U.S. fails to medal on last day of Yasar Dogu International

2015 World Bronze medalist James Green (USA) made his 65 kg debut in Istanbul on Sunday. He fell in the first round to Safa Aksoy (TUR) 2-2. Photo: Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com

ISTANBUL, Turkey – It was a tough outing for the U.S. men’s freestyle squad on the final day of competition at the Yasar Dogu International as no American earned a medal.


Two past World and Olympic medalists for the U.S., Jake Varner and James Green, took the mat on Sunday in Istanbul, but both lost their first match of the tournament and were not pulled into the repechage.


Coming off a silver medal performance at the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix, 2012 Olympic champion Varner dropped an 8-2 decision to eventual bronze medalist Ibragim Bolukbasi of Turkey in the opening round at 97 kg/213 lbs. Bolukbasi finished in eighth place at the World Championships last year.


In his first competition down at 65 kg/143 lbs., Green fell to Safa Aksoy of Turkey on criteria, 2-2, in his first and only match of the day. This was the first time Green has competed since he torched his way to a World bronze medal at 70 kg/154 lbs. last September.


“With the final day of the Yasar Dogu we didn’t see the results which we believe our athletes are capable,” said U.S. men’s freestyle coach Bill Zadick. “Everything before the Olympic trials is practice so we will learn from today and get better. Some of our athletes will have an opportunity to improve their performances next week at the tournament in Ukraine."


Three-time U.S. World Team member Reece Humphrey also lost his opening round match at 65 kg, falling to World Military Games bronze medalist Agahueseyin Mustafaev of Azerbaijan, 4-0. Mustafaev went on to earn a bronze medal at 65 kg.


U.S. Senior Nationals runner-up Scott Schiller was the most successful American on the day. The Minnesota product won his first two matches against Turkish opponents to make the 97 kg quarterfinals before falling to 2014 World University champion and eventual Yasar Dogu champion Fatih Yasarli, 4-0. He then lost to veteran Fatih Cakiroglu of Turkey, 13-2, in the repechage, falling short of a medal match.


Dave Schultz Memorial International runner-up Deron Winn opened competition at 86 kg/189 lbs. with a 4-2 victory over Caner Demirtas of Turkey. He then lost on criteria, 2-2, to Luvsandors Turtogh of Mongolia and was not pulled into the repechage.


Over the course of the three-day Yasar Dogu International, the U.S. men’s freestyle team came away with two medals, Jordan Burroughs taking top prize at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Anthony Nelson claiming silver at 125 kg/275 lbs.

YASAR DOGU INTERNATIONAL

Feb. 5-7 at Istanbul, Turkey

Final Results

65 kg/143 lbs.

Gold – Batchuluun Batmagnai (Mongolia)

Silver – Mustafa Kaya (Turkey)

Bronze – Agahueseyin Mustafaev (Azerbaijan)

Bronze – George Bucur (Romania)


86 kg/189 lbs.

Gold – Aleksander Gostiev (Azerbaijan)

Silver – Selim Yasar (Turkey)

Bronze – Unurbat Purevjav (Mongolia)

Bronze – Gamzat Osmanov (Azerbaijan)


97 kg/213 lbs.

Gold – Fatih Yasarli

Silver – Khuderbulga Dorjkhand (Mongolia)

Bronze – Ibragim Bolukbasi (Turkey)

Bronze – Muren Mutlu (Turkey)

U.S. men’s freestyle results

65 kg/143 lbs. – Reece Humphrey, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)

LOSS Agahueseyin Mustafaev (Azerbaijan), 0-4


65 kg/143 lbs. – James Green, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC)

LOSS Safa Aksoy (Turkey), 2-2


86 kg/189 lbs. – Deron Winn, Ames, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC)

WIN Caner Demirtas (Turkey), 4-2

LOSS Luvsandors Turtogh (Mongolia), 2-2


97 kg/213 lbs. - Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)

LOSS Ibragim Bolukbasi (Turkey), 8-2


97 kg/213 lbs. - Scott Schiller, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)

WIN Emer Can Osman (Turkey), 10-0

WIN Yunus Emre Dede (Turkey), 6-4

LOSS Fatih Yasarli (Turkey), 0-4

LOSS Fatih Cakiroglu (Turkey), 2-13