After one day of action at the 2022 Malarcupen in Vasteras, Sweden, Logan Hatch (67 kg, EAP/USOPC) and Ashton Miess (72 kg, Combat WC) have put themselves firmly in the chase for gold while two other Americans also remain alive for possible medal chances.
Hatch — who has competed in Sweden multiple times throughout his young career, including at this very tournament — was tested in his first match on Saturday by Northern Michigan University upstart Jaxon Bearden but managed to prevail 9-7. The 67-kilogram bracket holds 13 competitors, and given the Nordic system’s pooled format, Hatch had to sit tight for a while before stepping on the tarp a second time. Following the wait, Hatch zipped right ahead of Eric Jonsson (SWE) en-route to an 8-0 VSU.
Miess is yet another promising Greco-Roman prospect for the American program whose style and competitive disposition have been tuned more towards overseas competition. Meaning, he had been waiting for an opportunity to get this tournament under his belt. Thus far in his first Malarcupen appearance, Miess has embraced the circumstances accordingly. He enters Sunday sporting a 3-0 record with two wins via technical superiority and a crisp 7-2 decision at the expense of Swede Danny Chjan.
Squier 3-0 in U17
Hatch and Miess are undefeated in the Malarcupen’s oldest age division, but they are not the only Americans hunting down the top spot in their respective weight categories. In fact, Aidan Squier (80 kg, Scorpions/HPGP) has been the most dominant United States athlete heading into the second and final day of competition in Vasteras. Squier, who had traveled abroad earlier this calendar year, earned three one-sided victories on Saturday and he too is in the mix for an individual title. After delivering a technical fall to Lars Olaussen (NOR), Squier recorded consecutive pins against, in order, Simen Ekeberg (NOR) and Alexander Amas (NOR).
Will Scherer (65 kg, MO) is not far away from the podium, as well. A tough and tight 3-2 decision win over Ahmed Berjawi (SWE) is how he got started, and then he put a little more distance on the scoreboard in the next round by downing Loi Olsson (SWE) 7-1. A narrow defeat to Rahim Tebojev (FIN) cut Scherer’s string, though there is still hope for a medal come Sunday morning. Scherer first has to get past Wilmer Guldstrand (SWE), who had previously knocked off Tebojev 10-2.
Bearden, Hamre, & Hustoles
After dropping the decision to Hatch, Bearden got past NMU’s Charlie Dill in what was a 3-3 criteria nod. The victory over Dill keeps Bearden in the mix with a 1-1 ledger. Well-traveled as of late is Gunnar Hamre (Combat WC), who will walk into the arena Sunday morning with a 2-1 record. In his opener, Hamre felled Yaman Abdo (NOR) 8-0; he then was on the wrong end of a high-scoring 14-6 tech against Renat Kryzhko (SWE) — but recovered to hand Isac Rydberg (SWE) a 13-9 defeat in Match #3. Although Hamre does have one loss, he can still nudge his way into a showdown for gold. On Sunday, his first match will offer Tim Bergfalk (SWE). Bergfalk (who grabbed bronze at Thor Masters last month) is 3-0 in Hamre’s pool and had edged Kryzkho 3-1 earlier on Saturday.
NMU heavyweight Jimmy Hustoles resides in a traditional three-man round-robin bracket — and due to the small number of competitors, Malarcupen tournament organizers are waiting until tomorrow to run the matches. When wrestling resumes in the morning, Hustoles will greet Billy Raaf (SWE) and Markus Engstom (NOR).
Ryu Brown (NMU/NTS), who was originally listed for 63 kilograms, is one of the five US athletes crammed into the 67 kg bracket. And like several on the roster, the 2022 Malarcupen represents his first time competing in an international Greco-Roman tournament. Brown just so happened to draw two of 67’s toughest entrants back-to-back in Kryzkho and Bergfalk. He hung in there with Kryzkho, falling 4-1, but was superior’d by Bergfalk 8-0.
Wrestling will continue on Sunday beginning at 10:00am/4:00am ET. The event is not being streamed online but we will have full results at the conclusion of the tournament.
Notes:
- The Malarcupen uses the familiar A/B pool format, often referred to as the “Nordic system”. Competitors advance through pools based on their records.
- Prior to the tournament this weekend, the US delegation took part in a joint training camp and are scheduled to participate in a team dual next week.
2022 Malar Cupen
November 5-6 — Vasteras, SWE
TEAM USA DAY 1 RESULTS
67 kg
Jaxon Bearden (NMU/NTS)
LOSS Logan Hatch (EAP) 9-7
WON Charlie Dill (NMU/NTS) 3-3 (criteria)
vs. Hannes Hofmann (SWE)
Ryu Brown (NMU/NTS)
LOSS Renat Kryzhko (SWE) 4-1
LOSS Tim Bergfalk (SWE) 8-0, TF
Charlie Dill (NMU/NTS)
LOSS Noah Sodergvist (SWE) 8-0, TF
LOSS Jaxon Bearden (NMU/NTS) 3-3 (criteria)
Gunnar Hamre (Combat WC)
WON Yaman Abdo (NOR) 8-0, TF
LOSS Renat Kryzhko (SWE) 14-6. TF
WON Isac Rydberg (SWE) 13-9
vs. Tim Bergfalk (SWE)
Logan Hatch (EAP)
WON Jaxon Bearden (NMU/NTS) 9-7
WON Eric Jonsson (SWE) 8-0, TF
vs. Noah Sodergvist (SWE)
72 kg
Ashton Miess (Combat WC)
WON Iles Murtazov (SWE) 9-0, TF
WON Atte Rajainmaki (FIN) 9-0, TF
WON Danny Chjan (SWE) 7-2
vs. Kasper Overby (NOR)
87 kg
Mason Bray (NMU/NTS)
LOSS Artur Ovasapyan (NOR) 8-0, TF
LOSS Kim Stenberg (SWE) 10-1, TF
97 kg
Sean Michael (IGA)
LOSS Sorosh Algasi (NOR) 8-0, TF
LOSS August Eriksson (SWE) 8-0, TF
130 kg
Jimmy Hustoles (NMU/NTS)
vs. Billy Raaf (SWE)
vs. Markus Engstom (NOR)
U17
65 kg
Will Scherer (MO)
WON Ahmed Berjawi (SWE) 3-2
WON Loi Olsson (SWE) 7-1
LOSS Rahim Tebojev (FIN) 6-4
vs. Wilmer Guldstrand (SWE)
80 kg
Aidan Squier (Scorpions/HPGP)
WON Lars Olaussen (NOR) 10-0, TF
WON Simen Ekeberg (NOR) via fall
WON Alexander Amas (NOR) via fall
vs. Adam Olsson (SWE)
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