April 14, 2008

Dlagnev Wins University Nationals

Dominate in Freestyle Event; Headed to Vegas Next Weekend

     Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska-Kearney senior wrestler Tervel Dlagnev recorded another milestone victory this past weekend by winning his weight class at the University National Freestyle Championships in Akron, Ohio.

      In the first place match at 264.5 lbs. (120 kg), Dlagnev beat Aaron Anspach 1-0, 7-0. Anspach wrestled collegiality at Penn State and was the 2007 NCAA Division I runner up.

      Talking to Gary Abbot of USA Wrestling, Dlagnev said, "That guy in the finals was tough. He made me wrestle. I had a lot of tough competition here. It will help me get ready for the U.S. Nationals."

      Dlagnev went 5-0 in the tournament and recorded pins of Jim Connors (Graybird Wrestling Club) and Konrad Dudziak (New York Athletic Club/Duke/Poland National Team).

      He also had a tech fall of Blake Gillis, the 2007 Division III national champion, and beat Dave Zabriskie of the Cyclone Wrestling Club in the semifinals, 4-0, 6-0. A third-year sophomore at Iowa State, Zabriskie placed eighth at the NCAA Championships this year.

      This past fall, Dlagnev won his weight class at the Sunkist Kids International Open. Now a member of the Sunkist Kids WC, he will next compete at the ASICS U.S. National Championships April 23-26 in Las Vegas, Nev.

      For more information, go to USA Wrestling's website (www.themat.com).