Weigh ins completed and teams set for Freestyle World Cup in Los Angeles, Calif., March 15-16
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by Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
Photos of Team USA wrestlers during weigh-ins by Robbert Wijtmann.
Weigh-ins have been completed for all 10 national teams entered at the 2014 Freestyle World Cup, which will be held at the 2014 Freestyle World Cup, set for the Forum, presented by Chase, in Inglewood, Calif., March 15-16.
The World Cup is the annual international dual meet championships, and teams were invited based upon their performance at the 2013 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. The top three teams from the 2013 World Cup are here, champion Iran, runner-up Russia and third-place United States.
The teams arrived on Thursday and presented their final rosters, which included some new athletes and some weight changes.
Pool A will feature returning World Cup champion Iran, host United States, India, Armenia and Turkey. Pool B will feature returning World Cup runner-up Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Mongolia and Japan.
The United States weighed in 16 athletes, two in each weight class. Included on the U.S. team is 2012 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Jordan Burroughs (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs. Also competing for the USA is 2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids/Ohio RTC) at 125 kg/264.5 lbs.
"We've got a ton of experience. I like our energy and I like our attitude. We need to stay consistent and we need to stay focused. On paper, Iran is certainly the favorite. We need a playmaker and we need someone in our lineup to step up," said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones.
Team USA faces Armenia, India and Iran on Saturday in pool competition, then closes its pool action on Sunday morning against Turkey. Medal rounds will be held on Sunday.
"Our preparation has been great. We've had two solid weeks of training together going into the competition. We start with Armenia and that has to be the priority. We have to focus on them first and take it one dual meet at a time. Then we wrestle India and then we have Iran. We've game-planned for all three of those teams and we're prepared and ready to go," said Jones.
One of the most intriguing entries is Eldar Kurtanidze of Georgia, who turns 42 on Sunday. Kurtanidze is a two-time World champion (2002, 2003) and a two-time Olympic bronze medalist.
FINAL WORLD CUP TEAM ROSTERS
POOL A
Armenia
57 kg/125 lbs. – Artak Hovhannisyan
61 kg/134 lbs. – Valodya Frangulyan
65 kg/143 lbs. – Artur Arakelyan
70 kg/154 lbs. – Davit Apoyan
74 kg/163 lbs. - Valruzhan Kajoyan
86 kg/189 lbs. – Vahe Tamrazyan
97 kg/213 lbs. - Viktor Kazishvili
120 kg/275 lbs. – Andranik Galstyan
India
57 kg/125 lbs. – Amit Kumar
61 kg/134 lbs. – Bajrang
65 kg/143 lbs. – Rajneesh
70 kg/154 lbs. – Amit Kumar Dhankhar
74 kg/163 lbs. - Parveen Rana
86 kg/189 lbs. – Pawan Kumar
97 kg/213 lbs. – Saywart Kadian
125 kg/275 lbs. – none
Iran
57 kg/125 lbs. – Hassan Rahimi
57 kg/125 lbs. –Mehran Rezazadeh
61 kg/134 lbs. - Masoud Esmailpoor Jouybari
65 kg/143 lbs. – Meysam Nasiri
65 kg/143 lbs. - Sayed Ahmad Mohammadi Pahnehkolaie
70 kg/154 lbs. - Mostafa Hosseinkhani
70 kg/154 lbs. – Peyman Yaramadi
74 kg/163 lbs. - Ezzatollah Akbari Zarinkolaei
74 kg/163 lbs. - Reza Afzalipaemami
86 kg/189 lbs. – Ehsan Lashgari
86 kg/189 lbs. – Meisam Mostafajoukar
86 kg/189 lbs. – Ali Reza Karmimachiani
97 kg/213 lbs. – Reza Yazdani
97 kg/213 lbs. – Hamed Talebi Zarinkamar
125 kg/275 lbs. – Komeil Ghasemi
125 kg/275 lbs. – Parviz Hadi Basmanj
Turkey
57 kg/125 lbs. – Nebi Uzun
61 kg/134 lbs. – Recep Topal
65 kg/143 lbs. – Selahattin Kilicsallayan
70 kg/154 lbs. – Mustafa Kaya
74 kg/163 lbs. - Murat Erturk
86 kg/189 lbs. – Fatih Erdin
97 kg/213 lbs. – Ali Boncuoglu
120 kg/275 lbs. – Hamza Ozkaradeniz
United States
57 kg/125 lbs. – Angel Escobedo, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)
57 kg/125 lbs. – Andrew Hochstrasser, Boise, Idaho (Titan Mercury WC)
61 kg/134 lbs. – Reece Humphrey, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)
61 kg/134 lbs. – Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Michigan RTC)
65 kg/143 lbs. – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC/Titan Mercury WC)
65 kg/143 lbs. – Kellen Russell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Michigan RTC)
70 kg/154 lbs. – Nick Marable, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids/MWF)
70 kg/154 lbs. – Moza Fay, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP/USOTC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska RTC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Dan Vallimont, Long Beach, N.Y. (Blue and Gold WC)
86 kg/189 lbs. – Keith Gavin, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)
86 kg/189 lbs. – Clayton Foster, Laramie, Wyo. (Cowboy WC/GRIT Athletics)
97 kg/213 lbs. – J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)
97 kg/213 lbs. – Dustin Kilgore, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids/USOTC)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids/Ohio RTC)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Tyrell Fortune, Portland, Ore. (Titan Mercury WC)
POOL B
Georgia
57 kg/125 lbs. – Beka Bujiashvili
57 kg/125 lbs. – Otari Gogava
61 kg/134 lbs. – Beka Lomtadze
65 kg/143 lbs. - Zurabi Iakobishvili
70 kg/154 lbs. – Giorgi Tsurskiridze
70 kg/154 lbs. – Levan Kelekhsashvili
74 kg/163 lbs. - Giorgi Marsagishvili
86 kg/189 lbs. – Levan Gogritchiani
97 kg/213 lbs. – Nodar Egadze
97 kg/213 lbs. – Eldar Kurtanidze
125 kg/275 lbs. – Geno Petriashvili
125 kg/275 lbs. – Giorgi Sakandelidze
Japan
57 kg/125 lbs. – Fumitaka Morishita
61 kg/134 lbs. – Katsuyoshi Kawase
65 kg/143 lbs. – Daichi Takatani
70 kg/154 lbs. – Ken Hosaka
74 kg/163 lbs. - Sohsuke Takatani
86 kg/189 lbs. – Atsushi Matsumoto
97 kg/213 lbs. – Koki Yamamoto
125 kg/275 lbs. – Nobuyoshi Arakida
Mongolia
57 kg/125 lbs. – Batbold Nomin
61 kg/134 lbs. – Enkhsaikhan Nyam-Ochir
65 kg/143 lbs. – Ganzorig Mandakhnaran
70 kg/154 lbs. – Batchullun Ankhbayar
74 kg/163 lbs. - Purevjav Unurbat
86 kg/189 lbs. – Orgodol Uitumen
97 kg/213 lbs. – Dorjkhand Khuderbulga
125 kg/275 lbs. – Jargalsaikhan Chuluunbat
Russia
57 kg/125 lbs. – Viktor Lebedev
57 kg/125 lbs. – Vladimir Flegontov
61 kg/134 lbs. –Murad Nukhkadiev
61 kg/134 lbs. – Aleksandr Bogomoev
65 kg/143 lbs. – Alibeggadzhi Emeev
65 kg/143 lbs. – Soslan Ramonov
70 kg/154 lbs. – Ramazan Shamsutdinov
70 kg/154 lbs. – Khetik Tsabolov
74 kg/163 lbs. - Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov
74 kg/163 lbs. - Atsamaz Sanakoev
86 kg/189 lbs. – Shamil Kudiamagomedov
86 kg/189 lbs. – Anzor Urishev
97 kg/213 lbs. – Yuri Belonovskiy
97 kg/213 lbs. – Vladislav Baicaev
125 kg/275 lbs. – Anzor Khizriev
125 kg/275 lbs. – Arslanbek Aliev
Ukraine
57 kg/125 lbs. – Sergiey Ratushny
61 kg/134 lbs. – Vasyl Fedoryshyn
65 kg/143 lbs. – Ivan Petriv
70 kg/154 lbs. – Andrey Kvyatkovskyy
74 kg/163 lbs. - Giya Chykhladze
86 kg/189 lbs. – Ibragim Aldatov
97 kg/213 lbs. – Pavlo Oliinyk
120 kg/275 lbs. – Alen Zaseev
FREESTYLE WORLD CUP
at the Forum, presented by Chase, Inglewood, Calif., March 15-16
Competition Schedule
Saturday, March 15
Session I
11:00 a.m. – USA vs. Armenia; India vs. Turkey
12:00 noon – USA vs. India; Iran vs. Armenia
1:00 p.m. – Georgia vs. Japan, Mongolia vs. Russia
2:00 p.m. – Japan vs. Mongolia; Ukraine vs. Russia
5:00 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
Session II
5:30 p.m. – Iran vs. Turkey; Armenia vs. India
6:30 p.m. – USA vs. Iran; Turkey vs. Armenia
7:30 p.m. – Mongolia vs. Georgia; Japan vs. Ukraine
8:30 p.m. – Georgia vs. Ukraine; Russia vs. Japan
Sunday, March 16
Session III
11:00 a.m. – Iran vs. India, USA vs. Turkey
12:00 noon – Russia vs. Georgia; Ukraine vs. Mongolia
1:30 p.m. – Seventh-place match and Ninth-place match
2:30 p.m. – Fifth-place match
Session IV
5:00 p.m. – Third-place match
6:00 p.m. – First-place match and Award Ceremonies
Weigh-ins have been completed for all 10 national teams entered at the 2014 Freestyle World Cup, which will be held at the 2014 Freestyle World Cup, set for the Forum, presented by Chase, in Inglewood, Calif., March 15-16.
The World Cup is the annual international dual meet championships, and teams were invited based upon their performance at the 2013 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. The top three teams from the 2013 World Cup are here, champion Iran, runner-up Russia and third-place United States.
The teams arrived on Thursday and presented their final rosters, which included some new athletes and some weight changes.
Pool A will feature returning World Cup champion Iran, host United States, India, Armenia and Turkey. Pool B will feature returning World Cup runner-up Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Mongolia and Japan.
The United States weighed in 16 athletes, two in each weight class. Included on the U.S. team is 2012 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Jordan Burroughs (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs. Also competing for the USA is 2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids/Ohio RTC) at 125 kg/264.5 lbs.
"We've got a ton of experience. I like our energy and I like our attitude. We need to stay consistent and we need to stay focused. On paper, Iran is certainly the favorite. We need a playmaker and we need someone in our lineup to step up," said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones.
Team USA faces Armenia, India and Iran on Saturday in pool competition, then closes its pool action on Sunday morning against Turkey. Medal rounds will be held on Sunday.
"Our preparation has been great. We've had two solid weeks of training together going into the competition. We start with Armenia and that has to be the priority. We have to focus on them first and take it one dual meet at a time. Then we wrestle India and then we have Iran. We've game-planned for all three of those teams and we're prepared and ready to go," said Jones.
One of the most intriguing entries is Eldar Kurtanidze of Georgia, who turns 42 on Sunday. Kurtanidze is a two-time World champion (2002, 2003) and a two-time Olympic bronze medalist.
FINAL WORLD CUP TEAM ROSTERS
POOL A
Armenia
57 kg/125 lbs. – Artak Hovhannisyan
61 kg/134 lbs. – Valodya Frangulyan
65 kg/143 lbs. – Artur Arakelyan
70 kg/154 lbs. – Davit Apoyan
74 kg/163 lbs. - Valruzhan Kajoyan
86 kg/189 lbs. – Vahe Tamrazyan
97 kg/213 lbs. - Viktor Kazishvili
120 kg/275 lbs. – Andranik Galstyan
India
57 kg/125 lbs. – Amit Kumar
61 kg/134 lbs. – Bajrang
65 kg/143 lbs. – Rajneesh
70 kg/154 lbs. – Amit Kumar Dhankhar
74 kg/163 lbs. - Parveen Rana
86 kg/189 lbs. – Pawan Kumar
97 kg/213 lbs. – Saywart Kadian
125 kg/275 lbs. – none
Iran
57 kg/125 lbs. – Hassan Rahimi
57 kg/125 lbs. –Mehran Rezazadeh
61 kg/134 lbs. - Masoud Esmailpoor Jouybari
65 kg/143 lbs. – Meysam Nasiri
65 kg/143 lbs. - Sayed Ahmad Mohammadi Pahnehkolaie
70 kg/154 lbs. - Mostafa Hosseinkhani
70 kg/154 lbs. – Peyman Yaramadi
74 kg/163 lbs. - Ezzatollah Akbari Zarinkolaei
74 kg/163 lbs. - Reza Afzalipaemami
86 kg/189 lbs. – Ehsan Lashgari
86 kg/189 lbs. – Meisam Mostafajoukar
86 kg/189 lbs. – Ali Reza Karmimachiani
97 kg/213 lbs. – Reza Yazdani
97 kg/213 lbs. – Hamed Talebi Zarinkamar
125 kg/275 lbs. – Komeil Ghasemi
125 kg/275 lbs. – Parviz Hadi Basmanj
Turkey
57 kg/125 lbs. – Nebi Uzun
61 kg/134 lbs. – Recep Topal
65 kg/143 lbs. – Selahattin Kilicsallayan
70 kg/154 lbs. – Mustafa Kaya
74 kg/163 lbs. - Murat Erturk
86 kg/189 lbs. – Fatih Erdin
97 kg/213 lbs. – Ali Boncuoglu
120 kg/275 lbs. – Hamza Ozkaradeniz
United States
57 kg/125 lbs. – Angel Escobedo, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)
57 kg/125 lbs. – Andrew Hochstrasser, Boise, Idaho (Titan Mercury WC)
61 kg/134 lbs. – Reece Humphrey, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)
61 kg/134 lbs. – Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Michigan RTC)
65 kg/143 lbs. – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC/Titan Mercury WC)
65 kg/143 lbs. – Kellen Russell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Michigan RTC)
70 kg/154 lbs. – Nick Marable, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids/MWF)
70 kg/154 lbs. – Moza Fay, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP/USOTC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska RTC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Dan Vallimont, Long Beach, N.Y. (Blue and Gold WC)
86 kg/189 lbs. – Keith Gavin, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)
86 kg/189 lbs. – Clayton Foster, Laramie, Wyo. (Cowboy WC/GRIT Athletics)
97 kg/213 lbs. – J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)
97 kg/213 lbs. – Dustin Kilgore, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids/USOTC)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids/Ohio RTC)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Tyrell Fortune, Portland, Ore. (Titan Mercury WC)
POOL B
Georgia
57 kg/125 lbs. – Beka Bujiashvili
57 kg/125 lbs. – Otari Gogava
61 kg/134 lbs. – Beka Lomtadze
65 kg/143 lbs. - Zurabi Iakobishvili
70 kg/154 lbs. – Giorgi Tsurskiridze
70 kg/154 lbs. – Levan Kelekhsashvili
74 kg/163 lbs. - Giorgi Marsagishvili
86 kg/189 lbs. – Levan Gogritchiani
97 kg/213 lbs. – Nodar Egadze
97 kg/213 lbs. – Eldar Kurtanidze
125 kg/275 lbs. – Geno Petriashvili
125 kg/275 lbs. – Giorgi Sakandelidze
Japan
57 kg/125 lbs. – Fumitaka Morishita
61 kg/134 lbs. – Katsuyoshi Kawase
65 kg/143 lbs. – Daichi Takatani
70 kg/154 lbs. – Ken Hosaka
74 kg/163 lbs. - Sohsuke Takatani
86 kg/189 lbs. – Atsushi Matsumoto
97 kg/213 lbs. – Koki Yamamoto
125 kg/275 lbs. – Nobuyoshi Arakida
Mongolia
57 kg/125 lbs. – Batbold Nomin
61 kg/134 lbs. – Enkhsaikhan Nyam-Ochir
65 kg/143 lbs. – Ganzorig Mandakhnaran
70 kg/154 lbs. – Batchullun Ankhbayar
74 kg/163 lbs. - Purevjav Unurbat
86 kg/189 lbs. – Orgodol Uitumen
97 kg/213 lbs. – Dorjkhand Khuderbulga
125 kg/275 lbs. – Jargalsaikhan Chuluunbat
Russia
57 kg/125 lbs. – Viktor Lebedev
57 kg/125 lbs. – Vladimir Flegontov
61 kg/134 lbs. –Murad Nukhkadiev
61 kg/134 lbs. – Aleksandr Bogomoev
65 kg/143 lbs. – Alibeggadzhi Emeev
65 kg/143 lbs. – Soslan Ramonov
70 kg/154 lbs. – Ramazan Shamsutdinov
70 kg/154 lbs. – Khetik Tsabolov
74 kg/163 lbs. - Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov
74 kg/163 lbs. - Atsamaz Sanakoev
86 kg/189 lbs. – Shamil Kudiamagomedov
86 kg/189 lbs. – Anzor Urishev
97 kg/213 lbs. – Yuri Belonovskiy
97 kg/213 lbs. – Vladislav Baicaev
125 kg/275 lbs. – Anzor Khizriev
125 kg/275 lbs. – Arslanbek Aliev
Ukraine
57 kg/125 lbs. – Sergiey Ratushny
61 kg/134 lbs. – Vasyl Fedoryshyn
65 kg/143 lbs. – Ivan Petriv
70 kg/154 lbs. – Andrey Kvyatkovskyy
74 kg/163 lbs. - Giya Chykhladze
86 kg/189 lbs. – Ibragim Aldatov
97 kg/213 lbs. – Pavlo Oliinyk
120 kg/275 lbs. – Alen Zaseev
FREESTYLE WORLD CUP
at the Forum, presented by Chase, Inglewood, Calif., March 15-16
Competition Schedule
Saturday, March 15
Session I
11:00 a.m. – USA vs. Armenia; India vs. Turkey
12:00 noon – USA vs. India; Iran vs. Armenia
1:00 p.m. – Georgia vs. Japan, Mongolia vs. Russia
2:00 p.m. – Japan vs. Mongolia; Ukraine vs. Russia
5:00 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
Session II
5:30 p.m. – Iran vs. Turkey; Armenia vs. India
6:30 p.m. – USA vs. Iran; Turkey vs. Armenia
7:30 p.m. – Mongolia vs. Georgia; Japan vs. Ukraine
8:30 p.m. – Georgia vs. Ukraine; Russia vs. Japan
Sunday, March 16
Session III
11:00 a.m. – Iran vs. India, USA vs. Turkey
12:00 noon – Russia vs. Georgia; Ukraine vs. Mongolia
1:30 p.m. – Seventh-place match and Ninth-place match
2:30 p.m. – Fifth-place match
Session IV
5:00 p.m. – Third-place match
6:00 p.m. – First-place match and Award Ceremonies
