U.S. freestyle wrestlers return to Takhti Cup in Tehran, Iran, March 12-13

A team of U.S. men's freestyle wrestlers will compete at the 2009 Takhti Cup in Tehran, Iran, March 12-13.

Coaching the U.S. team will be USA Wrestling's National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones. Jones was a member of the U.S. team which competed in the historic trip to Iran in 1998.

Also coaching the team is USA Wrestling Assistant National Freestyle Coach Brandon Slay, who was a 2000 Olympic gold medalist.

Attending the tour as a special USA Wrestling delegate will be 2008 Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo, who won the 55 kg/121 lbs. in freestyle wrestling at the Beijing Olympic Games. Cejudo competed in the 2007 Takhti Cup and won a silver medal. He will help coach and will also attend formal activities on behalf of Team USA.

2008 U.S. Olympian Mike Zadick (Solon, Iowa/Gator WC) is scheduled to compete at 60 kg/132 lbs. Zadick was a 2006 World silver medalist.

Also included on the six-athlete U.S. roster is 2008 University World champion Tervel Dlagnev (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

The U.S. team will feature a pair of past NCAA Div. I champions from Oklahoma State, Coleman Scott (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Zack Esposito (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) at 74 kg/163 lbs.

Also on the U.S. roster are talented freestyle wrestlers Shawn Bunch (Columbus, Ohio/New York AC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Mike Tamillow (Colorado Springs, Colo./unattached) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

USA Wrestling sponsored the first American sports team to compete in Iran after an absence of nearly 20 years, when a U.S. freestyle wrestling team competed in the 1998 Takhti Cup.

This will be the seventh time a U.S. team has competed in the Takhti Cup (1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009). The U.S. also competed at the 1998 World Championships held in Tehran, Iran.

Iran has competed in wrestling in the United States a number of times. This included the 1995 World Championships in Atlanta, the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and the 1998 Junior World Championships in Primm, Nev., the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York City and the 2003 World Championships in New York City. In addition, the Iranian team competed in the World Cup held in the United States a number of times (1995 in Chattanooga, 1998 in Stillwater, 1999 in Spokane, 2000 in Fairfax, Va. and 2001 in Baltimore).

While there, USA Wrestling will discuss with the Iranian Wrestling Federation plans to send an Iranian team to compete in the United States during the upcoming year.

Updates from the Takhti Cup will be posted on TheMat.com.

U.S. LINEUP FOR TAKHTI CUP
60 kg/132 lbs. - Mike Zadick, Solon, Iowa (Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Shawn Bunch, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Coleman Scott, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Zack Esposito, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Mike Tamillow, Colorado Springs, Colo. (unattached)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tervel Dlagnev, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
Coaches - Zeke Jones, Colorado Springs, Colo., Brandon Slay, Dallas, Texas
USA Wrestling special delegate - Henry Cejudo, Phoenix, Ariz.
Trainer - Darryl Miller, Englewood, Colo.
Official - Casey Goessl, St. Paul, Minn.
Delegation - Mitch Hull, Colorado Springs, Colo., Amir Bashiri, Atlanta, Ga., Mike Novogratz, New York, N.Y., Dave Barry, New York, N.Y., Noel Thompson, New York, N.Y.

2009 TAKHTI CUP EVENT SCHEDULE
At Tehran, Iran, March 12-13

Wednesday, March 11
6:00 p.m. - Weigh-ins for 55 kg, 66 kg, 96 kg

Thursday, March 12
9:00 a.m. - Preliminary competition for 55 kg, 66 kg, 96 kg
3:00 p.m. - Weigh-ins for 60 kg, 74 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg
4:00 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
5:00 p.m. - Repechage rounds for 55 kg, 66 kg, 96 kg
6:30 p.m. - Finals and award ceremonies for 55 kg, 66 kg, 96 kg

Friday, March 13
9:00 a.m. - Preliminary competition for 60 kg, 74 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg
5:00 p.m. - Repechage rounds for 60 kg, 74 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg
6:30 p.m. - Finals and award ceremonies for 60 kg, 74 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg