PLAUEN, Germany – Georgia won the first four bouts and went on to defeat the United States, 6-2, in the opening match of the FILA Junior Freestyle World Cup on Friday.

The first U.S. victory came at 74 kg/163 lbs., when Michigan high school sensation Taylor Massa (St. Johns, Mich./Massa’s Maniacs) scored a third-period pin over Petriashivili.

Massa won the first period but lost in the second period to force a deciding third period. Massa was down five points in the deciding stanza, but rallied back to close the gap, before scoring the pin with 42 seconds left in the match.

Also earning a win for Team USA was Iowa heavyweight Bobby Telford (Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa) with a win over Aslanishvili, 2-0, 3-0 in the final bout at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

The U.S. will complete its Pool B matches on Saturday morning, when they face Japan in the second round and Azerbaijan in the third round. 

In the other Pool B match on Friday night, Azerbaijan defeated Japan, 7-1.

In Pool A, the first round matches went to Russia, an 8-0 winner over Germany, and to Iran, which defeated Turkey 5-3.

FILA JUNIOR FREESTYLE WORLD CUP
At Plauen, Germany, May 27

Pool B matches

Georgia 6, United States 2
50 kg/110 lbs. – Rotchikashvili (Georgia) dec. Nick Roberts (USA), 3-0, 4-0
55 kg/121 lbs. – Lomtadze (Georgia) dec. Jack Hathaway (USA), 3-0, 4-0
60 kg/132 lbs. – Akobishvili (Georgia) dec. Tony Ramos (USA), 3-2, 1-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Galeagshvili (Georgia) dec. Josh Kindig (USA), 8-1, 2-3, 1-0
74 kg/163 lbs. – Taylor Massa (USA) pin Petriashvili (Georgia), 3rd period
84 kg/185 lbs. – Aminashvili (Georgia) dec. Logan Storley (USA), 1-1, 5-1
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Busoshvili (Georgia) dec. Tanner Hall (USA), 3-1, 2-3, 2-2
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Bobby Telford (USA) dec. Aslanishvili (Georgia), 2-0, 3-0

Azerbaijan 7, Japan 1

Pool A matches

Russia 8, Germany 0

Iran 5, Turkey 3