Frayer, Hrovat, Steele earn wins as Team USA falls 4-3 to Russia in New York City dual meet
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by Craig Sesker
Video interview with Andy Hrovat
Video interview with Jake Herbert
Video interview with Zeke Jones
NEW YORK - Zeke Jones has seen more than his fair share of 4-3 losses this week.
But the U.S. National freestyle wrestling coach can see his young American squad continuing to make progress.
Team USA lost its third 4-3 dual to Russia in six days before a packed house of 1,000 fans on Friday night at the New York Athletic Club. But the U.S. gave the strong Russian team another battle.
Russia beat the U.S. 4-3 last Sunday at the Chicago Cup before winning by the same score Wednesday in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Americans Jared Frayer, Andy Hrovat and Scott Steele earned wins for the U.S. on Friday.
"We're right there with the Russians," Jones said. "This is a very good Russian team they brought. This gives us a gauge where our wrestlers are compared to theirs."
Frayer finished strong in earning an impressive win at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. over Arsen Mairov. Frayer wore Mairov, second in the 2009 Russia Nationals, down and won convincingly in the final period.
"It's real important to wrestle these duals," Frayer said. "Their No. 1 guy was second in the World, and the guy I wrestled tonight went three periods with him. This is the kind of experience our team needs."
Hrovat avenged a loss from Sunday in earning a three-period win over Russia's Magomed Magomadov at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Hrovat injured his knee in the second period, but regrouped to win the final period. It came down to a leg clinch and Hrovat finished to earn the victory.
Steele, who will compete collegiately for Navy in the second semester, came out aggressively in scoring a win over Valeriy Bedoev at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert dropped a match to Russia's Anzor Urishev at 84 kg/185 lbs. Herbert was competing for the first time since the World Championships nearly two months ago.
A majority of the wrestlers who competed in this event will wrestle in the New York AC tournament on Sunday.
RUSSIA 4, USA 3
55 kg/121 lbs. - Nariman Israpilov (Russia) dec. Sam Hazewinkel (USA), 5-0, 1-3, 2-2
60 kg/132 lbs. - Vladimir Vilmov (Russia) dec. Shawn Bunch (USA), 1-1, 1-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jared Frayer (USA) dec. Arsen Mairov (Russia), 0-1, 3-3, 6-0
74 kg/163 lbs. - Rashid Kurbanov (Russia) dec. Trent Paulson (USA), 6-0, 0-2, 1-1
84 kg/185 lbs. - Anzor Urishev (Russia) vs. Jake Herbert (USA), 3-0, 4-2
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Andy Hrovat (USA) dec. Magomed Magomadov (Russia), 5-0, 0-5, 1-0
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Scott Steele (USA) vs. Valeriy Bedoev (Russia), 2-1, 2-1
Video interview with Jake Herbert
Video interview with Zeke Jones
NEW YORK - Zeke Jones has seen more than his fair share of 4-3 losses this week.
But the U.S. National freestyle wrestling coach can see his young American squad continuing to make progress.
Team USA lost its third 4-3 dual to Russia in six days before a packed house of 1,000 fans on Friday night at the New York Athletic Club. But the U.S. gave the strong Russian team another battle.
Russia beat the U.S. 4-3 last Sunday at the Chicago Cup before winning by the same score Wednesday in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Americans Jared Frayer, Andy Hrovat and Scott Steele earned wins for the U.S. on Friday.
"We're right there with the Russians," Jones said. "This is a very good Russian team they brought. This gives us a gauge where our wrestlers are compared to theirs."
Frayer finished strong in earning an impressive win at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. over Arsen Mairov. Frayer wore Mairov, second in the 2009 Russia Nationals, down and won convincingly in the final period.
"It's real important to wrestle these duals," Frayer said. "Their No. 1 guy was second in the World, and the guy I wrestled tonight went three periods with him. This is the kind of experience our team needs."
Hrovat avenged a loss from Sunday in earning a three-period win over Russia's Magomed Magomadov at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Hrovat injured his knee in the second period, but regrouped to win the final period. It came down to a leg clinch and Hrovat finished to earn the victory.
Steele, who will compete collegiately for Navy in the second semester, came out aggressively in scoring a win over Valeriy Bedoev at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert dropped a match to Russia's Anzor Urishev at 84 kg/185 lbs. Herbert was competing for the first time since the World Championships nearly two months ago.
A majority of the wrestlers who competed in this event will wrestle in the New York AC tournament on Sunday.
RUSSIA 4, USA 3
55 kg/121 lbs. - Nariman Israpilov (Russia) dec. Sam Hazewinkel (USA), 5-0, 1-3, 2-2
60 kg/132 lbs. - Vladimir Vilmov (Russia) dec. Shawn Bunch (USA), 1-1, 1-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jared Frayer (USA) dec. Arsen Mairov (Russia), 0-1, 3-3, 6-0
74 kg/163 lbs. - Rashid Kurbanov (Russia) dec. Trent Paulson (USA), 6-0, 0-2, 1-1
84 kg/185 lbs. - Anzor Urishev (Russia) vs. Jake Herbert (USA), 3-0, 4-2
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Andy Hrovat (USA) dec. Magomed Magomadov (Russia), 5-0, 0-5, 1-0
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Scott Steele (USA) vs. Valeriy Bedoev (Russia), 2-1, 2-1
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