Kyle Ruschell of the United States competing at 66 kg at the Dmitri Korkin Memorial International. Photo courtesy of Petr Pavlov.

YAKUTSK, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Russia – A pair of talented young American wrestlers placed fifth in their weight classes at the Dmitri Korkin Memorial International on Saturday.

Taking fifth after losing their bronze medal matches were Brandon Precin (Evanston, Ill./Wildcat WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Kyle Ruschell (Madison, Wis./New York AC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Both finished the tournament with 2-2 records.

Precin opened with a victory over Aleksandr Koriakin of Russia, then was defeated in the second round by Damdinbazar Sohtbaatar of Mongolia in three periods. When Sohtbaatar reached the finals, Precin was pulled back into the repechage.

Precin defeated Lubomir Litvinchuk of Ukraine in his first repechage bout, then lost to Gabit Tolepbay of Kazakhstan, 1-1, 0-2, 0-1 in the bronze-medal match.

Ruschell also opened with a win over Salamdin Akhmedov of Russia, then lost in a three-period bout to Ayaal Anisimov of Russia. Anisimov reached the finals, bringing Ruschell back into the repechage.

Ruschell won his next match over Semen Amosov of Russia. In the bronze-medal match,  he was injured in the third period and defaulted to Gasan Magomedov of Russia.

James Yonushonis (Columbus, Ohio/New York AC) dropped his only match at 84 kg/185 lbs.

“All three guys wrestled hard and had chances to win the matches we lost. This is a great wrestling atmosphere and these guys are really wrestling hard,” said U.S. coach John Stutzman.

This was the fourth international wrestling tournament held in memory of the honored coach Dmitry Korkin.

Teams that were in the tournament included Ukraine, Turkey, United States, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Mongolia, Kyrgystan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Greece and Russia (Dagestan, Buriatya, Moskow, Krasnoyarsk and Yakutia).

Participants who won medals received cash prizes of: 1st place – $3,000 U.S., 2nd place – $2,000 and 3rd place – $1,000. The coach who prepared the champion also was awarded by cash prize of $2,000. The total prize fund is $130,000. There are also special prizes from sponsors.

DMITRY KORKIN MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL
At Yakutsk, Russia, October 1, 2011

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Erdenebat Bekhbayar (Mongolia)
Silver - Damdinbazar Sohtbaatar (Mongolia)
Bronze - Gabit Tolepbay (Kazakhstan)
Bronze - Armen Khirginian (Armenia)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold - Batchulun Ankhbayar (Mongolia)
Silver - Ayaal Anisimov (Russia, Yakutia)
Bronze - Dmitry Shadrin (Russia, Yakutia)
Bronze - Gasan Magomedov (Russia, Dagestan)

84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold - Roland Djioev (Russiz, Krasnoyarsk)
Silver - Semen Semenov (Kazakhstan)
Bronze - Radzab Zakariyev (Russia, Dagestan)
Bronze - Magomed Zubairov (Russia, Moskow)

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Gold - Ayaal Lazarev (Kyrgystan)
Silver - Kirill Gotovtsev (Russia, Krasnoyarsk)
Bronze - Ioannis Arzumanidis (Greece)
Bronze - Askhat Kusepov (Kazakhstan).

U.S. freestyle performances

55 kg/121 lbs. – Brandon Precin, Evanston, Ill. (Wildcat WC), 5th
WIN Aleksandr Koriakin (Russia - Yakutia), 1-0, 1-3, 1-0
LOSS: Damdinbazar Sohtbaatar (Mongolia) 1-0, 1-3, 0-3
WIN Lubomir Litvinchuk (Ukraine) 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Gabit Tolepbay (Kazakhstan) 1-1, 0-2, 0-1

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Kyle Ruschell, Madison, Wis. (New York AC), 5th
WIN Salamdin Akhmedov (Russia - Dagestan), 1-0, 6-0
LOSS Ayaal Anisimov (Russia - Yakutia), 1-0, 0-3, 0-1
WIN Semen Amosov (Russia - Yakutia) 1-0, 3-0
LOSS Gasan Magomedov (Russia - Dagestan) 0-1, 2-0, inj. dft.

84 kg/185 lbs. – James Yonushonis, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC), dnp
LOSS Radzab Zakaryev (Dagestan) 0-1, 0-1