Wrestling Canada – BUDAPEST, Hungary – Jacob Luczak from Thunder Bay, Ont., was the first Canadian to earn a victory at the 2018 Senior World Championships.

Luczak, competing in his first senior international tournament, picked up a win in the 92 kg qualification round against Austria’s Dominic Peter. The Lakehead University wrestler narrowly avoided getting pinned but was able to secure a 12-6 win.

“It was a really fun back and fourth match,” said Luczak, 24. “The points he got on me I kind of gave to him with some sloppy offense, so there’s room for improvement.”

Luczak overcame doubts he had about himself at the event.

“I’m here for a reason and everyone here is capable of beating any guy, everyone is just a human being. If you are confident in your skills they should work on anybody.”

“My mom was here watching and I had family at home up since 4:30 a.m. watching me, everyone was behind me telling me that I’m capable. That really motivated me and kept me confident and positive. I really wanted to get a win and I did that, it just reaffirmed that I’m not here because of some fluke, and that I deserve to be here just like everyone else.”

Luczak advanced to the 1/8 final, where he was defeated by technical superiority by Nicolai Ceban of Moldova.

In the 125 kg repechage, Amar Dhesi had a chance to earn a spot in the bronze medal match but fell to American Nick Gwiazdowski 0-7. Dhesi, of Surrey, B.C., lost a tough match against finalist Zhiwei Deng of China in Sunday’s 1/8 final.

Jasmit Phulka of the Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club couldn’t hold onto his 1-0 lead in the second half, and lost points on a pair of step-outs to fall 1-2 to German Martin Obst.

At 65 kg, Michael Asselstine lost 3-10 to Moldova’s Andrei Perpelita. Asselstine, of the Edmonton Bears Wrestling Club, maintained pressure throughout the match but couldn’t convert it into points.

“I felt like I was doing things that I normally do well to maintain pressure, but I wasn’t creating any offense out of it,” said Asselstine. “I need to be more aggressive from the underhook position. I got too focused on maintaining pressure and wasn’t looking for what was open.”

“The only way I can start competing and beating higher level guys is when I capitalize on what I’m good at. I’ve got two years to turn things around and find ways to turn my pressure into offense and I think at 65 kg I can do that.”

Darthe Capellan was defeated by technical superiority by Givi Davidovi of Italy. Capellan, of the Burnaby Moutain Wrestling Club, was the youngest male member of the Canadian team in Budapest.

Action resumes tomorrow with the final two men; Haislan Garcia (70 kg) and Jordie Steen (97 kg), as well as Jade Parsons (55 kg) and Linda Morais (59 kg) getting the tournament started for the women.