Frank Perrelli wins a 55 kg match at the Dmitry Korkin International in Yakutsk, Russia. Petr Pavlov photo

YAKUTSK, Russia – U.S. men’s freestyle wrestlers Frank Perrelli (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC/Finger Lakes WC) and Kyle Hutter (Norfolk, Va./HRWA/VBRTC) placed fifth at 55 kg/121 lbs. in men’s freestyle on the first day of action at the annual Dmitry Korkin International on Saturday.

Both wrestlers finished the day with 3-2 records.

Perrelli opened with a 6-4 win over Namik Sevdimzade of Azerbaijan, 6-4, then fell in the second round to the eventual champion Vladimir Flegontov of Russia. When Flegontov reached the finals, Perrelli was pulled back into the repechage.

He won two straight repechage matches against Arian Tyutrin of Russia and Nadirbek Uulu Samat of Kyrgyzstan. In the bronze medal bout, he fell to Younes Sarmastidizaji of Iran, 4-6.

Hutter also won his first match, stopping Kote Khutsishvili of Georgia, then fell in round two to Hikolay Okhlopkov of Russia. Okhlopkov earned a spot in the finals, pulling Hutter back into repechage.

He rebounded with two straight wins over Russians Ivan Diachkovsky and Aleksandr Zakharov. In the bronze-medal bout, he stopped Velikto Ayusheev of Russia, 4-6.

Perrelli was an All-American at Cornell, and Hutter starred at Old Dominion.

Three other U.S. wrestlers competed on Saturday and fell short of the medal rounds: Kyle Ruschell (Madison, Wis./Badger WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Austin Trotman (Boone, N.C./Titan Mercury WC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Matt Meuleners (Norwood-Young America, Minn./Titan Mercury WC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Three more U.S. wrestlers, all at 96 kg/211.5 lbs., will compete on Sunday.

DMITRY KORKIN INTERATIONAL
At Yakutsk, Russia, Oct. 5

Men’s freestyle results

55 kg /121 lbs.
Gold - Vladimir Flegontov (Russia)
Silver - Nikolay Okhlopkov (Russia)  
Bronze - Younes Sarmastidizaji (Iran)
Bronze - Velikto Ayusheev (Russia)
5th - Frank Perrelli (USA)
5th - Kyle Hutter (USA)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold - Mortui-Ool Mengi (Russia)
Silver - Arslan Budozhapov (Russia)
Bronze - Iktiyor Novruzov (Uzbekistan)
Bronze - Aleksandr Zakharushkin (Russia).

84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold - Alireza Karimimachiani (Iran)
Silver - Ilya Hamikoev (Azerbajan)
Bronze - Ibragim Yusubov (Azerbajan)
Bronze - Sergey Kazarian (Russia).

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Gold - David Modzmanashvili (Georgia)
Silver - Tornike Khidesheli (Georgia)
Bronze - Soslan Gagloev (Slovakia)
Bronze - Ghomi Avili (Iran)

U.S. men’s freestyle results

55 kg/121 lbs. - Frank Perrelli, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC/Finger Lakes WC). 5th place
WIN Namik Sevdimzade (Azerbaijan) 6-4
LOSS Vladimir Flegontov (Russia)
WIN Arian Tyutrin (Russia)
WIN Nadirbek Uulu Samat (Kyrgyzstan) 5-4
LOSS Younes Sarmastidizaji (Iran) 4-6

55 kg/121 lbs. - Kyle Hutter, Norfolk, Va. (HRWA/VBRTC), 5th place
WIN Kote Khutsishvili (Georgia)
LOSS Hikolay Okhlopkov (Russia)
WIN Ivan Diachkovsky (Russia)
WIN Aleksandr Zakharov (Russia) 5-1
LOSS Velikto Ayusheev (Russia) 4-6

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Kyle Ruschell, Madison, Wis. (Badger WC), dnp
WIN Andrey Neustroev (Russia)
WIN Aleksey Ivanov (Russia)
LOSS Iktiyor Novruzov (Uzbekistan).

84 kg/185 lbs. - Austin Trotman, Boone, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC), dnp
LOSS Timofei Khenidis (Greece)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Matt Meuleners, Norwood-Young America, Minn. (Titan Mercury WC)
LOSS Tornike Khidesheli (Georgia) 1-8
LOSS Soslan Gagloev (Slovakia)

U.S. pairings for Sunday

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Cam Simaz, Ithaca, N.Y. (Finger Lakes WC)
Vs. Erali Abdrashev (Kazakhstan)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - David Zabriskie, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC)
Vs. Arslan Alborov (Azerbaijan)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Jack Jensen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP)
Vs. Ramazan Gungor (Turkey)