A team of top U.S. freestyle wrestlers traveled to Russia to compete in an international tournament and dual meets last week.

Clint Wattenberg (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC) won a bronze medal at 84 kg/185 lbs. at the Shamil Umakhanov International Tournament in Khasavyurt, Russia on June 17-19. He was the only U.S. wrestler to win a medal at the competition.

Wattenberg is ranked No. 2 in the USA at his weight class, placing second at the 2006 U.S. World Team Trials. Wattenberg achieved NCAA All-American status at Cornell Univ

Joe Heskett (Grover Beach, Calif./Gator WC) placed fifth at 74 kg/163 lbs., losing his match in the bronze-medal round.

None of the other Americans were able to place in the top five of their division.

The U.S. competed in a pair of dual meets a day after the tournament, losing to the Chechnya team 7-2 and to the Russian team, 8-1.

Heskett won his match in both dual meets, and was named Outstanding Wrestler of the dual meet competition.

The other winner in the dual meet against Chechnya was Cliff Moore (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) at 60 kg/132 lbs.

USA Wrestling National Freestyle Resident Coach Terry Brands coached the team. 

SHAMIL UMAKHANOV INTERNATIONAL 
at Khasavyurt, Russia, June 17-19Medal round placements

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold- Davourbekov (Russia)
Silver - Askerbiev (Russia)
Bronze - Goigeriev (Russia)
Bronze - Kudokov (Russia) 
5th - Mikhailov (Russia)
5th - Abdoulayev (Russia)
 
60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold - Batirov (Russia)
Silver - Gooseinov (Russia)
Bronze - Semekin ukr
Bronze - Karnitskie (Russia)
5th - Ustarkhanov (Russia)
5th - Bagdian  (Armenia)
 
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold - Farniov (Russia)
Silver - Gadzhimouraad Abduliyev (Russia)
Bronze -Irbaikhanov (Russia)
Bronze - Kotaliyev (Uzbekistan)
5th - Elkiyev (Ukraine)
5th - Takhasibi (Iran)
 
74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Chassoulvarayev (Russia)
Silver - Veledi Byazry Askhat (Iran)
Bronze - Kadjimourad Mourtazaliev (Russia)
Bronze - Tigiev (Uzbekistan)
5th - Joe Heskett (USA)
5th - Denikhanov (Russia)
 
84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold - Koitemirov (Russia)
Silver - Muzaev (Ukraine)
Bronze - Batashev (Russia)
Bronze - Clint Wattenberg (USA)
5th - Krasnendo (Ukraine)
5th - Aylarov (Russia)
 
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Gold - Kurbanov (Uzbekistan)
Silver - Kallagov (Uzbekistan)
Bronze - Sheyhov (Belarus)
Bronze - Tesmineckiy (Ukraine)
5th - Pozdnyak (Russia)
5th - Seyfid (Iran)
 
120 kg/264.4 lbs.
Gold - Fardin (Iran)
Silver - Khorpiakov (Russia)
Bronze - Kaybulaev (Russia)
Bronze - Mastepanov (Belarus)
5th - David Otiashvili (Georgia)
5th - Bagaev (Russia)

Chechnya 7, USA 2
U.S. winners
60 kg/132 lbs. - Cliff Moore, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Joe Heskett, Grover Beach, Calif. (Gator WC)

Russia 8, USA 1
U.S. winner
74 kg/163 lbs. - Joe Heskett, Grover Beach, Calif. (Gator WC)

U.S. freestyle tour team
55 kg/121 lbs. - Henry Cejudo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Matt Azevedo, Arroyo Grande, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Cliff Moore, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jared Lawrence, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Brent Metcalf, Davison, Mich.
74 kg/163 lbs. - Joe Heskett, Grover Beach, Calif. (Gator WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Clint Wattenberg, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Damion Hahn, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Andy Patrick, Boise, Idaho (Bronco WC)
Coach - Terry Brands, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Team Leader -  Steve Barrett, Moscow, Russia