Sam Hazewinkel was one of four wrestlers to earn World Cup spots on Friday. File photo by Larry Slater.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Two past college teammates who were competing in Greco-Roman wrestling last year have landed spots on the U.S. World Cup Team in freestyle.

Sam Hazewinkel and Teyon Ware, who competed together at the University of Oklahoma, won two matches apiece to clinch spots on the U.S. World Cup Team.

The World Cup Wrestle-Offs were held Friday morning at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. The U.S. will compete in the World Cup for freestyle on March 6-7 in Mahachkala, Russia.

Hazewinkel beat Paul Donahoe and Obe Blanc to earn a spot on the team at 55 kg/121 lbs. The win over Donahoe was a rematch of the 2007 NCAA finals when Donahoe upset Hazewinkel.

"My Greco skills have helped me a lot with my transition back to freestyle," Hazewinkel said. "I don't want to say my opponents don't know what to do, but a lot of people try to back out of the Greco positions against me. That gives me a little advantage."

Ware, who captured two NCAA titles at Oklahoma, knocked off Josh Churella and then downed Corey Jantzen to make the World Cup Team at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. He was lethal with a front headlock turn in his wins.

"Wrestling Greco for a year helped me a lot when I came back to freestyle," Ware said. "I can attack you low or high. I can score from a lot of different positions."

2009 World Team member Shawn Bunch beat Derek Moore and Coleman Scott to earn a trip to the World Cup at 60 kg/132 lbs.

J.D. Bergman downed National Team member Bryce Hasseman and Olympian Andy Hrovat to earn a trip to Russia at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

2009 World medalists Jake Herbert (84 kg/185 lbs.) and Tervel Dlagnev (120 kg/264.5 lbs.) already clinched spots on the World Cup Team by virtue of winning medals at last year's World Championships.

Mike Poeta swept two straight periods from 2009 World Team member Trent Paulson at 74 kg/163 lbs. Poeta was a two-time NCAA runner-up for Illinois.

Poeta will face Travis Paulson at a later date for the World Cup spot at 74 kilos.

FRIDAY'S WORLD CUP WRESTLE-OFF RESULTS

55 kg/121 lbs. - Sam Hazewinkel (Sunkist Kids) dec. Paul Donahoe (Hawkeye WC), 3-0, 1-1, 6-0 VIDEO

60 kg/132 lbs. - Shawn Bunch (Gator WC) dec. Derek Moore (U.S. Army), 1-0, 1-0 VIDEO

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Teyon Ware (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Josh Churella (New York AC), 1-0, 6-0 VIDEO

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Andy Hrovat (New York AC) dec. Bryce Hasseman (New York AC), 1-0, 0-1, 2-1 VIDEO

55 kg/121 lbs. - Paul Donahoe (Hawkeye WC) dec. Obe Blanc (Gator WC), 1-0, 3-0 VIDEO

60 kg/132 lbs. - Coleman Scott (Gator WC) dec. Derek Moore (U.S. Army), 2-0, 4-0 VIDEO

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Teyon Ware (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Corey Jantzen (Lehigh Valley AC), 2-0, 0-6, 3-1 VIDEO

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - J.D. Bergman (New York AC) dec. Bryce Hasseman (New York AC), 1-0, 1-0 VIDEO

55 kg/121 lbs. - Sam Hazewinkel (Sunkist Kids) dec. Obe Blanc (Gator WC), 1-0, 4-0 VIDEO

60 kg/132 lbs. - Shawn Bunch (Gator WC) dec. Coleman Scott (Gator WC), 1-0, 0-3, 2-0 VIDEO

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Corey Jantzen (Lehigh Valley AC) dec. Josh Churella (New York AC), 4-3, 0-1, 3-1 VIDEO

74 kg/163 lbs. - Mike Poeta (Lehigh Valley AC) dec. Trent Paulson (Sunkist Kids), 3-0, 5-2 VIDEO

96 kg/211.5 lbs. J.D. Bergman (New York AC) dec. Andy Hrovat (New York AC), 1-0, 2-1 VIDEO

INTERVIEWS

Video interview with Sam Hazewinkel

Video interview with Teyon Ware

Video interview with Shawn Bunch

Video interview with J.D. Bergman