Brent Metcalf of the USA scores a three-point turn on Ankhbayar Batchuluun of Mongolia in their 66 kg bout in Brooklyn, N.Y. Justin Hoch photo

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The United States rallied back from a 3-1 deficit with four straight wins to defeat Mongolia in a men and women’s freestyle dual meet at Grand Street Campus High School by a 5-4 margin.

The event was organized by Beat the Streets, Inc. of New York City. The stands were packed full of young wrestlers and fans from this successful program which has energized the sport in one of the world’s great cities.

Mongolia opened with three wins in the first four matches. The lone U.S. winner early in the dual came in women’s 48 kg/105.5 lbs., when 2008 World champion Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) stopped 2010 Junior World silver medalist Davaasuren Bayarmagnai of Mongolia, 4-1, 7-6.

Chun dominated the first period and led early in the second period. However Byarmagnai put Chun on her back twice later in the second period to take a lead. As time was running down, Chun scored a two-point reversal with exposure and scored an additional backpoint to tie the match at 6-6. Chun won the tiebreaker by scoring the last point of the period.

Early Mongolian victories in the dual were by Odonchimeg Badrakh (Women’s 72 kg/158.5 lbs.), Bekhbayar Erdenebat (Men’s 55 kg/121 lbs.) and Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (Men’s 60 kg/132 lbs.)

Badrakh beat Melissa Simmons (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC), 5-3, 6-0. Badrakh was third in the 2009 World Championships.

Erdenebat edged 2011 U.S. Open champion Sam Hazewinkel (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids), 5-5, 5-4. Erdenebat won the tiebreaker in the first period with a three-point move, and scored a late takedown to win the second period in a high scoring bout.

Ganzorig stopped 2011 World Team member Reece Humphrey (Columbus, Ohio/New York AC), 4-1, 4-0. Ganzorig was a 2010 Asian champion and competed at the 2011 World Championships.

The U.S. rebounded with four straight wins to clinch the team dual meet victory.

2011 Pan American Games champion Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./New York AC) got things started at 55 kg/121 lbs., shutting out Byambatseren Sundev, 1-0, 4-0. Maroulis was fifth at the World Championships this year and has won three career Junior World medals.

2010 U.S. World Team member Brent Metcalf (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC) scored the next victory at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., stopping Ankhbayar Batchuluun, 3-3, 9-3. Metcalf won the first period with a late three-point throw, and then dominated the second period for a technical fall.

2008 Junior World bronze medalist Veronica Carlson (Addison, Ill./New York AC) came out with a strong victory over Tumentsetseg Sharkhuu, 4-0, 7-1 at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Carlson scored a number of exposures to seal the match in the second period.

The U.S. victory was clinched at 74 kg/163 lbs., when 2010 U.S. Open champion Andrew Howe (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) controlled the match over Unurbat Purevjav for a 1-0, 1-0 victory.

The final match went to Mongolia. Simmons wrestled for a second time, losing this bout to 2009 World silver medalist Burmaa Ochirbat by a 4-0, 3-0 score.

The members of the Mongolian National Freestyle Team are in the United States on a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ (ECA) SportsUnited Sports Visitor Program.

Prior to the match, National Team Coach Zeke Jones conducted a practice for hundreds of Beat the Streets Junior Olympic Athletes from grades 6 through High School, who also attended the dual meet to root for Team USA.

Tomorrow night, a U.S. men’s freestyle team will compete against Russia at the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan, N.Y., starting at 7:30 p.m.

USA 5, MONGOLIA 4
At Brooklyn, N.Y., November 10

Women’s 72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Odonchimeg Badrakh (Mongolia) dec. Melissa Simmons (USA), 5-3, 6-0

Men’s 55 kg/121 lbs. –Bekhbayar Erdenebat (Mongolia) dec. Sam Hazewinkel (USA), 5-5, 5-4

Women’s 48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Clarissa Chun (USA) dec. Davaasuren Bayarmagnai (Mongolia), 4-0, 6-6

Men’s 60 kg/132 lbs. –Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (Mongolia) dec. Reece Humphrey (USA), 4-1, 4-0

Women’s 55 kg/121 lbs. – Helen Maroulis (USA) dec. Byambatseren Sundev (Mongolia), 1-0, 4-0

Men’s 66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Brent Metcalf (USA) dec. Ankhbayar Batchuluun (Mongolia), 3-3, 9-3

Women’s 63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Veronica Carlson (USA) dec. Tumentsetseg Sharkhuu (Mongolia), 4-0, 7-1

Men’s 74 kg/163 lbs. – Andrew Howe (USA) dec. Unurbat Purevjav (Mongolia), 1-0, 1-0

Women’s 72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Burmaa Ochirbat (Mongolia) dec. Melissa Simmons (USA), 4-0, 3-0

About Beat the Streets

Beat the Streets Wrestling, Inc. works directly with the New York City Department of Education in a public-private partnership to help New York City's student-athletes achieve their athletic and personal goals. Since the institution of the first Beat the Streets program in 2004, New York City has seen over 100 new Middle School, High School, and Club wrestling teams begin, in all five boroughs. BTS programs provide a safe, positive atmosphere in which thousands of disadvantaged and at-risk youth can learn the essential life lessons of personal responsibility, physical fitness, education, and teamwork. The goal of fostering strong, dedicated, and optimistic kids is delivered through tutoring, after-school programs, mentoring, and coaching. More information can be found at www.beat-the-streets.org.