U.S. Greco-Roman Team drops pair of duals at World Cup

– The United States Greco-Roman Team won just 5-of-14 matches in dropping a pair of dual meets on Thursday in the 2008 World Cup.

The U.S. team, wrestling without four members of the team that won the 2007 World Championships, fell to Hungary 4-3 and lost to Iran 5-2.

The Americans will now face South Korea on Friday in the match for fifth place. Hungary will face Russia in the first-place dual with Iran battling Georgia for third place.

Past World champion Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army), World silver medalist Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) and National Team member Adam Wheeler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) earned wins for the U.S, in the dual against Hungary.

Vering downed Zsolt Dajka at 84 kg/185 lbs., Wheeler beat past Junior World silver medalist Balazs Kiss at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Byers beat past World silver medalist Mihaly Deak-Bardos at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Earning wins for the U.S. against Iran were World bronze medalist Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) and World University champion Spenser Mango (St. Louis, Mo./USOEC/Gator WC).

Durlacher beat Yasin Bahramipour at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Mango bumped up a weight class to beat Mohammadreza Ghazae at 60 kg/132 lbs.

The U.S. was missing three No. 1 wrestlers because of this weekend’s Pan American Championships.

Joe Betterman (60 kg/132 lbs.), T.C. Dantzler (74 kg/163 lbs.) and Justin Ruiz (96 kg/211.5 lbs.) stayed in the U.S. to compete in this weekend’s Pan American Championships in Colorado Springs. Betterman, Dantzler and Ruiz are trying to qualify their weight classes for the Olympics.

Two-time World bronze medalist Harry Lester did not compete at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Lester, Byers, Vering and Durlacher qualified their weight classes for the Olympics by virtue of finishing in the top eight at the 2007 World Championships.

2008 WORLD CUP

POOL A

Russia 5, Georgia 2
Russia 5, South Korea 2
Georgia 4, South Korea 3

POOL B

Hungary 4, United States 3
Iran 5, United States 2
Hungary 4, Iran 3

Hungary 4, United States 3

55 kg/121 lbs. – Peter Modos (Hungary) dec. Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), 2-1, 1-1, 3-1
60 kg/132 lbs. – Balint Korpasi (Hungary) dec. Willie Madison (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC), 3-0, 2-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Tamas Lorincz (Hungary) dec. Mark Rial (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC), 3-0, 6-0
74 kg/163 lbs. – Peter Bacsi (Hungary) pinned Keith Sieracki (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) dec. Zsolt Dajka (Hungary), 7-0, 6-2
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Adam Wheeler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) dec. Balazs Kiss (Hungary), 1-1, 1-
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) dec. Mihaly Deak-Bardos, 3-0, 1-1, 3-0

Iran 5, United States 2

55 kg/121 lbs. – Lindsey Durlacher (USA) dec. Yasin Bahmraipour (Iran), 0-3, 3-0, 2-1
60 kg/132 lbs. – Spenser Mango (St. Louis, Mo./USOEC/Gator WC) dec. Mohammadreza Ghazae (Iran), 2-1, 1-1
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Ali Mohammadi (Iran) dec. Mark Rial (USA), 3-2, 2-1
74 kg/163 lbs. – Mohtba Babajanzadeh (Iran) dec. Keith Sieracki (USA), 0-3, 1-1, 1-1
84 kg/185 lbs. – Taleb Nematpour (Iran) dec. Brad Vering (USA), 3-2, 1-1
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Mohammad Ghorbani (Iran) dec. Adam Wheeler (USA), 3-0, 3-0
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Massoud Hashemzadeh (Iran) dec. Dremiel Byers (USA), 1-1, 0-3, 1-1

Hungary 4, Iran 3

55 kg/121 lbs. – Yasin Bahramipour (Iran) dec. Peter Modos (Hungary), 3-0, 3-2
60 kg/132 lbs. – Mohammadreza Ghazae (Iran) dec. Laszlo Kliment (Hungary), 2-0, 0-4, 3-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Tamas Lorincz (Hungary) dec. Ali Mohammadi (Iran), 4-2, 5-1
74 kg/163 lbs. – Peter Bacsi (Hungary) dec. Mojtba Babajanzadeh (Iran), 2-0, 2-1
84 kg/185 lbs. – Taleb Nematpour (Iran) dec. Zsolt Dajka (Hungary), 3-1, 3-2
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Ivan Nemeth (Hungary) dec. Mohammad Ghorbani (Iran), 2-1, 2-1
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Mihaly Deak-Bardos (Hungary) dec. Masoud Hashemzadeh (Iran), 1-1, 1-1

Russia 5, South Korea 2

55 kg/121 lbs. – Jung Baik-Lee (South Korea) dec. Nazir Mankiev (Russia), 2-3, 2-1, 4-2
60 kg/132 lbs. – Islam Bek Albiev (Russia) dec. Young-Jun Kim (South Korea), 5-0, 8-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Ambako Vachadze (Russia) dec. Jong-Gyu Yun (South Korea), 3-0, 3-0
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jin-Sung Park (South Korea) dec. Mikhail Ivanchenko (Russia), 2-1, 2-1
84 kg/185 lbs. – Zaur Karegov (Russia) dec. Hyo-Chul Cho (South Korea), 6-0, 3-0
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Aslanbek Khushtov (Russia) dec. Kung-Rak Park (South Korea), 8-0, 6-0
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Alexandr Anuchin (Russia) dec. Hyun-Hee Hong (South Korea), 6-0, 6-0

Russia 5, Georgia 2

55 kg/121 lbs. – Nazir Mankiev (Russia) dec. Lasha Gogitadze (Georgia), 1-1, 2-0, 5-1
60 kg/132 lbs. – David Bedinadze (Georgia) dec. Islam Beka Albiev (Russia), 1-1, 1-1
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Sergei Kovalenko (Russia) dec. Mukhran Machutadze (Georgia), 5-3, 2-1
74 kg/163 lbs. – Shmagi Guliashvili (Georgia) dec. Varteres Samurgashev (Russia), 0-4, 1-1, 3-1
84 kg/185 lbs. – Oleg Shokalov (Russia) dec. Vladimir Gegeshidze (Georgia), 2-2, 5-0
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Aslanbek Khushtov (Russia) Givi Morchiladze (Georgia), 3-0, 7-0
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Khasan Baroev (Russia) dec. Guram Perselidze (Georgia), 5-1, 3-0

Georgia 4, South Korea 3

55 kg/121 lbs. – Sang-Lae Kim (South Korea) dec. Lasha Gogitadze (Georgia), 0-4, 2-1, 3-3
60 kg/132 lbs. – David Bedinadze (Georgia) dec. Eun-Chol Park (South Korea), 3-3, 5-0, 4-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Ji-Hyun Jung (South Korea) dec. Mukhran Machutadze (Georgia), 6-0, 2-2
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jin-Sung Park (South Korea) dec. Shmagi Guliashvili (Georgia), 4-0, 0-7, 4-1
84 kg/185 lbs. – Vladimir Gegeshidze (Georgia) dec. Hyo-Chul Cho (South Korea), 6-0, 4-0
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Givi Morchiladze (Georgia) pinned Kung-Rak Park (South Korea)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Guram Perselidze (Georgia) dec. Hyun-Hee Hong (

– The United States Greco-Roman Team won just 5-of-14 matches in dropping a pair of dual meets on Thursday in the 2008 World Cup.

The U.S. team, wrestling without four members of the team that won the 2007 World Championships, fell to Hungary 4-3 and lost to Iran 5-2.

The Americans will now face South Korea on Friday in the match for fifth place. Hungary will face Russia in the first-place dual with Iran battling Georgia for third place.

Past World champion Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army), World silver medalist Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) and National Team member Adam Wheeler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) earned wins for the U.S, in the dual against Hungary.

Vering downed Zsolt Dajka at 84 kg/185 lbs., Wheeler beat past Junior World silver medalist Balazs Kiss at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Byers beat past World silver medalist Mihaly Deak-Bardos at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Earning wins for the U.S. against Iran were World bronze medalist Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) and World University champion Spenser Mango (St. Louis, Mo./USOEC/Gator WC).

Durlacher beat Yasin Bahramipour at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Mango bumped up a weight class to beat Mohammadreza Ghazae at 60 kg/132 lbs.

The U.S. was missing three No. 1 wrestlers because of this weekend’s Pan American Championships.

Joe Betterman (60 kg/132 lbs.), T.C. Dantzler (74 kg/163 lbs.) and Justin Ruiz (96 kg/211.5 lbs.) stayed in the U.S. to compete in this weekend’s Pan American Championships in Colorado Springs. Betterman, Dantzler and Ruiz are trying to qualify their weight classes for the Olympics.

Two-time World bronze medalist Harry Lester did not compete at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Lester, Byers, Vering and Durlacher qualified their weight classes for the Olympics by virtue of finishing in the top eight at the 2007 World Championships.

2008 WORLD CUP

POOL A

Russia 5, Georgia 2
Russia 5, South Korea 2
Georgia 4, South Korea 3

POOL B

Hungary 4, United States 3
Iran 5, United States 2
Hungary 4, Iran 3

Hungary 4, United States 3

55 kg/121 lbs. – Peter Modos (Hungary) dec. Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), 2-1, 1-1, 3-1
60 kg/132 lbs. – Balint Korpasi (Hungary) dec. Willie Madison (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC), 3-0, 2-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Tamas Lorincz (Hungary) dec. Mark Rial (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC), 3-0, 6-0
74 kg/163 lbs. – Peter Bacsi (Hungary) pinned Keith Sieracki (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) dec. Zsolt Dajka (Hungary), 7-0, 6-2
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Adam Wheeler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) dec. Balazs Kiss (Hungary), 1-1, 1-
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) dec. Mihaly Deak-Bardos, 3-0, 1-1, 3-0

Iran 5, United States 2

55 kg/121 lbs. – Lindsey Durlacher (USA) dec. Yasin Bahmraipour (Iran), 0-3, 3-0, 2-1
60 kg/132 lbs. – Spenser Mango (St. Louis, Mo./USOEC/Gator WC) dec. Mohammadreza Ghazae (Iran), 2-1, 1-1
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Ali Mohammadi (Iran) dec. Mark Rial (USA), 3-2, 2-1
74 kg/163 lbs. – Mohtba Babajanzadeh (Iran) dec. Keith Sieracki (USA), 0-3, 1-1, 1-1
84 kg/185 lbs. – Taleb Nematpour (Iran) dec. Brad Vering (USA), 3-2, 1-1
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Mohammad Ghorbani (Iran) dec. Adam Wheeler (USA), 3-0, 3-0
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Massoud Hashemzadeh (Iran) dec. Dremiel Byers (USA), 1-1, 0-3, 1-1

Hungary 4, Iran 3

55 kg/121 lbs. – Yasin Bahramipour (Iran) dec. Peter Modos (Hungary), 3-0, 3-2
60 kg/132 lbs. – Mohammadreza Ghazae (Iran) dec. Laszlo Kliment (Hungary), 2-0, 0-4, 3-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Tamas Lorincz (Hungary) dec. Ali Mohammadi (Iran), 4-2, 5-1
74 kg/163 lbs. – Peter Bacsi (Hungary) dec. Mojtba Babajanzadeh (Iran), 2-0, 2-1
84 kg/185 lbs. – Taleb Nematpour (Iran) dec. Zsolt Dajka (Hungary), 3-1, 3-2
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Ivan Nemeth (Hungary) dec. Mohammad Ghorbani (Iran), 2-1, 2-1
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Mihaly Deak-Bardos (Hungary) dec. Masoud Hashemzadeh (Iran), 1-1, 1-1

Russia 5, South Korea 2

55 kg/121 lbs. – Jung Baik-Lee (South Korea) dec. Nazir Mankiev (Russia), 2-3, 2-1, 4-2
60 kg/132 lbs. – Islam Bek Albiev (Russia) dec. Young-Jun Kim (South Korea), 5-0, 8-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Ambako Vachadze (Russia) dec. Jong-Gyu Yun (South Korea), 3-0, 3-0
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jin-Sung Park (South Korea) dec. Mikhail Ivanchenko (Russia), 2-1, 2-1
84 kg/185 lbs. – Zaur Karegov (Russia) dec. Hyo-Chul Cho (South Korea), 6-0, 3-0
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Aslanbek Khushtov (Russia) dec. Kung-Rak Park (South Korea), 8-0, 6-0
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Alexandr Anuchin (Russia) dec. Hyun-Hee Hong (South Korea), 6-0, 6-0

Russia 5, Georgia 2

55 kg/121 lbs. – Nazir Mankiev (Russia) dec. Lasha Gogitadze (Georgia), 1-1, 2-0, 5-1
60 kg/132 lbs. – David Bedinadze (Georgia) dec. Islam Beka Albiev (Russia), 1-1, 1-1
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Sergei Kovalenko (Russia) dec. Mukhran Machutadze (Georgia), 5-3, 2-1
74 kg/163 lbs. – Shmagi Guliashvili (Georgia) dec. Varteres Samurgashev (Russia), 0-4, 1-1, 3-1
84 kg/185 lbs. – Oleg Shokalov (Russia) dec. Vladimir Gegeshidze (Georgia), 2-2, 5-0
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Aslanbek Khushtov (Russia) Givi Morchiladze (Georgia), 3-0, 7-0
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Khasan Baroev (Russia) dec. Guram Perselidze (Georgia), 5-1, 3-0

Georgia 4, South Korea 3

55 kg/121 lbs. – Sang-Lae Kim (South Korea) dec. Lasha Gogitadze (Georgia), 0-4, 2-1, 3-3
60 kg/132 lbs. – David Bedinadze (Georgia) dec. Eun-Chol Park (South Korea), 3-3, 5-0, 4-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Ji-Hyun Jung (South Korea) dec. Mukhran Machutadze (Georgia), 6-0, 2-2
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jin-Sung Park (South Korea) dec. Shmagi Guliashvili (Georgia), 4-0, 0-7, 4-1
84 kg/185 lbs. – Vladimir Gegeshidze (Georgia) dec. Hyo-Chul Cho (South Korea), 6-0, 4-0
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Givi Morchiladze (Georgia) pinned Kung-Rak Park (South Korea)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Guram Perselidze (Georgia) dec. Hyun-Hee Hong (