U.S. Youngsters Shine At Rumble on the Rails
Willie Saylor, Editor


The Beat the Street events just always seem to deliver.

What started out as a ‘neat’ event, and one for the most worthy of causes (providing wrestling opportunities to inner city youth), the event gained traction aboard the USS Intrepid with the signature bout of Bubba Jenkins vs. Brent Metcalf. Since then, the BTS folks continue to keep it fresh and exciting.

Last year in Times Square, we not only had a dual with Russia, but the Olympic Trials finals at 60kg.

This year, under the most trying of conditions with wrestling’s Olympic fate hanging in the balance, Beat the Streets provided a much needed, high-profile, ‘all-eyes-on-us’ event that was as much about three of the best wrestling powers in the world as it was about diplomacy and how sport can be the ties that bind nations. Another year, another unique venue, another first class event with wrestlers at the highest level.

For the U.S. squad, it was an up-and-down day that started with a whooping at the hands of Iran, who sent most of their #1 guys from a squad that was 3rd in the Olympics and Golden at February’s World Cup.

The U.S. lost six of seven matches against Iran, who featured five wrestlers currently ranked in the Top Ten in the world. The lone win came at 74kg from Kyle Dake. It was Iranian Sadegh Goudarzi, not in the line-up here, that Jordan Burroughs beat at this weight in London’s finals last summer.

Iran was ultra impressive from the outset. Obe Blanc won the first period on a pushout before Hassan Rahimi, a 2011 World Bronze medalist, asserted his will. At 60kg, World Cup Gold medalist, Masoud Esmail, used three straight guts to put away Reece Humphrey.

For as good as Kellen Russell looked in winning a U.S. Open title last month, 2x World Champion Medhi Taghavi made him look mortal in a two-period win.

Dake then stopped the bleeding by winning two periods, both of which came in the clinch.

Like the first three weights, Iran would sweep the last three. You couldn’t tell it from the score, but Ehsan Lashgari, a Bronze medalist from London, looked impressive in a 1-0, 1-0 win over Keith Gavin. And at 96kg, JD Bergman came out of the gates strong, but faded in his 3-1, 1-0 loss to Hamed Tatari.

The final bout of the dual was a rematch from London’s Bronze medal match, and the result was the same, as Komeil Ghasemi beat Tervel Dlagnev.

The second session against Russia, which was a quasi-dual of 5 freestyle bouts, 1 women’s, and 3 Greco, was a much sweeter tune for the U.S.

London Bronze winner Coleman Scott opened it up with a controlled 3-period win.

Then Logan Stieber put on a show to remember. Wrestling Opan Sat who garned the World’s #1 ranking after torching everyone at the European Championships earlier this year, Stieber came out guns blazin’. He scored twice on crisp, clean, low shots. But Sat hit a picture perfect inside knee pick to the opposite side that resulted in multiple exposure situations and propelled him to a 7-5 first period.

Stieber dominated the second period. And ironically, for as much scoring as there was in the first 4 minutes, the third went to the clinch.

Stieber pulled his color, giving him the leg. But Sat was draped over the top with Stieber hanging on the toes for dear life. After a tense :25 seconds, Stieber earned exposure points and a dramatic win over the World’s #1 guy.

It was Metcalf at 66kg for the U.S. next. Russia countered with Saslo Ramanov, who appeared to be Metcalf’s double: sheer hustle. Ramanov won the first 2-0, and Metcalf looked to be in trouble. But his stamina outlasted Ramanov’s and he took the last two periods. The highlight was a beautiful shot he blew through in the second.

In the first of two bouts at 74kg, David Taylor came out like the fluid Magic Man we all know. He scored a takedown rather easily on Mogamed Kurbanaliev, but got tangled up and a flip-flop situation occurred with both guys gaining exposure. Taylor would go on to win the period 7-2 before slapping a headlock on Kurbanaliev just :16 into the second. Kurbanaliev was a JR World Champ last year and won this year’s Schultz, both at 66kg.

The last freestyle bout featured none other than Jordan Burroughs. And what an odd match it was.

Wrestling 2011 Yarygin Champ, Saba Khubezhty, Burroughs was the aggressor the entire way. He scored just seconds in to the bout and appeared to have his second takedown wrapped up moments later. But Khubezhty came over the top and chest locked. As Burroughs tried to settle back to avoid the lift, he stepped out of bounds, giving up the point. Khubezhty spent the rest of the period running, and when the clock expired, Burroughs gave a little smile.

Game on.

The second period was a 5-0 woodshedding that should have been tech had the scoreboard operator remembered to put up the 1pt. for the lost challenge.

In the third, Burroughs dominated but gave up a couple goofy points to keep Khubezhty hanging around and fans on the edge of their seat. In the end, it was a 7-3 third period that pushed his win streak to 53.

Then it was on to Helen Maroulis, who’s heartbreaking loss at the Olympic Trials last year appears to be fueling her fire. Next to Japan’s Saori Yoshida, who has won the last 12 World titles (including 3 Olympics), Maroulis just might be the best women’s wrestler on the planet. She earned the fall in the second period against Irina Kisel.

The last three bouts were Greco, and there wasn’t much action. Our contingent: Kendrick Sanders (66kg), Ben Provisor (74kg) and Jordan Holm (84kg). In the seven periods wrestled there was only one takedown (by Provisor) scored prior to the clinch. The good news? We one two of those bouts.


IRAN 6, USA 1
55 kg/121 lbs. – Mehdi Taghavi (Iran) dec. Obe Blanc (USA), 0-1, 1-0, 5-2
60 kg/132 lbs. – Masoud Esmailpour Joybari (Iran) dec. Reece Humphrey (USA), 1-0, 6-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Mehdi Taghavi (Iran) dec. Kellen Russell (USA), 3-1, 0-2
74 kg/163 lbs. – Kyle Dake (USA) dec. Hassan Tahmasebi (Iran), 2-0, 1-0
84 kg/185 lbs. – Ehsan Lashgari (Iran) dec. Keith Gavin (USA), 1-0, 1-0
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Hamed Tatari (Iran) dec. J.D. Bergman (USA), 3-1, 1-0
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Khomeil Ghasemi (Iran) dec. Tervel Dlagnev (USA), 1-1, 1-0



USA 8, RUSSIA 1
Men’s freestyle
60 kg/132 lbs. – Coleman Scott (USA) dec. Artas Sanaa (Russia), 1-0, 0-1, 3-0
60 kg/132 lbs. – Logan Stieber (USA) dec. Opan Sat (Russia), 5-7, 6-0, 3-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Brent Metcalf (USA) dec. Soslan Ramanov (Russia), 0-2, 1-0, 7-0
74 kg/163 lbs. – David Taylor (USA) pin Magomed Kurbanaliev (Russia), 7-2, 0:16
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs (USA) vs. Saba Khubezhty (Russia), 1-1, 5-0, 7-3
Women’s freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. – Helen Maroulis (USA) pin Irina Kisel (Russia), 2-0, 0:35
Greco-Roman
66 kg/145,5 lbs. – Kendrick Sanders (USA) dec. Asker Orshokdugov (Russia), 1-0, 1-0
74 kg/163 lbs. – Ben Provisor (USA) dec. Ambako Vachadze (Russia), 1-0, 0-1, 1-0
84 kg/185 lbs. –Evgeni Saleev (Russia) dec. Jordan Holm (USA), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0