It will be a big week for international wrestling on both coasts, as Russian wrestlers have travelled to the United States for quality competition.

On the East Coast, a talented young Russian Senior men’s freestyle team will participate in a dual meet against the United States, as well as a major international competition, both in New York City.

The Russians will battle Team USA in a dual meet at the historic New York Athletic Club on Friday, November 11, starting at 7:30 p.m.

The team will also compete at the New York Athletic Club International, entering the men’s freestyle division on Sunday, November 13. Competition on Sunday starts at 9:00 a.m., with finals set for 3:30 that afternoon

Leading the team is 2010 Junior World champion Andrey Valiev, who competes at 84 kg/185 lbs. Valiev was on the Russian team which competed in Times Square last spring.

Competing at 74 kg/163 lbs. is Saba Khubezhty, who won the respected Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix earlier this year. Both of the Russian wrestlers at 96 kg/211 pounds, Evgeniy Kolmeits and Yury Belonovskiy, are past University World champions. 2011 World Cup champion Dzhalaludin Kurbanaliev will wrestle at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

All of the Russians on the tour have won medals at various international competitions in the past.

All of the Senior competition against Russia will be webcast on TheMat.com.

On the same day as the dual meet in New York City, out on the West Coast, a Russian Junior team will compete in a dual meet at Crescent Valley High School in Corvallis, Oregon.

The dual meet is on Friday, November 11 at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 or $3 dollars and current USA Wrestling members can attend the meet at no charge.

The dual meet with be at Crescent Valley High School on November 11, 2011 starting at 6:00 p.m. - doors open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $5 adult, $3 for kids. Wrestlers and coaches with a USA Wrestling membership will get in free.

The Russian team is here as part of the Oregon Wrestling Association's Cultural Exchange between Russia and Oregon. The Russian team will spend two weeks in Oregon with various high school teams. The Oregon Cultural Exchange went to Russia for two weeks last summer where they trained, competed and participated in cultural activities.

Lineups for Team Oregon are still being finalized but should include Junior National Champion and three-time Oregon State Champion Zac Brunson of Churchill High School, two-time Cadet National Champion and Oregon State Champion Ronnie Bresser of Henley High School, Zech Bresser of Henley High School,  two-time Oregon state runner-up Houston Ezell of Churchill High School, Brennan King of Crescent Valley High School and Alex Rich of Crescent Valley High School.

The Russian team is from Sakha and will offer strong competition to the Oregon athletes.

Russia is considered the top wrestling nation in the world. Friendly competition between the United States and Russia go back to the 1960’s, and a strong and competitive rivalry has developed between the nations. These dual meets are among the most popular events on the annual schedule, and wrestling fans are encouraged to attend them.

RUSSIAN SENIOR TEAM
Competing in New York, N.Y., Nov. 11 and Nov. 13
55 kg/121 lbs. – Asadulla Lachinov
60 kg/132 lbs. – Alexander Bogomoev
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Dzhalaludin Kurbanaliev
74 kg/163 lbs. – Kamal Malikov
74 kg/163 lbs. – Saba Khubezhty
84 kg/185 lbs. – Andrey Valiev
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Yury Belonovskiy
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Evgeny Kolomiets
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Eduard Bazrov

RUSSIAN JUNIOR TEAM
Competing in Corvallis, Ore. on Nov. 11
Petr Efimov
Timur Rasulov
Ergis Everstov
Aytal Okoneshnikov
Anton Zakharov
Sergei Malyshev
Erkhaan Makarov
Vair Burtсev
Viktor Malyshev
Aleksandr Sofronov