Action photo of Jake Fisher by Larry Slater

LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The United States defeated teams from Japan and Korea in a Greco-Roman dual meet on Friday night.

The USA won 6-1 over Japan, then 5-1 over Korea. All of the athletes on the U.S. team are members of the New York Athletic Club.

Two-time World bronze medalist Harry Lester (Marquette, Mich./New York AC) defeated Ryo Ito of Japan, 6-1, 6-0 at 84 kg/185 lbs. Lester was competing up a weight class from his normal division.

1995 World bronze medalist Justin Ruiz (Boise, Idaho/New York AC) made his return to the mat after almost a year and a half with a 3-0, 6-0 win over Yasuhiro Mori of Japan at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Ruiz last competed at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. 

Three athletes won both of their matches of the evening, stopping opponents from both Japan and Korea.

At 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Jacob Curby (LaGrange, Ill./New York AC) beat Ryo Izawa of Japan, 4-0, 4-0, then stopped Young-Ha Kim of Korea, 2-0, 5-0.

At 74 kg/163 lbs., Jake Fisher (Marquette, Mich./New York AC) beat Naoto Kasai of Japan, 1-0, 4-0, then beat Jin-Jong Heo of Korea, 1-0, 6-0.

At 84 kg/185 lbs., Cheney Haight (Boise, Idaho/New York AC) defeated Ryo Ito of Japan, 3-0, 2-0, then defeated June-Hyoung Kim of Korea, 1-0, 6-0.

2009 U.S. Olympian Spenser Mango (St. Louis, Mo./New York AC) split his matches at 55 kg/121 lbs.. He opened with a technical fall over Hayanobu Shimizu of Japan, 6-0, 6-0. In his second bout, he was defeated by 2008 Asian Junior bronze medalist Dae-Han Choi of Korea, 0-1, 3-4.

Also finishing with a 1-1 record was Ellis Coleman (Oak Park, Ill./New York AC) at 60 kg/132 lbs.

"I thought we competed real well," said National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser. "It was Justin Ruiz' first match since the Olympic Trials, and it was good for him to get this one under his belt. Jake Curby and Cheney Haight both had nice throws and showed great technique in their matches. Harry Lester, as usual, wrestled very competitively, going up to 84 kg. Everybody wrestled with a lot of heart and aggressiveness. These were good warmup matches for them all."

These athletes will all participate in the New York Athletic Club International Greco-Roman Championships in New York, N.Y., on Sunday, November 15.

USA 6, Japan 1
84 kg/185 lbs. - Cheney Haight, Boise, Idaho (New York AC) dec. Ryo Ito (Japan), 3-0, 2-0
55 kg/121 lbs. - Spenser Mango, St. Louis, Mo. (New York AC) tech. fall. Hayanobu Shimizu (Japan), 6-0, 6-0
60 kg/132 lbs. -Yoshitaka Kido (Japan) pin Ellis Coleman, Oak Park, Ill. (New York AC), 1-2, pin
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jacob Curby, LaGrange, Ill. (New York AC) dec. Ryo Izawa (Japan), 4-0, 4-0
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jake Fisher, Marquette, Mich. (New York AC) dec. Naoto Kasai (Japan), 1-0, 4-0
84 kg/185 lbs. - Harry Lester, Marquette, Mich. (New York AC) dec. Ryo Ito (Japan), 6-1, 6-0
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Justin Ruiz, Boise, Idaho (New York AC) dec. Yasuhiro Mori (Japan), 3-0, 6-0

USA 5, Korea 1 
55 kg/121 lbs. - Dae-Han Choi (Korea) dec. Spenser Mango, St. Louis, Mo. (New York AC/USOEC), 1-0, 4-3
60 kg/132 lbs. - Ellis Coleman, Oak Park, Ill. (New York AC) dec. Seong-Chul Bang (Korea), 1-0, 1-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jacob Curby, LaGrange, Ill. (New York AC) dec. Young-Ha Kim, 2-0, 5-0
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jake Fisher, Marquette, Mich. (New York AC) dec. Jin-Jong Heo (Korea), 1-0, 6-0
84 kg/185 lbs. - Cheney Haight, Boise, Idaho (New York AC) dec. June-Hyoung Kim (Korea), 1-0, 6-0
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Justin Ruiz, Boise, Idaho (New York AC) won by forfeit over Jin-Taek Choi (Korea)