KHASAVYURT, Russia - The United States placed sixth in the final standings at the Intercontinental Cup, a major freestyle dual meet tournament held at the Hamid Hamidov Palace of Sports on Thursday. The USA finished with a 2-3 record for the day.

The U.S. opened with three close losses, falling to Russia, the CSKA club from Russia and Georgia by identical 4-3 scores.

The Americans rebounded with dual meet victories over Korea and Belarus, both by 5-2 margins.

“This was a heck of a dual meet tournament. It’s a grind because you get five hard matches, back to back, just like the worlds,” said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones.

Winning all five of his matches at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. was 2009 U.S. World Team member Jake Varner (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC).

Finishing with four wins in five bouts was 2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Finishing with 3-2 records for the day were Joe Johnston (Columbia, Mo./MWF) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Trent Paulson (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs. 

“I was pleased with Johnston's performance. With all due respect many people didn't give him a chance and he stepped up and got a few big wins. But the game ball goes to Varner. He dominated most of his matches but one time his back was against the wall against the Georgian and he got a suck-it-up takedown. It is what we're looking for. Jake's a winner and that's why he ran the field today,” said Jones.

Russian teams won the top three spots in the competition and claimed all of the prize money. A team from the Russian Republic of Dagestan won the team title, defeating Russia by a 5-2 margin in the championship match. Claiming third place was the CSKA club from Russia, a 5-2 winner over Azerbaijan.

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.

The U.S. placed sixth in the 11-team field, based upon their overall performance in all five dual meets in their pool. Jones was encouraged by the U.S. effort, but felt the team could have finished even higher in the standings.

“Overall, we're right in the mix with the best teams,” said Jones. “I'm sure it sounds like a broken record but we would have won all of our duals if we would have put the nail in the coffin at the right moment. Dennis had Israpilov beaten with five seconds to go in the Russian dual and got taken down. If Dlagnev doesn't go to the clinch with the Georgian and gets a score, and we get a crucial win from Gavin or Paulson at the right time of the dual, and we're in the finals. But that's the difference right now between us and them... putting them away. We have to finish matches, and until we do, we're just hovering at good.”

INTERCONTINENTAL CUP
at Khasavyurt, Russia, October 14

Team Standings
1 – Dagestan, Russia
2 – Russia
3 – CSKA club, Russia
4 – Azerbaijan
5 – Georgia
6 – United States
7 – Bulgaria
8 – Ukraine
9 – Korea 
10 – Belarus
11 – Turkey

Championship Finals – Dagestan - RUS 5, Russia 2
Third Place Match – CSKA - RUS 5, Azerbaijan 2

Pool A dual meet results

Round 1
CSKA-RUS 6, Korea 1
Russia 4, USA 3
Georgia 5, Belarus 2

Round 2
CSKA-RUS 4, USA 3
Korea 4, Belarus 3
Russia 4, Georgia 3

Round 3
CSKA-RUS 6, Belarus 1
Russia 7, Korea 0
Georgia 4, USA 3

Round 4
CSKA-RUS 4, Georgia 3
USA 5, Korea 2
Russia 5, Belarus 2

Round 5
Russia 5, CSKA-RUS 2
Georgia 4, Korea 3
USA 5, Belarus 2

Pool B dual meet results

Round 1
Azerbaijan 5, Ukraine 2
Dagestan-RUS 7, Bulgaria 0

Round 2
Azerbaijan 6, Turkey 1
Dagestan-RUS 5, Ukraine 2

Round 3
Azerbaijan 4, Bulgaria 3
Ukraine 6, Turkey 1

Round 4 
Dagestan-RUS 6, Azerbaijan 1
Bulgaria 5, Turkey 2

Round 5
Bulgaria 4, Ukraine 3
Dagestan-RUS 7, Turkey 0

U.S. dual meet results

Russia 4, USA 3
55 kg/121 lbs. – Nariman Israpilov (Russia) dec. Daniel Dennis (USA)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Anvar Gadzhimagomedov (Russia) dec. Shawn Bunch (USA)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Joe Johnston (USA) dec. Azamat Bulatov (Russia)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Ruslan Valiev (Russia) dec. Trent Paulson (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Anzor Urishev (Russia) dec. Keith Gavin (USA)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Jake Varner (USA) dec. Said-Khasan Abubakarov (Russia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) dec. Anzor Boltukaev (Russia)

CSKA-RUS 4, USA 3
55 kg/121 lbs. – Daniel Dennis (USA) dec. Dzhamel Otarsultanov (CSKA)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Opan Sat (CSKA) dec. Shawn Bunch (USA)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Andrey Sementsov (CSKA) dec. Joe Johnston (USA)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Irbek Farniev (CSKA) dec. Trent Paulson (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Magomed Zubairov (CSKA) dec. Keith Gavin (USA)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Jake Varner (USA) dec. Magomed Musaev (CSKA)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) dec. Soslan Gogloev (CSKA)

Georgia 4, USA 3
55 kg/121 lbs. – Vladimer Khnchegashvili (Georgia) dec. Daniel Dennis (USA)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Malkhaz Zarkua (Georgia) dec. Shawn Bunch (USA)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Joe Johnston (USA) dec. Shalva Muziashvili (Georgia)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Trent Paulson (USA) dec. Davit Khutsishvili (Georgia)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Dato Marsagishvili (Georgia) dec. Keith Gavin (USA)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Jake Varner (USA) dec. Elizbar Odikadze (Georgia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Giorgi Sakandelidze (Georgia) dec. Tervel Dlagnev (USA)

USA 5, Korea 2
55 kg/121 lbs. – Daniel Dennis (USA) pin Kim Hyo-Sub (Korea)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Shawn Bunch (USA) dft. over Lee Seung-Chul (Korea)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Kim Dai-Sung (Korea) dec. Joe Johnston (USA)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Trent Paulson (USA) dec. Lee Yun-Seok (Korea)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Lee Jae-Sung (Korea) dec. Keith Gavin (USA)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Jake Varner (USA) dec. Kim Jae-Gang (Korea)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) dec. Jung Yei-Hyun (Korea)

USA 5, Belarus 2
55 kg/121 lbs. – Vladislav Andreev (Belarus) dec. Daniel Dennis (USA)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Shawn Bunch (USA) dec. Kirill Rozhkov (Belarus)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Joe Johnston (USA) dec. Artem Stelmanschok (Belarus)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Trent Paulson (USA) dec. Roman Soltan (Belarus)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Amargadzhi Makhamedov (Belarus) dec. Keith Gavin (USA)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Jake Varner (USA) dec. Sergey Pernikau (Belarus)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) dec. Pavel Varonka (Belarus)