KHASAVYURT, Russia - The pool pairings have been set for the Intercontinental Cup, a major freestyle dual meet tournament which will be held at the Hamid Hamidov Palace of Sports on October 14-15.

There are 11 teams in the tournament, featuring nine national teams and two major club teams from Russia.

The United States was drawn into Pool A, and will have five dual meets in their pool competition.

In order, the USA team will face Russia, CSKA club, Georgia, Korea and Belarus in dual meets.

Pool A will be very competitive, based upon the results from the 2010 World Championships. Russia was the 2010 World Team champions in freestyle. Georgia placed fifth, Belarus and Korea tied for 16th, and the United States was 22nd. The CSKA club features many top stars.

Teams in Pool B include Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Turkey and the Dagestan Republic of Russia. Azerbaijan was second at the 2010 World Championships, Bulgaria and Ukraine were tied in sixth and Turkey was 18th. Many of the world’s top athletes come from the Dagestan region.

The U.S. has sent a talented team which is hoping to be competitive in this strong field.

“This looks like a great tournament,” said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones. “We'll see what we look like tomorrow.”

Four of the team members are currently ranked No. 2 in the nation at their weight class: Shawn Bunch (Columbus, Ohio/Gator WC) at 60 kg/132 lbs., Keith Gavin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Lehigh Valley AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs., Jake Varner (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Tervel Dlagnev (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Dlagnev was third at the 2009 World Championships. Bunch and Varner were also members of the 2009 U.S. World Team. Another athlete on the team who competed in the 2009 World Championships is Trent Paulson (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs.

Other U.S. team members include Daniel Dennis (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Joe Johnston (Columbia, Mo./MWF) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. 

According to the Russian Wrestling Federation website, prize money will be given to the top three teams in the tournament, with the championship team winning $50,000, the runner-up team earning $30,000 and the third-place team winning $20,000.

INTERCONTINENTAL CUP
at Khasavyurt, Russia, October 14-15

Pool A Teams
CSKA club - Russia
Korea
United States
Belarus
Georgia 
Russia

Pool A dual meet pairings
Round 1 – CSKA vs. Korea; USA vs. Russia; Belarus vs. Georgia
Round 2 – CSKA vs. USA; Korea vs. Belarus; Russia vs. Georgia
Round 3 – CSKA vs. Belarus; Korea vs. Russia; USA vs. Georgia
Round 4 – CSKA vs. Georgia; Korea vs. USA; Belarus vs. Russia
Round 5 – CSKA vs. Russia; Korea vs. Georgia; USA vs. Belarus

Pool B Teams
Azerbaijan
Ukraine
Dagestan - Russia
Bulgaria
Turkey

Pool B dual meet pairings
Round 1 – Azerbaijan vs. Ukraine, Bulgaria vs. Dagestan
Round 2 – Azerbaijan vs. Turkey; Ukraine vs. Dagestan
Round 3 – Azerbaijan vs. Bulgaria; Ukraine vs. Turkey
Round 4 – Azerbaijan vs. Dagestan; Bulgaria vs. Turkey
Round 5 – Ukraine vs. Bulgaria; Dagestan vs. Turkey

U.S. Intercontinental Cup team
55 kg/121 lbs. - Daniel Dennis, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Shawn Bunch, Columbus, Ohio (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Joe Johnston, Columbia, Mo. (MWF)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Trent Paulson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Keith Gavin, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)

EDITOR’S NOTE – The team for Azerbaijan was announced on the Russian Wrestling Federation website earlier this week.

Azerbaijan Intercontinental Cup Team
55 kg - Mahmoud Magomedov 
60 kg - Khaibulla Shaalov
66 kg. - Ruslan Dibirgadzhiev, Emin Azizov (2008 European bronze medalist) 
74 kg - Agil Guliyev 
84 kg - Sharif Sharifov (2010 European silver medalist) 
96 kg - Aslanbek Alborov
120 kg - Ali Isayev (2010 European Champion)