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KEARNEY - Tervel Dlagnev stepped onto the medals platform Tuesday at the World Wrestling Championships in Herning, Denmark, establishing his claim as one of the top wrestlers in the world.

But he still has a couple steps to go.

Dlagnev finished third, posting a 3-1 record in the tournament at the highest level of international wrestling. He will bring home the bronze medal.

"It was nice to get on the podium, but not the color I want," Dlagnev said in a phone interview from Herning. "It's tough to be that close and let it slip away."

Dlagnev fell 1-0, 1-0 to Iran's Fardin Masoumi in the semifinals. Both periods went to the leg clinch. Masoumi placed fifth in the Olympics and had beaten Dlagnev earlier this year in the Takhti Cup in Iran.

It was a close match.

"Too close. It's a little frustrating, but it happens," Dlagnev said. "I didn't finish my shots. I was in on two or three, but the guy kicked out. I've got to go back to the video and improve on it.

"When I walked off the mat, I wasn't tired, so I know I didn't do enough."

Dlagnev bounced back from his loss to defeat Alex Modebadze of Georgia 2-0, 2-0. The athletic, lightning-quick Dlagnev powered in on a succession of single-leg attacks that resulted in takedowns.

A two-time national champion for the Lopers, following up on a sixth-place finish his sophomore year in 2005, Dlagnev's rise in the international scene has not gone unnoticed.

"Watching Tervel wrestle and have success, that definitely helped me and pumped me up," said Jake Herbert, who finished second at 84 kilograms. "He's a great young wrestler, and it was great to see him wrestling well here."

Wrestling for Northwestern, Herbert won his second NCAA championship in the spring before earning a spot on the World Championships team.

Dlagnev said his result confirms his belief that he can compete at the world's highest level.

"I've made a full commitment to freestyle wrestling," he said. "I've put on the weight I needed to so I can compete with the bigger guys at this level. I've worked on my technique, been around the best coaches and put myself in the right environment to be successful."

Craig Sesker of USA Wrestling contributed to this story.

e-mail to:

buck.mahoney@kearneyhub.com

Third in the World

Former University of Nebraska at Kearney heavyweight wrestler Tervel Dlagnev finished third Tuesday at the World Wrestling Championships in Herning, Denmark. At the tournament, Dlagnev:

Defeated Juszup Nunajev (Hungary), 1-0, 2-0.

Defeated Alexei Shemarov (Belarus), 3-0, 2-0.

Defeated Ali Isayev (Iran), 1-0, 4-0.

Lost to Fardin Masoumi (Iran), 0-1, 0-1.

Defeated Alex Modebadze (Georgia), 2-0, 2-0.

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Gold-medal match - Bilyal Makhov (Russia) dec. Fardin Masoumi, 2-0, 6-0.

More Coverage

• Dlagnev in Sports Illustrated's 'Faces in the Crowd' section
• Dlagnev places first in major tournament
• Travelin' Tervel
• Dlagnev, Allgood on all-time RMAC team
• UNK wrestler adding weight to match up
• Dlagnev upsets U.S. Olympian