Similar to American teammate Ellis Coleman (63 kg, Army/WCAP) on Friday, Brady Koontz (55 kg, TMWC/Dubuque RTC) put together a bounce-back effort in Zagreb that culminated with a “Ranking Series” bronze medal.
The third and final day of the 2025 Grand Prix Zagreb Open began at 10:00am local time from Zagreb, Croatia (4:00am ET) and streamed live on FLOWrestling.
Koontz operated within an A/B pool bracket on Sunday and was victorious in his first match via fall over Peter Totok (HUN) before falling 6-1 to ’24 European Championships gold Artium Deleanu (MDA). The loss to Deleanu — which would be avenged — provided Koontz with a 1-1 record but still with a trip to the semifinal, where a loss to Elmir Aliyev (AZE) dashed his hopes for gold. However, one more match, one more opportunity, was still available for Koontz with a bronze medal hanging in the balance. And he took advantage of it.
Deleanu was the antagonist for a second time. Following the preamble, Koontz was dinged for passive. From top par terre, Deleanu latched a front headlock and attempted to crank over the hold; as he did, Koontz countered by wrapping his right arm underneath Deleanu and briefly exposing his opponent for two points. Koontz was then able to achieve an elbow-deep gutwrench that was good for one rotation and a 4-1 lead.
In the second period, Deleanu was rung up for passivity — and the curtain was about to drop. Koontz, a par terre specialist, wasted no time in acquiring his lock and again managed to score with a gutwrench. He re-adjusted his grip and went for another turn. After fighting through Deleanu’s resistance, Koontz rolled one more gut to force a halt to the proceedings at 9-1. In the process, he had earned bronze, his first-career medal from the prestigious event.
On Friday, Coleman rebounded following an opening-round loss to eventual bracket champ Dinislam Bammatov (AIN/RUS) by winning in his next two bouts to garner bronze. With Koontz’s performance on Sunday, the United States is exiting the Grand Prix Zagreb Open with two medalists for the first time since the winter of ’19.
Elsewhere for the US
Five other Americans competed on Sunday and each encountered difficult opposition that translated into losses.
Two-time US National champ/two-time World Teamer Dalton Roberts (60 kg, Army/WCAP) was defeated in the qualification round by two-time World medalist Emin Sefershaev (AIN/RUS). Sefershaev himself was turned back in the next round by Iranian Pouya Naserpour. Northern Michigan’s Max Black (60 kg) was downed by eventual finalist Alisher Ganiev (UZB) but had another chance in the repechage against outstanding Russian Sadyk Lalaev and fell via technical superiority.
In a rematch from the opening round of the ’24 Worlds, two-time US representative Benji Peak (72 kg, Combat) could not repeat his stunning dismantling of Olympic/World gold Mohammadreza Geraei (IRI) and was defeated 11-0. Geraei was ousted by Levente Levai (HUN), thus squashing Peak’s chance to return in the repechage. At 82 kg, ’21 World Team member Jesse Porter (NYAC) was on the wrong side of a 3-1 decision to Ilya Bitseyev (AIN), as was heavyweight Courtney Denzel Freeman (Marines), who had faced Sarkhan Mammadov (AZE).
Notes
— The US finished with a combined individual record of 4-13 at the ’25 Grand Prix Zagreb Open.
— Of the four individual victories, two were technical falls, one was a pin, and one was a points decision.
— At press time, and with several medal matches still to be determined, the US is in 8th place with 30 points — 10 behind Norway and five in front of Denmark. Azerbaijan currently sits in first with 89 points, whereas Iran is 2nd with 87.
— Following the conclusion of the tournament, the US will remain in Croatia and participate in a massive multi-national training camp.
— Complete placing results for Team USA will be added after the tournament has officially ended.
2025 Grand Prix Zagreb Open
February 7-9 — Zagreb, CRO
TEAM USA FULL RESULTS
55 kg: Brady Koontz (TMWC/Dubuque RTC) — BRONZE
WON Peter Totok (HUN) via fall
LOSS Artium Deleanu (MDA) 6-1
LOSS Elmir Aliyev (AZE) 6-1
WON Artium Deleanu (MDA) 9-1, TF
60 kg: Max Black (NMU/NTS) — 14th
LOSS Alisher Ganiev (UZB) 9-0, TF
LOSS Sadyk Lalaev (AIN/RUS) 8-0, TF
60 kg: Dalton Roberts (Army/WCAP) — 13th
LOSS Emin Sefershaev (AIN/RUS) 11-0, TF
63 kg: Otto Black (CTT/Hawkeye WC) — 13th
LOSS Vitalie Eriomenco (MDA) 4-0
63 kg: Ellis Coleman (Army/WCAP) — BRONZE
LOSS Dinislam Bammatov (AIN/RUS) 8-0, TF
WON Vitalie Eriomenco (MDA) 9-0, TF
WON Ziya Babbashov (AZE) 5-3
63 kg: Ildar Hafizov (Army/WCAP) — 11th
LOSS Erfan Jarkani (IRI) 7-5
67 kg: Alex Sancho (Army/WCAP) — 12th
LOSS Daniial Agaev (AIN/RUS) 3-1
72 kg: Benji Peak (Combat WC) — 14th
LOSS Mohammadreza Geraei (IRI) 11-0, TF
82 kg: Jesse Porter (NYAC) — 11th
LOSS Ilya Bitseyev (AIN/RUS) 3-1
87 kg: Spencer Woods (Army/WCAP) — 18th
LOSS Ivan Huklek (CRO) 13-2, TF
130 kg: Courtney Denzel Freeman (Marines) — 11th
LOSS Sarkhan Mammadov (AZE) 3-1
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