Bruntil and Velte to face off for gold, Retherford also advances to finals at Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov International

VELIKO TARNOVO, Bulgaria – Three American wrestlers—Emma Bruntil, Mallory Velte and Zain Retherford—punched tickets to the finals of the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov International in Bulgaria on Thursday, while Josh Rodriguez advanced to repechage at his respective weight.

2022 Ivan Yarygin champion Emma Bruntil and 2018 Senior World bronze medalist Mallory Velte will go head-to-head in the 65 kg gold-medal match in women’s freestyle.

Velte had to win three matches to get to the finals, which she did without surrendering a single point to her opponents. She opened her tournament with back-to-back 10-0 technical falls against Jaspreet Kaur of India and 2021 Junior World bronze medalist Roxana Capezan of Romania, respectively. In the semifinals, Velte took out 2019 Senior World bronze medalist Elis Manolova of Azerbaijan, 8-0.

Bruntil put up two decisive wins to earn a spot in the finals, including a 5-2 decision over Yauheniya Andreichykava and a 4-1 victory against 2021 Yasar Dogu champion Sofia Georgieva, both from Bulgaria.

Competing in men’s freestyle at 70 kg, Zain Retherford was dominant in his first international tournament since the Pan American Olympic Qualifier in March 2020. He began with an 8-0 shutout against Bulgaria’s Ivan Stoyanov and followed it up with a 12-2 tech fall over Marc Dietsche from Switzerland. Retherford sealed his spot in the finals, pinning Yehor Muradyan of Ukraine. For gold, he will take on 2020 Bulgarian champion Ramazan Ramazanov.

Josh Rodriguez is still in the hunt for bronze, getting pulled into repechage at 61 kg in men’s freestyle. Rodriguez dropped his first bout to 2019 Ali Aliev champion Zelimkhan Abakarov from Albania, 5-2. However, because Abakarov advanced to the finals, he pulled Rodriguez into the backside of the bracket. In his first match tomorrow, the American will take on Vicky of India, who was 11^th at the 2021 U23 World Championships.

Others who wrestled for the U.S. today were Gabe Townsell (61 kg MFS) and Chayse LaJoie (63 kg GR). Townsell will also compete in Greco-Roman competition on Saturday.

Additionally, five more U.S. athletes received their first-round draws for Friday’s competition, which are below. Action begins at 10:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. ET) and is available to watch live on YouTube.

DAN KOLOV – NIKOLA PETROV INTERNATIONAL
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria | Feb. 17-20, 2022

RESULTS
U.S. men’s freestyle
61 kg: Josh Rodriguez (Nittany Lion WC) – repechage
LOSS Zelimkhan Abakarov (Albania), 5-2
vs. Vicky (India)

61 kg: Gabe Townsell (California RTC) – eliminated
WIN Intigam Valizada (Azerbaijan), injury default
LOSS Georgii Okorokov (Austria), 7-2

70 kg: Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC) – finalist
WIN Ivan Stoyanov (Bulgaria), 8-0
WIN Marc Dietsche (Switzerland), 12-2
WIN Yehor Muradyan (Ukraine), fall
vs. Ramazan Ramazanov (Bulgaria)

U.S. women’s freestyle
55 kg: Sophia Mirabella (Team Tornado WC) – eliminated
LOSS Sezen Belberova (Bulgaria), forfeit
LOSS Pinki (India), forfeit

65 kg: Mallory Velte (Beaver Dam RTC/Titan Mercury WC) – finalist
WIN Jaspreet Kaur (India), 10-0
WIN Roxana Capezan (Romania), 10-0
WIN Elis Manolova (Azerbaijan), 8-0
vs. Emma Bruntil (USA)

65 kg: Emma Bruntil (USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC) – finalist
WIN Yauheniya Andreichykava (Bulgaria), 5-2
WIN Sofia Georgieva (Bulgaria), 4-1
vs. Emma Bruntil (USA)

U.S. Greco-Roman
63 kg: Chayse La Joie (California RTC) – eliminated
WIN Ilia Mustakov (Bulgaria), 8-0
LOSS Erik Torba (Hungary), 12-4

DRAWS
U.S. men’s freestyle
57 kg: Nico Provo (South Side WC)
vs. Jyotiba Bajrang (India), 10^th at 2015 Cadet Asian Championships

65 kg: Pat Lugo (Hawkeye WC)
vs. Stefan Tonu (Moldova), silver at 2016 Cadet World Championships

U.S. women’s freestyle
62 kg: Jennifer Rogers (Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)
vs. Rani Ritu (India), no international credentials

U.S. Greco-Roman
97 kg: G’Angelo Hancock (USOPTC/Sunkist Kids)
vs. Aleksandar Simovic (Serbia), 18^th at 2021 U23 World Championships

130 kg: Tanner Farmer (New York AC)
vs. Singh Mehar (India), fifth at 2020 Asian Championships

Schedule (Bulgaria is 7 hours ahead of U.S. ET)
Friday, Feb. 18
10:30 a.m. – Elimination rounds (MFS 57, 65, 74; GR 87, 97, 130; WFS 62, 68, 76)
10:30 a.m. – Repechage (MFS 61, 70, 79, 92; GR 55, 63, 72, 82; WFS 55, 59, 65, 72)
5 p.m. – Semifinals (MFS 57, 65, 74; GR 87, 97, 130; WFS 62, 68, 76)
6 p.m. – Finals (MFS 61, 70, 79, 92; GR 55, 63, 72, 82; WFS 55, 59, 65, 72)

Saturday, Feb. 19
10:30 a.m. – Elimination rounds (MFS 86, 97, 125; GR 60, 67, 77; WFS 50, 53, 57)
10:30 a.m. – Repechage (MFS 57, 65, 74; GR 87, 97, 130; WFS 62, 68, 76)
5 p.m. – Semifinals (MFS 86, 97, 125; GR 60, 67, 77; WFS 50, 53, 57)
6 p.m. – Finals (MFS 57, 65, 74; GR 87, 97, 130; WFS 62, 68, 76)

Sunday, Feb. 20
11 a.m. – Repechage (MFS 86, 97, 125; GR 60, 67, 77; WFS 50, 53, 57)
12 p.m. – Finals (MFS 86, 97, 125; GR 60, 67, 77; WFS 50, 53, 57)