Two U.S. teams consisting of FILA Junior wrestlers competed in dual meets against the Bulgarian FILA Junior National Team this week in Bulgaria. FILA Juniors are wrestlers who are 17-20 years old. A U.S. freestyle team had a 3-3 tie against the Bulgarian FILA Junior freestyle team. Scoring wins for the United States in freestyle were Carson Kuhn of Sandy, Utah at 55 kg/121 lbs., Greg Isley of Toledo, Ohio at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Tanner Hall of Meridian, Idaho at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Kuhn and Hall were 2010 Junior National freestyle champions in Fargo, N.D. Kuhn is currently a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete. Hall has made a commitment to be a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete after he graduates from high school this year. Hall’s victory was over 2010 European Cadet silver medalist Zaid Dilliaver, 6-2, 5-1. “When wrestling the Bulgarians, we had some very good performances and some were not what we wanted,†said National Freestyle Developmental Coach Bill Zadick. “When we relaxed mentally or were lazy in our positions, it put us in situations that we didn't want to be in. However, when we stay focused and offensive we we are pretty tough! I'm very encouraged by the willingness of everyone on our team to step on the mat in the frame of mind to wrestle an aggressive, exciting style! Wrestling with that type of attitude, these young men will quickly improve as they move forward in their competitive careers." In a Greco-Roman dual meet featuring FILA Junior athletes, Bulgaria defeated the United States, 7-3. Earning wins for Team USA were Jesse Thielke (Germantown, Wis./Ringers) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Ellis Coleman (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Dillon Cowan (Harvard, Ill./USOEC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Coleman was a 2010 Junior World bronze medalist, and Thielke was a member of the 2010 Junior World Team. “The U.S. Junior Team did not wrestle as well as they are capable,†said National Greco-Roman Developmental Coach Ike Anderson. “We only won three matches out of 10 in the dual.†Both U.S. teams will compete at the Petko Sirakov/Ivan Illiev Junior International in Varna, Bulgaria, March 11-13. MEN’S FREESTYLE DUAL USA 3, BULGARIA 3 50 kg/110 lbs. – Georgi Vangelov (Bulgaria) dec. Dalton Brady (USA), 2-5, 3-0, 2-0 55 kg/121 lbs. – Carson Kuhn (USA) dec. Ahmed Ali (Bulgaria), 6-0, 3-0 74 kg/163 lbs. – Miroslav Kirov (Bulgaria) dec. Derek Garcia (USA), 6-0, 3-0 84 kg/185 lbs. – Greg Isley (USA) dec. Nikola Dimitrov (Bulgaria), 4-3, 2-0 96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Kaldian Koleav (Bulgaria) pin Tyler Lehmann (USA), 1:01 96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Tanner Hall (USA) dec. Zaid Dilliaver (Bulgaria), 6-2, 5-1 GRECO-ROMAN DUAL BULGARIA 7, UNITED STATES 3 50 kg/110 lbs. - Nikolai Vichev (Bulgaria) dec. Aaron Runzo (USA), 3-0, 2-0, 2-2 55 kg/121 lbs. – Jesse Thielke (USA) pin Pepi (Bulgaria), 3-8, pin 1:35 60 kg/132 lbs. – Nasko Georgiev (Bulgaria) dec. Joey Denova (USA), 5-0, pin 1:45 66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Dillon Cowan (USA) dec. Rado (Bulgaria), 6-3, 8-1 66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Ellis Coleman (USA) dec. Mizen (Bulgaria), 0-6, 1-8 74 kg/163 lbs. - Dami (Bulgaria) dec. Josh Castellano (USA), 3-2, 3-3, 1-2 74 kg/163 lbs. - Stilan (Bulgaria) dec. Caleb Smith (USA), 0-1, 2-0, 2-0 84 kg/185 lbs. - Venci (Bulgaria) dec. Mark Stenberg (USA), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0 96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Hyusein Hyusein (Bulgaria) pin Marcus Finau (USA), 5-0, 1:00 120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Mizoslan (Bulgaria) pin Scott Helton (USA), 0:58