Ellis Coleman earned a fall in his first match against Edgaras Venckaitis of Lithuania (Photo/Larry Slater)BUDAPEST, Hungary -- The second day Greco-Roman competition at the World Championships didn't get any easier for the Americans. After a winless opening day, Dalton Roberts, Patrick Martinez and Ellis Coleman took the mat for Team USA on Friday.
Coleman's performance was the highlight of the day as he picked up the lone victory of the day for USA. In his opening match Coleman found himself down 5-0 against Edgaras Venckaitis of Lithuania.
With both wrestlers looking to throw, Venckaitis went for the reverse throw and Coleman used the momentum and planted Venckaitis on his back for the fall.
In his next match, Coleman faced two-time world bronze medalist Artem Surkov of Russia. Coleman kept the match close and even led 1-0 at the break. After the break, Coleman gave up a point for passivity, which gave Surkov the lead on criteria. Coleman would go down in the par terre position where Surkov used a gut wrench to turn him and secure a 3-1 victory.
Coleman is waiting to find out if he receives a repechage match.
Dalton Roberts lost his first match to Etienne Kinsinger of Germany (Photo/Larry Slater)Roberts opened the tournament against Etienne Kinsinger of Germany and found himself in an early 6-0 going into the break. After the break, Roberts was unable to find his offense and Kinsinger used a big four-point throw to get a technical fall with an 11-0 score.
"I don't have any regrets in the training or my preparation I felt great," Roberts said. "I push myself every day in my training, so I don't have to worry did I do everything I could. I know I did everything I could. Before the end of my career, I'll get us a medal it just wasn't in the cards today."
Roberts did not receive a repechage match as Kinsinger lost his next match.
Martinez had the tough task of wrestling world bronze medalist Viktor Lorincz of Hungary, a hometown favorite. Martinez gave up a couple gut wrenches and fell behind 5-0 at the break. He was able to get on the scoreboard with one point, but that was all he could muster and fell 5-1.
"I felt prepared I don't have any excuses in my preparation," Martinez said. "[I need to] get better defending par terre. Most of my time is going to be spent defending par terre. It's hard to get things rolling when you have one match and you're done."
Martinez was eliminated from repechage contention when Lorincz lost his next match.
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