Two-time World Team member Brent Metcalf is one of nine Americans scheduled to compete on Saturday in Armenia. Tony Rotundo photo.

VANADZOR, Armenia – The U.S. men’s freestyle team has received its draws for the opening day of the Stepan Sargsyan International.

Nine Americans weighed in on Friday and are set to take the mat on Saturday.

Two-time World Team member Brent Metcalf will face Armenia’s Zhirayr Hovhannisyan in the first round at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

Hovhannisyan, 32, is a 2004 Olympian who has competed in six World Championships. He has not placed in the top 10 in any of those events. He placed third in the 2009 European Championships.

If Metcalf wins, he could face 2010 World silver medalist Alan Gogaev of Russia in the second round.

World Team Trials runner-up Kellen Russell will battle Ukraine’s Andrey Kviatkovski in the first round at 66 kilos. Kviatkovski was 13th in the 2012 Olympics.

World Team Trials runner-up Angel Escobedo will face Artak Hovhannisyan of Armenia in the first round at 55 kg/121 lbs. Hovhannisyan was fifth in the 2012 Junior World Championships and fifth in the Sargsyan event last year.

American Frank Perrelli drew Georgia’s Giorgi Edisherashvili in the first round at 55 kilos. Edisherashvili won the European Championships this year.

World Team member Keith Gavin will face American teammate Jon Reader in the opening round at 84 kg/185 lbs. on Saturday. Gavin and Reader both won NCAA titles.

World Team Trials runner-up Clayton Foster drew a first-round bye. He will face either Bekzhan Merbekov of Kyrgyzstan or Kurbanov of Uzbekistan in the quarters at 84 kilos.

Americans Chris Perry and Phil Keddy will meet in the first round at 84 kilos. Perry is competing for the first time since winning an NCAA title this past March. Perry has another year of college competition remaining at Oklahoma State. Keddy took third at the World Team Trials this year.

The winner of the Perry-Keddy match could face Dato Marsagishvili of Georgia in the quarterfinals. Marsagishvili was third in the 2012 Olympics and third in the 2011 World Championships.

The two-day event concludes on Sunday. Olympic and World champion Jordan Burroughs of the U.S. is expected to compete Sunday. He is 56-0 on the Senior level at 74 kg/163 lbs.

Burroughs will lead the U.S. into the World Championships next month in Budapest, Hungary.

STEPAN SARGSYAN INTERNATIONAL
At Vanadzor, Armenia, Aug. 3-4

U.S. freestyle draws for Saturday, Aug. 3

55 kg/121 lbs. – Frank Perrelli, Ithaca, N.Y., (New York AC)
vs. Giorgi Edisherashvili (Georgia)

55 kg/121 lbs. – Angel Escobedo, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)
vs. Artak Hovhannisyan (Armenia)

66 kg/145.5 lbs – Kellen Russell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Michigan RTC)
vs. Andrey Kviatkovski (Ukraine)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC/Titan Mercury WC)
vs. Zhirayr Hovhannisyan (Armenia)

84 kg/185 lbs. – Keith Gavin, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)
vs. Jon Reader (USA)

84 kg/185 lbs. – Phil Keddy, Iowa City, Iowa, (Titan Mercury WC)
vs. Chris Perry (USA)

84 kg/185 lbs. – Clayton Foster, Laramie, Wyo. (GRIT Athletics/Cowboy WC)
vs. Bekzhan Merbekov (Kyrgyzstan) or Kurbanov (Uzbekistan)

84 kg/185 lbs. – Jon Reader, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
vs. Keith Gavin (USA)

84 kg/185 lbs. – Chris Perry, Stillwater, Okla. (Cowboy WC)
vs. Phil Keddy (USA)