KISH ISLAND, Iran – Brent Metcalf (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC) claimed a silver medal at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. at the Takhti Cup on Saturday.

Metcalf was defeated in the gold-medal finals by Mostafa Hossein Khani of Iran, 1-0, 0-1, 1-2. Khani is a two-time Asian Junior champion.

Metcalf won three straight matches against Iranian opponents to qualify for the finals, stopping Mohson Aghajani, Sobhan Mohammed Zadeh and Hojat Fallah.

He was a member of the 2010 U.S. World Team. Metcalf won a bronze medal at the Cerro Pelado International in Cuba last week.

Brent wrestled extremely well,” said U.S. coach Jamill Kelly. “He won three tough matches before falling in three periods in the finals to the No. 2 Iranian wrestler. I think he is learning every match on how to succeed at this level and how to become an Olympic and World champion. He’s not far off at all.”

The other U.S. wrestler to compete, 2010 World Team member J.D. Bergman (Columbus, Ohio/New York AC), went 1-2 at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

“J.D. wrestled well, but made a big mistake in his repechage match after winning the first period 7-0. Hopefully he will be able to learn from his mistakes and perform better in Belarus next week,” said Kelly.

Other individual champions on Saturday were Hassan Rahimi of Iran at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Abbas Than of Iran at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

More information will be posted when available.

TAHKTI CUP
At Kish Island, Iran, Feb. 26

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Hasan Rahimi (Iran)
Silver - Jong Hak Jin (North Korea)
Bronze - Yaser Heydargholinejad (Iran)
Bronze - Mikhail Ivanov(Russia)
5th - Damidianbazar Tsogtbattar (Mongolia)
5th - Robert Okorokov (Russia)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold - Mostafa Hosein Khani (Iran)
Silver - Brent Metcalf (USA)
Bronze - Sobhan Mohammadzadeh (Iran)
Bronze - Mohsen Jahanbakhshian(Iran)
5th - Hojat Fallah (Iran)
5th - Unurbat Purevjan (Mongolia)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Gold - Abbas Tahan (Iran)
Silver - Abazar Eslami (Iran)
Bronze - Saeid Amiri (Iran)
Bronze - Evgeni Kolemeits (Russia)
5th - Reza Yildirim (Turkey)
5th - Shouresh Aghaei (Iran)

U.S. performances

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC), 2nd
WIN Mohson Aghajani (Iran)
WIN Sobhan Mohammed Zadeh (Iran)
WIN Hojat Fallah (Iran)
LOSS Mostafa Hossein Khani (Iran), 1-0, 0-1, 1-2

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC), dnp
WIN Mojtoba Zaiee (Iran)
LOSS Islamic Abazr (Iran)
LOSS M.R. Rebellion (Iran)