AU Assistant Coach Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov made a successful return to Bender Arena helping Team USA to victory 

In an international freestyle wrestling showcase held at American University's Bender Arena on Feb. 14, Team USA defeated Belarus by a final score of 22-7. 

Team USA won seven of eight matches. At 60 kg/132 lbs., Zach Roberson (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) won two matches. AU's own Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov won his match convincingly at 74 kg/163 lbs. 

An energetic crowd of supporters for both nations, including the Ambassador from Belarus himself, Mikhail Khvostov, was on hand to witness the first international wrestling event held on AU's campus in five years. 

"This was a very exciting night for us at American University," AU Head Coach Mark Cody said. "The competition was intense on the mat and that was helped by the great fans we had in the seats. We are very thankful for the support we received from the community and from Embassy of Belarus in helping to organize the night. We truly enjoyed hosting both teams, many of whom I have a history with, and I hope that we can put on another event like this in the near  future." 

Competition began at 60 kg/132 lbs., where Mike Zadick (Solon, Iowa/Gator WC) and Kamil Magamedov of Belarus went to three rounds before an outcome was decided. 

Magamedov won the first period with a three-point takedown but neither grappler was able to score in the second, sending the period into a clinch. After several warnings from the mat referee, Magamedov, who was on the offensive, was called for failure to clinch and the period was awarded to Zadick, evening the score, 1-1. Period three also ended in a 0-0 tie, sending Zadick and Magamedov into a second clinch, with the period winner this time taking the match. Zadick began the clinch with Magamedov's left leg firmly in his grasp and used this advantage to throw Magamedov to the mat, ending the clinch and the match in favor of the United States. 

At 55 kg/121 lbs. Matt Azevedo (Pismo Beach, Calif./Sunkist Kids) suffered Team USA's only defeat of the night, losing to 2007 World bronze medalist Rizvan Gadzhiev in consecutive periods. Gadzhiev won a close first period, 2-0, before decisively taking round two, 6-2. 

Jesse Jantzen (Cambridge, Mass./New York AC) and 2007 European champion Albert Batyrov took the mat next at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Jantzen got on the board first in the opening period with a two-point takedown but Batyrov rolled from his back to his feet in one motion off the takedown for three-points and a slight lead, 3-2. Batyrov score a takedown of his own later in the frame and took the period, 4-2. The second round went to a clinch where Jantzen was able to capitalize on his offensive positioning to score a takedown and take the period, 1-0. Period three also went into a clinch and for the second-consecutive time, Jantzen was on the offensive. Jantzen took Batyrov down for what appeared to be a one-point takedown but the mat official made no call. After referring to the video replay the takedown was confirmed and Jantzen was awarded the period and the match, 2 periods to 1.

Former Eagle and current AU assistant coach, Abdurakhmanov made a triumphant return to the mat in Bender Arena against Aliaksandr Matyl at 74 kg/163 lbs. Tied 0-0 and with 30 seconds remaining in the first, Abdurakhmanov hit Matyl with a three-point takedown and one-point for exposure to take a 4-0 period decision. Matyl scored first in the second period with a one-point takedown but after a neutral restart Abdurakhmanov took command with a two-point takedown and two points for exposure. Ahead 4-1, Abdurakhmanov scored again with a two-point takedown and two exposure points, extending his lead to 8-2 and earning the victory by technical superiority in the second period. 

At 60 kg/132 lbs., Roberson took the mat next against Kamil Magomedov and picked up his first win of the night. Roberson scored two takedowns of Mahamedau in the first period for a 3-0 decision, and in the second scored once to take a 1-0 lead and the match, 2 periods to 0. 

Chris Pendleton (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) defeated Ivan Yankovski at 84 kg/185 lbs., 2-0, but the match was much closer than the score. The first period appeared to be headed toward a clinch as the score was deadlocked, 0-0, with under 10 seconds remaining. Pendleton moved in on Yankovski though and as the buzzer sounded the mat official awarded him the takedown and the 1-0 decision. Yankouski took the lead in the second period with a one-point takedown with just 40 seconds to go but Pendleton was able to regroup and at the buzzer again scored two points with a takedown of his own, giving him the match in two straight periods. 

In one of the more anticipated matches of the night, Tolly Thompson (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) defeated Maksim Mikhalevich in two straight periods at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Thompson won the first period with a one-point takedown of Mikhalevich and went ahead early in the second period, 1-0, with a second takedown. Hoping to steal the period, Mikhalevich shot for a double-leg but Thompson countered the maneuver and scored a takedown of his own, giving him the period and the match. 

In the night's final bout, Zach Roberson returned to the mat at 60 kg/132 lbs. against Belarus' lone winner, Rizvan Gadzhiev, who moved up in weight. The two wrestlers went to a clinch in the first period where Roberson scored on a single-leg takedown to go ahead, 1-0. The second period also went to a clinch, but this time Gadzhiev was on the offensive. Roberson freed himself from Gadzhiev's hold off the officials whistle though and held off the attacking Gadzhiev for the decision in two straight periods. 

United States 22, Belarus 7
at Washington, D.C., Feb. 14
60 kg/132 lbs. - Mike Zadick (USA) dec. Kamil Magamedov (Belarus), 0-3, 1-0, 1-0
55 kg/121 lbs. - Rizvan Gadzhiev (Belarus) dec. Matt Azevedo (USA), 3-0, 6-2
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jesse Jantzen (USA) dec. Albert Batyrov (Belarus), 2-4, 1-0, 1-0
74 kg/163 lbs. - Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov (USA) dec. Aliaksandr Matyl (Belarus), 4-0, 8-2
60 kg/132 lbs. - Zach Roberson (USA) dec. Kamil Magomedov (Belarus), 3-0, 1-0
84 kg/185 lbs. - Chris Pendleton (USA) dec. Ivan Yankovski (Belarus), 1-0, 1-1
120 kg - Tolly Thompson (USA) def. Maksim Mikhalevich (Belarus), 2-0, 2-0
60 kg/132 lbs. - Zach Roberson (USA) def. Rizvan Gadzhiev (Belarus), 1-0, 1-0