It is a busy weekend for international wrestling. While we are all chowing down on turkey the best in the world will be mixing it up at three separate events around the globe. The World Wrestling Clubs Cup, Arvo Haavisto Cup, Henri Deglane Challenge, Kunayev D.A., and Golden Grand Prix all take place this weekend. The United States has a contingent everywhere except the Kunayev D.A..

World Wrestling Clubs Cup
Mazandaran, Iran
November 26-27

Titan Mercury Roster
57kg: Tony Ramos
61kg: Daniel Dennis
65kg: Morteza Ghiyasi (Iran)
70kg: Dustin Schlatter
74kg: Andrew Howe
86kg: Austin Trotman
86kg: Mojtaba Goleij (Iran)
97kg: Jake Varner
125kg: Bobby Telford

Titan Mercury will be battling it out with some of the best clubs in the world. Iran’s Bimeh Razi wrestling club is the defending champions. The teams will compete in four pools with the winners of each pool moving on to the semifinals. Titan Mercury drew into pool D with Brazil and Azerbaijan.

Teams are competing for a $100,000 prize pool.
Team Champions: $50,000
Second Place Team: $30,000
Third Place Team: $20,000



Golden Grand Prix
Baku, Azerbaijan
November 27-29



Men’s Freestyle
Friday, November 27
57 kg: Andrew Hochstrasser
61 kg: Chris Dardanes
65 kg: Logan Stieber
65 kg: Jimmy Kennedy
70 kg: Kevin LeValley
74 kg: Anthony Valencia
86 kg: David Taylor
86 kg: Clayton Foster
97 kg: J.D. Bergman
97 kg: Dustin Kilgore
125 kg: Dom Bradley

The big story here is David Taylor’s debut at 86kg. Quite a tournament to debut at a new weight class. One things is for sure, we will truly see where he is at in his new weight class.

I also liked what I saw out of Logan Stieber at the Bill Farrell Memorial. I can’t wait to see his results. Jimmy Kennedy being is also competing. This will be a very fun weight to watch.




Women’s Freestyle
Saturday, November 28
53 kg: Helen Maroulis
55 kg: Carlene Sluberski
55 kg: Sarah Hildebrandt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
60 kg: Jennifer Page, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
60 kg: Alli Ragan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
63 kg: Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
63 kg: Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)

Helen Maroulis won her World Title at 55kg. With the 2kg allowance this won’t be a change in weight, but she is competing at 53kg for the first time headed to the Olympic year.

Elena Pirozhkova returns down from 69kg. She is hoping to recapture championship form at her old weight class.




Greco-Roman
Sunday, November 29
59 kg: Jesse Thielke
71 kg: Pat Smith
75 kg: Andy Bisek
80 kg: Jake Fisher
85 kg: Jordan Holm
98 kg: Joe Rau, Minneapolis
130 kg: Robby Smith

Who doesn’t love to watch Robby Smith wrestle? Throw in two-time world bronze Andy Bisek and you should have a highly entertaining day watch the American contingent battle against a strong field.

Each weight class is competing for a $19,000 prize pool.
Gold Medal: $10,000
Silver Medal: $5,000
Bronze Medal: $2,000
Bronze Medal: $2,000

Arvo Haavisto Cup
Ilmajoki, Finland
November 28

USA Roster
59 kg: Spenser Mango
59 kg: Ildar Hafizov
59 kg: Jermaine Hodge
59 kg: Nikko Triggas
66 kg: Brian Graham
66 kg: Ellis Coleman
66 kg: Julian Gunnels
75 kg: Cheney Haight
75 kg: Taylor Walsh
85 kg: Patrick Martinez
85 kg: Jon Anderson
85 kg: Ron Dombkowski
98 kg: Caylor Williams
98 kg: Patrick Carey
130 kg: Toby Erickson

The deep roster for the United States will continue to establish front runners to make the 2016 Olympic Team. Can Mango reestablish his dominance at 59kg after being knocked off by Hafizov at the Vantaa Cup.




Henri Deglane Challenge
Nice, Fance
November 27-28

USA Roster
Men’s Freestyle
57 kg: Stephen Abas
65 kg: Nazar Kulchytsky
86 kg: Tyler Caldwell
86 kg: Ed Ruth
97 kg: Enock Francois
125 kg: Connor Medbery

STEPHEN ABAS! Olympic years are great. Having Abas back on the mat is exciting. Is Abas too far past his prime?

Women’s Freestyle
48 kg: Clarissa Chun, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids)
48 kg: Jessica Medina, Champaign, Ill. (Sunkist Kids)

Friday Competition
Men: 65, 86, 125
Women: 53, 63, 75

Saturday Competition
Men: 57, 74, 97
Women: 48, 58, 69