CHICAGO – Trent Paulson couldn’t wait for this season to start.
It showed Sunday afternoon at the Chicago Cup.
Paulson put on a show for the packed house of 1,000 fans at the Chicago Cup, overpowering Russia’s Arsen Mairov with an array of big moves to win 8-1, 8-4 at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Paulson was named the meet’s Outstanding Wrestler as the U.S. team dropped a close 4-3 decision to the freestyle team from Russia. It was Paulson’s first match since he suffered a disappointing first-round loss at September’s World Championships.
The burly Paulson used a succession of chest locks and throws, and mixed in a blast double-leg takedown, in turning in a dominating performance at Wright College. Mairov placed second at Russian Nationals in 2009.
“It was one of Russia’s top guys,” Paulson said. “He tried to go upper body and throw me, and I was able to counter him a couple of times. This was a fun atmosphere to wrestle in. It was a great crowd – they were really enthusiastic. I was excited to compete again after what happened at the Worlds.”
Paulson’s twin brother, Travis, followed by earning a 1-0, 1-0 victory over Russia’s Rashid Kurbanov 1-0, 1-0 at 74 kg/163 lbs. The final U.S. win came when Tervel Dlagnev prevailed at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
“This gives us an idea of what we need to work on,” U.S. National Coach Zeke Jones said. “It also gives us an idea that we can compete with the best team in the world. We obviously know we have a lot of work to do.”
This is the first of three USA vs. Russia duals this week. The U.S. will face Russia on Wednesday night at Cornell College in Iowa before the teams square off again on Friday night in New York City.
Dlagnev, a 2009 World bronze medalist, won the first period over 18-year-old Russian Alan Tsarikaev before being caught in a cradle in the second period. Tsarikaev won the period 3-0. Dlagnev quickly regrouped to win the final period 4-0.
“I was trying to make something happen in the second period, and he caught me,” Dlagnev said. “It was my mistake. I was trying to force a position that wasn’t there. It was definitely frustrating early in the match because I was coming at him with shots and he was blocking me. I wanted to dominate the match. I had a wake-up call, and I just had to regroup.”
2009 World Team member Danny Felix came out strong to win the first period 1-0 over 2009 European champion Nariman Israpilov. But the young Russian regrouped to sweep the final two periods at 55 kg/121 lbs.
2009 CHICAGO CUP
FREESTYLE: RUSSIA 4, USA 3
55 kg/121 lbs. – Nariman Israpilov (Russia) dec. Danny Felix, 0-1, 2-0, 1-0
60 kg/132 lbs. – Vladimir Vilmov (Russia) dec. Coleman Scott (USA), 2-0, 1-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Trent Paulson (USA) dec. Arsen Mairov (Russia), 8-1, 8-4
74 kg/163 lbs. – Travis Paulson (USA) dec. Rashid Kurbanov (Russia), 1-0, 1-0
84 kg/185 lbs. – Anzor Urishev (Russia) dec. Carl Fronhofer (USA), 2-0, 1-0
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Magomed Magomadov (Russia) dec. Andy Hrovat (USA), 2-0, 1-0
x-96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Valeriy Bedoev (Russia) dec. Vasili Kalshniko (Israel), 1-0, 1-0
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) dec. Alan Tsarikaev (Russia), 1-0, 0-3, 4-0
x-exhibition match
GRECO-ROMAN EXHIBITION
84 kg/185 lbs. – Ryan Hope (USA) dec. Marco Toledo (USA), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
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