ANKARA, Turkey – The United States men’s freestyle team fell short of winning a medal on the first day of the Yasar Dogu International on Friday.

2010 U.S. World Team member Obe Blanc (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) defeated 2010 U.S. World Team Trials runner-up Angel Escobedo (Columbus, Ohio/New York AC) by a 1-0, 1-0 score in the opening round at 55 kg/121 lbs.

Blanc lost his next match to two-time Junior World champion Ahmet Peker of Turkey, who prevailed 2-0, 1-0. Blanc was eliminated when Peker fell short of reaching the finals.

2011 U.S. World Team member Nick Simmons (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) dropped his match with Mihail Ivanov of Russia in the first round at 55 kg/121 lbs. Ivanov beat Simmons 0-6, 1-0, 1-0. Ivanov fell short of the finals, knocking Simmons out of the tournament.

Simmons was fifth in the 2011 World Championships. Ivanov was second in the 2008 Junior World Championships and third in the 2009 Junior World Championships.

Eight U.S. wrestlers weighed in and received their draws for Saturday. Competition will be held at 60 kg/132 lbs., 84 kg/185 lbs. and 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Among the first-round matches at 60 kg/132 lbs. is 2011 World Team member Reece Humphrey (Columbus, Ohio/New York AC) against 2010 Asian silver medalist Shogo Maeda of Japan

At 120 kg/264.5 lbs., 2008 U.S. Olympian Steve Mocco, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC) will face 2011 Junior World champion Jaber Sedeghzadeh of Iran.

YASAR DOGU INTERNATIONAL
At Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 11

Men's freestyle results

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Makhmud Magomedov (Azerbaijan)
Silver - Vedat Bulduk (Turkey)
Bronze - Galip Aliyev (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Kaiyrzhan Beisbayer (Kazakhstan)
5th – Hakan Parlar (Turkey)
5th – Tristan Chirgadze (Georgia)

74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Matthew Gentry (Canada)
Silver - Soner Demirtas (Turkey)
Bronze - Ayhan Sucu (Turkey)
Bronze - Ashraf Aliyev (Azerbaijan)
5th – Batuhan Demircin (Turkey)
5th – Mustafa Kasapoglu (Turkey)

Friday’s U.S. men's freestyle results

55 kg/121 lbs. – Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
LOSS Mihail Ivanov (Russia), 6-0, 0-1, 0-1

55 kg/121 lbs. – Obe Blanc, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
WIN Angel Escobedo (USA), 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Ahmet Peker (Turkey), 0-2, 0-1

55 kg/121 lbs. – Angel Escobedo, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC)
LOSS Obe Blanc (USA), 0-1, 0-1

U.S. men’s freestyle draws for Saturday

60 kg/132 lbs. – Reece Humphrey, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC)
Vs. Shogo Maeda (Japan)

60 kg/132 lbs. – Shawn Bunch, Columbus, Ohio (Gator WC)
Vs. Ayal Anisimov (Russia)

60 kg/132 lbs. – Coleman Scott, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
Vs. Mustafa Kartal (Turkey)

60 kg/132 lbs. – Matt Valenti, Philadelphia, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC)
Vs. Baloev (Russia)

84 kg/185 lbs. – Keith Gavin, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC)
Vs. Ali Imamoglu (Turkey)

84 kg/185 lbs. – Bryce Hasseman, Stillwater, Okla. (New York AC)
Vs. Ibrahim Balukbasi (Turkey)

120 kg/264.5 lbs – Steve Mocco, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC)
Vs. Jaber Sedeghzadeh (Iran)

120 kg/264.5 lbs – Les Sigman, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
Vs. Levan Seturidze (Georgia)

Women's freestyle results

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold - Margiet Bagomedov (Azerbaijan)
Silver - Kamala Aliyeva (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Sumeyye Sezer (Turkey)
Bronze - Merve Kenger (Turkey)

59 kg/130 lbs.
Gold - Hafize Sahin (Turkey)
Silver - Derya Yilmaz (Turkey)
Bronze - Hatun Muchu (Turkey)
Bronze - Mariana Esanu (Moldova)

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Gold - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)
Silver - Nataliya Palmarrchuk (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Yasemin Adar (Turkey)