Jordan Burroughs of the USA grabs a high single leg against Ezzatollah Akbarizarinkolaei of Iran on the way to victory at 74 kg at the World Cup in Tehran, Iran. Photo by Hamid Forootan, ISNA

TEHRAN, Iran – The United States finished the first day of the Freestyle World Cup with a 2-1 record.

Team USA opened with victories over Georgia, 5-2 and Japan, 5-2 in the morning session. In the evening session, the USA had a bye in round three, then was defeated by Iran in round four, 6-1.

The United States will face Bulgaria in the morning to finish the competition in Group B. When that match is finished, it will be determined which placement the United States will compete for in the following sessions on Friday.

“We had decent start against Georgia and Japan.  We lacked some fire against Georgia but we really bounced back against Japan and battled tough. Iran is a tough team plus we were flat too, all at the same time. We can get it turned around. We have two matches tomorrow and that’s our priority,” said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones.

The gold-medal finals has already been set. Iran finished with a perfect 4-0 record in Group B, and Russia went 4-0 in Group A. Russia will face Iran in the championship match on Friday. Iran is the defending champion at this event, having beaten Azerbaijan in the finals in 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Leading the U.S. effort so far has been 2012 Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids), who won all three of his matches. He beat Jakob Makarashvili of Georgia, 3-0, 2-1 in the first dual, then stopped Sohsuke Takatani of Japan, 2-0, 7-1 in the second dual. Against Iran, Burroughs defeated  Ezzatollah Akbarizarinkolaei of Iran, 4-0, 2-0.

Burroughs now has a 41-0 record on the Senior level in men’s freestyle since emerging on the international scene in the spring of 2011.

U.S. wrestlers with two victories on Thursday were 2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. and 2010 U.S. World Team member Brent Metcalf (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

During the USA vs. Iran match, and throughout the day, there was outstanding sportsmanship displayed by the athletes and fans in attendance. There were numerous signs of mutual respect between the Iranian and American wrestlers, with handshakes and hugs during the dual meet. The sell-out crowd was loud and enthusiastic during the entire USA vs. Iran matchup.

FREESTYLE WORLD CUP
At Tehran, Iran, February21, 2013

GROUP B DUALS FOR THE UNITED STATES

USA 5, GEORGIA 2
55 kg – Obe Blanc (USA) dec. Givi Davidori (Georgia), 1-0, 1-0
60 kg – Malkaz Kurdiani (Georgia) dec. Coleman Scott (USA), 1-1, 1-2
66 kg – Brent Metcalf (USA) dec. Malkhaz Zarkua (Georgia), 2-0, 1-0
74 kg – Jordan Burroughs (USA) dec. Jakob Makarashvili (Georgia), 3-0, 2-1
84 kg – Max Askren (USA) dec. Nodar Egadze (Georgia),1-1, 5-4
96 kg – Tedore Ebanoidze (Georgia) dec. J.D. Bergman (USA) 6-4, 5-2
120 kg – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) dec. Tornike Khidesheli (Georgia), 2-1, 1-0

USA 5, JAPAN 2
55 kg –Fumitaka Morishita (Japan) dec. Obe Blanc (USA), 4-0, 1-0
60 kg –Shogo Maeda (Japan) dec.  Jimmy Kennedy (USA), 1-0, 1-0
66 kg – Brent Metcalf (USA) dec. Toshinori Ishida (Japan), 0-1, 2-0, 3-0
74 kg – Jordan Burroughs (USA) dec. Sohsuke Takatani (Japan), 2-0, 7-1
84 kg – Phillip Keddy (USA) dec. Shinya Matsumoto (Japan), 1-2, 1-0, 2-0
96 kg –J.D. Bergman (USA)dec. Takeshi Yamaguchi (Japan), 7-0, 3-0
120 kg – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) pin Tomoyuki Oka (Japan)

IRAN 6, USA 1
55 kg –Hassan Rahimi (Iran) tech. fall Zach Sanders (USA), 6-0, 8-0
60 kg – Masoud Esmailpoorjoybari (Iran) dec. Coleman Scott (USA), 2-0, 3-1
66 kg –Mehdi Taghavi (Iran) dec. Brent Metcalf (USA), 5-0, 2-0
74 kg – Jordan Burroughs (USA) dec. Ezzatollah Akbarizarinkolaei (Iran), 4-0, 2-0
84 kg – Ehsan Lashgari (Iran) dec. Max Askren (USA), 6-0, 5-2
96 kg –Hamed Tatari (Iran) dec. J.D. Bergman (USA), 3-0, 4-0
120 kg – Khomeil Ghasemi (Iran) dec. Tervel Dlagnev (USA), 1-0, 0-1, 2-0

USA must wrestle Bulgaria on Friday morning in the last Group B match

Other Group B duals
Iran 6, Bulgaria 1
Iran 7, Japan 2
Iran 7, Georgia 0
Japan 6, Bulgaria 1
Georgia 6, Bulgaria 1

GROUP A DUALS
Russia 6, Azerbaijan 1
Belarus 4, Turkey 3
Russia 7, Kazakhstan 0
Azerbaijan 4, Belarus 3
Russia 4, Turkey 3
Kazakhstan 5, Azerbaijan 2
Russia 6, Belarus 1
Turkey 6, Kazakhstan 1