VLADIKAVKAZ, RUSSIA - The United States defeated Turkey, 5-2, to place fifth as a team during the final day of the Freestyle World Cup.
The USA won four of the five matches held during the dual meet, as there were two matches which were forfeits (60 kg and 84 kg).
Scoring victories in the final dual meet for Team USA were Nick Simmons (Williamstown, Mich./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Jared Frayer (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Ben Askren (Columbia, Mo./Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Kurt Backes (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
After losing the first period 0-1, Frayer pinned Arif Kama at the 1:10 mark of the second period.
Askren won his match by technical fall, stopping Ayhan Sucu, 7-0, 6-0.
The U.S. dropped matches in their pool to Russia and Ukraine on Saturday, which placed them in fifth place match Sunday.
"They competed well today and showed technical skills," said National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson. "They showed a lot of confidence and intensity. They showed great potential. I am pleased with the way we wrestled from top to bottom."
"These young athletes should continue to get better," he continued. "If they continue to prepare, they will give themselves a chance to do well at the Olympics if they can make the U.S. team."
During the two-day event, three U.S. wrestlers won two matches: Simmons, Askren and Steve Mocco (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Russia won the team title, defeating Cuba 5-2 in the championship finals. Uzbekistan placed third, with a 4-3 victory over Ukraine.
"I did not even think that the Russian team could lose to another World Cup team," said Russian Coach Djzambolat Tedeyev. "On our home mats, we competed well. On the eve of the tournament, the team faced sickness and injuries, but as you see, the Russian freestyle wrestling team is stronger than even these external factors."
- additional information from Russian Wrestling Federation website
FREESTYLE WORLD CUP
At Vladikavkaz, Russia, Feb. 17
Championship Match: Russia 5, Cuba 2
55 kg/121 lbs. - Rene Rosales (Cuba) dec. Osip Mikhailov (Russia), 1-0, 3-0)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Alan Dudaev (Russia) dec. Miguel Quintana (Cuba), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Irbek Farniev (Russia) dec. Gheandri Garzon (Cuba), 5-0, 2-1
74 kg/163 lbs. - Buvaisa Saitiev (Russia) dec. Ivan Fundora (Cuba), 4-0, 7-0
84 kg/185 lbs. - Georgy Ketoev (Russia) pin Salas Perez (Cuba), 1st period
96 kg/211.5 - Shirvani Muradov (Russia) dec. Miguel Batista (Cuba), 0-1, 2-0, 5-2
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Alexis Rodriguez (Cuba) dec. Soslan Gogloev (Russia), 1-0, 1-0
3rd place: Uzbekistan 4, Ukraine 3
No individual scores available
5th place: United States 5, Turkey 2
55 kg/121 lbs. - Nick Simmons (USA) dec. Ziya Daylak (Turkey), 1-0, 6-3
60 kg/132 lbs. - Turkey won by forfeit
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jared Frayer (USA) pin Arif Kama, 0-1, 1:10
74 kg/163 lbs. - Ben Askren (USA) dec. Ayhan Sucu (Turkey), 7-0, 6-0
84 kg/185 lbs. - USA won by forfeit
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Kurt Backes (USA) dec. Abdullah Gungor (Turkey), 2-1, 1-0
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Recep Kara (Turkey) dec. Steve Mocco (USA), 1-1, 0-1
The USA won four of the five matches held during the dual meet, as there were two matches which were forfeits (60 kg and 84 kg).
Scoring victories in the final dual meet for Team USA were Nick Simmons (Williamstown, Mich./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Jared Frayer (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Ben Askren (Columbia, Mo./Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Kurt Backes (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
After losing the first period 0-1, Frayer pinned Arif Kama at the 1:10 mark of the second period.
Askren won his match by technical fall, stopping Ayhan Sucu, 7-0, 6-0.
The U.S. dropped matches in their pool to Russia and Ukraine on Saturday, which placed them in fifth place match Sunday.
"They competed well today and showed technical skills," said National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson. "They showed a lot of confidence and intensity. They showed great potential. I am pleased with the way we wrestled from top to bottom."
"These young athletes should continue to get better," he continued. "If they continue to prepare, they will give themselves a chance to do well at the Olympics if they can make the U.S. team."
During the two-day event, three U.S. wrestlers won two matches: Simmons, Askren and Steve Mocco (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Russia won the team title, defeating Cuba 5-2 in the championship finals. Uzbekistan placed third, with a 4-3 victory over Ukraine.
"I did not even think that the Russian team could lose to another World Cup team," said Russian Coach Djzambolat Tedeyev. "On our home mats, we competed well. On the eve of the tournament, the team faced sickness and injuries, but as you see, the Russian freestyle wrestling team is stronger than even these external factors."
- additional information from Russian Wrestling Federation website
FREESTYLE WORLD CUP
At Vladikavkaz, Russia, Feb. 17
Championship Match: Russia 5, Cuba 2
55 kg/121 lbs. - Rene Rosales (Cuba) dec. Osip Mikhailov (Russia), 1-0, 3-0)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Alan Dudaev (Russia) dec. Miguel Quintana (Cuba), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Irbek Farniev (Russia) dec. Gheandri Garzon (Cuba), 5-0, 2-1
74 kg/163 lbs. - Buvaisa Saitiev (Russia) dec. Ivan Fundora (Cuba), 4-0, 7-0
84 kg/185 lbs. - Georgy Ketoev (Russia) pin Salas Perez (Cuba), 1st period
96 kg/211.5 - Shirvani Muradov (Russia) dec. Miguel Batista (Cuba), 0-1, 2-0, 5-2
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Alexis Rodriguez (Cuba) dec. Soslan Gogloev (Russia), 1-0, 1-0
3rd place: Uzbekistan 4, Ukraine 3
No individual scores available
5th place: United States 5, Turkey 2
55 kg/121 lbs. - Nick Simmons (USA) dec. Ziya Daylak (Turkey), 1-0, 6-3
60 kg/132 lbs. - Turkey won by forfeit
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jared Frayer (USA) pin Arif Kama, 0-1, 1:10
74 kg/163 lbs. - Ben Askren (USA) dec. Ayhan Sucu (Turkey), 7-0, 6-0
84 kg/185 lbs. - USA won by forfeit
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Kurt Backes (USA) dec. Abdullah Gungor (Turkey), 2-1, 1-0
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Recep Kara (Turkey) dec. Steve Mocco (USA), 1-1, 0-1
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