Lee & Valencia win gold, McKenna & Carr add silver, Garrett, Hidlay, Jackson take bronze at Zagreb Open

The United States came out strong on the first day of the Zagreb Open Ranking Series event in Zagreb Open by winning seven medals, led by individual champions Spencer Lee (57 kg) and Zahid Valencia (86 kg).

After the first day, with six of the 10 weight classes completed, the United States leads the team standings in men’s freestyle with 115 points, followed by Azerbaijan with 105 points and Iran with 92 points.

Lee, a 2024 Olympic silver medalist, defeated 2024 European bronze medalist Islam Bazarganov of Azerbaijan in the finals, 6-2. Lee led 3-0 at the break with a shot clock point and a double leg takedown. After Barzarganov scored a takedown to close it to 3-2, Lee forced a stepout and added a duck under takedown to close out the win.

Valencia, a 2023 Senior World bronze medalist, shut out 2024 U23 World silver medalist Arseni Dzhioev of Azerbaijan in the gold medal match, 8-0. Valencia dominated on his feet, pushing the pace the whole match. He scored two takedowns in the first period and two takedowns in the second period.

Finishing with silver medals at 65 kg were Joey McKenna (65 kg) and David Carr (74 kg). McKenna is a current National Team member and Carr is a past National Team member.

McKenna dropped an 8-6 decision to Abbas Ebrahimzadeh of Iran on a last second penalty. The match was tied at 4-4 at the break, as both wrestlers scored two takedowns. Ebrahimzadeh took a 6-4 lead on a takedown, but McKenna scored on a shot with 37 seconds left to tie it at 6-6 and take criteria. When McKenna took a shot in the closing seconds, he received a caution and one penalty for grabbing Ebrahimzadeh’s knee pad, making it 7-6 for the Iranian. A USA challenge was denied, adding an additional point.

Carr dropped a close 4-0 decision to three-time Senior World medalist Tajmuraz Salkazanov of Slovakia. Salkazanov led 2-0 at the break with two step outs, then added a knee pick takedown in the second period for the margin of victory. Carr, a past U20 World champion, won his first three matches by technical fall.

Capturing bronze medals were Nahshon Garrett (61 kg), Trent Hidlay (86 kg) and Nate Jackson (86 kg). Hidlay and Jackson are current National Team members and Garrett has been on the National Team in the past.

Garrett emerged with a wild 16-11 victory over Giorgi Goniashvili of Georgia to win the bronze. Garrett led 6-0 at the break, but Goniashvili made a run in the second period to close Garrett’s lead to 10-9. Garrett took a shot and was countered and officials gave Goniashvili a 13-11 lead at the end. Team USA challenged and Garrett received the points, winning 16-11 after the review.

Hidlay was able to control Tariel Gaphrindashvili of Georgia all over the mat, on the way to a 10-4 victory in his bronze medal bout. The match was tied at 4-4 at the break, then Hidlay dominated with a takedown and four step outs in the second period.

Jackson opened his offense on the way to a 12-2 technical fall over Matthew Finesilver of Israel in the bronze-medal round. Jackson led 6-0 in the first period, with two takedowns and a turn. In the second period, Jackson added three takedowns, to Finesilver’s one, to close out the win.

Two-time World medalist James Green finished fifth, after dropping a bronze medal match by injury default. Green opened with a 4-3 win over American Alec Pantaleo, a rematch of the 2024 World Team Trials series won by Green. In the semifinals, Green did not compete, with an injury default loss to Sina Khalili of Iran.

Team USA had 14 men’s freestyle wrestlers compete on Wednesday, all who placed in the top 10 of their weight class.

The men’s freestyle competition concludes on Thursday with the final four weight classes (79 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg and 125 kg) and the first two women’s freestyle weight classes (50 kg, 55 kg).

Ranking Series events are part of the process which determine seeds at the Olympic Games and World Championships, as well as year-end awards given by United World Wrestling.

The event will broadcast live on FloWrestling. https://flosports.link/41DENCv Brackets are available on UWW Arena. https://arena.uww.org/weight-category/1efccb44-cc9e-6e92-bf84-45b4dfc496b5 Zagreb is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone.

ZAGREB OPEN RANKING SERIES EVENT

At Zagreb, Croatia, Feb. 5, 2025

Men’s freestyle results

57 kg

Gold – Spencer Lee (USA)

Silver - Islam Bazarganov (Azerbaijan),

Bronze – Roman Bravo Young (Mexico)

Bronze – Azamat Tusakev (Serbia)

5^th - Luca Gvinjilia (Georgia)

5^th - Ahora Khateri (Iran), 11-0

7^th - Brandon Courtney (USA)

7^th - Kamil Kerymov (Ukraine)

9^th - Daniel DeShazer (USA)

10^th - Roberti Dingashvili (Georgia)

Gold – Spencer Lee (USA) dec. Islam Bazarganov (Azerbaijan), 6-2

Bronze – Roman Bravo Young (Mexico) dec. Luca Gvinjilia (Georgia), 11-2

Bronze – Azamat Tusakev (Serbia) tech fall Ahora Khateri (Iran), 11-0

61 kg

Gold –Ahmad Mohammadnezhadjanvn (Iran)

Silver - Ebrahim Khari (Iran)

Bronze – Nuraddin Novruzov (Azerbaijan)

Bronze – Nahshon Garrett (USA)

5^th - Reza Momenijoujadeh (Iran)

5^th - Giorgi Goniashvili (Georgia)

7^th - Michael McGee (USA)

8^th -Andrii Dzhelep (Ukraine)

9^th - Joshua Kramer (Ecuador)

10^th - Leomid Colesnic (Moldova)

Gold –Ahmad Mohammadnezhadjanvn (Iran) tech fall Ebrahim Khari (Iran), 10-0

Bronze – Nuraddin Novruzov (Azerbaijan) dec. Reza Momenijoujadeh (Iran), 8-4

Bronze – Nahshon Garrett (USA) dec. Giorgi Goniashvili (Georgia), 16-11

65 kg

Gold– Abbas Ebrahimzadeh (Iran)

Silver - Joey McKenna (USA)

Bronze – Khamzat Arsamerzouev (France)

Bronze - Ali Rahimzada (Azerbaijan)

5^th - Eric Arushanian (Ukraine)

5^th - Goga Otinashvili (Georgia)

7^th - Ali Mahmoud Khorramdel (Iran)

8^th - Ayub Musaev (Belgium)

9^th - Evan Henderson (USA)

10^th - Yasin Abbas Rezaeiaghouzgoleh (Iran)

Gold– Abbas Ebrahimzadeh (Iran) dec. Joey McKenna (USA), 8-6

Bronze – Khamzat Arsamerzouev (France) dec. Eric Arushanian (Ukraine), 2-2

Bronze - Ali Rahimzada (Azerbaijan) dec. Goga Otinashvili (Georgia), 6-0

70 kg

Gold –Kanan Heybatov (Azerbaijan)

Silver - Sina Khalili (Iran)

Bronze – Vasile Diacon (Moldova)

Bronze – Austin Gomez (Mexico)

5^th - James Green (USA)

5^th - Ebrahim Elahichouran (Iran)

7^th - Jarrett Jacques (USA)

8^th - Ihor Nykyforuk (Ukraine)

9^th - Alec Pantaleo (USA)

10^th - Ismail Musukaev (Hungary)

Gold –Kanan Heybatov (Azerbaijan) tech fall Sina Khalili (Iran), 12-1

Bronze – Vasile Diacon (Moldova) inj. dft over James Green (USA)

Bronze – Austin Gomez (Mexico) dec. Ebrahim Elahichouran (Iran), 9-3

74 kg

Gold –Tajmuraz Salkazanov (Slovakia)

Silver - David Carr (USA)

Bronze –Murad Kuramagomedov (Hungary)

Bronze – Giorgi Elbakidze (Georgia)

5^th - Kamil Rybicki (Poland)

5^th - Aghanazar Novruzov (Azerbaijan)

7^th - Luka Chkhitunidze (Georgia)

8^th - Abbas Rezaeiaghouzgeleh (Iran)

9^th - Vedran Luketin (Croatia)

10^th - Szymon Wojtkowski (Poland)

Gold –Tajmuraz Salkazanov (Slovakia) dec. David Carr (USA), 7-0

Bronze –Murad Kuramagomedov (Hungary) tech. fall Kamil Rybicki (Poland), 10-0

Bronze – Giorgi Elbakidze (Georgia) vs. Aghanazar Novruzov (Azerbaijan), 3-2

86 kg

Gold– Zahid Valencia (USA)

Silver - Arsenii Dzhioev (Azerbaijan)

Bronze– Trent Hidlay (USA)

Bronze – Nate Jackson (USA)

5^th - Tariel Gaphrindashvili (Georgia)

5^th - Matthew Finesilver (Israel)

7^th - Eugeniu Mihalcean (Moldova)

8^th - Abolfazl Yaser Rahmani Firouzjaei (Iran)

9^th - Krzysztof Grzegorz Sadowik (Poland)

10^th - Mukhammed Aliiev (Ukraine)

Gold– Zahid Valencia (USA) dec. Arsenii Dzhioev (Azerbaijan), 8-0

Bronze– Trent Hidlay (USA) dec. Tariel Gaphrindashvili (Georgia), 10-4

Bronze – Nate Jackson (USA) tech fall Matthew Finesilver (Israel), 12-2

U.S. men’s freestyle performances

57 kg – Spencer Lee (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC), gold medal

WIN Luka Gvinjila (Georgia), 11-0

WIN Roman Bravo-Young (Mexico), 6-3

WIN Islam Bazarganov (Azerbaijan), 6-2

57 kg – Daniel DeShazer (Wichita, Kan./Minnesota RTC), 9^th place

LOSS Roman Bravo Young (Mexico), 6-2

57 kg – Brandon Courtney (Avondale, Ariz./Atreus WC/NYAC), 7^th place

LOSS Ahora Farhad Khateri (Iran), 7-7

61 kg – Nahshon Garrett (Bethlehem, Pa./Lehigh Valley WC/Titan Mercury WC), bronze medal

WIN Joshua Kramer (Ecuador), 12-6

LOSS Ahmad Mohammadnezhadjavan (Iran), 7-2

WIN Giorgi Goniashvili (Georgia), 16-11

61 kg – Michael McGee (Bolingbrook, Ill./Atreus WC/NYAC), 7^th place

WIN Andri Dzhelep (Ukraine), 8-6

LOSS Giorgi Goniashvili (Georgia), 14-11

65 kg – Joey McKenna (Towaco, N.J./Penn RTC/Titan Mercury WC), silver medal

WIN Ali Rahimzada (Azerbaijan), 7-4

WIN Goga Ontonashvili (Georgia), 3-1

LOSS Abbas Ebrahimzadeh (Iran), 8-6

65 kg – Evan Henderson (Allentown, Pa./Lehigh Valley WC/Titan Mercury WC), 9^th place

LOSS Goga Otinashvili (Georgia), 12-11

70 kg – James Green (Lincoln, Neb./Nebraska Wrestling TC/Titan Mercury WC), 5^th place

WIN Alec Pantaleo (USA), 4-3

LOSS Sina Khalili (Iran), injury default

LOSS Vasile Diacon (Moldova), injury default

70 kg – Jarrett Jacques (Columbia, Mo./Tiger Style WC), 7^th place

WIN Ismail Musukaev (Hungary), 3-2

LOSS Ebrahim Elahichouran (Iran), 4-3

70 kg – Alec Pantaleo (Canton, Mich./Cliff Keen WC/Titan Mercury WC), 9^th place

LOSS James Green (USA), 4-3

74 kg – David Carr (Ames, Iowa/Cyclone RTC/Titan Mercury WC), silver medal

WIN Szymon Wojtkowski (Poland), tech fall 11-0

WIN Kamil Rybicki (Poland), tech fall 10-0

WIN Murad Kuramagomedov (Hungary), tech fall 12-2

LOSS Tajmuraz Salkazanov (Slovakia), 4-0

86 kg – Zahid Valencia (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC), gold medal

WIN Matthew Finesilver (Israel), tech fall 10-0

WIN Abolfazl Rahmani Firouzjaei (Iran), 5-2

WIN Nate Jackson (USA), tech fall 12-2

WIN Arsenii Dzhioev (Azerbaijan), 8-0

86 kg – Trent Hidlay (Raleigh, N.C./Wolfpack WC/Titan Mercury WC), bronze medal

WIN Eugeniu Mihalcean (Moldova), 3-2

LOSS Arsenii Dzhioev (Azerbaijan), 5-0

Vs. Tariel Gaphrindashvili (Georgia), 10-4

86 kg – Nate Jackson (Princeton, N.J./Princeton WC/New Jersey RTC), bronze medal

WIN Krzysszof Sadowick (Poland), 9-0

LOSS Zahid Valencia (USA), tech fall12-2

WIN Matthew Finesilver (Israel), tech fall 12-2

Men’s Freestyle Team Standings, after six weight classes

1. United States, 115

2. Azerbaijan, 105

3. Iran, 92

4. Georgia, 55

5. Mexico, 30

6. Ukraine, 30

7. Slovakia, 25

8. Moldova, 25

9. Hungary, 17

10. Serbia, 15

(of 17 nations)

Remaining Schedule (local time)

Zagreb is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone

Thursday, February 6

10:30 a.m. – Qualification Rounds (MFS 79 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg, WFS 50 kg, 55 kg)

12:30 p.m. – Semifinal Rounds (MFS 79 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg, WFS 50 kg, 55 kg)

1:30 p.m. – Repechage (MFS 79 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg, WFS 50 kg, 55 kg)

6:00 p.m. – Finals (MFS 79 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg, WFS 50 kg, 55 kg)

Friday, February 7

10:30 a.m. – Qualification Rounds (WFS 59 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, 68 kg, GR 63 kg, 67 kg)

12:30 p.m. – Semifinal Rounds (WFS 59 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, 68 kg, GR 63 kg, 67 kg)

1:30 p.m. – Repechage (WFS 59 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, 68 kg, GR 63 kg, 67 kg)

6:00 p.m. – Finals (WFS 59 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, 68 kg, GR 63 kg, 67 kg)

Saturday, February 8

10:30 a.m. – Qualification Rounds (WFS 53 kg, 57 kg, 72 kg, 76 kg, GR 77 kg, 87 kg)

12:30 p.m. – Semifinal Rounds (WFS 53 kg, 57 kg, 72 kg, 76 kg, GR 77 kg, 87 kg)

1:30 p.m. – Repechage (WFS 53 kg, 57 kg, 72 kg, 76 kg, GR 77 kg, 87 kg)

6:00 p.m. – Finals (WFS 53 kg, 57 kg, 72 kg, 76 kg, GR 77 kg, 87 kg)

Sunday, February 9

10:00 a.m. – Qualification Rounds (GR 55 kg, 60 kg, 72 kg 82 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg)

12:30 p.m. – Semifinal Rounds (GR 55 kg, 60 kg, 72 kg 82 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg)

1:30 p.m. – Repechage (GR 55 kg, 60 kg, 72 kg 82 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg)

6:00 p.m. – Finals (GR 55 kg, 60 kg, 72 kg 82 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg)