USA Wrestling has updated its new "Bout of the Week" which has been posted as a video file on-line on  TheMat.com Audio/Video website .

The featured match this week is the 2007 Donny Pritzlaff vs. Rashid Kurbanov of Russia at 74 kg/163 lbs. at the 2007 NYAC vs. Russia World Dual meet in West Orange, N.J.

They say you can never go home, but New Jersey native Pritzlaff made a triumphant return to his native state to compete in this dual meet against world power Russia.

Pritzlaff was a high school star in New Jersey, winning three state high school titles for Lakehurst High School. He went on to the Univ. of Wisconsin, where he captured a pair of NCAA titles in 2000 and 2001 and was a four-time All-American competing for two-time Olympian Barry Davis. During his college days, he also won a Junior World freestyle title in 1998.

Pritzlaff spent a number of years competing on the Senior level with the New York AC, placing high at the 74 kg/163 lbs. division, but not being able to make the No. 1 spot on the national team.

The 2006 season for Pritzlaff was a breakthrough season. He won his first U.S. Senior Nationals title, beating Olympian Joe Williams in the gold-medal finals in Las Vegas. At the World Team Trials, Pritzlaff beat Tyrone Lewis in a fierce, three-match finals series in Sioux City, Iowa. Competing at his first Senior World Championships in Guangzhou, China, Pritzlaff put together a strong tournament to win a World bronze medal. 

Pritzlaff has been all over the world competing since high school. He has lived in Long Island, N.Y., when he was coaching at Hofstra, and in Wisconsin, where he is now an assistant coach at the Univ. of Wisconsin. But, coming into this dual meet, it had been 10 full years since Pritzlaff had wrestled in his home state.

Russia, which has been the dominant nation in freestyle wrestling for many years, often comes to the United States for competition. In some cases, Russia brings some of its talented young wrestlers to enter international events in the USA. In 2007, that was the case for many of the Russians who traveled to compete in the USA vs. Russia dual meet, as well as in the following New York AC Holiday International.

Rashid Kurbanov came to the USA as a top Junior star in the Russian program. He was the 2007 European Junior champion, as well as the 2004 Cadet European champion.

The dual meet in New Jersey was a major success. A sellout crowd of over 1,600 fans packed the gym at West Orange High School, many coming to see three of New Jersey's greatest wrestlers competing on their home mats: Pritzlaff, along with Damion Hahn and Steve Mocco. All were prep stars in the state. Each of these wrestlers live in another state while they are pursuing their Olympic dreams. They came back to New Jersey for the opportunity to wrestle in front of their family and friends once again.

The U.S. fell behind Russia in the dual meet by a 7-4 margin when Pritzlaff entered the arena to face Kurbanov. To the roar of the crowd, Pritzlaff scored a single leg takedown in each period to earn a solid, 1-0, 1-0 win. His victory tied the team dual meet at 7-7.

"I haven't been this excited to wrestle for a long time. I was coming home. It has been about 10 years since I have wrestled here. This has been a great experience. I was excited just getting on the plane to come here to compete. You never take anybody lightly. I was heavy on his head. I knew his left leg would come forward at some point. I capitalized on that," said Pritzlaff.

New Jersey native Hahn lost his match, but hometown hero Mocco won the bout at heavyweight, and the NYAC team defeated the visiting Russians, 14-11.

This popular feature will be changed on a regular basis, allowing members to enjoy many of the greatest matches in wrestling history. Posted in the archive section of the Members Only web page was the the 2007 Chris Pendleton vs. Jake Herbert men's freestyle match at 84 kg at the Sunkist Kids International Open. Many other entertaining and historic matches are in the archive section for the Bout of the Week.