Dustin Schlatter dropped from 74 kg to 66 kg this year, and has reached the finals of the New York AC International. Larry Slater photo

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The championship finals pairings have been set for the men’s freestyle competition at the 2011 New York Athletic Club International on Sunday.

There will be nine American wrestlers and five international competitors in the championship finals, which are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Eastern time and will be webcast live on TheMat.com

2009 U.S. World Team member Dustin Schlatter (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) has dropped down to 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and qualified for the finals in his new weight class. He defeated Destin McCalley (Burnsville, Minn./Sunkist Kids) in the semifinals, 1-0, 4-2. Schlatter will battle Azat Donbaev of Kyrgyzstan in the finals.

Two other past U.S. World Team members also qualified for the finals, Reece Humphrey (Columbus, Ohio/New York AC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Danny Felix (Morgantown, W.Va./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs.

Humphrey, a member of the 2011 U.S. World Team, defeated Matt Valenti (Philadelphia, Pa./Lehigh Valley AC) in the semifinals, 5-4, 3-0. He will battle Coleman Scott (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) in the finals.

Felix, who competed in the 2009 World Championships, won his semifinal match against Ben Kjar (Orem, Utah/Utah Valley), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0. Felix has drawn Angel Escobedo (Columbus. Ohio/New York AC) in the finals.

The United States is guaranteed at least three men’s freestyle champions, as three weight divisions feature two U.S. athletes in the finals.

There will be no repeat champions this year in freestyle, as none of last year’s champions have reached the finals.

NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB INTERNATIONAL
At New York, N.Y., Nov. 13

Men’s freestyle finals

55 kg/121 lbs. – Angel Escobedo (New York AC) vs. Danny Felix (Sunkist Kids)

60 kg/132 lbs. – Reece Humphrey (New York AC) vs. Coleman Scott (Gator WC)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota Storm) vs. Azat Donbaev (Kyrgyzstan)

74 kg/163 lbs. – Saba Khubezhty (Russia) vs. Kamal Malikov (Russia)

84 kg/185 lbs. – Max Askren (New York AC) vs. Phil Keddy (Hawkeye WC)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Dustin Kilgore (Sunkist Kids) vs. Yuri Belonovski (Russia)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Eduard Bazrov (Russia) vs. Jarod Trice (Gator WC)