The 87 kilogram bracket in Zagreb today included a high percentage of that weight category’s top competitors in the sport. Two-time US World Team member Spencer Woods (Army/WCAP) might very well be counted among them, but his quest to break through at the first “Ranking Series” event of 2025 ended much earlier than he would have preferred.
Day 2 of the ’25 Grand Prix Zagreb Open began at 10:00am local time from Zagreb, Croatia (4:00am ET) and is streaming live on FLOWrestling.
Woods entered action this morning as the only USA athlete in the tournament. On Friday, there were four Americans who hit the mats, one of whom — Ellis Coleman (63 kg, Army/WCAP) — managed to reach the podium after earning bronze.
For Woods, his path to a potential medal started in the qualification round against noted Croatian and ’20 Olympian Ivan Huklek. Given the stylistic contrast between the pair, a tight slugfest was anticipated but one never fully materialized. Woods trailed Huklek by a score of 7-2 at the break before the latter picked up two step-out points in the second period. With time a factor, and behind 9-2, Woods knew that he had to make a move, and so he did. He had clawed over the top of Huklek following an exchange and tried yanking a front headlock. The position broke apart upon the attempted execution, allowing Huklek to collect a land-on-top four and secure the victory prior to the final bell. Norway’s Exauce Mukubu decisioned Huklek in the quarterfinal to eliminate Woods from a second chance in the event via repechage.
Notes
— As mentioned at the top, the 87 kg bracket in Zagreb has availed many of the weight class’ most accomplished athletes. In today’s final, ’23 co-World champ David Losonczi (HUN) will take on Olympic bronze Turpal Bisultanov (DEN — and it was Losonczi who Bisultanov defeated for said bronze). One 3rd place match on Saturday will pit Milad Alirzaev (AIN/RUS) against Islam Abbasov (AZE), while the other features Mukubu against either ’24 European/’21 U23 World gold Alexander Komarov (SRB) or Vjekoslav Luburic (CRO). Finals and medal matches for today begin at 6:00pm local time (12:00pm ET) and can be viewed live on FLOWrestling.
— Tomorrow’s Zagreb schedule will mirror today’s.
— Team standings have not yet been updated according to the results from today (due to medal matches still on the schedule). After Day 1, Iran had the lead (30 points) while Norway was in 2nd with 25 (gold for Haavard Joergensen at 67 kg).
Day 3 USA Pairings
The United States will send six wrestlers into the fray tomorrow with Brady Koontz (55 kg, TMWC/Dubuque RTC), Max Black (60 kg, NMU/NTS), Dalton Roberts (60 kg, Army/WCAP), Benji Peak (72 kg, Combat WC), Jesse Porter (82 kg, NYAC), and Courtney Denzel Freeman (130 kg, Marines). Koontz, Roberts, Peak, and Porter are all recent Senior World Team members.
The Americans on Sunday are getting that for which they came to Zagreb — top-level opponents. At 60 kg, Black has either would-be Olympian Sadyk Lalaev (AIN/RUS) or Alisher Ganiev (UZB). Lalaev qualified for the Paris Games but was not permitted to compete. Roberts will start his day with two-time World medalist Emin Sefershaev (AIN/RUS), and Peak will be involved an interesting rematch versus ’20 Olympic/’21 World champ Mohammadreza Geraei of Iran. Peak downed Geraei via technical fall in the first round of the ’24 World Championships. (Full opening-round draws for Team USA can be viewed below.)
2025 Grand Prix Zagreb Open
February 7-9 — Zagreb, CRO
TEAM USA DAY 2 RESULTS
87 kg: Spencer Woods (Army/WCAP)
LOSS Ivan Huklek (CRO) 13-2, TF
TEAM USA DAY 1 RESULTS
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
TEAM USA DAY 3 DRAWS
55 kg: Brady Koontz (TMWC/Dubuque RTC)
vs. Peter Totok (HUN) — Round 1 of pooled bracket
60 kg: Max Black (NMU/NTS)
vs. either Sadyk Lalaev (AIN/RUS) or Alisher Ganiev (UZB) — round-of-16
60 kg: Dalton Roberts (Army/WCAP)
vs. Emin Sefershaev (AIN/RUS) — qualification round
72 kg: Benji Peak (Combat WC)
vs. Mohammadreza Geraei (IRI) — qualification round
82 kg: Jesse Porter (NYAC)
vs. Ilya Bitseyev (AIN/RUS) — qualification round
130 kg: Courtney Denzel Freeman (Marines)
vs. Sarkhan Mammadov (AZE) or Artur Sarkisjan (CZE) — quarterfinal
Listen to “5PM57: Kamal Bey and David Stepanyan” on Spreaker.
Listen to “5PM56: Rich Carlson and Spencer Woods” on Spreaker.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIVE POINT MOVE PODCAST
iTunes | Stitcher | Spreaker | Google Play Music
