American Jon Reader captured his second straight title at the Dave Schultz Memorial on Friday. John Sachs photo. 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Three American wrestlers gained some valuable momentum as the international schedule kicks into high gear.

U.S. wrestlers Frank Molinaro, Jon Reader and Tyrell Fortune won freestyle championships at the Dave Schultz Memorial International on Friday night at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. 

Molinaro pulled out a tough finals win over 2011 World silver medalist Franklin Gomez of Puerto Rico at 65 kg/143 lbs. The match ended 1-1, but Molinaro scored last after Gomez failed to score after being put on the shot clock for passivity.

Gomez was an NCAA champion for Michigan State and trains with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club at Penn State University. Molinaro was an NCAA champion for Penn State, 

Molinaro was named Outstanding Wrestler of the freestyle tournament.

“I stuck to my game plan,” Molinaro said. “I wanted to make it a very physical match. I wanted to constantly stay in his face and give him zero space. I could’ve finished that match a little harder. I won that match by the skin of my teeth, but a win is a win. It was a tough match.” 

Reader captured his second straight Schultz title with a dominating 11-0 win over Robert Hamlin in the finals at 86 kg/189 pounds.

“It’s great to get all this great training in and get some tough matches in this tournament,” Reader said. “I’m definitely not where I want to be timing-wise, but I feel like my training’s on point and I have a vision where I want to be.” 

Fortune, who finished second at the 2013 U.S. World Team Trials, blanked Jarod Trice 5-0 in the finals at 125 kg/275 lbs.

“I just wrestled smart and took what was there,” Fortune said. “It was the first time we’ve wrestled. I can definitely wrestle a little better. It was a great tournament for me to get some good matches in.” 

The Titan Mercury Wrestling Club won the team title with Russia finishing second and India third.

Russia’s Omak Syuryun defeated American Zach Sanders 12-0 in the first finals bout at 57 kg/125.5 lbs.

India’s Parveen Rana, a past Junior World medalist, scored a 5-0 finals win over past NCAA runner-up Dan Vallimont in the finals at 74 kg/163 lbs. 

Powerful Russian Georgy Gogaev, a past Cadet World champion, took control early in a 10-0 win over American Dustin Kilgore in the finals at 97 kg/213 lbs. Gogaev is 18 years old.

Bulgaria’s Georgi Ivanov capped a superb day by topping Bekzod Abdurahkmanov 5-2 in the finals at 70 kg/154 lbs. Ivanov was an NCAA Division II runner-up for Nebraska-Omaha. 

Russia’s Aleksandr Bogomoev started strong in an 11-0 win over India’s Amit Kumar in the finals at 61 kg/134 lbs. Kumar won a World silver medal in 2013 at the old weight class of 55 kg/121 lbs.

The final day of the three-day event is set for Saturday at the Olympic Training Center. The women’s freestyle competition will be contested. It is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. with the finals set for 4 p.m. 

DAVE SCHULTZ MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL

Friday, Jan. 31, 2014

U.S. Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, Colo.

FINALS MATCHUPS

57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Omak Syuryun (Russia) dec. Zach Sanders (Minnesota Storm), 12-0

61 kg/134 lbs. – Aleksandr Bogomoev (Russia) dec. Amit Kumar (India), 11-0

65 kg/143 lbs. – Frank Molinaro (Scarlet Knight WC) dec. Franklin Gomez (Puerto Rico), 1-1

70 kg/154 lbs. – Georgi Ivanov (Bulgaria) dec. Bekzod Abdurahkmanov (Uzbekistan), 5-2

74 kg/163 lbs. – Parveen Rana (India) dec. Dan Vallimont (Blue & Gold WC), 5-0

86 kg/189 lbs. – Jon Reader (Sunkist Kids) dec. Robert Hamlin (Lehigh Valley AC), 11-0

97 kg/213 lbs. – Georgy Gogaev (Russia) dec. Dustin Kilgore (Sunkist Kids), 10-0

125 kg/275 lbs. – Tyrell Fortune (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Jarod Trice (Titan Mercury WC), 5-0