Ex-UNK wrestler sets sights higher
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By KARL VOGEL / Lincoln Journal Star
It wasn’t the food that Tervel Dlagnev will remember most about his recent trip to Greece.
“My family is Bulgarian, and the food in Greece is quite similar to the food my mom cooks,” the Nebraska-Kearney wrestler said. “It was like being at home … a little.”
The two-time NCAA Division II national champion has a gold medal as a memento of the World University Championships in Thessoloniki, Greece, earlier this month.
Dlagnev dominated the competition at 120 kilograms (264.5 pounds), recording a pinfall victory against a Japanese opponent in the semifinals and shutting out a Turkish foe in the finals.
Now, the 235-pounder from Texas is looking forward to bigger and better things — graduation, a new job and trying to make the American team for the 2009 World Championships.
“Now that I’m out of the grind of the college season, I can try to put on a couple of pounds and work with freestyle coaches on my strategy and my skills and become freestyle-specific,” Dlagnev said.
“I’ve always wrestled with folkstyle (college) season in mind, but now I can focus on the future. I plan on being a world team member next year, and because the level of competition in the U.S. is so high among the heavyweights, the guy coming out of qualifying has a good chance to medal.”
In recent years, Dlagnev’s competition has included former Husker national champion and world team member Tolly Thompson.
This fall, Dlagnev will join the coaching staff at Northern Iowa, where Thompson is an assistant. There, Dlagnev will get the chance to train with Thompson and make the transition to competing in freestyle exclusively.
Thompson, a bronze medalist at the 2005 Worlds, said he believes Dlagnev is destined for more than just making the world team roster.
“Sure, he can be on the world team next year, but I don’t look at it like that. He’s got a legitimate chance to be an Olympic or world champion,” Thompson said. “The way he’s wrestled against our country’s best and as young as he is, he’s only going to get better. That’s the bottom line.
“Next year is a new year, mostly because you’re going to see a few people get out of the game. Tervel was close at U.S. Nationals and close at the Trials. He’ll be in the hunt for the world team next year.”
To reach that goal, there’s still much to do.
First, there’s completing an Internet course to get his degree from UNK.
Then, there’s packing on “10 to 15 more pounds” than the 235 to 240 he usually carries for competition.
Finally, and most importantly, there’s finding matches.
“I have to get on some of those overseas tours with USA Wrestling and get experience,” Dlagnev said. “The next big competition in the U.S. isn’t until January, which is too late.
“I’ve been wrestling all summer, working hard and still having fun,” he said. “It hasn’t been a chore or a grind. It’s something I love doing, and wrestling with Tolly will keep me motivated.”
Thompson, who is 35, isn’t sure whether he’ll wrestle again, but said working with Dlagnev this fall will provide some answers.
“I’d like to take a year off, if I do want to wrestle again. My body is older and can’t keep up with my passion,” Thompson said. “I’ve had a pretty good run, and I might be done.
“Tervel is one of the best young wrestlers in the world, and if I’m working out with him and feel I might beat him, well,” Thompson chuckled, “I might have to see what I have left.”
Briefly
Former Husker wrestler and Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland won a unanimous decision over Fabio Negao on the undercard of the HDNet Fights “Affliction Banned” pay-per-view, mixed martial arts card in Anaheim, Calif., on Saturday.
HDNet Fights is owned by billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who is hoping to challenge the UFC for a share of the MMA market by luring familiar fighters, like Lindland, to his fledgling company. The two companies each had pay-per-view events Saturday night.
Lindland, a former UFC champion, is now 22-4 in his career.
Reach Karl Vogel at 473-7432 or kvogel@journalstar.com.
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