Raymond Jordan of the USA battles Andrey Valiev of Russia at 84 kg during the dual meet at the New York Athletic Club. Julieta Okot photo

NEW YORK, N.Y. – It was a good night for Freestyle Team USA, which had a strong performance in beating Russia, 5-2 in a dual meet at the New York Athletic Club on 11-11-11.

The U.S. opened with three straight wins in the lightweights, getting its momentum going strong.

2011 U.S. Open champion Sam Hazewinkel (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) needed three periods to defeat Asadulla Lachinov, 0-1, 3-0, 2-0 at 55 kg/121 lbs.

Hazewinkel lost the first period while in the offensive position of the clinch, losing the lock and the takedown. Hazewinkel scored two takedowns to win the second period. He closed out the match from the clinch in the third period, scoring two points from the offensive position.

“I was in better shape than he was. He was big, so I had to wrestle smart and stay out from underneath him and use some strategy,” said Hazewinkel.

2011 U.S. World Team member and 2011 U.S. Open champion Reece Humphrey (Columbus, Ohio/New York AC) followed with a strong two-period win over Alexander Bogomoev of Russia, 1-0, 5-0 at 60 kg/132 lbs. Humphrey got a pushout takedown from the defensive position on the clinch to win the first period. In the second period, he scored a takedown and two gutwrenches to put the match away.

“I knew it was going to be a tough one. It was a big win for me. It felt good to wrestle hard for the whole match, like he made me do. A big win for me and for the USA,” said Humphrey.

The third U.S. victory came from 2010 U.S. World Team member Brent Metcalf (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC), who stopped Dzhalaludin Kurbanaliev, 3-0, 3-0 at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Metcalf was able to score from his offense and shut down the Russian’s attack.

“I felt good. When I went to my offense I scored,” said Metcalf. “I would like to score more and get to my offense earlier in the first period. In the second period, I got to it three times, which was good.”

Russia rebounded with a victory at 74 kg/163 lbs., when Kamal Malikov defeated Andrew Howe (Cedar Lake, Ind./New York AC), 1-0, 4-0.

The U.S. victory was clinched at 84 kg/185 lbs., when Raymond Jordan (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) stopped 2010 Junior World champion Andrey Valiev, 0-1, 1-0, 4-0. After losing the first period from the clinch, Jordan kept up the pressure to turn the tide. He won the second period with a takedown. In the deciding third period, trailing 1-0, Jordan scored a point on a pushout with 12 seconds to go to tie the match and win the tiebreaker.

“I trained with him when I was in Russia for a month. I was familiar with him. I got into positions I was good at and could finish from. It was a matter of getting to those positions,” said Jordan.

Russia’s second victory came at 96 kg/211.5 lbs., when University World champion Yury Belonovskiy controlled the action to defeat Dustin Kilgore, Berea, Ohio (Golden Pride WC), 2-1, 5-2

2010 U.S. World Team member Les Sigman (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) needed three periods to defeat Eduard Bazrov, 4-3, 1-2, 8-0. After dropping the second period, Sigman opened up his offense in the third period. He scored a takedown and two ankle laces to lead 5-0, the closed out the match with a three-point takedown for a technical fall.

U.S. coach Zeke Jones was pleased with the team’s effort, in comparison to the Thursday dual meet against Mongolia, when the USA won 5-4 in a combined event which featured five women’s bouts. Metcalf and Howe won their bouts, but Hazewinkel and Humphrey were defeated against Mongolia. He praised the U.S. athletes for their improvement in defense from the night before.

“Tonight, we got stingy on defense. We didn’t give them anything, while we got our points. We fought them in the tough spots, so it was good,” said Jones.

USA 5, RUSSIA 2
At New York, N.Y., November 11

55 kg/121 lbs. – Sam Hazewinkel (USA) dec. Asadulla Lachinov (Russia), 0-1, 3-0, 2-0
60 kg/132 lbs. – Reece Humphrey (USA) dec. Alexander Bogomoev (Russia), 1-0, 5-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Brent Metcalf (USA) dec. Dzhalaludin Kurbanaliev (Russia), 3-0, 3-0
74 kg/163 lbs. – Kamal Malikov (Russia) dec. Andrew Howe (USA), 1-0, 4-0
84 kg/185 lbs. – Raymond Jordan (USA) dec. Andrey Valiev (Russia), 0-1, 1-0, 1-1
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Yury Belonovskiy (Russia) dec. Dustin Kilgore (USA), 2-1, 5-2
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Les Sigman (USA) dec. Eduard Bazrov (Russia), 4-3, 1-2, 8-0