Four members of the 2005 U.S. World Freestyle Team received their draws for the first day of competition at the Yasar Dogu International in Samsun, Turkey. The athletes weighed in on Friday, Feb. 10 and will compete on Saturday, Feb. 11. All four Americans will face athletes from Turkey in their opening match.

At 55 kg/121 lbs.,  Sammie Henson (Flintstone, Ga./Sunkist Kids) will face Ramazan Demir of Turkey in his opening match. There are 18 athletes in his division. Other opponents in the weight class come from Mongolia, Russia, Ossetia republic and Cuba. Among the athletes in the division is past World champion Rene Montero of Cuba.

Henson was a 1998 World champion and a 2000 Olympic silver medalist.

At 66 kg, Chris Bono (Ringgold, Ga./Sunkist Kids) will face Mahmet Macit of Turkey in his opening match. There are 18 wrestlers in his weight class. Other opponents in the weight class come from Bulgaria, Ossetia and Russia. 

Bono is a three-time U.S. World Team member.

At 84 kg/185 lbs., Mo Lawal (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) will battle Sirhat Balci of Turkey in the opening round. There are 15 athletes in his weight division, including wrestlers from Bulgaria, Cuba and Mongolia.

Lawal placed seventh in the 2005 World Championships.

At 120 kg/264.5 lbs., Tolly Thompson (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) will compete against Momin Cuclu of Turkey in the first round. There are 11 athletes in his division, with entries also from Bulgaria and Cuba.

Thompson won a bronze medal at the 2005 World Championships.

The three other U.S. World Team members on this tour will weight in Saturday, and compete on Sunday. They are Michael Lightner (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 lbs., Joe Williams (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Daniel Cormier (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Updates on the Yasar Dogu International will be posted on TheMat.com.