Shannon advances to repechage at Dmitriev Memorial in Russia; three more Americans get draw

The venue in Yakutsk, Russia, where the U.S. is competing in the Roman Dmitriev Memorial. Photo courtesy of Kevin Jackson.


YAKUTSK, Russia – DJ Shannon (East St. Louis, Mo./EAP) has advanced to the repechage rounds at 74 kg/163 lbs. at the Roman Dmitriev Memorial International. He remains eligible for a medal by making the repechage, which is scheduled for Saturday morning.


Shannon opened his tournament with a 6-4 win over a Russian opponent. In his next match, he was defeated by 2018 Junior World bronze medalist Bat-Erdene Byambasuren of Mongolia, 9-6. When Byambasuren qualified for the gold-medal finals, Shannon was eligible for repechage.


Shannon is part of a six-athlete U.S. team of Elite Accelerator Program (EAP) athletes entered in this respected UWW Junior-level tournament, which features numerous competitors from Russia, as well as from many other top wrestling nations.


Both of the other U.S. athletes who started competition on Friday won a match.


At 97 kg/213 lbs., 2017 Cadet World champion Daniel (Greg) Kerkvliet (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Titan Mercury WC/EAP) opened with a 10-0 technical fall over Andrey Abonov of Russia. In his second bout, he dropped a first-period injury default to 2016 Cadet World silver medalist Adam Beterbiev of Russia.


At 57 kg/125.5 lbs., Julian Tagg (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/EAP) won his opening match against Artur Chebodaev of Russia, 6-6. His next match against another Russian opponent ended as a 13-2 loss. When the wrestler who beat Tagg did not reach the finals, Tagg was not eligible for repechage.


Three more U.S. athletes received their draws for Saturday’s competition.


2017 Cadet World champion and 2018 Junior World silver medalist Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md./Titan Mercury WC/EAP) is entered at 79 kg/174 lbs., a weight class with 13 entries. Brooks is slated to open up against 2018 Junior World silver medalist Abubakr Abakarov of Azerbaijan. Abakarov fell in the 2018 Junior World finals to Mehki Lewis of the USA at 74 kg.


The USA has a pair of entries at 61 kg/134 lbs., Job Greenwood (Livermore, Colo./EAP) and Gabriel Tagg (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/EAP). Greenwood has drawn Valter Vladimirov of Russia and Tagg will face Nikita Makarov of Russia.


Yakutsk is 14 hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern time zone. The Roman Dmitriev Memorial is being held in the same arena which will host the 2019 Freestyle World Cup next weekend.


National Freestyle Developmental Coach Kevin Jackson is posting tweets from Yakutsk, which fans can follow @CoachKJ__


The Russian Wrestling Federation, through its wrestrus.ru website, will provide streams from the event. Click here for webstream

ROMAN DMITRIEV MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL

At Yakutsk, Russia,


Group 1 U.S. men’s freestyle performances


57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Julian Tagg, Mayfield Heights, Ohio (EAP)

WIN Artur Chebodaev of Russia, 6-6

LOSS TBA (Russia), tech. fall 13-2

Not eligible for repechage


74 kg/163 lbs. – DJ Shannon, East St. Louis, Mo. (EAP)

WIN TBA (Russia), 6-4

LOSS Bat-Erdene Byambasuren (Mongolia), 9-6

Qualifies for repechage – opponent TBA


97 kg/213 lbs. - Daniel (Greg) Kerkvliet, Inver Grove Heights, Minn. (Titan Mercury WC/EAP)

WIN Andrey Abonov (Russia), tech. fall 10-0

LOSS Adam Beterbiev (Russia), inj. dft 1st period

Group 2 U.S. men’s freestyle first-round draws


61 kg/134 lbs. – Job Greenwood, Livermore, Colo. (EAP)

Vs. Valter Vladimirov (Russia)


61 kg/134 lbs. – Gabriel Tagg, Mayfield Heights, Ohio (EAP)

Vs. Nikita Makarov (Russia)


79 kg/174 lbs - Aaron Brooks, Hagerstown, Md. (Titan Mercury WC/EAP)

Vs. Abubakr Abakarov (Azerbaijan), 2018 Junior World silver medalist