The Fight Nerd

The lineups for the United States and Russia for “The Rumble On The Rails” at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal in New York City on May 15 have been released.

Three of the world’s top powers, Iran, the United States and Russia will come together in solidarity in this historic wrestling event, which is a showcase competition as part of World Wrestling Month, declared by the international wrestling federation (FILA).

The competition will be held alongside the annual Beat the Streets Awards Gala, which will be held following the competition at Bryant Park Grill. A ticket will be required for both the competition and the Gala.

There will be two dual meets as part of this spectacular event. First, the USA will battle Iran in men’s freestyle wrestling at 3:30 p.m. Later, the USA takes on Russia in a match featuring all three Olympic styles at 6:00 p.m.

Team USA is all three styles is loaded, with a number of past Olympic and World medalists, as well as nine individual champions at the recent U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nev.

In the men’s freestyle dual against Iran, the team is led by 2009 World bronze medalist and 2012 Olympian Tervel Dlagnev at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Past U.S. World Team members competing against Iran are Obe Blanc at 55 kg/121 lbs., Reece Humphrey at 60 kg/132 lbs. and J.D. Bergman at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

The five 2013 U.S. Open champions in the Iran dual are Blanc, Humphrey, Bergman, Kellen Russell at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Keith Gavin at 84 kg/185 lbs.

Rounding out the U.S. lineup is college wrestling superstar Kyle Dake at 74 kg/163 lbs. Dake became the first wrestler to win four NCAA Div. I titles in four different weight classes, competing for Cornell. He was also fourth at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

The men’s freestyle team against Russia is also high powered, led by 2012 Olympic champion and 2011 World champion Jordan Burroughs at 74 kg/163 lbs. and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott at 60 kg/132 lbs. Burroughs, who won his third U.S. Open title this year, has a 52-0 record on the Senior level in freestyle.

Also on the team is 2010 U.S. World Team member Brent Metcalf at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. The other two competitors are top college stars, two-time NCAA champion Logan Stieber at 60 kg/132 lbs. and NCAA champion David Taylor at 74 kg/163 lbs. Stieber is a past Junior World silver medalist.

The athletes on the USA men’s freestyle team were all top college stars, accumulating 17 NCAA titles earned by nine different wrestlers.

The U.S. Greco-Roman team will have three bouts against Russia. 2012 Olympian Ben Provisor will compete at 74 kg /163 lbs. Provisor was a 2013 U.S. Open champion, along with Jordan Holm at 84 kg/185 lbs. Talented young Kendrick Sanders at 66 kg/145.5 lbs, a U.S. Open runner-up, will also wrestle.

There is one women’s freestyle bout against Russia, and Team USA sends out 2012 World silver medalist Helen Maroulis at 55 kg. Maroulis was also a 2013 U.S. Open champion and was fifth at the 2011 World Championships.

Local stars include New York native Kyle Dake plus New Jersey natives Jordan Burroughs and Kellen Russell. Dake competed for Lansing High School, Burroughs for Winslow Township High School and Russell for Blair Academy.

Russia brings a talented team in all three styles. Leading the men’s freestyle team is by 2009 World silver medalist Rasul Dzhukaev at 74 kg/163 lbs. and three-time European champion Opan Sat at 60 kg/132 lbs. Competing at 74 kg/163 lbs. is Saba Khubezhty a 2011 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix champion, one of the world’s toughest tournaments.

The Russian Greco-Roman contingent includes 2010 World champion Ambako Vachadze at 74 kg/163 lbs. and 2010 Junior World silver medalist Asker Orshokdugov at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. The women’s freestyle athlete for Russia is 2008 Junior World silver medalist Irina Kisel at 55 kg/121 lbs.

Last week, the Iranian men’s freestyle lineup for the dual in New York, as well as a dual in Los Angeles on May 19, was announced. Included on the Iranian team is two-time World champion Mehdi Taghavi Kermani at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., 2012 Olympic bronze medalists Ehsan Lashgari at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Komeil Ghasemi at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. as well as 2011 World bronze medalist Hassan Rahimi at 55 kg/121 lbs.

Each year, the United States, Iran and Russia are among the world’s best wrestling nations. Since the IOC Executive Board recommendation that wrestling not be a core sport at the 2020 Olympic Games, these three nations have worked closely together to help support Olympic wrestling. Although their governments do not always agree, the wrestling leaders in these nations have a strong working relationship.

Those who wish to see this event or to participate in the Awards Gala must purchase a ticket in advance at www.beat-the-streets.org.

“THE RUMBLE ON THE RAILS”

USA VS. IRAN VS. RUSSIA

At Grand Central Terminal, New York, N.Y., May 15

UNITED STATES LINEUPS

U.S. men’s freestyle roster against Iran

55 kg/121 lbs. – Obe Blanc, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy-Titan Mercury RTC)

60 kg/132 lbs. – Reece Humphrey, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)

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

74 kg/163 lbs. – Kyle Dake, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC/Finger Lakes WC)

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

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids/Ohio RTC)

Team Leader – Mike Novogratz, New York, N.Y.

Coaches – National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Assistant National Freestyle Coach Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Lou Rosselli, Columbus, Ohio; Mark Manning, Lincoln, Neb.

Medical: Dr. Fred Roberto, Atlanta, Ga., Dr. Dennis Cardone, New York, N.Y.; Jennifer Gibson, Colorado Springs, Colo.

U.S. men’s freestyle roster against Russia

60 kg/132 lbs. – Coleman Scott, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy-Titan Mercury RTC)

60 kg/132 lbs. – Logan Stieber, Monroeville, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC)

74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska RTC)

74 kg/163 lbs. – David Taylor, St. Paris, Ohio (Nittany Lion WC)

U.S. Greco-Roman roster against Russia

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Kendrick Sanders, Homestead, Fla. (New York AC/USOEC)

74 kg /163 lbs. – Ben Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)

84 kg/185 lbs. – Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)

National Greco-Roman Coach – Steve Fraser, Colorado Springs, Colo.

U.S. women’s freestyle roster against Russia

55 kg/121 lbs. – Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC)

National Women’s Coach – Terry Steiner, Colorado Springs, Colo.

RUSSIA LINEUPS

Men’s freestyle

60 kg/132 lbs. – Opan Sat

60 kg/132 lbs. – Artas Sanaa

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Soslan Ramonov

74 kg/163 lbs. – Rasul Dzhukaev

74 kg/163 lbs. – Saba Khubetzhty

Greco-Roman

66 kg/145.5 lbs – Asker Orshokdugov

74 kg/163 lbs. – Ambako Vachadze

84 kg/185 lbs. – Evgeni Saleev

Women’s freestyle

55 kg/121 lbs. – Irina Kisel

IRAN LINEUP

Men’s freestyle

55 kg/121 lbs. – Hassan Rahimi

60 kg/132 lbs. – Masoud Esmailpour Jouybari

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Mehdi Taghavi Kermani

74 kg/163 lbs. – Hassan Tahmasebi

84 kg/185 lbs. – Ehsan Lashgari

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Hamed Tatari

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Komeil Ghasemi

Coaches – GholamReza Mohammadi, Reza Leyegh, Mohammad Talaie, Ali Reza Rezaei

Technical Manager – Rasoul Khadem

Team Leader – Ali Bayat

Officials – Khatib Hojatollah, Ali Eftekhari, Ahmad Govari

Doctor – Sadegh Mahboubi

“RUMBLE ON THE RAILS” USA VS. IRAN VS. RUSSIA SCHEDULE

At New York, N.Y., May 15

3:30 p.m. – USA vs. Iran, at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal

5:00 p.m. – Beat the Streets youth exhibition matches at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal

6:00 p.m. – USA vs. Russia at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal

8:00 p.m. – Beat the Streets Awards Gala at Bryant Park Grill