Talented U.S. teams set for USA vs. Russia Duals in Clifton Park and Ithaca, N.Y. next weekend

The USA lineups have been released for the two men's freestyle duals against Russia on Nov. 16 in Clifton Park, N.Y. and Nov. 17 in Ithaca, N.Y.

A combination of experience and youth will be present on the U.S. team in Clifton Park as three former World or Olympic team members will take to the mat joined by four rising stars on the U.S. circuit including high school phenom Aaron Pico (Whittier, Calif./Titan Mercury WC).

Fresh off a gold medal at the 2013 Cadet World Championships, Pico will compete for the U.S. at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Pico is a two-time California State Champion for St. John Bosco High School, and also won FILA Junior, FILA Cadet and Junior Nationals freestyle titles last year.

2012 Olympian Sam Hazewinkel (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) will compete at 55 kg/121 lbs. for the United States. He finished third at this year’s World Team Trials. He was a star for Oklahoma.

2013 World Team Member Keith Gavin (Columbus, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC) is slotted to wrestling at 84 kg/185 lbs. for the U.S. in Clifton Park. Gavin was an NCAA champion for Pittsburgh.

Nick Simmons (Bloomington, Ind./Sunkist Kids) will wrestle at 60 kg/132 lbs. on the U.S. squad. Simmons placed fifth in the World at 55 kg/121 lbs. in 2011. He was a star for Michigan State.

Rounding out the Clifton Park squad for the U.S. is Moza Fay (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) at 74 kg/163 lbs., Dustin Kilgore (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and 2013 U.S. World Team Trials Runner-Up Tyrell Fortune (Portland, Ore./Titan Mercury WC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Fay was an All-American at Northern Iowa and Kilgore won an NCAA title for Kent State. Fortune won two NJCAA national titles for Clackamas Community College and a NCAA Div. II national title for Grand Canyon.

Two women’s international exhibitions will be contested in Clifton Park as local stars Alexis Porter (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Journeymen WC) and Jenna Burkert (Rocky Point, N.Y./New York AC/USOEC) will take on two Canadian opponents in their home state.

Three hometown favorites from Cornell University will lead the way for the U.S. against the Russian’s in the Ithaca, N.Y. dual.

Four-time NCAA Champion Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC) will represent the United States at 74 kg/163 lbs. Dake finished second at the 2013 U.S. World Team Trials and is the first wrestler to win four NCAA titles at four different weight classes.

A 2012 NCAA Champion for Cornell, Cam Simaz (Ithaca, N.Y./Finger Lakes WC) will once again compete in his home gym in Ithaca, this time at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. for the United States. Simaz was runner-up at the 2013 University National Championships in Akron, Ohio.

Cornell All-American Frank Perrelli (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC/Finger Lakes WC) gets the nod at 55 kg/121 lbs. against Russia. Perrelli has come on strong this year with impressive results most recently placing fifth at the Dmitry Korkin International in Russia last month.

2013 U.S. Open Champion Kellen Russell (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) will be the U.S. representative at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Russell was a two-time NCAA Champion for the University of Michigan and four-time Big Ten Champion. He finished second at this year’s U.S. World Team Trials.

Also representing the United States in Ithaca, N.Y. will be 2013 U.S. World Team Trials Runner-Up Jimmy Kennedy (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) at 60 kg/132 lbs., 2013 U.S. World Team Trials Runner-Up Clayton Foster (Laramie, Wyo./GRIT Athletics/Cowboy WC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and U.S. World Team Trials Third Place Finisher Zach Rey (Bethlehem, Pa./Lehigh Valley AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Kennedy starred for Illinois, Foster for Oklahoma State and Rey for Lehigh. Rey is a past NCAA champion.

The Clifton Park dual on Saturday is set to begin at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time, with the women's bouts going off at 2:45 p.m. It is 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.

U.S. Lineup for “The Resurrection” vs. Russia

November 16 in Clifton Park, N.Y.

55 kg/121 lbs.: Sam Hazewinkel (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids)

60 kg/132 lbs.: Nick Simmons (Bloomington, Ind./Sunkist Kids)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.: Aaron Pico (Whittier, Calif./Titan Mercury WC)

74 kg/163 lbs.: Moza Fay (Colorado Springs, Colo./US Army WCAP)

84 kg/185 lbs.: Keith Gavin (Columbus, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.: Dustin Kilgore (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)

120 kg/264.5 lbs.: Tyrell Fortune (Portland, Ore./Titan Mercury WC)

Coaches: Zeke Jones, Valentin Kalika

Medical: Lou Rende

U.S. Lineup for Ithaca Dual vs. Russia

November 17 in Ithaca, N.Y.

55 kg/121 lbs.: Frank Perrelli (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC/Finger Lakes WC)

60 kg/132 lbs.: Jimmy Kennedy (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.: Kellen Russell (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC)

74 kg/163 lbs.: Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC)

84 kg/185 lbs.: Clayton Foster (Laramie, Wyo./GRIT Athletics/Cowboy WC)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.: Cam Simaz (Ithaca, N.Y./Finger Lakes WC)

120 kg/264.5 lbs.: Zach Rey (Bethlehem, Pa./Lehigh Valley AC)

Coaches: Zeke Jones, Rob Koll, Jeff Buxton

Medical: Chris Scarlata