All three U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers in the competition lost their first round matches at the World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary, October 1.

Harry Lester (Akron, Ohio./USOEC/Gator Wrestling Club), competing at 66 kg/ 145.5 lbs, lost his first-round match to Eduard Kratz of Germany, 5-3, 2-6, 5-1.  

In the first period, Lester jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with a front headlock throw 24 seconds into the period. Kratz responded with a 2-point reversal and exposure 1:22 into the period and received an additional point for the count to tie the match at 3-3. With Lester still winning the period because of his 3-point score, Kratz scored the period winning points with a 2-point trap arm gut wrench at the 1:42 mark.

Lester started the second period quickly, gaining a 5-0 lead with an out-of-bounds point and an explosive 3-point body lock with a count. In a flurry of action late in the period, Kratz was able to score a 2-point reversal with exposure followed by a point for Lester with a reversal of his own.

In the final period, Lester jumped out to a 1-0 lead when he drove Kratz out-of-bounds 26 seconds into the period.  That would be the final scoring for Lester as Kratz scored five straight points from par terre to win the third period and secure the victory.

Lester was competing in his first World Championships. He is a member of the U.S. Olympic Education Center Greco-Roman wrestling program at Northern Michigan Univ.

TC Dantzler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator Wrestling Club) lost to defending Olympic Champion, Alexsandr Dokturishvili of Uzbekistan, 2-0, 2-0 at 74 kg/163 lbs.

In both periods, Dokturishvili was able to score one point for a lift and one point when Dantzler received a caution for not scoring from par terre.

Dantzler is competing in his third World Championships for the United States.

At 84 kg/185 lbs., Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) lost by fall to Ntante Charempasvili of Greece at 1:16 of the second period.

There was no scoring in the first period until Charempasvili received a point when Vering was cautioned for not scoring from par terre from the clinch.  Charempasvili then scored a 1-point gut wrench to secure the period.  Vering's only score came when the two scrambled for position from par terre and Vering earned a reversal, making the final score of the period 2-1.

Charempasvili earned the fall in the second period when he started in par terre after the one minute mark.  He quickly scored with a 3-point reverse lift and a 1-point count before gaining the victory 1:16 into the second period.

Vering was a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team. He placed fifth in both the 2002 and 2003 World Championships.

In order for the U.S. wrestlers to qualify for the repechage (wrestlebacks) for the bronze medals, their opponents must reach the gold-medal finals.