Cohlton Schultz (130 kg, Atreus WC) put together a statement-making performance on Sunday that included three victories and a trip to the finals against one of the most decorated heavyweights in the history of the sport. Elsewhere, three other Americans found themselves in bronze-medal rounds before falling just short of reaching the podium.
The third and final day of the 2026 Grand Prix Zagreb Open began at 10:00am local time from Zagreb, Croatia (4:00am ET) and streamed live in the US on FLOWrestling.
Schultz, 25, was forced to stare down a string of tough opponents given his draw in the 130 kg bracket and it was a trek which began with a bout versus recent World silver Dariusz Vitek (HUN). Vitek — who was felled by Schultz back in the ’17 Cadet World final — provided a stiff test, as was expected, and offensive scores were hard to uncover for both athletes. But, it was a match that ultimately went down to the wire with Schultz clinging to a 1-1 criteria lead he would not relinquish.
In the quarterfinal, Schultz trailed Marko Milanovic (CRO) via criteria (1-1) but capitalized on the Croatian’s chance from top par terre by reversing for a point. Later in the same period, Schultz scored a booming step-out point to go up 3-1 and added two more ticks to the board when he slammed a Milanovic to the tarp following a desperate leaping attempt as the bout drew to a close.
A 2-1 nod over Artur Sarkisjan (CZE) in the semifinal meant two things: 1) that Schultz had guaranteed both himself and Team USA a “Ranking Series” medal in Zagreb; and 2) a showdown against five-time World Champion/three-time Olympic medalist Riza Kayaalp (TUR), who earlier in the day had defeated American two-time U20 World bronze Aden Attao (NYAC).
Regarding Kayaalp, Schultz prior to the ’23 World Championships said, “Every time I see him, he comes up and tells me that we look like brothers. So him and I are kind of becoming buddy-buddy but I like watching him, for sure. That’s not a hard thing to do. He is one of the top guys always, but he’s one of my favorites.” Schultz went on to add, “I like watching the way he beats people up, too. If I had to pick a favorite guy to tune in for, it would probably be him.”
Thus, he was essentially going from spectator to, at last, getting a crack at the future Hall of Famer in real time. The match started with just an air of tentativeness on both parties, but eventually passivity played a role in heating up the proceedings. Kayaalp benefited from the first top par terre and executed three turns from a gutwrench to surge ahead 7-0. Schultz did escape on the back-end of the sequence to avoid further damage.
The second period brought forth much more of Schultz’s tactics. He was finding success in moving Kayaalp with an array of quick snaps and pressure-releases. He also had his own opportunity from top par terre — but was curiously allowed only a few seconds to try and cinch a front headlock. Upon the reset, time was of short supply. Schultz went back to working on generating motion from which he might score but Kayaalp would not be budged and ultimately collected the 7-1 decision as well as gold. The ’26 Grand Prix Zagreb Open represented Kayaalp’s first competition in nearly two years. The 36-year-old was suspended in ’24 — just prior to the Paris Olympics — for a doping violation stemming from his using prescription medication to treat tinnitus.
As for Schultz, his silver from Sunday was the first of his career from a “Ranking Series” event. The US was hoping for more from its roster in Zagreb and had three other athletes in position to making that happen.
Sancho, Beka, & Porter
’20 Olympian and multi-time World Team member Alex Sancho (72 kg, Army/WCAP) had for himself quite an encouraging showing on Sunday as he was in pursuit of his second-career Zagreb medal after having won this tournament in ’17. Sancho, 31, downed Hungarian Krisztofer Klanyi 3-1 in the qualification round but tasted defeat at the hands of eventual champ Nika Broladze (GEO) in his next match. Sancho recharged to decision Kuldeep Malik (IND) 4-1 in the repechage round, which earned him a shot for bronze against Shakhzod Kuchkorov (KAZ). Sancho was in a hole quickly opposite Kuchkorov but came close on a throw attempt that might have changed the complexion of the contest. Instead, the Uzbek was credited with land-on-top points and entered the second period up 7-0. Kuchkorov was able to convert a four-point throw early in the conclusive frame to prevail by way of technical superiority, thus taking the bronze and relegating Sancho to 5th place.
’24 U23 World silver Beka Melelashvili (82 kg, NYAC) grabbed two the hard way in Zagreb as both of his wins were earned by way of criteria (4-4 over Antal Vamos of Croatia and 1-1 over Qatari Shahin Badaghimofrad, respectively). Melelashvili had been defeated by Mihail Bradu (MDA) in between his victories and was in line for bronze opposed by Mohammad Mokhtari (IRI). It was a competitive match until par terre came into play for the Iranian, who scored the requisite number of points to force a premature end to the contest.
Of the four US wrestlers who were in medal matches, perhaps the one that caught the most attention was ’21 World representative Jesse Porter (82 kg, NYAC), who served up several reminders of his capabilities on Sunday. He was defeated in the opener against Yuksel Saricicek (TUR) but rebounded in the repechage and then some. Facing a very tough Filip Sacic (CRO), Porter impressively floated a gutwrench attempt and delivered a win via fall. Porter then went on to decision Nikita Politaev (UKR) 5-2, which put him in the bronze round versus Ibragim Magomadov (KAZ). Although Porter did manage to pick up a pair of points in the match, Magomadov had previously racked up six points from par terre to take a commanding lead that, in the end, translated to a 7-2 decision victory.
Other Results
Richards with OTF Points
Despite having missed the podium on Sunday, an increasing number of observers and competitors alike might be taking a closer look at ’25 World Trials runner-up Zane Richards (60 kg, TMWC/IRTC) as April approaches. Richards only went 1-2 in Zagreb –but he demonstrated a knack for scoring from the feet that should come in quite useful as his career in Greco continues.
Richards was ousted in the opening round by ’25 World silver Alisher Ganiev (UZB), who used a pair of four-point lifts from top PT to emerge victorious over the American. Ganiev marched to the final round and in the process pulled Richards into repechage against ’23 U23 World bronze and overall formidable foe Mert Ilbars (TUR). This match provided a glimpse of Richards’ scoring prowess as he gathered two takedowns en-route to a 5-0 blanking. First was a duck-under to body attack at the edge; then later in Period 2 Richards clasped Ilbars over the top and re-attacked on the boundary.
The second repechage round for Richards offered yet one more challenging opponent in multi-time Asian Championships medalist Amangali Bekbolatov (KAZ), against whom Richards trailed 6-0 in the first period before level-changing for a body attack near the boundary that was scored for two — even though takedown points appeared more appropriate. Following intermission, Richards earned an official takedown when he countered a short throw attempt from Bekbolatov to make the score 6-3. Next, passivity on KAZ tightened it up to 6-4, but Richards could not negotiate a turn from par terre top. This capped the scoring, other than a last-gasp challenge from the US which gave Bekbolatov one more point in what was, for him, a 7-4 win. Bekbolatov would clinch bronze one round hence.
60 kg
Along with Richards, two more high-profile 60 kg athletes from the US were in the tournament on Sunday: multi-time World Team member Dalton Roberts (Army/WCAP) and last year’s World Teamer, Max Black (NYAC/NTS). Both had significant hurdles to clear in their respective opening round match-ups. Roberts, for his part, was certainly doing just fine through much of his bout against Corneliu Rusu (MDA) and had a 1-1 passive lead in the second period. Just prior to the last half of the frame, Roberts had defended well from bottom par terre and was back on the feet and ready to stalk. The duo soon became entangled near the edge with Roberts adding a step-out point to claw ahead further at 2-1. Then, a prolonged challenge process unfolded after Moldova wanted another look at the sequence — and Roberts’ lead increased to 3-1. He was by all appearances in the driver’s seat.
And even more so when he earned a takedown with just over :30 remaining in the match. But in short order, everything changed. As Roberts — now with the match down to the last :15 — prodded in the ties, Rusu weaved an overhook with his left arm and slid in an underhook with his right. He then bodylocked and planted Roberts on his back for four and subsequently held position long enough to earn the shocking win by way of fall. Rusu was defeated in the proceeding round to end Roberts’ time in the tournament.
Black put in a valiant effort against Yu Shiotani (JPN) in his lone match of the event. Shiotani had jumped ahead 5-1 in large part due to a pair of reverse lifts that were each scored for two points. Shiotani had the passive call towards the beginning of the second period and he once again acquired the position necessary to uncork another reverse lift — but Black scrambled out of a danger and turned the missed try into a takedown on the edge. However, he was credited only with a single point. Black did not relent and next gutted Shiotani off the line for two more points, and the American was behind 6-4. But a takedown from Japan with under :30 on the clock all but put the match out of reach for Black, who fell 8-4. Shiotani was rolled by Ganiev two rounds later, which meant that Black would not be eligible for repechage.
Koontz, Peak, Foy, Attao, & Freeman
It was an overall difficult day at the office for five other top US competitors.
— Two-time World Team member Brady Koontz (55 kg, TMWC/Position WC) drew two-time World medalist Poya Dad Marz (IRI) and was defeated 8-0. Dad Marz scored a takedown and followed with two front headlocks (the first for four) to end the match. Dad Marz was edged by countryman Mohammad Panihasani in the next round.
— The returning Benji Peak (72 kg, NYAC/Position WC) looked strong and healthy against Almatbek Amanbek (UZB) but was unable to create momentum as he surrendered numerous step-out points which eventually spelled defeat in the form of an 8-0 VSU. Amanbek failed to advance to the final.
— ’25 World Team representative Michial Foy (97 kg, Army/WCAP) held his own against Mathias Bak of Denmark but dropped a 4-4 decision. Bak was then clipped by two-time World medalist Mihail Kajaia (SRB) to eliminate Foy from contention for bronze.
— As mentioned, Attao was defeated by Kayaalp in the qualification round. Upon Kayaalp’s advancement to the final against Schultz, Attao was entered into repechage where he lost to Rati Talikshvili (GEO) 9-0.
— Courtney Denzel Freeman (130 kg, Marines) battled Jacob Logaard (SWE) and was defeated by a score of 3-1. Logaard’s points came from passivity and a gutwrench. Freeman had the par terre in the second period but Logaard defended and hung on the rest of the way.
Notes
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- Team USA finished in 7th place with 56 points — directly ahead of Moldova, Egypt, India, Croatia, and Serbia. Iran finished 1st with 125 points, just ahead of Uzbekistan (120). Kazakhstan (108), Hungary (93), and Georgia (81) rounded out the top-5.
- The US combined for 14 individual wins with one medalist (Schultz, silver) and four athletes who placed 5th (Sancho, Melelashvili, Porter, and Payton Jacobson).
- A large contingent of Americans, including many of those who competed in Zagreb, will now train in Porec, CRO as part of a multi-national camp.
- The next “Ranking Series” tournament (Muhamet Malo) will commence on February 27 in Tirana, ALB.
2026 Grand Prix Zagreb Open
February 6-8 — Zagreb, CRO
TEAM USA DAY 3 FULL RESULTS
55 kg: Brady Koontz (TMWC/Position WC) — 13th
LOSS Poya Dad Marz (IRI) 8-0, TF
60 kg: Max Black (NYAC/NTS) — 10th
LOSS Yu Shiotani (JPN) 8-4
60 kg: Dalton Roberts (Army/WCAP) — 13th
LOSS Corneliu Rusu (MDA) via fall
60 kg: Zane Richards (TMWC/IRTC) — 9th
LOSS Alisher Ganiev (UZB) 9-0, TF
WON Mert Ilbars (TUR) 5-0
LOSS Amangali Bekbolatov (KAZ) 7-4
72 kg: Alex Sancho (Army/WCAP) — 5th
WON Krisztofer Klanyi (HUN) 3-1
LOSS Nika Broladze (GEO) via fall
WON Kuldeep Malik (IND) 4-1
LOSS Shakhzod Kuchkorov (UZB) 11-0, TF
72 kg: Benji Peak (NYAC/Position WC)
LOSS Almatbek Amanbek (UZB) 8-0, TF
82 kg: Beka Melelashvili (NYAC) — 5th
WON Antal Vamos (CRO) 4-4 (criteria)
LOSS Mihail Bradu (MDA) 11-1, TF
WON Shahin Badaghimofrad (QAT) 1-1 (criteria)
LOSS Mohammad Mokhtari (IRI) 10-1, TF
82 kg: Jesse Porter (NYAC) — 5th
LOSS Yuksel Saricicek (TUR) 9-0, TF
WON Filip Sacic (CRO) via fall
WON Nikita Politaev (UKR) 5-2
LOSS Ibragim Magomadov (KAZ) 7-2
97 kg: Michial Foy (Army/WCAP) — 14th
LOSS Mathias Bak (DEN) 4-4 (criteria)
130 kg: Aden Attao (NYAC) — 13th
LOSS Riza Kayaalp (TUR) 9-0, TF
LOSS Rati Talikshvili (GEO) 9-0, TF
130 kg: Courtney Denzel Freeman (Marines) — 9th
LOSS Jacob Logaard (SWE) 3-1
130 kg: Cohlton Schultz (Atreus WC) — SILVER
WON Dariusz Vitek (HUN) 1-1 (criteria)
WON Marko Milanovic (CRO) 5-1
WON Artur Sarkisjan (CZE) 2-1
LOSS Riza Kayaalp (TUR) 7-1
TEAM USA DAY 2 FULL RESULTS
77 kg: Kamal Bey (Army/WCAP) — 21st
LOSS Ali Oskou (IRI) 7-0
LOSS Yehia Abelkerim (EGY) 2-1
87 kg: Zac Braunagel (NYAC/Navy WC) — 9th
LOSS Istvan Takacs (HUN) 9-1, TF
WON Rahimjon Uzokov (UZB) 10-6
LOSS Mukhammadkodir Rasulov (UZB) 6-3
87 kg: Payton Jacobson (NYAC/NTS) — 5th
WON Ivan Huklek (CRO) 3-1
WON Antonio Lukac (CRO) 9-1, TF
LOSS Tamas Levai (HUN) 4-1
WON Maksat Sailau (KAZ) 8-0, TF
LOSS Erik Szilvassy (HUN) 2-1
TEAM USA DAY 1 RESULTS
63 kg: Ildar Hafizov (Army/WCAP) — 10th
LOSS Khusniddin Olimboev (UZB) 5-3
63 kg: Rhett Peak (Position WC) — 11th
LOSS Islomjon Bakhramov (UZB) 7-3
67 kg: Otto Black (NYAC/NTS) — 15th
LOSS Morten Thoresen (NOR) 3-1
67 kg: Alston Nutter (Army/WCAP) — 17th
LOSS Rati Khozrevanidze (GEO) via fall (5-2)
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