VLADIKAVKAZ, Russia - A Russian national team freestyle team defeated a visiting U.S. team, 5-3, in a dual meet between the two nations on Monday.

Winning matches for the United States were Sam Hazewinkel (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Danny Felix, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Tervel Dlagnev (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Dlagnev was a 2009 World bronze medalist, and Felix was a 2009 U.S. World Team member.

The U.S. team competed one day after the conclusion of the Freestyle World Cup in Moscow. Team USA was sixth in the eight-team field.
 
"Team USA continued to improve last night in a very close 5-3 dual meet loss to Russia," said Assistant National Coach Brandon Slay. "We didn't control the center of the mat well enough at the World Cup, but our guys did a much better job hand fighting and owning the center of the mat tonight. Also, not having Jake Herbert or JD Bergman in the line up hurts us. But, it strengthens the team moral because guys like Mike Poeta have to step up and wrestle up a weight... and our guys have to battle even harder for us to win more matches than the Russians."

The USA will compete in another dual meet in Nalchik, Russia on Tuesday, March 9.

RUSSIA 5, USA 3
At Vladikavkaz, Russia, March 8

55 kg/121 lbs. - Sam Hazewinkel (USA) dec. name unavailable (Russia)

55 kg/121 lbs. - Danny Felix (USA) dec. name unavailable (Russia)

60 kg/132 lbs. - Besik Kudukhov (Russia) dec. Shawn Bunch (USA)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - name unavailable (Russia) dec. Corey Jantzen (USA)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - name unavailable (Russia) dec. Teyon Ware (USA)

74 kg/163 lbs.- Irbek Farniev (Russia) dec. Trent Paulson (USA), 1-0, 1-0 

84 kg/185 lbs. - Taymuraz Friev (Russia) dec. Mike Poeta (USA)
 
120 kg/264.5 lbs.-Tervel Dlagnev (USA) dec. name unavailable (Russia)

Information will be updated when available.