Julfalakyan, Dlagnev, Garrett star at Grapple at Garden
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by Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
Above: Tervel Dlagnev of the USA has his hand raised in victory over Khajimurad Gatsalov of Russia in the co-main event at the Grapple at the Garden. Ken Abbott photo.
Below: Photo of Nahshon Garrett of Cornell receiving his Grapple at the Garden Outstanding Wrestler Award from Dylan Wanagiel of Madison Square Garden.
NEW YORK, N.Y. - It was a full card of action at the Grapple at the Garden in world-famous Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sunday.
Included were a pair of international matches, which served as title bouts for the Global Wrestling Challenge, one in Greco-Roman and one in freestyle, which featured prize money.
In the main event, 2014 World champion Arsen Julfalakyan of Armenia defeated four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC), 6-3 at 74 kg/163 lbs.
Dake led 2-0 after the first period, hitting a gut wrench after Julfalakyan was put down in par terre after a passivity call.
In the second period, Dake was hit for passivity and placed down. Julfalakyan hit a four-point lift and throw, followed by a two-point gutwrench for a 6-3 lead. Dake received another point when Julfalakyan was hit for passivity with 40 seconds left, but he was unable to turn Julfalakyan.
“This was my first fight with a freestyle wrestler. It was not hard, but it was unusual for me. There were some unusual moments. You don’t know how he fights, or his technique. With high level wrestlers, you always need to be very attentive,” said Julfalakyan.
Julfalakyan received the Global Wrestling Challenge Greco-Roman Welterweight Belt. Dake, who is a top Olympic hopeful in men’s freestyle, took the challenge of facing Julfalakyan in a style he had not competed in many years. Dake holds the Global Wrestling Challenge Freestyle Welterweight Belt, after a win over Andrew Howe in Ithaca, N.Y. in November.
“It was cool to cut my teeth with Greco here. I was able to wrestle with the best in the world. I represented myself well. I never wrestled this style of Greco before. It was different rules when I last wrestled. I had about 10 days of training. That made me hungry. It was frustrating to lose. Everyone hates to lose, but I am one of the guys who hate to lose the most.I feel I represented the freestyle guys well,” said Dake.
It was Dake’s second competiion since missing most of the 2014 season with an injury.
“I felt much better this time out. It has been a month since I wrestled in Ithaca. I am less than eight months from my surgery. For me to compete at this high a level makes me happy. I am going to keep working hard. Hopefully, I will be even better for the Yarygin Tournament (in January),” said Dake.
The winner of the co-main event was two-time World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) who defeated Olympic champion and five-time World champion Khadjimurad Gatsalov of Russia at 125 kg/275 lbs. in men’s freestyle, 7-4.
Dlagnev came out strong, getting four-points on a leg attack, taking Gatsalov right to his back on the edge. Gatsalov was hit with passivity and placed on the shot clock with 30 seconds left in the period and was unable to score, making it 5-0 in favor of Dlagnev at the break.
In the second period, Gatsalov made a big comeback. When Gatsalov was placed on the shot clock again, he scored a leg attack takedown to trail 5-2. Another takedown with 41 seconds left closed the lead to 5-4. Attempting to score, Gatsalov shot again, but Dlagnev scored a counter takedown for the final 7-4 margin.
Dlagnev earned the Global Wrestling Challenge Freestyle International Heavyweight Belt with the win. He had won the GWC Heavyweight title earlier this year with a win over American Tyrell Fortune in Ithaca.
“I knew it would be a tough match. Last time I came out, I was sleeping. This time was the opposite. I came out hard. I came out great. I did a lot of moving. I lost my legs in the second period. He got in on those shots. I did some things yesterday that did not let me prepare well. I walked around a lot, things I don’t normally do. Preparation wise, I learned from it. I felt good. I got to my positions and I kept him from his positions. Those takedowns for him are not converted if I do my techniques right,” said Dlagnev.
There were 24 college teams at this year’s Grapple at the Garden, a majority from NCAA Div. I, but also programs from NCAA Div. II, NCAA Div. III, NJCAA and NCWA programs.
No. 3 Cornell won two duals, defeating No. 12 Edinboro, 23-14 and Northern Iowa 35-4. NCAA runner-up Nahshon Garrett was selected Outstanding Wrestler in the college division after winning both of his matches. Included was a 6-2 win over No. 6 Dylan Peters of Northern Iowa in the second match.
In Cornell’s first dual, Edinboro jumped to a 14-3 lead after four matches, with a technical fall from No. 1 A.J. Schopp at 133 and a pin by No. 2 Mitchell Port at 141. Cornell won the final six matches to claim the dual. A key win for the Big Red came at 184, where No. 2 Gabe Dean needed to go to sudden victory overtime to defeat No. 11 Victor Avery, 6-4.
“I had to keep fighting through positions, keep working towards attacks and keep focused on that. This event is super fun, to be in Madison Square Garden in front of the fans. It is great for us too. There are a lot of distractions around. You have to stay focused on that match, on getting to his legs and scoring points,” said Dean.
In another battle of ranked teams, No. 12 Edinboro edged No. 11 Lehigh, 19-18. The dual meet ended 18-18, but Edinboro won the tiebreaker with the most victories, 6-4. In a battle of top stars at 133, No. 1 A.J. Schopp of Edinboro beat regular rival Mason Beckman of Lehigh, 4-1. Lehigh won the final three matches, including a big pin by John Bolich over Vincent Pickett at 197 pounds, but could only tie the match.
No. 23 Rutgers, in their first year in the Big Ten, won both of their duals, beating Army 23-13 and Davidson, 49-3.
In a dual meet of MMA athletes and wrestlers, Team Joe Warren, organized by current Bellator MMA champion and past World Greco-Roman champion, defeated Team Renzo Gracie, organized by the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend and MMA champion, 7-2.
In battle of current wrestling stars at 155 pounds, Oklahoma State NCAA champion Jordan Oliver, currently ranked No. 2 on Team USA, won by technical fall over Frank Molinaro, the Penn State NCAA champion who is ranked No. 3 on Team USA, 10-0. Oliver ended the match with a four-point takedown.
“It was the first time wrestling Frank. I knew he was a strong competitor. We are both in the top three going into 2015 at 65 kg. It was fun to get out there with a new guy I never wrestled, who is a different style matchup with me who is also very good. It was good to feel how Frank wrestles, because later down the road, I know I will be seeing him a lot of times,” said Oliver.
Among the winners for Team Joe Warren were Warren himself, who pinned Scott Jorgenson, a college star at Boise State and current UFC fighter at 150 pounds.
“It was too fast. I love wrestling. We are doing this for the kids. Scotty came in here to help me. I didn’t think that was going to be a fall. I’m sorry. Me and Scott wanted to wrestle for a long time,” said Warren. “Team Joe Warren, Team Renzo Gracie, Madison Square Garden. He are having a great time,” said Warren.
Among the other past wrestling stars to win for Team Joe Warren were Univ. of Penn star Rollie Peterkin (140), World Team member and Edinboro NCAA runner-up Shawn Bunch (150), Michigan State All-American and UFC fighter Gray Maynard (170) and World Team member and Oklahoma State All-American King Mo Lawal at heavyweight.
GRAPPLE AT THE GARDEN PRESENTED BY MUSCLEPHARM
Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y., Sunday, December 21
Main Event, Greco-Roman wrestling
74 kg – Arsen Julfalakyan (Armenia) dec. Kyle Dake (USA) , 6-3
Co-Main Event, freestyle wrestling
125 kg – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) dec. Khadjimurad Gatsalov (Russia), 7-4
NCAA Div. I dual meets
Cornell 23, Edinboro 14
Edinboro 19, Lehigh 18
Cornell 35, Northern Iowa 4
Duke 21, Northern Iowa 16
Bucknell 33, Davidson 6
Lehigh 23, Princeton 10
Rutgers 23, Army 13
Hofstra 29, Maryland 10
Duke 24, George Mason 9
Northern Iowa 24, Drexel 14
Princeton 19, Army 17
Rutgers 49, Davidson 3
Bucknell 25, Hofstra 15
Duke 24, Maryland 9
Drexel 25, George Mason 11
Other college divisions dual meets
Minnesota State Moorhead 33, LIU Post 6
Wheeling Jesuit 52, Mt St. Vincent 0
Stevens Tech 33, Southern Maine 9
Southern Maine 25, Muhlenberg 17
Middlesex CC 37, SUNY Sullivan 15
Montclair State 39, Stony Brook 15
Team Joe Warren 7, Team Renzo Gracie 2
140 – Rollie Peterkin (Team Joe Warren) pin Karim Ibrahim (Renzo Gracie)
150 – Joe Warren (Team Joe Warren) pin Scott Jorgenson (Renzo Gracie)
150 – Shawn Bunch (Team Joe Warren) tech. fall Damacio Page (Renzo Gracie), 10-0
155 – Jordan Oliver (Team Joe Warren) tech. fall Frank Molinaro (Renzo Gracie), 10-0
170 – Gray Maynard (Team Joe Warren) tech. fall Ozzy Dugulubgov (Renzo Gracie), 14-3
190 – Brennan Ward (Team Joe Warren) dec. Igor Gracie (Renzo Gracie), 10-4
185 –Gregor Gracie (Renzo Gracie) dec. Darryl Christian (Team Joe Warren), 2-2, criteria
189 – Rustam Chsiev (Renzo Gracie) dec. Robert Hamlin (Team Joe Warren), 3-0
HWY – King Mo Lawal (Team Joe Warren) dec. Rolles Gracie (Renzo Gracie), 15-8
Exhibition Rematch 150 – Warren pin Jorgenson
Below: Photo of Nahshon Garrett of Cornell receiving his Grapple at the Garden Outstanding Wrestler Award from Dylan Wanagiel of Madison Square Garden.
NEW YORK, N.Y. - It was a full card of action at the Grapple at the Garden in world-famous Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sunday.
Included were a pair of international matches, which served as title bouts for the Global Wrestling Challenge, one in Greco-Roman and one in freestyle, which featured prize money.
In the main event, 2014 World champion Arsen Julfalakyan of Armenia defeated four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC), 6-3 at 74 kg/163 lbs.
Dake led 2-0 after the first period, hitting a gut wrench after Julfalakyan was put down in par terre after a passivity call.
In the second period, Dake was hit for passivity and placed down. Julfalakyan hit a four-point lift and throw, followed by a two-point gutwrench for a 6-3 lead. Dake received another point when Julfalakyan was hit for passivity with 40 seconds left, but he was unable to turn Julfalakyan.
“This was my first fight with a freestyle wrestler. It was not hard, but it was unusual for me. There were some unusual moments. You don’t know how he fights, or his technique. With high level wrestlers, you always need to be very attentive,” said Julfalakyan.
Julfalakyan received the Global Wrestling Challenge Greco-Roman Welterweight Belt. Dake, who is a top Olympic hopeful in men’s freestyle, took the challenge of facing Julfalakyan in a style he had not competed in many years. Dake holds the Global Wrestling Challenge Freestyle Welterweight Belt, after a win over Andrew Howe in Ithaca, N.Y. in November.
“It was cool to cut my teeth with Greco here. I was able to wrestle with the best in the world. I represented myself well. I never wrestled this style of Greco before. It was different rules when I last wrestled. I had about 10 days of training. That made me hungry. It was frustrating to lose. Everyone hates to lose, but I am one of the guys who hate to lose the most.I feel I represented the freestyle guys well,” said Dake.
It was Dake’s second competiion since missing most of the 2014 season with an injury.
“I felt much better this time out. It has been a month since I wrestled in Ithaca. I am less than eight months from my surgery. For me to compete at this high a level makes me happy. I am going to keep working hard. Hopefully, I will be even better for the Yarygin Tournament (in January),” said Dake.
The winner of the co-main event was two-time World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) who defeated Olympic champion and five-time World champion Khadjimurad Gatsalov of Russia at 125 kg/275 lbs. in men’s freestyle, 7-4.
Dlagnev came out strong, getting four-points on a leg attack, taking Gatsalov right to his back on the edge. Gatsalov was hit with passivity and placed on the shot clock with 30 seconds left in the period and was unable to score, making it 5-0 in favor of Dlagnev at the break.
In the second period, Gatsalov made a big comeback. When Gatsalov was placed on the shot clock again, he scored a leg attack takedown to trail 5-2. Another takedown with 41 seconds left closed the lead to 5-4. Attempting to score, Gatsalov shot again, but Dlagnev scored a counter takedown for the final 7-4 margin.
Dlagnev earned the Global Wrestling Challenge Freestyle International Heavyweight Belt with the win. He had won the GWC Heavyweight title earlier this year with a win over American Tyrell Fortune in Ithaca.
“I knew it would be a tough match. Last time I came out, I was sleeping. This time was the opposite. I came out hard. I came out great. I did a lot of moving. I lost my legs in the second period. He got in on those shots. I did some things yesterday that did not let me prepare well. I walked around a lot, things I don’t normally do. Preparation wise, I learned from it. I felt good. I got to my positions and I kept him from his positions. Those takedowns for him are not converted if I do my techniques right,” said Dlagnev.
There were 24 college teams at this year’s Grapple at the Garden, a majority from NCAA Div. I, but also programs from NCAA Div. II, NCAA Div. III, NJCAA and NCWA programs.
No. 3 Cornell won two duals, defeating No. 12 Edinboro, 23-14 and Northern Iowa 35-4. NCAA runner-up Nahshon Garrett was selected Outstanding Wrestler in the college division after winning both of his matches. Included was a 6-2 win over No. 6 Dylan Peters of Northern Iowa in the second match.
In Cornell’s first dual, Edinboro jumped to a 14-3 lead after four matches, with a technical fall from No. 1 A.J. Schopp at 133 and a pin by No. 2 Mitchell Port at 141. Cornell won the final six matches to claim the dual. A key win for the Big Red came at 184, where No. 2 Gabe Dean needed to go to sudden victory overtime to defeat No. 11 Victor Avery, 6-4.
“I had to keep fighting through positions, keep working towards attacks and keep focused on that. This event is super fun, to be in Madison Square Garden in front of the fans. It is great for us too. There are a lot of distractions around. You have to stay focused on that match, on getting to his legs and scoring points,” said Dean.
In another battle of ranked teams, No. 12 Edinboro edged No. 11 Lehigh, 19-18. The dual meet ended 18-18, but Edinboro won the tiebreaker with the most victories, 6-4. In a battle of top stars at 133, No. 1 A.J. Schopp of Edinboro beat regular rival Mason Beckman of Lehigh, 4-1. Lehigh won the final three matches, including a big pin by John Bolich over Vincent Pickett at 197 pounds, but could only tie the match.
No. 23 Rutgers, in their first year in the Big Ten, won both of their duals, beating Army 23-13 and Davidson, 49-3.
In a dual meet of MMA athletes and wrestlers, Team Joe Warren, organized by current Bellator MMA champion and past World Greco-Roman champion, defeated Team Renzo Gracie, organized by the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend and MMA champion, 7-2.
In battle of current wrestling stars at 155 pounds, Oklahoma State NCAA champion Jordan Oliver, currently ranked No. 2 on Team USA, won by technical fall over Frank Molinaro, the Penn State NCAA champion who is ranked No. 3 on Team USA, 10-0. Oliver ended the match with a four-point takedown.
“It was the first time wrestling Frank. I knew he was a strong competitor. We are both in the top three going into 2015 at 65 kg. It was fun to get out there with a new guy I never wrestled, who is a different style matchup with me who is also very good. It was good to feel how Frank wrestles, because later down the road, I know I will be seeing him a lot of times,” said Oliver.
Among the winners for Team Joe Warren were Warren himself, who pinned Scott Jorgenson, a college star at Boise State and current UFC fighter at 150 pounds.
“It was too fast. I love wrestling. We are doing this for the kids. Scotty came in here to help me. I didn’t think that was going to be a fall. I’m sorry. Me and Scott wanted to wrestle for a long time,” said Warren. “Team Joe Warren, Team Renzo Gracie, Madison Square Garden. He are having a great time,” said Warren.
Among the other past wrestling stars to win for Team Joe Warren were Univ. of Penn star Rollie Peterkin (140), World Team member and Edinboro NCAA runner-up Shawn Bunch (150), Michigan State All-American and UFC fighter Gray Maynard (170) and World Team member and Oklahoma State All-American King Mo Lawal at heavyweight.
GRAPPLE AT THE GARDEN PRESENTED BY MUSCLEPHARM
Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y., Sunday, December 21
Main Event, Greco-Roman wrestling
74 kg – Arsen Julfalakyan (Armenia) dec. Kyle Dake (USA) , 6-3
Co-Main Event, freestyle wrestling
125 kg – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) dec. Khadjimurad Gatsalov (Russia), 7-4
NCAA Div. I dual meets
Cornell 23, Edinboro 14
Edinboro 19, Lehigh 18
Cornell 35, Northern Iowa 4
Duke 21, Northern Iowa 16
Bucknell 33, Davidson 6
Lehigh 23, Princeton 10
Rutgers 23, Army 13
Hofstra 29, Maryland 10
Duke 24, George Mason 9
Northern Iowa 24, Drexel 14
Princeton 19, Army 17
Rutgers 49, Davidson 3
Bucknell 25, Hofstra 15
Duke 24, Maryland 9
Drexel 25, George Mason 11
Other college divisions dual meets
Minnesota State Moorhead 33, LIU Post 6
Wheeling Jesuit 52, Mt St. Vincent 0
Stevens Tech 33, Southern Maine 9
Southern Maine 25, Muhlenberg 17
Middlesex CC 37, SUNY Sullivan 15
Montclair State 39, Stony Brook 15
Team Joe Warren 7, Team Renzo Gracie 2
140 – Rollie Peterkin (Team Joe Warren) pin Karim Ibrahim (Renzo Gracie)
150 – Joe Warren (Team Joe Warren) pin Scott Jorgenson (Renzo Gracie)
150 – Shawn Bunch (Team Joe Warren) tech. fall Damacio Page (Renzo Gracie), 10-0
155 – Jordan Oliver (Team Joe Warren) tech. fall Frank Molinaro (Renzo Gracie), 10-0
170 – Gray Maynard (Team Joe Warren) tech. fall Ozzy Dugulubgov (Renzo Gracie), 14-3
190 – Brennan Ward (Team Joe Warren) dec. Igor Gracie (Renzo Gracie), 10-4
185 –Gregor Gracie (Renzo Gracie) dec. Darryl Christian (Team Joe Warren), 2-2, criteria
189 – Rustam Chsiev (Renzo Gracie) dec. Robert Hamlin (Team Joe Warren), 3-0
HWY – King Mo Lawal (Team Joe Warren) dec. Rolles Gracie (Renzo Gracie), 15-8
Exhibition Rematch 150 – Warren pin Jorgenson
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