Rey places fifth at freestyle tournament in Poland
8/18/2009 10:45:00 AM | Men's Wrestling
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WARSAW, Poland – The successful freestyle season for Zach Rey continued last week as the rising Lehigh sophomore placed fifth in the 120 kg/264.5 lb. weight class at the Ziolkowski International, a senior men’s freestyle tournament that was held alongside the women’s freestyle Poland Open. Rey posted a 2-2 record in competition on Friday, reaching the bronze medal match in the process. His fifth place finish was the best among the ten U.S. wrestlers who competed in Poland last Thursday and Friday.
Rey, who competes for the Lehigh Valley Athletic Club, opened with a pair of impressive victories over Turkish heavyweights Fatih Cakiroglu and Recep Kara. In the semifinals, Rey was bested by eventual silver-medalist Marid Mutalimov of Kazakhstan. Rey then dropped his bronze medal match Maksim Porhorov of Azerbaijan.
Among the ten wrestler U.S. contingent were student-athletes from Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Ohio State, Iowa State, Pitt and Stanford among others. Former Northwestern wrestler Mike Tamillow was the only other American to place as he took eighth at 84 kg./185 lbs. The United States contingent finished 11th out of 24 countries at the Ziolkowski International.
In April, Rey won a University National Freestyle Championship and qualified for the Junior/University World Team Trials. Last year, Rey captured a Northeast Regional Freestyle title and competed in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
A native of Hopatcong, N.J., Rey enjoyed a strong deferred freshman season for the Mountain Hawks in 2008-09 posting a 23-6 record while reaching the finals at the EIWA tournament and the All-America Round of 12 at the NCAA Tournament.
