BEIJING, CHINA - Tyler Cox (Gillette, Wyo./Camel Kids) placed fifth at 50 kg/110 lbs., the top U.S. performance on the first day of the Junior World Greco-Roman Championships on held at the Chinese Agriculture University Gymnasium on Tuesday.

Cox was defeated by Arsen Eraliev of Kyrgyzstan in the bronze medal match, 5-0, 7-1. Eraliev hit a five-point high amplitude throw in the first period, and scored a number of exposures from the mat in the second period.

Cox won his first two bouts of the tournament, but was defeated in the semifinals, which placed him in a bronze-medal match.

Two other U.S. wrestlers were in Tuesday's wrestlebacks, but fell short of the medal rounds, Chad Hemerson (Monterey, Calif./USOEC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Robbie Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Both were eliminated with losses against opponents from China in the round that would have qualified them for the bronze-medal match.

Hemerson was defeated by Xin Xiowei of China, 0-2, 0-3, while Smith was beaten by Nie Xioming of China, 3-0, 1-5, 1-1. 

Smith had won his opening wrestleback round against Rait Thomberg of Estonia, 3-0, 1-1, 2-0. 

Smith placed seventh in his weight class, while Hemerson finished ninth.

Smith was wrestling in his third Junior World Championships, and placed ninth at last year's Junior World meet in Guatemala.

At 60 kg/132 lbs., Jake Swenson (Moroni, Utah/Sunkist Kids/USOEC), placed 10th in his weight class, finishing with a 1-1 record. With his placement, Swenson scored a team point for the United States. 

Four other U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers have weighed in and will compete on Wednesday: 

Junior World Championships
At Beijing, China, August 21

U.S. performances on Tuesday

50 kg/110 lbs. - Tyler Cox, Gillette, Wyo. (Camel Kids), 5th
WIN Carlo Van Wyck (South Africa), tech. fall, 7-0, 6-0
WIN Donior Islamov (Moldova), 1-5, 5-2, 3-0
LOSS Reza Asadpour (Iran) pin 0:33
LOSS Arsen Eraliev (Kyrgyzstan), 5-0, 7-1.

60 kg/132 lbs.- Jake Swenson, Moroni, Utah (Sunkist Kids/USOEC), 10th
WIN Manuel Almeida (Portugal), 2-5, 4-3, 5-0
LOSS Xiao Bo (China), 1-1, 1-4

74 kg/163 lbs. - Chad Hemerson, Monterey, Calif. (USOEC), 9th
WIN  Hiroto Uesako (Japan), 5-2, 2-2
WIN H. Kamtsoris (Greece), 2-2, 1-1, 6-0
LOSS Elvin Mursaliyev (Azerbaijan), 0-3, 0-2
LOSS Xin Xiaowei (China), 0-2, 0-3

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Robbie Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 7th
WIN Tsukiaki Natakani (Japan) tech fall, 7-0, 6-0
LOSS Davod Gilnirang (Iran), 1-3, 1-4
WIN Rait Thomberg (Estonia), 3-0, 1-1, 2-0
LOSS Nie Xioming (China), 3-0, 1-5, 1-1

U.S. draws for Wednesday at World Championships

55 kg/121 lbs. - Eric Grajales, Brandon, Fla. (Brandon WC)
vs. Hamid Zare (Iran)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jake Deitchler, Ramsey, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
vs. Asilbek Bodochov (Kyrgysztan)

84 kg/185 lbs. - Brandon Sitch, Kelso, Wash. (Minnesota Storm)
vs. Mahmoud El Sayed (Egypt)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Erik Nye, Red Bluff, Calif  (unattached)
vs. Soslan Farniev (Russia)