The first four U.S. competitors in men's freestyle at the World University Championships in Ulan Bator, Mongolia have weighed in and received their draws for the first round. The men's freestyle tournament begins on Monday, June 19.

At 55 kg/121 lbs., Luke Smith (Chippewa Falls, Wis.) will face Vladistav Andreev of Belarus. If Smith wins, he qualifies for the semifinals, against the winner from the quarterbracket which includes athletes from China, Iran, Japan and Mongolia.

Smith competes for Central Michigan Univ., and was fourth in the recent U.S. World Team Trials on the Senior level.

At 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Andy Simmons (Williamstown, Mich./Michigan WC) opens against Hamid of Iran. If he wins, he faces the winner of the match between Polozbin of Uzbekistan and Algniban of the United Arab Emirates.

Simmons was a 2006 University Nationals champion, and was an NCAA All-American for Michigan State.

At 84 kg/185 lbs., Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./Wildcat WC) opens against K. Majied of Iran. If he wins, he will face Isaev of Russia in the quarterfinals.

Herbert was a 2006 University Nationals champion, and was an NCAA runner-up competing for Northwestern.

At 120 kg/264.5 lbs., Cole Konrad (Freedom, Wis./Minnesota Storm) opens against D. Lkhagvordorj of host Mongolia. If Konrad wins, he reaches the semifinals against the winner of a quarterbracket that features wrestlers from China, Russia, Iran and Poland.

Konrad was a 2006 University Nationals champion, and was a NCAA champion for Minnesota this year.

"All of the wrestlers here are in good spirits and are excited to be here," said U.S. Freestyle Devlopmental Coach Dave Bennett. "They are anxious to wrestle. This is one of the best group of wrestlers I have traveled with, in terms of getting along with each other and being supportive. They are all committed to winning the gold medal."

The web page for the World University Championships is:
http://www.mssf.mn/index.aspx

WORLD UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Ulan Bator, Mongolia

U.S. first round freestyle draws

55 kg/121 lbs. - Luke Smith, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
vs. Vladistar (Belarus)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Andy Simmons, Williamstown, Mich. (Michigan WC)
vs. Hamid (Iran)

84 kg/185 lbs. - Jake Herbert, Wexford, Pa. (Wildcat WC)
vs. Majised (Iran)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Cole Konrad, Freedom, Wis. (Minnesota Storm)
vs. Liehaguadore (Mongolia)

Preliminary tentative freestyle pairings (by nation)

55 kg/121 lbs.
A. Zudaev (Russia) vs. Fatah Hamza (France)
Kim Jung Hwang (Korea) vs. A Jaser (United Arab Emirates)
Vladislav Andreev (Belarus) vs. Luke Smith (USA)
Tsogtu (China) vs. D. Taghi (Iran)
Sh. Fujimoto (Japan) vs. B. Naranbaatar (Mongolia)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
B. Oyunbileg (China) vs. B. Batzorig (Mongolia)
L Bazan (Ukraine) vs. Aularov (Russia)
Lee Ju Nam (Korea) vs. Ruslard Lesniedski (Poland)
U. Polozbai (Uzbekistan) vs. A. Alniban (United Arab Emirates)
M. Hamid (Iran) vs. Andy Simmons (United States)
Yesil Ayentullan (Turkey) vs. T. Wadsworth (Canada)
S. Tsukasa (Japan) vs. Jan Satyan (Belarus)

84 kg/185 lbs.
H. Ganzorig (Mongolia) vs. Berzrand Loic (France)
A. Isaev (Russia) vs winner of USA/Iran
Jake Herbert (USA) vs. K. Majied (Iran)
Bahatniz Karazoy (Turkey) vs. Shin Shan Ja (China)
B. Muhka (Ukraine) vs. Kim Byung Man (Korea)
R. Banihashimi (Canada) vs. Y. Baniduashov (Kazakhstan)
E. Azyaz (Uzbekistan) vs. Y. Yamagaza (Japan)

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
K. Kisamuza (Japan) vs. P. Raychev (Ukraine)
A. Bhullar (Canada) vs. A. Svatkovskiy (Kazakhstan)
Cole Konrad (USA) vs. D. Lkhagvordorj (Mongolia)
Shan Run An (China) vs. I. Zykov (Russia)
P. Alijanihadi (Iran) vs. Kordis Arkadusz (Poland)