze - Vasyl Shuptar (Ukraine)
Bronze - Haji Aliyev (Azerbaijan)

74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Denis Tsargush (Russia)
Silver - Jabrayil Hasanov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - David Taylor III (USA)
Bronze - Zaur Efendiev (Serbia)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Gold - Abdusalam Gadisov (Russia)
Silver - Pavlo Oliinyk (Ukraine)
Bronze - Alikhan Jumayev (Kazakhstan)
Bronze - Khuderbulga Dorjkhand (Mongolia)

U.S. men’s freestyle  results

60 kg/132 lbs. – Tyler Graff, Loveland, Colo., (Badger WC)
WIN Valodya Frangulyan (Armenia), tech. fall, 9-2
LOSS Vasyl Shuptar (Ukraine), 6-10

74 kg/163 lbs. – David Taylor, St. Paris, Ohio, (Nittany Lion WC), bronze medal
WIN Zurabi Erbotsonashvili (Georgia), 4-1
WIN Apostolos Taskoudis (Greece), tech. fall, 8-0
LOSS Denis Tsargush (Russia), tech. fall, 0-8
WIN Reza Afzalipaemami (Iran), pin, 6:00
WIN Gombodorj Dorjvaanchig (Mongolia), 10-3

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Micah Burak, Colorado Springs, Colo., (Hawkeye WC)
WIN Rafael Toth (Hungary), 8-5
LOSS Alikhan Jumayev (Kazakhstan), 0-6

U.S. women’s freestyle draws on Saturday

48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach, Calif. (New York AC)
Vs. Lenka Matejova (Slovakia)

55 kg/121 lbs. – Sarah Hildebrandt, Granger, Ind., (King College)
Vs. Burcu Kebic (Turkey)
 
 63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Jennifer Page, Orangevale, Calif., (Titan Mercury WC)
Vs. Garrido Irene Garcia (Spain)

72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Brittney Roberts, Santa Fe, Texas, (OKCU/Gator RTC)
Vs. Yulia Laverniuk (Ukraine)