USA to face Russia and Japan in international dual in West Orange, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 20
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by UL
For the second straight year, many of the world's most talented Olympic wrestlers will be featured when the United States competes against Russia and Japan in an international dual meet in West Orange, N.J. on Thursday, November 20.
Two complete dual meets will be held. In men's freestyle, the United States will battle Russia, while in Greco-Roman, the United States will square off against Japan.
Athletes who have won numerous international medals and national titles will be showcased. There was a standing-room only crowd at the event last year and the level of competition was spectacular.
T
he match will be held at West Orange High School in West Orange, N.J., starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door, $20 for adults and $15 for kids.
The U.S. lineups in both styles are expected to be strong. There are four members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team scheduled for the dual meets: Greco-Roman wrestler Spenser Mango (St. Louis, Mo./Gator WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and freestyle wrestlers Doug Schwab (Iowa City, Iowa/Gator WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Steve Mocco (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
There will be a local flavor in the dual meet, as well. Mocco, who grew up in North Bergen, N.J., will be joined by Kurt Backes (Columbia, Mo./Sunkist Kids), a native of Neshanic Station, N.J. in the lineup at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Both won prep national titles for Blair Academy. Mocco was a NCAA champion for both the Univ. of Iowa and Oklahoma State, while Backes was a NCAA runner-up for Iowa State.
Another New Jersey legend, Matt Valenti (Newton, N.J./New York AC) may also get an exhibition match in the dual. Valenti won two NCAA titles for the Univ. of Pennsylvania. He was a two-time New Jersey state champion for Kittatiny High School.
Fans are looking forward to another USA vs. Russia freestyle showdown this year, as two of the world's top powers will battle for bragging rights.
I
ncluded on the Russian lineup are 2008 Junior World Champion Magomed Zubairov at 84 kg/and 2008 World University Champion Evgeny Kolomiets at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. The Russian team features many young stars who have won medals on the age-group World level or at the European Championships.
In Greco-Roman, Team Japan will bring five Japanese national champions to the mat. Included in this group of athletes are two wrestlers who have placed fifth in the Asian Greco-Roman Championships, Hiroyuki Shimizu at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Mistuhiro Ota at 84 kg/185 lbs.
Completing the seven-athlete lineup will be two athletes from Israel, both who are veteran international competitors, Bronislav Sharovtski at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Vladimir Guralski at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
The format of the event will be the same as last year, with separate dual meets in freestyle and Greco-Roman. Freestyle and Greco-Roman matches will be alternated, and the final results of the dual meets will not be determined until the end of the evening.
Last year, the United States won the freestyle dual meet over Russia, 14-11, while the USA also won the Greco-Roman dual meet over Romania, 14-12.
USA Wrestling's National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser and National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones will be among the coaches working with Team USA.
The athletes in this dual meet are also expected to compete in the annual American Airlines New York Athletic Club International Championships, scheduled for November 22-23 in New York City.
Outstanding international wrestling action in all three Olympic styles will be showcased at the World famous NYAC facility on Central Park South in mid-town Manhattan.
For additional information, contact Sonny Greenhalgh at 973-256-0670 or Stephan Zichella of West Orange High School at 973-476-8782.
TEAM USA VS. RUSSIA FREESTYLE WORLD DUAL MEET
At West Orange, N.J.., Thursday, November 20, 6:30 p.m.
U.S. Freestyle athletes
55 kg/121 lbs. - Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Coleman Scott, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC) and Matt Valenti, Newton, N.J. (New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC) and Josh Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Ryan Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC) and Bryce Hasseman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Kurt Backes, Neshanic Station, N.J. (Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Steve Mocco, N. Bergen, N.J. (New York AC)
Coach - National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Sean Bormet, Naperville, Ill.
Russian Freestyle athletes
55 kg/121 lbs. - Makhmud Magomedov
60 kg/132 lbs. -Artur Akhmedov, Victor Lebedev
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Darsam Dzhaparov
74 kg/163 lbs. - Taymuraz Friev, Inal Kabolov
84 kg/185 lbs. - Magomed Zubairov
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Evgeny Kolomiets
120 kg/264.5 lbs. -Valeriy Bedoev
Coach - Khadzimurad Magomedov
Delegation - Christakis Alexandridis (team leader), Soltan Zaseev (referee), Inal Kabalov (translator and athlete)
TEAM USA VS. JAPAN GRECO-ROMAN WORLD DUAL MEET
At West Orange, N.J.., Thursday, November 20, 6:30 p.m.
U.S. Greco-Roman athletes
55 kg/121 lbs. - Spenser Mango, St. Louis, Mo. (Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jacob Curby, LaGrange, Ill. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Cheney Haight, Orem, Utah (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Jake Plamann, Appleton, Wis. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - R.C. Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Pete Kowalczuk, Oak Park, Ill. (Sunkist Kids)
Coaches - National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Assistant National Greco-Roman Coach Momir Petkovic (Colorado Springs, Colo.), USOEC Assistant Greco-Roman Coach Jim Gruenwald (Marquette, Mich.)
Japan Greco-Roman athletes
55 kg/121 lbs. - Kiyoharu Hirao (Japan)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Kosuke Hori (Japan)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Hiroyuki Shimizu (Japan)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Kosuke Sumi (Japan)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Mitsuhiro Ota (Japan)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Bronislav Sharovtsky (Israel)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Vladimir Guralski (Israel)
Two complete dual meets will be held. In men's freestyle, the United States will battle Russia, while in Greco-Roman, the United States will square off against Japan.
Athletes who have won numerous international medals and national titles will be showcased. There was a standing-room only crowd at the event last year and the level of competition was spectacular.
T
he match will be held at West Orange High School in West Orange, N.J., starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door, $20 for adults and $15 for kids.
The U.S. lineups in both styles are expected to be strong. There are four members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team scheduled for the dual meets: Greco-Roman wrestler Spenser Mango (St. Louis, Mo./Gator WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and freestyle wrestlers Doug Schwab (Iowa City, Iowa/Gator WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Steve Mocco (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
There will be a local flavor in the dual meet, as well. Mocco, who grew up in North Bergen, N.J., will be joined by Kurt Backes (Columbia, Mo./Sunkist Kids), a native of Neshanic Station, N.J. in the lineup at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Both won prep national titles for Blair Academy. Mocco was a NCAA champion for both the Univ. of Iowa and Oklahoma State, while Backes was a NCAA runner-up for Iowa State.
Another New Jersey legend, Matt Valenti (Newton, N.J./New York AC) may also get an exhibition match in the dual. Valenti won two NCAA titles for the Univ. of Pennsylvania. He was a two-time New Jersey state champion for Kittatiny High School.
Fans are looking forward to another USA vs. Russia freestyle showdown this year, as two of the world's top powers will battle for bragging rights.
I
ncluded on the Russian lineup are 2008 Junior World Champion Magomed Zubairov at 84 kg/and 2008 World University Champion Evgeny Kolomiets at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. The Russian team features many young stars who have won medals on the age-group World level or at the European Championships.
In Greco-Roman, Team Japan will bring five Japanese national champions to the mat. Included in this group of athletes are two wrestlers who have placed fifth in the Asian Greco-Roman Championships, Hiroyuki Shimizu at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Mistuhiro Ota at 84 kg/185 lbs.
Completing the seven-athlete lineup will be two athletes from Israel, both who are veteran international competitors, Bronislav Sharovtski at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Vladimir Guralski at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
The format of the event will be the same as last year, with separate dual meets in freestyle and Greco-Roman. Freestyle and Greco-Roman matches will be alternated, and the final results of the dual meets will not be determined until the end of the evening.
Last year, the United States won the freestyle dual meet over Russia, 14-11, while the USA also won the Greco-Roman dual meet over Romania, 14-12.
USA Wrestling's National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser and National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones will be among the coaches working with Team USA.
The athletes in this dual meet are also expected to compete in the annual American Airlines New York Athletic Club International Championships, scheduled for November 22-23 in New York City.
Outstanding international wrestling action in all three Olympic styles will be showcased at the World famous NYAC facility on Central Park South in mid-town Manhattan.
For additional information, contact Sonny Greenhalgh at 973-256-0670 or Stephan Zichella of West Orange High School at 973-476-8782.
TEAM USA VS. RUSSIA FREESTYLE WORLD DUAL MEET
At West Orange, N.J.., Thursday, November 20, 6:30 p.m.
U.S. Freestyle athletes
55 kg/121 lbs. - Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Coleman Scott, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC) and Matt Valenti, Newton, N.J. (New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC) and Josh Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Ryan Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC) and Bryce Hasseman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Kurt Backes, Neshanic Station, N.J. (Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Steve Mocco, N. Bergen, N.J. (New York AC)
Coach - National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Sean Bormet, Naperville, Ill.
Russian Freestyle athletes
55 kg/121 lbs. - Makhmud Magomedov
60 kg/132 lbs. -Artur Akhmedov, Victor Lebedev
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Darsam Dzhaparov
74 kg/163 lbs. - Taymuraz Friev, Inal Kabolov
84 kg/185 lbs. - Magomed Zubairov
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Evgeny Kolomiets
120 kg/264.5 lbs. -Valeriy Bedoev
Coach - Khadzimurad Magomedov
Delegation - Christakis Alexandridis (team leader), Soltan Zaseev (referee), Inal Kabalov (translator and athlete)
TEAM USA VS. JAPAN GRECO-ROMAN WORLD DUAL MEET
At West Orange, N.J.., Thursday, November 20, 6:30 p.m.
U.S. Greco-Roman athletes
55 kg/121 lbs. - Spenser Mango, St. Louis, Mo. (Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jacob Curby, LaGrange, Ill. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Cheney Haight, Orem, Utah (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Jake Plamann, Appleton, Wis. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - R.C. Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Pete Kowalczuk, Oak Park, Ill. (Sunkist Kids)
Coaches - National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Assistant National Greco-Roman Coach Momir Petkovic (Colorado Springs, Colo.), USOEC Assistant Greco-Roman Coach Jim Gruenwald (Marquette, Mich.)
Japan Greco-Roman athletes
55 kg/121 lbs. - Kiyoharu Hirao (Japan)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Kosuke Hori (Japan)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Hiroyuki Shimizu (Japan)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Kosuke Sumi (Japan)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Mitsuhiro Ota (Japan)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Bronislav Sharovtsky (Israel)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Vladimir Guralski (Israel)
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