A U.S. Senior-level freestyle wrestling team arrived in Iran on Feb. 17 to participate in an international wrestling tournament in Teheran. It is believed to be the first U.S. team in any sport to compete in Iran in almost 20 years. 
 The team arrived in the airport in Teheran at approximately 2:00 a.m., and was greeted by a large crowd of journalists and Iranian citizens. 
 "There were hundreds of people there when we arrived," said USA Wrestling President Larry Sciacchetano of Baton Rouge, La. "Reporters were going from one athlete to another, conducting interviews. We felt like the Chicago Bulls after they won the NBA title. It was very positive." 
 A delegation of five athletes and five team officials are part of the tour to Iran, and will be in Teheran from Feb. 17-20.  
 The U.S. team, featuring a number of Olympic-caliber athletes, will wrestle in the Takhti Cup in Teheran, Iran, Feb. 19-20. The Takhti Cup is recognized as a Grand Prix event by FILA, the international wrestling federation, and features a field of 17 nations this year. 
 The U.S. team participated in the Opening Ceremonies of the competition and marched into the Azadi Sport Complex carrying the U.S. flag. 
 "During the Opening Ceremonies, when our wrestlers marched by with the U.S. flag, we got a big cheer from the crowd," said Sciacchetano. 
 According to Sciacchetano, the U.S. athletes have been overwhelmed by the warm reception from the Iranian people. "The Iranians have been very supportive," said Sciacchetano. "Every citizen we have met has been positive about our visit." 
 "We have been treated first class since we have been here," said athlete Zeke Jones. "The Iranian people have gone over and above the call of duty. This is the greatest that I've been treated overseas." 
 The team will participate in the freestyle portion of the Takhti Cup, which is set for Feb. 19-20. The squad is led by 1992 Olympic champion Kevin Jackson (Gilbert, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) at 85 kg/187.25 lbs. Jackson is also a two-time World Champion, claiming gold medals in 1991 and 1995. 
 1992 Olympic silver medalist Zeke Jones (Chandler, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) will compete at 54 kg/119 lbs. Jones was a World Champion in 1991, and was a 1995 World bronze medalist. 
 1993 World Champion Melvin Douglas (Mesa, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) will compete at 97 kg/213.75 lbs. Douglas has won four career World medals, and was seventh in the 1996 Olympic Games. 
 The other two athletes are Shawn Charles (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Sunkist Kids) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and John Giura (New York, N.Y./Dave Schultz WC) at 69 kg/152 lbs. Charles, a young talent, has won a number of international tournaments in recent years. Giura, a veteran, was seventh in the 1989 World Championships and is a two-time World Cup champion. 
 The U.S. athletes participated in weigh-ins on Wednesday, Feb. 18. In the first round on Feb. 19, none of the U.S. wrestlers will compete against an Iranian athlete. The chances are good that a U.S. vs. Iran bout will occur sometime during the event. 
 Coaching the U.S. team is 1996 U.S. Olympic head coach Joe Seay (Perry, Okla./Sunkist Kids). Seay led the U.S. freestyle team to five medals in the 1996 Olympics, the most of any nation. He also coached the U.S. to World team titles at the 1993 and 1995 Freestyle World Championships. 
 Sciacchetano, who is also a member of the FILA Bureau, the international governing council, is on the tour. Mitch Hull of Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Wrestling's National Teams Director, is also with the team. The referee on the tour is Jim McCord of Alden, Iowa. The medical officer on the tour is Dr. Bruce Reider of Hinsdale, Ill. 
 The Executive Committee of USA Wrestling, the national governing body of amateur wrestling in the United States, approved plans to send the team to Iran on January 19. 
 USA Wrestling annually sends a number of Senior-level teams on Winter Developmental Tours. These trips provide top U.S. wrestlers an opportunity to test themselves against many of the best wrestlers in the world, and provide valuable international experience. Other U.S. freestyle teams will compete in Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Cuba this winter. 
  First round pairings for U.S. athletes on Feb. 19 
 54 kg/119 lbs. - Zeke Jones, Chandler, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) - vs. Sergelowlatir of Mongolia 
 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Shawn Charles, Mt. Pleasant, Mich. (Sunkist Kids) - vs. T. Tsogplayer of Mongolia 
 69 kg/152 lbs. - John Giura, New York, N.Y. (Dave Schultz WC) - vs. M. Valtin of Kyrgyzstan 
 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Kevin Jackson, Gilbert, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) - vs. S. Karakoutis of Greece 
 97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Melvin Douglas, Mesa, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) - vs. N. Khekimov of Turkmenistan 
  U.S. Freestyle Tour Team to Iran 
 54 kg/119 lbs. - Zeke Jones, Chandler, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), 31 years old 1992 Olympic silver medalist, 1991 World Champion, 1995 World bronze medalist, Four-time World Cup champion, 1995 Pan American Games champion, 1994 Goodwill Games champion, 1990 NCAA runner-up for Arizona State Univ. 
 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Shawn Charles, Mt. Pleasant, Mich. (Sunkist Kids), 27 years old 1997 Yasar Dogu Tournament champion in Turkey, 1993 and 1996 Sunkist Kids International Open champion, 1995 Dan Kolov Tournament champion in Bulgaria, 1995 Slovakia Grand Prix champion, 1992-93 NCAA runner-up for Arizona State Univ. 
 69 kg/152 lbs. - John Giura, New York, N.Y. (Dave Schultz WC), 34 years old Seventh in 1989 World Championships, 1990 and 1991 World Cup champion, 1986 Pan American Championships champion, 1992 U.S. Olympic Trials runnerup, Four-time Henri Deglane Challenge champion in France, Third in 1984 NCAA Championships for the Univ. of Wisconsin. 
 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Kevin Jackson, Gilbert, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), 33 years old 1992 Olympic Champion, 1991 and 1995 World Champion, Three-time World Cup champion, Two-time Pan American Games champion, Third in the 1994 Goodwill Games, Fourth in 1993 World Championships, 1987 NCAA runner-up for Iowa State Univ. 
 97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Melvin Douglas, Mesa, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), 34 years old 1993 World Champion, 1989 World silver medalist, 1994 and 1995 World bronze medalist, Seventh in 1996 Olympic Games, 1995 Pan American Games Champion, 1994 World Cup champion, 1985-86 NCAA champion for the Univ. of Oklahoma 
 Coach - Joe Seay, Perry, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) 1996 U.S. Olympic team head coach, Head coach of 1993 and 1995 World Champion teams, 1990 Goodwill Games head coach, 1986 and 1991 World Cup head coach, led Oklahoma State to two NCAA Div. I titles and Cal-State Bakersfield to seven NCAA Div. II titles. 
 Larry Sciacchetano, Baton Rouge, La., USA Wrestling President 
  Mitch Hull, Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Wrestling Director of National Teams 
 Jim McCord, Alden, Iowa, Referee 
 Dr. Bruce Reider, Hinsdale, Ill., Medical Officer