Stevan Micic defeated world No. 1 Suleyman Atli in the quarterfinals of the European Games (Photo/Gabor Martin, United World Wrestling)MINSK, Belarus -- Michigan three-time All-American Stevan Micic knocked off world No. 1 Suleyman Atli of Turkey to reach the semifinals of the European Games at 57 kilograms on Tuesday in Minsk, Belarus.
Micic, who competes internationally for Serbia, opened his tournament with a 4-2 victory over Lasha Lomtadze of Georgia, a bronze medalist at the Henri Deglane Challenge. He then faced Atli, a European champion and returning world bronze medalist, in the quarterfinals. Atli jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening period and extended his lead to four in the second period. But Micic battled back -- scoring two takedowns and a leg turk in the second period -- to win 6-5.
He now faces U23 world bronze medalist Taras Markovych of Ukraine in the semifinals, which will take place today at 11 a.m. ET. The other side of the 57-kilogram brackets pits returning world champion Zavur Uguev of Russia, ranked No. 2 in the world, against 2015 junior world champion Mahir Amiraslanov of Azerbaijan.
Another Michigan three-time All-American, Myles Amine, competed Tuesday at the European Games. Amine, who wrestles for San Marino, dropped his opening match at 86 kilograms to two-time Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix champion Dauren Kurugliev of Russia, 6-0. Amine carried the flag for San Marino in the opening ceremony of the European Games.
Campbell's Jere Heino, competing for Finland, lost his first match to U23 world champion Givi Matcharashvili of Georgia by 10-0 technical fall at 125 kilograms.
Both Amine and Heino will have a chance to wrestle back in repechage if the wrestlers who defeated them win in today's semifinals.
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