Chris Pendleton is control of Yerely Abdrashev of Kazakhstan at 96 kg during the Keep Olympic Wrestling Dual. Cody S. Byrne photo

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Two-time NCAA Champion and U.S. wrestler Chris Pendleton accounted for the only American victory defeating Kazakhstan’s Yeraly Abdrashev 8-0, at the Keep Olympic Wrestling Dual on Saturday, July 13th at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. 

Wrestlers from Kazakhstan, Canada, and the United States competed in the event to prepare for upcoming World Wrestling Championships and other competitions. The FILA World Championships will be held Sept. 16-22 in Budapest, Hungary. 

The event was also held to raise awareness for the Keep Olympic Wrestling movement. The IOC Executive Committee recommended in February that wrestling be removed as a core sport from the 2020 Olympics. 

Pendleton cited the opportunity to adjust to the new regulations as a positive in today’s match. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy is bound for competitions in Armenia and Russia later this month. 

“It was fun, getting used to the new rules and getting a primer before going overseas,” said Pendleton. “It’s been a long time since I got a chance to represent the U.S. and any time you can have the opportunity to compete is always good, too.”

The event was held under the new regulations, by which wrestlers compete in two three-minute periods with a 30-second interval between each period. The matches are now cumulative, a change from the old rules. Takedowns are worth two points.  A technical fall is now a seven-point difference.

In the 60 kg category, Kazakhstan’s Daulet Niyazbekov won 7-0 against USA’s Frank Perrelli. 

Canada’s Haslan Garcia won 8-1 against Kazakhstan’s Dauren Zhumagazyev in the 66 kg category. Also in the 66 kg category, Kazakhstan’s Okassov Sayatbek defeated the USA’s Phil Simpson, 8-0. 

In the 84kg category, Kazakhstan’s Semyon Semenov competed against the USA’s Clayton Foster and defeated the American by a score of 8-0. 

In the 120kg category, Kazakhstan’s Daulet  Shabanabay was up 6-0 against USA’s Jack Jensen during the first period. Jensen stayed strong through the second period, but Shabanabay scored two more to win it, 8-0. 

There was no admission to today’s event, a benefit for Colorado Springs-based charity, Care and Share. Each dollar collected by Care and Share can obtain up to ten pounds of food, which is the equivalent of eight meals.  Food donations were also accepted.

KEEP OLYMPIC WRESTLING DUAL
At Colorado Springs, Colo., July 13
60 kg/132 lbs. - Daulet Niyazbekov (Kazakhstan) dec. Frank Perrelli (USA), 7-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. Haslan Garcia (Canada) tech. fall Dauren Zhumagazyev (Kazakhstan), 8-1, 4:16 
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Okassov Sayatbek (Kazakhstan) tech. fall Phil Simpson (USA) 8-0, 2:14 
84 kg/185 lbs. -  Semyon Semenov (Kazakhstan) tech. fall Clayton Foster (USA), 8-0, 4:16 
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Chris Pendleton (USA) tech. fall Yeraly Abdrashev (Kazakhstan), 8-0 , 1:09 
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Daulet Shabanabay (Team Red) tech. fall Jack Jensen (Team Blue), 8-0, 3:19