VLADIKAVKAZ, RUSSIA - The U.S. dropped dual meets to Russia and Ukraine during the first day of the Freestyle World Cup, the international dual meet championships, on Saturday.

Russia defeated the USA, 6-1, and Ukraine stopped the USA, 4-3. The losses place the United States in the fifth-place match against Turkey on Sunday.

In the dual meet against host Russia, Steve Mocco (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) won the only bout for the USA, stopping Bakhtiyar Akhmedov of Russia, 2-0, 2-0.

2004 Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) won the first period against Osip Mikhailov at 55 kg/121 lbs., but the Russian won the second and third periods, 3-2, 1-0. 

National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson believed the USA could have won three of the bouts against Russia. Abas was leading 2-0 in the second period, but was taken down with a fireman's carry and held to his back to give that period to Mikhailov. In the final period, Mikhailov won the clinch. Also, at 84 kg/185 lbs., Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) dominated the first period against World and Olympic champion Adam Saitiev, but was edged by a point in the final two periods.

Against Ukraine, the USA had to forfeit at 60 kg/132 lbs. when Nate Gallick (Chattanooga, Tenn./Sunkist Kids) could not compete due to an injury in the Russian dual meet. The U.S. won three of the six matches contested.

Winning his second match of the day was Mocco, who stopped Ivan Ischenko, 0-1, 1-0, 1-0. Other winners for the USA in the Ukrainian dual meet were Nick Simmons (Williamstown, Mich./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Ben Askren (Columbia, Mo./Sunkist Kids) at 84 kg/185 lbs.

"We brought a younger group of athletes to see if they could compete against the best wrestlers in the world," said Jackson. "We wanted to see the areas of concentration they need to work on to compete at this level. My hopes are we will beat Turkey tomorrow."

"My hopes and thoughts are that things have to change in their daily training and environments so they will not fall into the same training traps that the older athletes have in recent years," continued Jackson. "I am hoping that these athletes will make the necessary changes in their training. We will see that over the next month. If losing doesn't open their eyes, they will have some tough matches in the future."

Russia will face Cuba in the championship match on Sunday, while Ukraine will battle Uzbekistan in the third-place match.

The dual meet between Cuba and Uzbekistan ended at 3-3, due to a double disqualification at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., when athletes from both teams were thrown out of the match for fighting. FILA officials awarded the team victory to Cuba, which has advanced to the finals.

"This is a great environment to wrestle," said Jackson of the popularity of wrestling in this part of Russia. "It is unfortunate that we weren't able to win our matches today."

- additional information from Russian Wrestling Federation website and Iranian Wrestling Federation website

FREESTYLE WORLD CUP 
At Vladikavkaz, Russia, Feb. 16

Group A

Russia 6, United States 1
55 kg/121 lbs. - Osip Mikhailov (Russia) dec. Stephen Abas (USA), 0-1, 3-2, 1-0
60 kg/132 lbs. - Alan Dudaev (Russia) dec. Nate Gallick (USA), 1-0, 3-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Shamil Batirov (Russia) dec. Zack Esposito (USA), 7-0, 4-1
74 kg/163 lbs. - Denis Tsargush (Russia) dec. Ben Askren (USA), 3-0, 4-0
84 kg/185 lbs. - Adam Saitiev (Russia) dec. Andy Hrovat (USA), 1-7, 1-0, 1-0
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Ibrahim Saidov (Russia) dec. Kurt Backes (USA), 3-1, 2-0
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Steven Mocco (USA) dec. Bakhtiyar Akhmedov (Russia), 2-0, 2-0 

Ukraine 4, USA 3
55 kg/121 lbs. - Nick Simmons (USA) dec. Alexander Galagan (Ukraine), 1-0, 6-3 
60 kg/132 lbs. - Yevgeny Havilov (Ukraine) won by forfeit
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Andrei Stadnyk (Ukraine) dec. Jared Frayer (USA), 0-7, 3-1, 6-0 
74 kg/163 lbs. - Ben Askren (USA) dec. Gia Chihladze (Ukraine), 3-2, 5-1
84 kg/185 lbs. - Alik Muzaev (Ukraine) dec. Andy Hrovat (USA), 0-4, 1-0, 1-0 
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - George Tibilov (Ukraine) dec. Kurt Backes (USA), 0-1, 1-4 
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Steve Mocco (USA) dec. Ivan Ischenko, 0-1, 1-0, 1-0

Russia 7, Ukraine 0
55 kg/121 lbs. - Besik Kuduhov (Russia) dec. Alexander Galagan (Ukraine), 1-0, 1-0 
60 kg/132 lbs - Alan Dudaev (Russia) dec. Yevgeny Havilov (Ukraine), 1-0, 2-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Irbek Farniev (Russia) dec. Andrei Stadnyk (Ukraine) (4-1, 2-0) 
74 kg/163 lbs. - Buvaysar Saytiev (Russia) dec.  Gia Chihladze (Ukraine), 2-1, 7-0 
84 kg/185 lbs. - Georgy Ketoev (Russia) dec. Alik Muzaev (Ukraine), 3-0, 1-0 
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Shirvani Muradov (Russia) dec. George Tibilov (Ukraine), 1-0, 3-0 
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Soslan Gogloev (Russia) dec. Ivan Ischenko, 1-0, 1-0

Group B
(no individual scores available)

Cuba dec. Turkey, 7-0
Cuba dec Uzbekistan, 3-3 (officials decision)
Uzbekistan dec Turkey, 6-1