The Dave Schultz Memorial International wrestling tournament gathers wrestlers from across the globe to celebrate the life of America’s greatest wrestling ambassador, Dave Schultz.
In a decorated career spanning three decades, Schultz won both an Olympic gold medal and World championship. More than a great wrestler, however, Schultz was a statesman for his sport, spreading fellowship in wrestling wherever he traveled in the world. Now the wrestling world remembers him with tournament in his honor.
From January 30 to February 1, wrestlers representing 25 countries and four continents arrive at the United States Olympic Training center in Colorado Springs, Colorado to compete in all three Olympic styles. Attracting stars from various powerful wrestling nation, the Dave Schultz memorial is the top annual international wrestling tournament in the United States.
The crown jewel of the tournament is the women’s freestyle competition. The Dave Schultz Memorial offers one of the most talent-packed fields of female wrestlers outside of the World Championships. This year, over 20 wrestlers in FILA’s world rankings take the mat, with at least one in each of the eight weight classes.
Each day of the tournament features a different Olympic wrestling style. On the first day, Thursday, January 30, Greco-Roman wrestlers compete. The following day, men’s freestyle continues the action, and on the third and last day women’s freestyle closes the event with a bang.
Below is a look at the schedule and a preview of the most distinguished wrestlers from each weight class.
Schedule
Thursday, Jan. 30: (GR: 55 KG, 60 KG, 66 KG, 74 KG, 84 KG, 96 KG, 120 KG)
Session I: 9:00 to 13:30
Session II: 18:00 to conclusion.
Friday, Jan. 31: (FS: 55 KG, 60 KG, 66 KG, 74 KG, 84 KG, 96 KG, 120 KG)
Session I: 9:00 to 14:15
Session II: 18:00 to conclusion.
Saturday, Feb. 1: (FW: 48 KG, 51 KG, 55 KG, 59 KG, 63 KG, 67 KG, 72 KG)
Session I: 9:00 to 13:30
Session II: 14:30 to conclusion.
Greco-Roman (Thursday)
59 kg
Spenser Mango (USA) had his best performance in a World Championship last year in Budapest, narrowly missing out on a bronze medal. Now the American claims the world No. 9 ranking, the highest ranking in the tournament at this weight. Mango faces a talent rich bracket at this year’s Dave Schultz Memorial, which includes world No. 9 and Heydar Aliev champion Nursultan Kalmurzaev (KAZ), World University Games champion Max Nowry (USA), as well as decorated American veteran Joe Betterman (USA).
66 kg
Reigning World bronze medalist Sandeep Yadav (IND) boasts the highest world ranking in the Greco-Roman competition at No. 4. Though the Indian enjoys status as the favorite, he cannot discount potential opponents like
Aibek Ensekhanov (KAZ), the 2013 President’s Cup of Kazakhstan champion, and Shohei Yabiku (JPN), a Junior World bronze medalist.
71 kg
Up at a new weight, immensely-talented American Kendrick Sanders (USA) could send a message to the rest of the wrestling world with a gold medal at this tournament. Sanders has hinted at great things in the past, and may be ready to take the next step. Ashkat Zhanbirov (KAZ) provides a quality test for Sanders. The Kazakhstani wrestler won a bronze medal at the 2013 World University Games.
75 kg
President’s Cup of Kazakhstan champion Doszhan Kartikov (KAZ) looks to defend his 2013 Dave Schultz Memorial title. Joining him is fellow Kazakstani Maksat Yerezhepov (KAZ), a two-time Asian Championships bronze medalist.
The Kasakstani duo faces a pair of top Americans in Andrew Bisek and Jake Fisher. Bisek represented the USA in the 2012 London Olympics.
80 kg
Promising young talent Azamat Kustabaev (KAZ) should win gold at this weight. Last year, the Kazakhstani won the Junior Asian Championships and narrowly missed a medal at the Junior World Championships. Kustabaev’s top American opponent is Mark Stenberg, who finished 2013 ranked sixth in the USA.
85 kg
World No. 15 Nursultan Tursynov (KAZ) finished in the top ten of the World Chapionships in Budapest last year, and is the highest ranked wrestler at this weight. Jordan Holm (USA), the reigning champion of the United States, also looks to win gold at 85 kg.
98 kg
Yerulan Iskakov (KAZ), ranked No. 10 in the world and the 2013 Asian Championships silver medalist, is the clear-cut favorite at this weight. One of the Kazakhstani’s top competitors is Hardeep (IND), a 2013 British Commonwealth champion.
Khymba Johnson (USA), currently ranked ninth in the United States, is the top American at this weight.
130 kg
Robby Smith (USA) had a great 2013, establishing himself as the No. 6 ranked wrestler in the world. The American kingpin contends against all of his top domestic competition at this weight, particularly David Arendt (USA) and Erik Nye (USA), the second and third ranked Americans, respectively.
Men’s Freestyle (FRIDAY)
57 kg
World No.2 wrestler and reigning Champion of Asia, Amit Kumar (IND) looks to maintain the outstanding form he showed in 2013. He is far and away the most accomplished wrestler at this weight, and a clear-cut favorite.
This weight also includes tough challengers in Omak Syuryun (RUS) and Georgi Vangelov (BUL). Vangelov is a past silver medalist in the Junior World Championships.
A host of talented 57 kg American also contend for a spot in the finals, including Kyle Hutter (USA), who closed out 2013 as the third ranked wrestler at 55 kg in the USA.
61 kg
Two true world wrestling stars seem set to collide at 61 kg. Olympic bronze medalist and World Cup champion Coleman Scott (USA) returns to action after recovering from a serious injury. Meanwhile, newly minted World bronze medalist Bajrang (IND) arrives in Colorado intent to improve upon his second place finish at last year’s Dave Schultz Memorial
65 kg
Alibegadzhi Emeev (RUS) has a hot hand right now, after placing second at his last three tournaments, including the prestigious Yarygin and Heydar Aliev Grand Prixes. Emeev faces a difficult test in Franklin Gomez (PUR). Gomez won a silver medal at 66 kg in the 2011 World Championships in Istanbul.
Frank Molinaro (USA) seeks to continue his winning ways after a gold medal at the NYAC International, where he defeated Emeev in the finals. Additionally, top Americans Jason Chamberlain (USA) and Chase Pami (USA)will contend for gold at 65 kg.
70 kg
What this weight lacks in experience and decoration, it makes up for in youth and talent. Kevin LeValley (USA), the 2013 Cerro Pelado International champion, strives for a win in his home state of Colorado. Meanwhile, Ganbayar Sanjaa (MGL) and Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (UZB) may lack a long history of achievements in international wrestling competition, but both have the ability to take gold at this weight.
74 kg
Though Japan does not bring its powerful women’s team to this event, they still send a stable of talented wrestlers. Kohei Kitamura (JPN) took third place at the 2013 Asian Championships, and now sits ready to add a 2014 Dave Schultz Memorial gold medal to his trophy case.
Dan Vallimont (USA) is the top American wrestler at this weight, and should be in the medal hunt.
86 kg
Americans should dominate at 86kg. Defending Dave Schultz Memorial champion Jon Reader (USA) should retain his title. Enock Francois (USA) and Austin Trotman (USA), two more top-ten American wrestlers, also take the mat. Both wrestle an exciting style, and have the ability to beat anyone they face.
97 kg
Batraz Gazzaev (KGZ) comes into this weight as the favorite on the strength of his third place finish in last week’s Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix. The Kyrg also won the prestigious Moscow Lights tournament in 2013.
Several top Americans seek to defeat Gazzaev. Chris Pendleton (USA), Dustin Kilgore (USA), Cam Simaz and Deron Winn (USA), finished 2013 as the second, third, fifth and sixth ranked wrestlers in the USA, respectively.
Also in the field, Leon Rattigan (GBR) demonstrated elite ability by defeating Junior World Champion Kyle Snyder on his way to a gold medal at the 2013 Henri Deglane Challenge.
125 kg
World University Games bronze medalist Tyrell Fortune (USA) had a break-out year in 2013, and seeks to keep his momentum going in 2014. Fellow Americans Zach Rey (USA) and Jarod Trice (USA) stand in his way. Pan American champion Rey won this tournament last year, while Trice has shown the capability to beat highly regarded opponents in the past.
Korey Jarvis (CAN) is also a power at this weight. Last year he defeated Rey to earn a spot in the finals of the NYAC International.
Women’s Freestyle (SATURDAY)
48 kg
Top ranked Sun Yanan (CHN) Olympic silver medalist and 2013 World champion, enters this tournament as the favorite. The Chinese star will have two No. 3 ranked wrestlers to deal with: Alyssa Lampe (USA) and 2012 World champion Jessica MacDonald (CAN).
The United States also sends world No. 5 Victoria Anthony (USA) into this loaded 48 kg bracket. World No. 6 Anna Lukasiak (POL), No. 7 Tatyana Amanzhol (KAZ) No. 11 Vinesh (IND), an Asian Championships bronze medalist and Iwona Matkowska, a past World medalist, deepen the talent pool at this impressive weight class.
53 kg
Yana Stadnik (GBR), the FILA No. 12 wrestler, boasts the highest world ranking of any wrestler at this weight. Last year, representing Great Britain, she made the finals of the European Championships. Her main competition comes from 2012 world bronze medalist Babita Kumari (IND) and Jessica Medina (USA), who finished 2013 ranked second in her country.
55 kg
Rising star Helen Maroulis (USA), a past world silver medalist, holds the world No. 7 ranking. Winning a Dave Schultz Memorial title would represent a big step forward in the promising career of the young American. Another tough wrestler, world No. 10 Jillian Gallays (CAN), also has what it takes to win gold at this weight.
58 kg
Hungary’s first women’s freestyle wrestling world champion, Marianna Sastin, ranked No. 1 by FILA, should reign supreme at this weight. The Hungarian’s top competition comes from 2012 World Champion Lan Zhang (CHN), and world bronze medalist Geeta (IND).
World No. 10 Braxton Stone-Papadopulous (CAN) will also compete at this weight. In 2013, Stone-Papadopulous won gold at the Grand Prix of Spain and was the runner-up at the Junior World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.
60 kg
The gold medal at this weight goes through Reigning World University Games silver medalist Alli Ragan (USA). The American currently holds FILA’s No. 9 ranking. Michelle Fazzari (CAN) a past individual gold medalist at the World Cup, provides Ragan’s strongest competition.
63 kg
World No. 2 Taybe Yusein (BUL) provides star power at this weight. The Bulgarian wrestler has won silver medals at the past two world championships, and solidified herself as one of the top wrestlers in the world. World-class wrestlers, Xi Louzhuoma (CHN), 2011 World Champion, Zhou Zhangting (CHN), the world No. 6 wrestler, and two-time world medalist Monika Michalik (POL) offer a stiff challenge to Yusein.
Canada brings promising young wrestler Danielle Lappage (CAN), who will look to take the next step in her career at this weight. In 2010, Lappage won gold at the Junior World Championships.
The top American at this weight is Erin Clodgo (USA); she owns medals from a number of top international tournaments.
69 kg
Elena Pirozhkova (USA), a past world champion and FILA’s No. 3 ranked wrestler, looks to replicate her past success up in a new weight. Pirozhkova encounters strong competition in world No. 11 Veronica Carlson (USA), Junior World Champion Zhou Feng (CHN), as well as Leidy Izquierdo (COL), the runner up in the 2013 Pan American championships.
This weight also contains a wild card in 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Randi Miller (USA) at 69 kg. Miller stopped competing after the Beijing games and only returned to competition two months ago.
75 kg
This weight features a trio of highly-ranked wrestlers. Top ranked Zhang Fengliu (CHN) pinned her way to victory at the 2013 World Championships in Budapest, and looks to continue her run of dominance. Zhang faces quality opposition in world No. 6 Svetlana Saenko (MDA), and world No. 14 Guzel Manyurova (KAZ).
In additionally to wrestlers currently in the world rankings, 75 kg features two-time World medalist Hong Yan (CHN).
