01. 01. 2020
They have three Slovak champions and the overall first place in the team evaluation; ZK Košice 1904 was the dominant team in the freestyle part of the Slovak Wrestling Championships in Trenčín. They defeated their biggest competitor, Dunajplavba Bratislava, by a significant margin of 24 points, and their eastern rival, Vihorlat Snina, in third place, had to settle for eight points.
KOŠICE. The Košice team went into the fight with the most numerous team; 16 wrestlers competed on the Trenčín mats in seven weight categories, of which only seven did not win a medal.
"It is true that we had the most competitors at the Slovak championships, but that was because we also took juniors to Trenčín, and younger boys also got a chance. But we didn't win the team competition thanks to our numerical superiority, but because those who were supposed to step up did, that is, the current or potential representatives. They fulfilled their role," praises the fighting morale of the team's pillars, coach Juraj Dancák.
"First of all, I have to praise Dan Pálinkás in the 74 kg category, hats off to his performance, simply put, he is a prominent personality of our club, a Slovak representative as he should be. He went through the entire competition without the slightest hesitation, and even though Ollé from Dunajplavba did not stand against him, I am convinced that he would have defeated him. Based on how he behaves on the mat, you can see that he is in great shape. We also had Jakub Kačeňák in this category, but after moving from the 66 kg category, he still needs some time to settle in the 74 kg."
Everyone was surprised
The title was also won by Michael Bodnár, still a junior by age, although at the domestic championship in the 84 kg category, he had a pack of hungry wolves from Dunajplavba at his heels.
"He defeated all his opponents, and in such a way that everyone was surprised. Because the Bratislava team was convinced that they would win gold in this category. Neither Duba nor Matejov were a match for Mišo, and after the first round, I saw that he had what it takes to win the championship. He has also been performing very well on the international scene this year, as evidenced by his fifth place at the Junior European Championships. And he will still be a junior next year..."
Coach Dancák was also pleasantly surprised by Peter Pastor in the 55 kg weight category, who enriched the Košice medal collection with a third gold.
"He won in his category without hesitation, despite the fact that due to cutting weight, I think from 61 kg, he lacked strength because he couldn't handle it. That's why his performance is admirable; he is growing with every competition. But I see those boys every day in training, how they are progressing, and I am very glad that the young wrestlers also made themselves known in Trenčín. But our whole team is basically young. At the Slovak championships, only the pair Majo Hutňan and my son Dano were missing due to injury; with them, our triumph might have been even more significant."
In the hands of the national coach
Titles from the national championships are very important, with regard to the national team and the world or European championships. They should guarantee a spot at the top events of the season; in 2013, it will be the European Championships in Tbilisi and the World Championships in Budapest.
"Everything depends on the national coach; he will decide on the nomination. We could have two or three representatives in the wider squad, but at the top events, we probably won't fill the 55 kg category, in which Peťo Pastor has the title, because he has little experience. The 74 kg and 84 kg categories are also ours, but I don't know what the coach's thinking will be in the case of junior Mišo Bodnár. I think it wouldn't hurt him to go to the senior championship, although there is a bit of a difference in preparation, but as I say, it's up to the national coach," explains Juraj Dancák about the "nomination criteria."
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