Tervel Dlagnev, pictured at the 2011 World Championships, was one of three U.S. freestyle champions in Cuba. Larry Slater photo

HAVANA, Cuba – Three U.S. men’s freestyle wrestlers claimed gold medals at the Cerro Pelado International, Feb. 14-15.

U.S. champions were Jordan Burroughs (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs., Dustin Kilgore (Berea, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs and Tervel Dlagnev (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

In the two day tournament, Team USA captured 10 medals. The USA swept all four medals at 74 kg/163 lbs.

"We had a very solid performance in Cuba. Anytime Team USA can come to Cuba and win 10 medals, it's a great trip! They did not keep a team score, but we would have dominated if they did. We know our team is deep at 74K, and winning all four medals here further confirms that," said Assistant National Coach Brandon Slay.

Burroughs, the 2011 World champion at this division, won three bouts. He opened with a technical fall victory over Ivan Llano of Argentina, 7-0, 6-0. In the semifinals, he defeated 2011 U.S. Open runner-up Nick Marable of the United States, 1-0, 1-1. In the finals, he stopped 2009 U.S. World Team member Trent Paulson of the United States, 2-1, 5-1.

It was the second time this month Burroughs beat Paulson in the finals of an international event. Burroughs beat him 1-0, 6-0 in the Dave Schultz Memorial International finals on February 3.

Burroughs continues on his winning streak in freestyle wrestling which goes back to April 2011. He has won the U.S. Open, the Beat the Streets USA vs. Russia dual, the U.S. World Team Trials, the Ukrainian Memorial International, the World Championships, the Pan American Games and the Cerro Pelado International in succession.

Kilgore, a 2011 NCAA champion for Kent State who is on an Olympic redshirt, defeated 2007 U.S. World Team member Tommy Rowlands (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids), 2-4, 3-0, 5-4 in the finals.

Kilgore also scored wins over Javier Cortina of Cuba, 4-2, 5-1 and William Harth of Germany, 1-0, 3-0.

Dlagnev, a 2009 World bronze medalist, won four matches in a five-athlete round-robin at his weight class. A key victory came over eventual silver medalist Nick Matuhin of Germany, 2-0, 1-0 in the first round.

“Tervel looked very poised and seasoned coming off his second place performance at the end of January in Krasnoyrask. Russia, an event deemed the toughest tournament in the world,” said Slay.

Winning silver medals were Paulson, Rowlands and Jared Frayer (Norman, Okla./Gator WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

Frayer opened with three wins, stopping Fernando Carranza of Argentina, 5-3, pin 0:45, Destin McCauley of the USA, 7-2, 6-0 and Pedro Soto of Puerto Rico, 5-0, pin 0:26. He was beaten in the finals by 2011 World bronze medalist Livan Lopez of Cuba, 0-2, 0-3.

Bronze medals went to Sam Hazewinkel (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Nick Marable (Columbia, Mo./Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs., Tyler Caldwell (Wichita, Kan./Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Mack Lewnes (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs.

“Our men wrestled well overall. We can see progress being made. Not everyone accomplished exactly what they wanted. However, the focused effort is there. There is much work to do, but we are encouraged with the results and the work being done,” said Assistant National Freestyle Coach Bill Zadick.

Included on the tour were two U.S. Olympic Training Center developmental athletes, who showed promise.

"Our Developmental wrestlers, Destin McCauley and Tanner Hall, garnered much needed experience in the competition, and will continue to build on that as we train with the Cuban team through Feb 20," said Slay.

Team USA is already involved in high-level training with their Cuban hosts.

"The next day after the tournament, Team USA didn't rest.  We got two great workouts in with the Cuban National Team. On Saturday, we will be wrestling a mock tournament against Cuba, Germany, and Italy. Each wrestler will get 3-5 solid matches in. Our coaching staff wants to fully maximize the opportunity compete against foreign competitors. We are approximately 60 days out from the Olympic Trials so it's time to work and not time to rest. At this period of time, we can't afford to miss a beat,” said Slay.

CERRO PELADO INTERNATIONAL
At Havana Cuba, Feb. 14-15

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold – Luis Ibanez (Cuba)
Silver – Alfredo Cisneros (Cuba)
Bronze – Sam Hazewinkel (USA)
Bronze – Jacob Hergenhein (Canada)
5th – Urs Wild (Switzerland)
5th – Marcel Ewald (Germany)

60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold – Yowlys Bonne (Cuba)
Silver – Davian Quintana (Cuba)
Bronze – Alejandro Valdes (Cuba)
Bronze – Fedot Sleptcov (Russia)
5th – Vincenzo Rizzotto (Italy)
5th – Tim Schleicher (Germany)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold – Livan Lopez (Cuba)
Silver – Jared Frayer (USA)
Bronze – Franklyn Maren (Cuba)
Bronze – Pedro Soto (Puerto Rico)
5th – Destin McCauley (USA)
5th – Andy Moreno (Cuba)

74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold – Jordan Burroughs (USA)
Silver – Trent Paulson (USA)
Bronze – Nick Marable (USA)
Bronze – Tyler Caldwell (USA)
5th – Ivan Llano (Argentina)
5th – Luis Quintana (Cuba)

84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold – Humberto Arencibia (Cuba)
Silver – Jaime Espinal (Puerto Rico)
Bronze – Mack Lewnes (USA)
Bronze – Luis Miranda (Cuba)
5th – Marco Riesen (Switzerland)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Gold – Dustin Kilgore (USA)
Silver – Tommy Rowlands (USA)
Bronze – Javier Cortina (Cuba)
Bronze – Kevin Schwabe (Germany)
5th – William Harth (Germany)
5th – David Zabriskie (USA)

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Gold – Tervel Dlagnev (USA)
Silver – Nick Matuhin (Germany)
Bronze – Disney Rodriguez (Cuba)
4th – Jarod Trice (USA)
5th – Carlos Felix (Dominican Republic)

U.S. men’s freestyle performance

55 kg/121 lbs. – Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids), 3rd
WIN Joffry Serrata (Dominican Republic), 3-2, 1-0
LOSS Alfredo Cisneros (Cuba), 1-0, 1-0
WIN Marcel Ewald (Germany), 4-0, 6-2

60 kg/132 lbs. – Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids)
LOSS Alejandro Valdes (Cuba), 0-5, 0-2

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Jared Frayer, Norman, Okla. (Gator WC), 2nd
WIN Fernando Carranza (Argentina), 5-3, pin 0:45
WIN Destin McCauley (USA), 7-2, 6-0
WIN Pedro Soto (Puerto Rico), 5-0, pin 0:26
LOSS Livan Lopez (Cuba), 2-0, 3-0

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Destin McCauley, Burnsville, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 5th
WIN Ryan Weicker (Canada), 3-2, 1-2, 1-1
LOSS Jared Frayer (USA), 2-7, pin 0:45
WIN Fernando Carranza (Argentina), 7-0, 6-0
LOSS Pedro Soto (Puerto Rico), 3-5, pin 0:42

74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids), 1st
WIN Ivan Llano (Argentina), 7-0, 6-0
WIN Nick Marable (USA), 1-0, 1-1
WIN Trent Paulson (USA), 2-1, 5-1

74 kg/163 lbs. – Trent Paulson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 2nd
WIN Luis Quintana (Cuba), 3-1, 5-1
WIN Yunierki Blanco (Cuba), 1-1, 2-2
WIN Tyler Caldwell (USA),
LOSS Jordan Burroughs (USA), 1-2, 1-5

74 kg/163 lbs. – Nick Marable, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids), 3rd
WIN Angel Ramirez (Dominican Republic), 5-0, 5-1
LOSS Jordan Burroughs (USA), 0-1, 1-1
WIN Ivan Llano (Argentina), 6-0, 6-0

74 kg/163 lbs. – Tyler Caldwell, Wichita, Kan. (Sunkist Kids), 3rd
WIN Camelo Lumia (Italy), 6-0, 7-0
WIN J.P. O’Connor (USA), 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Trent Paulson (USA)
WIN Luis Quintana (Cuba), 0-3, 4-1, 2-1

74 kg/163 lbs. – Moza Fay, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
LOSS Yunierky Blanco (Cuba), pin 1:29

74 kg/163 lbs. – J.P. O’Connor, Cambridge, Mass. (New York AC)
WIN Lazaro Montes de Oca (Cuba), 1-1, 2-1, 1-1

84 kg/185 lbs. – Mack Lewnes, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC). 3rd
WIN Andrea Sorbello (Italy), 3-0, 5-0
LOSS Jaime Espinal (Puerto Rico), 5-6, 1-5

96 kg/211.5 lbs – Dustin Kilgore, Berea, Ohio (Sunkist Kids), 1st
WIN Javier Cortina (Cuba), 4-2, 5-1
WIN William Harth (Germany), 1-0, 3-0
WIN Tommy Rowlands (USA), 2-4, 3-0, 5-4

96 kg/211.5 lbs – Tommy Rowlands, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids), 2nd
WIN Eduardo Mesa (Cuba), 2-0, 4-0
WIN David Zabriskie (USA), 5-2, 3-1
WIN Kevin Schwabe (Germany)
LOSS Dustin Kilgore (USA), 4-2, 0-3, 4-5

96 kg/211.5 lbs – Dave Zabriskie, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 5th
LOSS Tommy Rowlands (USA), 2-5, 1-3
WIN Eduardo Mesa (Cuba), 1-4, 2-0, 3-0
LOSS Kevin Schwabe (Germany), 0-1, 0-1

96 kg/211.5 lbs – Tanner Hall, Meridian, Idaho (New York AC)
LOSS William Harth (Germany), 0-1, 0-3

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids), 1st
WIN Nick Matuhin (Germany), 2-0, 1-0
WIN Jarod Trice (USA), 3-0, 3-0
WIN Carlos Felix (Domincan Republic)
WIN Disney Rodriguez (Cuba)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Jarod Trice, Highland Park, Mich. (Gator WC), 4th
WIN Disney Rodriguez (Cuba), 0-2, 1-0, 1-0
WIN Carlos Felix (Dominican Republic), 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Tervel Dlagnev (USA), 0-3, 0-3
LOSS Nick Matuhin (Germany), 0-1, 0-7