Mango, Lester, Ruiz receive draws as World Championships are set to begin

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Craig Sesker (USA Wrestling)
09/11/2011


ISTANBUL, Turkey – U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers Spenser Mango, Justin Lester and Justin Ruiz each made weight Sunday night and have received their draws for the World Championships.

Mango, a 2008 Olympian, will face Arsen Eraliev of Kyrgyzstan in his first match on Monday at 55 kg/121 lbs.

Eraliev won the Asian Championships this year and is a past Junior World silver and bronze medalist. Eraliev competed at the past two Senior World Championships, placing 15th in 2009 and 18th in 2010.

Mango (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) is competing in his third World Championships.

Lester, a two-time World bronze medalist, will battle Aleksandar Maksimovic of Serbia in his first match at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Lester beat Maksimovic in three periods at the Curby Cup earlier this year. Lester won the match 3-0, 0-1, 2-1.

Maksimovic was third in the European Championships this year. He is a past Junior World silver medalist.

Lester (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) is competing in his fifth World Championships.

Ruiz, a 2005 World bronze medalist, will face Sweden’s Jimmy Lidberg in the first round at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Lidberg defeated Ruiz in the bronze-medal match at the 2010 World Championships. Lidberg won a World silver medal in 2009.

Ruiz (Orem, Utah/New York AC) beat Lidberg 1-0, 0-2, 1-0 at the Curby Cup this year. He is competing in his sixth World Championships.

Competition is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Sinan Erdem Dome. The seven-day competition will feature three weight classes each day in Istanbul.