Andy Bisek (Photo/Larry Slater)"I think we're making progress," said U.S. Greco-Roman coach Matt Lindland. We're moving forward, and we've got Andy in for a medal again."
By earning a spot in a medal match, Bisek qualified the United States for the 2016 Olympic Games at 75 kilos in Greco-Roman. He will now wrestle Saeid Abdevali of Iran in the bronze-medal match.
"To come through the bracket and make it there is a good affirmation of what I'm doing, but I see myself at the top every day," said Bisek.
Bisek opened his tournament on Monday with a 5-2 win over Luis Eduardo Avendano Rojas of Venezuela. He trailed 2-0 after the opening period, but came back strong in the second period, scoring with multiple gut wrenches. Bisek topped India's Singh Gurpreet 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals against multiple-time World medalist Mark Madsen of Denmark.
Madsen came out strong against Bisek, scoring with a four-point throw. The call was challenged by the United States coaches and upheld, resulting in another point for Madsen. In the second period Madsen again was able to execute a four-point throw to put the match away and earn a 9-0 technical fall.
Madsen would go on to win his semifinal match, which kept Bisek alive in repechage. Bisek then edged 2007 World champion Yavor Yanakiev of Bulgaria 1-0.
Bryce Saddors (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)"Obviously, he wasn't the same wrestler after the head injury as he was going into that," said Lindland. "He put four points on the board. He was just getting things rolling. That guy came over with a big headbutt and then continued to do that. We've got to have the officials that are willing to make the right calls."
Caylor Williams, competing in his third World championships, won his opening match at 98 kilos before falling in the round of 16. Williams' victory came by pin over Davi Jose Albino of Brazil. It was Williams' first win ever at a World championships. Williams trailed Albino 5-2 after the opening period, but used a throw to pin Albino.
"It's just like anything else in life, you don't quit," Williams said of his comeback victory over Albino. Whatever is going on, if you're getting beat up, held down, whatever … you don't care what the score is. You fight from whistle to whistle. It's just like life. Everything in life is like that."
In the round of 16 Williams faced 2011 World champion Elis Guri of Bulgaria, and suffered a heartbreaking 4-4 loss on criteria. Williams appeared to be on his way to victory. He led 1-0 after the opening period, and eventually took a 4-2 lead in the second period. However, late in the match Guri scored two points on a controversial call, which would give him the victory on criteria.
Still, despite the close loss, Williams remained positive after his exit from the competition.
"I'm just happy to be out here wrestling," said Williams. "I'm fairly positive that when you go grow you grow with big jumps, go from winning just one match at Worlds to winning the whole dang thing, and that's what I plan on doing."
Monday's medal matches are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. PT.
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