TEHRAN, Iran – The United States dominated its final two dual meets, finishing a strong third at the 2013 Freestyle World Cup on Friday (Feb. 22) at the Azadi Sports Complex. Team USA posted a 4-1 over the two-day event. The World Cup is the annual international dual meet championships, one of the most important events in wrestling each year.
Team USA shut out Bulgaria, 7-0, in its final Group B match on Friday morning. The win over Bulgaria put the United States in the bronze-medal match with a 3-1 record in their pool, drawing Belarus, which placed second in Group A. The only U.S. loss in their pool was to Iran on Thursday, and Iran won the pool, advancing to the first-place match.
The USA had another strong effort in defeating Belarus 6-1 in the third-place dual meet. The USA ran off five straight wins to clinch the victory.
“We bounced back today. I’m glad we were able to do it after how we wrestled last night,” said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones. “We’re wrestling at 70% right now. After a long layoff, most of our guys are competing for the first or second time this season. Iran showed us where we are right now so we have some work to do.”
Iran defended its World Cup title, defeating Russia in the finals, 6-1. Placing fifth was Turkey, a 6-1 winner over Georgia. Winning the seventh-place dual meet was Japan, which edged Kazakhstan, 4-3. Placing ninth was Azerbaijan, who beat Bulgaria, 7-0.
The Cliff Keen Wrestling Club’s Jimmy Kennedy posted a pair of day-two victories for the U.S team, beating Bulgaria’s Stefan Ganchev, 6-0, 9-2, and Belarus’ Sergey Ermakov, 3-0, 6-0, at 60kg/132 pounds. Kennedy, who split time at 60kg with Olympic bronze medalist, went 2-1 at the tournament. It was the fourth international tournament appearance of his career and second time representing the United States.
“Yesterday the US team went 2-1,” said CKWC coach Andy Hrovat, who served on the U.S. coaching staff. “Jimmy was able to get a match against a tough Japanese wrestle and did not perform up to the standard he is used to competing. He settled down the second day and wrestled two great matches. This was a learning experience for him, and what he was able to learn here will help boost his international career. We head to Belarus tomorrow and wrestle next weekend. Jimmy and I expect nothing but a gold medal in Belarus.”
U.S. RESULTS
USA 5, GEORGIA 2
55 kg – Obe Blanc (USA) dec. Givi Davidori (Georgia), 1-0, 1-0
60 kg – Malkaz Kurdiani (Georgia) dec. Coleman Scott (USA), 1-1, 1-2
66 kg – Brent Metcalf (USA) dec. Malkhaz Zarkua (Georgia), 2-0, 1-0
74 kg – Jordan Burroughs (USA) dec. Jakob Makarashvili (Georgia), 3-0, 2-1
84 kg – Max Askren (USA) dec. Nodar Egadze (Georgia),1-1, 5-4
96 kg – Tedore Ebanoidze (Georgia) dec. J.D. Bergman (USA) 6-4, 5-2
120 kg – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) dec. Tornike Khidesheli (Georgia), 2-1, 1-0
USA 5, JAPAN 2
55 kg –Fumitaka Morishita (Japan) dec. Obe Blanc (USA), 4-0, 1-0
60 kg –Shogo Maeda (Japan) dec. Jimmy Kennedy (USA), 1-0, 1-0
66 kg – Brent Metcalf (USA) dec. Toshinori Ishida (Japan), 0-1, 2-0, 3-0
74 kg – Jordan Burroughs (USA) dec. Sohsuke Takatani (Japan), 2-0, 7-1
84 kg – Phillip Keddy (USA) dec. Shinya Matsumoto (Japan), 1-2, 1-0, 2-0
96 kg –J.D. Bergman (USA) dec. Takeshi Yamaguchi (Japan), 7-0, 3-0
120 kg – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) pin Tomoyuki Oka (Japan)
IRAN 6, USA 1
55 kg –Hassan Rahimi (Iran) tech. fall Zach Sanders (USA), 6-0, 8-0
60 kg – Masoud Esmailpoorjoybari (Iran) dec. Coleman Scott (USA), 2-0, 3-1
66 kg –Mehdi Taghavi (Iran) dec. Brent Metcalf (USA), 5-0, 2-0
74 kg – Jordan Burroughs (USA) dec. Ezzatollah Akbarizarinkolaei (Iran), 4-0, 2-0
84 kg – Ehsan Lashgari (Iran) dec. Max Askren (USA), 6-0, 5-2
96 kg –Hamed Tatari (Iran) dec. J.D. Bergman (USA), 3-0, 4-0
120 kg – Khomeil Ghasemi (Iran) dec. Tervel Dlagnev (USA), 1-0, 0-1, 2-0
USA 7, BULGARIA 0
55 kg –Obe Blanc (USA) dec. Mehmed Feraim (Bulgaria), 1-0, 6-0
60 kg – Jimmy Kennedy (USA) dec. Stefan Ivanov (Bulgaria), 6-0, 9-2
66 kg –Brent Metcalf (USA) dec. Nikolay Kurtev (Bulgaria), 1-0, 3-0
74 kg – Jordan Burroughs (USA) tech. fall Stefanov Kirov (Bulgaria), 7-0, 6-0
84 kg –Max Askren (USA) won by forfeit
96 kg –J.D. Bergman (USA) won by forfeit
120 kg –Tervel Dlagnev (USA) tech. fall Dragomir Stoychev (Bulgaria), 6-0, 6-0
THIRD PLACE MATCH
USA 6, BELARUS 1
55 kg –Obe Blanc (USA) dec. Vladizlav Andreyeu (Belarus), 1-0, 1-0
60 kg – Jimmy Kennedy (USA) dec. Sergey Ermankov (Belarus), 3-0, 6-0
66 kg –Brent Metcalf (USA) dec. Alexandr Kontoyev (Belarus), 0-1, 3-0, 6-0
74 kg – Jordan Burroughs (USA) dec. Ali Shabanau (Belarus), 1-1, 5-0
84 kg –Max Askren (USA) pin Amir Mahamedov (Belarus), 2-4, pin in 2nd
96 kg –Ivan Yankouski (Belarus) dec. J.D. Bergman (USA), 1-0, 1-0
120 kg –Tervel Dlagnev (USA) dec. Vadzim Shvedau (Belarus), 1-0, 6-0
