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U.S. freestyle tours to include five countries this winter

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by Alexandra Pernice

2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner, shown at the 2014 World Championships, is scheduled to compete in France during the winter tour season. Larry Slater photo.

USA Wrestling will send teams on tour to five countries as a part of the winter international tour season.

“Winter tours are practice. Athletes come into camp and they learn. They have to take the tools they learn and apply them in a match. They find out if they’ve done better or worse or if they continue to get better. Winter tours are practice matches, but make no mistakes, practice counts. How you do counts. You have to compete hard and continue to improve. You especially have to test yourself in weak areas. Winter tours are very important,” said National Freestyle Coach Bruce Burnett.

The first U.S. Men’s freestyle team will be at the Ivan Yarygin International in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Jan. 23-25.

U.S. wrestlers expected to compete include 2012 Olympian and World silver medalist Jake Herbert (Ann Arbor, Mich./NYAC/Cliff Keen WC), two-time World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids/Ohio RTC) and three-time World team member Brent Metcalf (Iowa City, Iowa/NYAC/Hawkeye WC).

Next up for Team USA is the Grand Prix of Paris in Paris, France, Jan. 31-Feb. 1.

U.S. wrestlers scheduled to attend this tour include 2012 Olympian and World silver medalist Jake Herbert (Ann Arbor, Mich./NYAC/Cliff Keen WC), three-time World team member Brent Metcalf (Iowa City, Iowa/NYAC/Hawkeye WC) and four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC).

Another fully loaded team will compete at the Cerro Pelado International in Havana, Cuba, Feb. 11-15.

U.S. freestyle wrestlers to travel to Cuba include 2012 Olympian Sam Hazewinkel (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids), and two-time World team members Reece Humphrey (Columbus, Ohio/NYAC/Ohio RTC) and J.D. Bergman (Columbus, Ohio/NYAC/Ohio RTC).

An experienced squad will wrestle at the Alexander Medved International in Minsk, Belarus, Mar. 5-7.

U.S. wrestlers expected to compete include 2012 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Jordan Burroughs (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids/Nebraska Wrestling TC), 2012 Olympian Sam Hazewinkel (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) and two-time World team member J.D. Bergman (Columbus, Ohio/NYAC/Ohio RTC).

Members of Team USA will then travel to the Yasar Dogu International in Istanbul, Turkey, Mar. 28-29.

The top U.S. wrestler competing is 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott (Chapel Hill, N.C./Titan Mercury WC), along with group of talented young stars.

Ivan Yarygin International, Krasnoyarsk, Russia (Jan. 23-25)
57 kg/125.5 lbs – Tony Ramos, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC)
57 kg/125.5 lbs – Matt McDonough, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC)
65 kg/143 lbs – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (NYAC/Hawkeye WC)
65 kg/143 lbs – Aaron Pico, Whittier, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
74 kg/163 lbs – Kyle Dake, Ithaca, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC)
74 kg/163 lbs – Andrew Howe, Norman, Okla. (New York AC)
70 kg/154 lbs – Adam Hall, New York, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC)
86 kg/189 lbs – Jake Herbert, Ann Arbor, Mich. (NYAC/Cliff Keen WC)
86 kg/189 lbs – Phillip Keddy, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC)
125 kg/275 lbs – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids/Ohio RTC)
Assistant National Freestyle Coach – Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach – Jeff Buxton, Oak Ridge, N.J.
Coach –Valentin Kalika, Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Medical – Dan Clearfield, Ft. Worth, TX
Official: Pete Kuisle, Fairmont, Minn.
Team Leader: Paul Kieblesz, Middle Village, N.Y.

Grand Prix of Paris, Paris, France (Jan. 31-Feb. 1)
57 kg/125.5 lbs – Matt McDonough, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC)
57 kg/125.5 lbs – Tony Ramos, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC)
65 kg/143 lbs – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (NYAC/Hawkeye WC)
65 kg/143 lbs – Frank Molinaro, South Plainfield, N.J. (Nittany Lion WC)
70 kg/154 lbs – Adam Hall, New York, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC)
70 kg/154 lbs – Cyler Sanderson, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
74 kg/163 lbs – Kyle Dake, Ithaca, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC)
74 kg/163 lbs – Michael Mitchell, San Francisco, Calif.
86 kg/189 lbs – Jake Herbert, Ann Arbor, Mich. (NYAC/Cliff Keen WC)
86 kg/189 lbs – Phillip Keddy, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC)
97 kg/213 lbs – Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
125 kg/275 lbs – Eric Thompson, Des Moines, Iowa (Viking Wrestling Club)
Assistant National Freestyle Coach – Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach – Jeff Buxton, Oak Ridge, N.J.
Official – James Dozier, Inverness, Fla.
Official – Karla Dozier, Inverness, Fla.
Medical – Warren Flautt, Aidlingen, Germany

Cerro Pelado International, Havana, Cuba (Feb. 11-15)
57 kg/125.5 lbs – Joe Colon, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Panther WC of NE Iowa)
57 kg/125.5 lbs – Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids)
57 kg/125.5 lbs – Angel Escobedo, Ames, Iowa (New York AC/ Ohio RTC)
57 kg/125.5 lbs – Zach Sanders, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
65 kg/143 lbs – Frank Molinaro, South Plainfield, N.J. (Nittany Lion WC)
65 kg/143 lbs – Reece Humphrey, Columbus, Ohio (NYAC/Ohio RTC)
70 kg/154 lbs – Kyle Ruschell, Madison, Wis. (NYAC/ Wisconsin RTC)
70 kg/154 lbs – Kevin LeValley, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
70 kg/154 lbs – Dustin Schlatter, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
70 kg/154 lbs– Jason Welch, Evanston, Ill. (Chicago RTC/Wrestling Prep)
86 kg/189 lbs – Clayton Foster, Laramie, Wyo. (GRIT Athletics/Cowboy WC)
97 kg/213 lbs – J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (NYAC/Ohio RTC)
125 kg/275 lbs – Zack Rey, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC)
125 kg/275 lbs – Tony Nelson, Cambridge, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
U.S. Junior Competitors
60 kg/132 lbs – Joey McKenna, Towaca, N.J. (Lehigh Valley AC)
65 kg/143 lbs – Aaron Pico, Whittier, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
Assistant National Freestyle Coach –Brandon Slay, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach –Valentin Kalika, Laguna Niguel, Calif.

Alexander Medved International, Minsk, Belarus (Mar. 5-7)
57 kg/125.5 lbs – Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids)
57 kg/125.5 lbs – Brandon Precin, Ann Arbor, Mich. (NYAC/Michigan RTC)
57 kg/125.5 lbs – Frank Perrelli, Stillwater, Okla. (New York AC)
61 kg/134 lbs – Joey McKenna, Towaca, N.J. (Lehigh Valley AC)
65 kg/143 lbs – Montell Marion, College Park, Md. (Titan Mercury WC)
65 kg/143 lbs – Jordon Oliver, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy RTC)
65 kg/143 lbs – Chase Pami, Champaign, Ill. (Sunkist Kids/Illinois RTC)
74 kg/163 lbs – Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska Wrestling TC)
86 kg/189 lbs – Richard Perry, Washington, D.C. (New York AC)
86 kg/189 lbs – Deron Winn, Ames, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC)
97 kg/213 lbs – J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (NYAC/Ohio RTC)
97 kg/213 lbs – Cayle Byers, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC)
97 kg/213 lbs – Dustin Kilgore, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids/OTC)
97 kg/213 lbs – David Zabriskie, Northampton, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC)
125 kg/275 lbs – Zack Rey, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC)
Assistant National Freestyle Coach – Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach – Tom Erickson, West Lafayette, Ind.
Medical – Ryan Palmer, Carthage, Mo.
Official – Jim Speelman, Mansfield, Ohio
Team Leader – Paul Kieblesz, Middle Village, N.Y.

Yasar Dogu International, Istanbul, Turkey (Mar. 28-29)
57 kg/125.5 lbs – Joe Colon, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Panther WC of NE Iowa)
57 kg/125.5 lbs – Kyle Hutter, Norfolk, Va. (Titan Mercury WC)
57 kg/125.5 lbs – Dan Mitcheff, Lorain, Ohio (NEORTC)
61 kg/134 lbs – Coleman Scott, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC)
61 kg/134 lbs – Brandon Precin, Ann Arbor, Mich. (NYAC/Michigan RTC)
65 kg/143 lbs – Jason Chamberlain, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC)
65 kg/143 lbs – Kellen Russell, High Bridge, N.J. (NYAC/Cliff Keen WC)
70 kg/154 lbs – Kyle Ruschell, Madison, Wis. (NYAC/Wisconsin RTC)
74 kg/163 lbs – David Taylor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
74 kg/163 lbs – Jason Welch, Evanston, Ill. (Chicago RTC/Wrestling Prep)
86 kg/189 lbs – Keith Gavin, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)
86 kg/189 lbs – Austin Trotman, Boone, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC)
97 kg/213 lbs – J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (NYAC/Ohio RTC)
97 kg/213 lbs – Wynn Michalk, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC/Illinois RTC)
125 kg/275 lbs – Matthew Meuleners, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC)
Coach – Chris Bono, Brookings, S.D.
Team Leader – Les Gutches, Colorado Springs, Colo.

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