A second National Training Site wrestler also competed as Max Black finished 13th at 60 kilograms (132.3 pounds).

Jacobson, wrestling at 87 kg (191.8 lbs.), went back and forth with his wins and losses to miss out on the bronze-medal round as the United States was kept from winning a World medal for a fourth consecutive year with its team of close to a dozen wrestlers.

Jacobson opened with an 8-0 victory over Karan Kamboj of Indonesia before losing to Aleksander Komarov of Serbia 5-1. He continued in the consolation bracket with a 9-1 technical fall win over So Sakabe of Japan, but was eliminated after a 5-1 loss to Islam Yevloev of Kazahkstan before he could make the bronze medal matchup.

In the win over the Japanese wrestler, the USA Greco-Roman wrestling website, fivepointmove.com, described it as Sakabe opening the scoring with a passivity call, and then from the top position, locking a gutwrench. The Japanese wrestler went to rotate for a possible pin, but Jacobson swiveled his hips, stepped over the attempt and almost had Sakabe pinned.

Northern Michigan University National Training Site wrestler Max Black reacts stoically after winning a match at an international competition. (Photo courtesy Tony Rotundo/fivepointmove.com)

With Sakabe fighting to get out of the move, Jacobson fully locked and elevated him for a big four-point lift that crashed off the edge and gave him a 6-1 lead.

To start the second period, Jacobson was awarded a passivity point, then tried another gutwrench before working a lift, neither working out. By the time was period was over, he had secured a takedown for the final eight-point margin of victory.

Jacobson was one of just two American wrestlers to win multiple matches at this event, the other being Jayden Raney at 55 kg (121.3 lbs.).

Jacobson had come through U.S. qualifying for the Olympics a year ago as the No. 7 seed, having to win four times without a loss to get to those Olympics.

Black opened the Croatian event with a 7-1 loss to Aidos Sultangali of Kazakhstan, then defeated Melkamu Fetene of Israel 5-1 before losing Ri Se-Ung of North Korea by technical fall 9-0.

Five NMU Greco-Roman wrestlers are scheduled to compete at the Under-23 World Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia, in October. They are Black, Jacobson, Kenny Crosby, Otto Black and Kaden Ercanbrack.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the meet. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.