A U.S. Junior Greco-Roman team dropped an exhibition dual meet to Bulgaria’s Junior team 8-4 on Tuesday.

Despite wrestling well at the Austrian Junior Open, the U.S. team struggled against Bulgaria in the dual meet.

“Jesse Thielke, Jake Bellis, Dillon Cowan and Isaiah Varona all wrestled well,” said National Greco-Roman Developmental Coach Ike Anderson. “As a team though, we did not wrestle well overall.”

The U.S. started out strong, winning the first three matches by Bellis (Bloomington, Ill.) at 50 kg, Varona (Miami, Fla.) at 55 kg and Thielke (Germantown, Wis.) at 60 kg. Cowan (Harvard, Ill.) added a win at 66 kg, giving the U.S. dominance in the lighter weights.

Bellis was victorious over Peter Ivanov, while Varona beat Halil Atanasov. Thileke, a three-time Junior World Team member, defeated Rado Vasilev at 60 kg/132 lbs. Cowan defeated Stefan Georgiev.

However, Team USA was unable to get a win in weights 74 kg – 120 kg, dropping  the final seven matches to Bulgaria.

Next up is the Petko Sirakov and Ivan Illiev Junior Open in Varna, Bulgaria, March 16-18.

BULGARIA 8, UNITED STATES 4

50 kg/ 110 lbs.
Jake Bellis (USA) def Peter Ivanov (BUL) 1-6, 5-4 2-9 

55 kg/121lbs.
Isaiah Varona (USA) def Halil Atanasov (BUL)  2 -6, 1-0, 0-1 

60 kg/132
Jesse Thielke (USA) def Rado Vasilev (BUL) 3-0, 0-2, 0-1 
Maikal Izmerliiski (BUL) def  Kevin Norstrem  5-0, 6-0 

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
 Dillon Cowan (USA) def Stefan Georgiev (BUL) 1-3, Fall 
Ozikan Rashid (BUL) def  Nick Alvarez (USA) 6-0, 4-0 

74 kg/163 lbs.
Galin Galchev (BUL) def   Austin Barton (USA) 1-0, 5-3 
Mario Docin (BUL) def Caleb Smith (USA) 3-0, 5-0 

84 kg/185 lbs.
Stinislav Kanev (BUL) def  Devin Peterson (USA) 1-0, 5-0 

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Ilian Gazepov (BUL) def  Marcus Finau (USA) 3-0, 6-0 

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Mile Metodiev (BUL) def Parker Betts (USA)  2-0, 1-0 

 63kg/138 lbs.  (Cadet)
Stanislav Penkov (BUL) def Ian Haven (USA) Fall