Muzaffar Abdurakmanov, third in the NCAAs for American and now an assistant coach at Harvard, will compete at 74 kg for Russia against Nick Marable of the USA

USA Wrestling has announced the final pairings for the USA vs. Russia dual meet in Troy, N.Y., on Saturday, Nov. 27.

The dual will be held at Hudson Valley Community College at 1:00 p.m., at halftime of the Journeymen/ASICS Northeast Duals.

The Russian lineup will differ from the one which competed on Nov. 19 in Hempstead, N.Y. Three of the Russian wrestlers will drop down to their regular weight classes to compete in Troy, after wrestling up a division in Hempstead.

Russia swept the first three weight classes at the New York AC Freestyle International on Sunday: Petr Sivtcev at 55 kg/121 lbs., Rasul Murtazaliev at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Magomedmurad Gadzhiev at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Gadzhiev was named Outstanding Wrestler.

Gadzhiev also won the 2010 Ivan Yarygin Memorial Grand Prix, one of the world’s most respected tournaments, as well as capturing a silver medal at the 2010 European Championships.

Competing at 84 kg/185 lbs. is Koloy Kortoev, a 2009 Junior World champion and two-time European Junior champion. Kirill Gotovtsev, who placed third in the Ivan Yarygin Memorial Grand Prix the last two years, will wrestle at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Rounding out the Russian delegation are Rasul Mashezov at 55 kg/121 lbs and Marat Ibragimov at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Filling in at 74 kg/163 lbs. on the Russian team is Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov, a native of Uzbekistan who placed third in the 2006 NCAA Championships for American University and was a two-time Junior College national champion for Colby CC. Abdurakhmanov is currently an assistant coach at Harvard.

USA Wrestling National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones has also finalized his talented U.S. lineup.

Two past U.S. World Team members will be on the team, 2009 U.S. World Team member Jake Varner (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) and 2007 U.S. World Team member Tommy Rowlands (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Varner currently holds a No. 2 ranking on Freestyle Team USA.

Another U.S. national team members in the lineup is No. 2 Keith Gavin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Lehigh Valley AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs.

Matt Valenti (Philadelphia, Pa./Lehigh Valley AC) is a late addition for the U.S. team at 60 kg/132 lbs.

Rounding out the U.S. lineup are Dan Dennis (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Joe Johnston (Columbia, Mo./Missouri) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Nick Marable (Columbia, Mo. /Missouri) at 74 kg/163 lbs.

Four U.S. team members are past NCAA champions. Two-time NCAA champions were Varner at Iowa State, Rowlands at Ohio State and Valenti at Penn. Gavin won a NCAA title for Pitt.

In addition to the USA vs. Russia dual meet, there will be two featured Greco-Roman bouts. At 84 kg/185 lbs., 2008 Olympic gold medalist Andrea Minguzzi of Italy will battle 2010 U.S. Open champion Cheney Haight (Boise, Idaho/New York AC). At 96 kg/211.5 lbs., 2010 University World silver medalist Diagoro Timoncini of Italy will battle veteran U.S. wrestler John Lorenz (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army).

Along with the international dual, the Journeymen/ASICS Northeast Duals will be held Saturday, Nov. 27, featuring top college programs Lehigh, Missouri, American, Virginia, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Binghamton and Rutgers. Also making an appearance is MMA star and former Michigan State wrestler Rashad Evans.

Tickets will cost $20 for general admission and will be available at the door.

For information on the Nov. 27 USA vs. Russia dual meet, contact Frank Popolizio at Frank@journeymenwrestling.com or visit www.journeymenwrestling.com

TheMat.com will be in Troy to post updates from the dual meet.

USA vs. Russia dual pairings
In Troy, N.Y., Nov. 27
55 kg/121 lbs. – Dan Dennis, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC) vs. Rasul Mashezov or Petr Sivtcev (Russia)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Matt Valenti, Philadelphia, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC) vs. Rasul Murtazaliev (Russia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Joe Johnston, Columbia, Mo. (Missouri) vs. Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (Russia)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Nick Marable, Columbia, Mo. (Missouri) vs. Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov (Uzbekistan)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Keith Gavin, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC) vs. Koloy Kortoev (Russia)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) vs. Marat Ibragimov (Russia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tommy Rowlands, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids) vs. Kirill Gotovtsev (Russia)

USA vs. Italy Greco-Roman bouts
84 kg/185 lbs. – Andrea Minguzzi (Italy) vs, Cheney Haight (Boise, Idaho/New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Diagoro Timoncini (Italy) vs. John Lorenz (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)

Biographies of Russian National Team athletes

55 kg/121 lbs. - Rasul Mashezov (Russia)
Second in 2010 New York AC Freestyle International… Third in 2010 Junior World Championships… Born March 9, 1990…

55 kg/121 lbs. - Petr Sivtcev (Russia)
2010 New York AC Freestyle International champion… 2009 Dmitry Korkin Memorial champion… Born February 11, 1986…

60 kg/132 lbs. - Rasul Murtazaliev (Russia)
2010 New York AC Freestyle International champion… Third in the Russian National Championships… from Dagestan… Born July 20, 1988….

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (Russia)
2010 New York AC Freestyle International champion… Second in 2010 European Championships… 2010 Ivan Yarygin Memorial champion… Third in the Russian Nationals… Third in 2009 Ivan Yarygin Memorial… 2008 Junior World champion… from Dagestan… Born February 15, 1988…

74 kg/163 lbs. – Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov (Uzbekistan)
Third in 2006 NCAA Championships for American Univ… Two-time EIWA champion… Two-time NJCAA Junior College national champion for Colby CC… Three-time Uzbekistan national champion… Second in 2004 Sunkist Kids International… Second in 2006 New York AC International… Assistant coach at Harvard Univ… Born October 28, 1980… 

84 kg/185 lbs. – Koloy Kortoev (Russia)
Third in 2010 New York AC Freestyle International… 2009 Junior World champion… 2009 and 2010 European Junior champion… Russian Junior National champion… from Krasnodar…. Born March 20, 1990…  

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Marat Ibragimov (Russia)
Third in 2010 New York AC Freestyle International… Seventh in 2010 World University Championships… Third in 2010 Ramzan Kadirov Cup… from Moscow… Born February 1, 1990… 

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Kirill Gotovtsev (Russia)
Third in 2009 and 2010 Ivan Yarygin Memorial… Fifth in 2010 Medved International (Belarus)… Third in the Russian Nationals… from Krasnoyarsk… Born July 17, 1987