KHASVJURT, Russia – Jimmy Kennedy (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC/Cliff Keen WC) won a gold medal and Dustin Kilgore, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids/OTC) won a silver medal for the United States at the Intercontinental Cup this weekend.

The hosts selected the winner of the 60 kg weight class for a special grand prize, a brand new Lada Granta Car, and Kennedy earned the special honor. The Lada Granta is a subcompact car developed by Russian automaker AvtoVAZ in collaboration with Renault.

Kennedy defeated Murshid Mutalimov of Russia – Dagestan in the finals. Mutalimov was fifth in the 2011 Junior World Championships, and was a 2007 Cadet European champion. 

“Before the finals, the Khasvjurt Federation chose 60 kg as the weight for the car winner. They could've chosen any weight or an all Russian final but they chose Jimmy’s match to give the American a chance. They're making a big deal out of it to show they want to partner with America to show their gratitude, probably after saving Olympic wrestling,” said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones.

Kennedy won three matches on the way to the finals, defeating three other Russian wrestlers in a row: Zekerhan Abakabov in his first match, Shambal Mizriev in the quarterfinals and Husein Shakhbanov in the semifinals.

Kennedy is currently No. 2 in the USA at his weight class, placing second at the 2013 U.S. World Team Trials. Kennedy was a star at Illinois, and trains fulltime at Michigan.

Kilgore, a Freestyle Team USA member and past NCAA champion for Kent State, opened with a semifinal win over Surab Akhobadze of Georgia. He was defeated in the finals by Russian Magomed Ibragimov, the 2012 FILA Golden Grand Prix Finals champion and a runner-up at the 2013 Ivan Yarygin Tournament.

The USA entered five athletes, all who placed in the top 10 of their weight classes. Chase Pami (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids/OTC) won his first match at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

INTERCONTINENTAL CUP
At Khasjvurt, Russia, October 19-20

Men’s freestyle results

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold – Beka Budzhiashvili (Georgia)
Silver – Shamil Omarov (Russia)
Bronze – Ruslan Surkhaev (Azerbaijan)
Brone – Dzhabral Vazirkhanov (Russia – Dagestan)

60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold – Jimmy Kennedy (USA)
Silver – Murshid Mutalimov (Russia-Dagestan)
Bronze – Shamkhal Khisriev (Russia)
Bronze – Imam Adzhiev (Russia-Dagestan)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold – Khaibulla Shaalov (Russia – Dagestan)
Silver – Levan Kelekhsashvili (Georgia)
Bronze – Magomed Muslimov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Azamat Nurikov (Belarus)

74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold – Gadzhi Gadziev (Russia-Dagestan)
Silver – Yabrail Hassanov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov (Russia)
Bronze – Isa Daudov (Russia – Krasnoyarsk)

84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold – Akhmed Magomedov (Russia-Dagestan)
Silver – Magomed Shakhrudinov (Russia-Dagestan)
Bronze – Gadzhi Radshabov (Russia-Dagestan)
Bronze – Magomedhadshi Khatiev (Azerbaijan)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Gold – Magomed Ibragimov (Russia)
Silver – Dustin Kilgore (USA)
Bronze – Magomed Musaev (Krygyzstan)
Bronze – Kamil Skaskiewicz (Poland)

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Gold – Georgi Sakandelidze (Georgia)
Silver – Arslanbek Aliev (Russia – Dagestan)
Bronze – Aslan Dzebisov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Islam Bakhmudkadiev (Russia)

U.S. freestyle performances

55 kg/121 lbs. – Steve Mytych, Coplay, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC), 8th
LOSS Mirdshalal Gazansadeh (Azerbaijan)

60 kg/132 lbs. – Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC), 1st
WIN Zekerhan Abakabov (Russia)
WIN Shambal Mizriev (Russia)
WIN Husein Shakhbanov (Russia)
WIN Murshid Mutalimov (Russia – Dagestan)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Chase Pami, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids/OTC), 10th
WIN K. Magomedov (Russia)
LOSS Magomed Muslimov (Azerbaijan)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Dustin Kilgore, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids/OTC), 2nd
WIN Surab Akhobadze (Georgia)
LOSS Magomed Ibagimov (Russia)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Zack Rey, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC), 7th
LOSS Arslanbek Aliev (Russia – Dagestan)
LOSS Islam Bakhmudkadiev (Russia)