Headline matchups released for USA vs. Russia duals in New York

Four key matchups have been released for the USA versus Russia men's freestyle duals to be held in New York on November 16 in Clifton Park and November 17 in Ithaca.

Competing for the United States in the Clifton Park dual will be Sam Hazewinkel (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Nick Simmons (Bloomington, Ind./Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 lbs.

The 2012 Olympic Team member Hazewinkel will square off against Russia’s Omak Syuryun who was the champion of the 2013 Olympia Tournament. Hazewinkel was a four-time All-American for Oklahoma.

Simmons, who also placed fifth in the world in 2011 at 55 kg/121 lbs. will face Russia’s most credentialed competitor for this event, Aleksandr Bogomoev. The Russian has won five international events in recent years and also finished second at the Ivan Yarygin Memorial Grand Prix twice. Simmons, who was second in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, has moved up a weight class.

A couple of hometown heroes who competed for Cornell will take to the mat in the Ithaca dual. Four-time NCAA Champion Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC/Finger Lakes WC) will compete at 74 kg/163 lbs. and 2012 NCAA Champion Cam Simaz (Ithaca, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC/Finger Lakes WC) will compete at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Dake, the first athlete to win four NCAA Div. I titles in four different weights, will face Russia’s Boris Makoev. Dake was second in the 2013 U.S. World Team Trials.

Simaz, who recently won the Tour ACW Test Event, will face 2012 Cadet World Champion Georgii Gogaev.

The remaining U.S. lineups are being finalized and will be released shortly.

The Clifton Park dual on Saturday is set to begin at 3:15 p.m. Eastern time following a youth clinic featuring members of the Penn State University coaching staff. Ticket prices are $50 to attend both the clinic and the dual and $20 to attend the dual only. For more information and to order tickets, please visit journeymenwrestling.com.

The Ithaca dual on Sunday starts at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. Prior to the dual, two-time World Champion and Olympic Champion Jordan Burroughs will be hosting a meet and greet, and there will also be a free clinic, starting at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $15 for chair back seating. Tickets can be purchased online at cornellbigredtickets.com.