HUMENNE, Slovakia – Mason MANVILLE (USA)  and Spencer LEE (USA) rolled to impressive wins on the opening day of the freestyle events at the Cadet Wrestling World Championships, but Russia surged into the lead in the team rankings with one champion and two silver medalists.

Lee unleashed a torrent of takedowns on European champion Afgan KHASHALOV (AZE) for a technical fall for the gold medal at 50kg, and Manville was the aggressor throughout the 69kg final as he claimed a 5-0 triumph over Radik VALIEV (RUS). 

Despite the heroics of Lee and Manville, the U.S. languished in fourth place in the team standings with only 26 points after the first day of freestyle.

Russia grabbed the first day lead with a gold medal from David BAEV (RUS) at 58kg, a pair of silver medals and 37 points, while Azerbaijan is second with 34 points, mostly from 85kg champion Shamil SADULLAYEV (AZE) and two silver medals.

Iran is in third place with 28 points after its only finalist Alireza GODARZI (IRI) won the 42kg with a late takedown.

The championships conclude Sunday, July 20, with the final five weight categories in freestyle: 46kg, 54kg, 63kg, 76kg, and 100kg.
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Freestyle

42kg (17 entries)
Asia silver medalist Alireza GODARZI (IRI) scored a single-leg takedown with 20 seconds remaining in the gold medal bout to defeat Maksim ZAMORSHCHIKOV (RUS), 5-4, for the world title.

European bronze medalist Giorgi KHACHIDZE (GEO) broke a 2-2 bout open in the second period to defeat Gavin TEASDALE (USA), 8-5, for one bronze medal.

Japanese middle school student Daigo HATTORI (JPN) used a low double-leg attack to confound and overwhelm Intrigam VALIZADA (AZE), 12-3, for the other bronze medal.

50kg (24 entries)
Spencer LEE (USA), a seventh place finisher one year ago, scored with four different attacks from the feet and shut out European champion Afgan KHASHALOV (AZE), 11-0, in the gold medal final.
Asia silver medalist Nader NASRISAMAKOUSH (IRI) hit high single-leg takedowns on both sides of the intermission for a 5-1 win over continental rival Vasant Kolekar PRAKASH (IND) and a bronze medal.

Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA) rolled up a technical fall in 61 seconds with three straight gut wrenches against Balazs EGYED (HUN) for the other bronze.

58kg (26 entries)
David BAEV (RUS) scored three takedowns over the first three minutes and then gave two points back with fleeing-the-hold penalties, but it was enough for a 6-3 win over Makhir AMIRASLANOV (AZE) who had to settle for the world silver medal for a second year in a row.

Asia champion Mukhamed KUATBEK (KAZ) scored a force-out to edge European champion Ali CAM (TUR), 7-6, in their bronze medal bout, while Asia No.3 Mojtaba AMOUAZAD (IRI) ran up a 10-1 win over Mamuka CHACHUA (GEO) with double-leg takedowns and force-outs.

69kg (27 entries)
Mason MANVILLE (USA), also an entry in the Greco-Roman competition earlier in the week, passed behind a surprisingly static Radik VALIEV (RUS) twice in the second period to seal a 5-0 win in the gold medal bout.

European silver medalist Alberts JURCENKO (LAT) scored a double-leg takedownin the second period and followed with back exposure to hand Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) a 5-0 decision for one bronze medal, while Gheorghi PASCALOV (MDA) slipped behind Asia champion Pritam PRITAM (IND) in the final 20 seconds for the other. 

85kg (21 entries)
European champion Shamil SADULLAYEV (AZE) opened with an inside leg trip to takedown and cruised to a 4-1 win over Semih YAZICI (TUR) and his first world title after a bronze medal at 69kg in 2012.

Ilja MATUHIN (GER), took a punch during an apparent quarterfinal loss, but was declared the winner by disqualification and came back for the bronze medal with a 5-1 win over Hovhannes MKHITARYAN (ARM).

Karamjeet KARAMJEET (IND), a fifth-place finisher in the Asia meet in May, spotted Ruslanbek ALDIEV (RUS) a takedown and them came back with two of his own for a 4-2 win and a world bronze medal.
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42kg
GOLD: Alireza GOODARZI (IRI) df. Maksim ZAMORSHCHIKOV (RUS), 5-4 
BRONZE: Daigo HATTORI (JPN) df. Intrigam VALIZADA (AZE), 12-3 
BRONZE: Giorgi KHACHIDZE (GEO) df. Gavin TEASDALE (USA), 8-5 

Semifinal: Maksim ZAMORSHCHIKOV (RUS) df. Intrigam VALIZADA (AZE) by TF, 12-1
Semifinal: Alireza GOODARZI (IRI) df. Gavin TEASDALE (USA), 6-4

50kg
GOLD: Spencer LEE (USA) df. Afgan KHASHALOV (AZE) by TF, 11-0 
BRONZE: Nader NASRISAMAKOUSH (IRI) df. Vasant Kolekar PRAKASH (IND), 5-1 
BRONZE: Nicolai GRAHAMEZ (MDA) df. Balazs EGYED (HUN) by TF, 10-0

Semifinal: Afgan KHASHALOV (AZE) df. Vasant Kolekar PRAKASH (IND), 10-9
Semifinal: Spencer LEE (USA) df. Nicolai GRAHAMEZ (MDA) by FALL, 10-0

58kg
GOLD: David BAEV (RUS) df. Mhir AMIRASLANOV (AZE), 6-3 
BRONZE: Kuatbek MUKHAMBET (KAZ) df. Ali CAM (TUR), 7-6 
BRONZE: Mojtaba AMOUZAD (IRI) df. Mamuka CHACHUA (GEO), 10-1 

Semifinal: Mhir AMIRASLANOV (AZE) df. Ali CAM (TUR), 3-1
Semifinal: David BAEV (RUS) df. Mamuka CHACHUA (GEO), 8-4

69kg
GOLD: Mason MANVILLE (USA) v. Radik VALIEV (RUS), 5-0 
BRONZE: Alberts JURCENKO (LAT) df. Samuel SCHERRER (SUI), 5-0
BRONZE: Pritam PRITAM (IND) df. Gheorgi PASCALOV (MDA), 7-6

Semifinal: Radik VALIEV (RUS) df. Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) by TF, 10-0
Semifinal: Mason MANVILLE (USA) df. Pritam PRITAM (IND) by TF, 13-3

85kg
GOLD: Shamil SADULLAYEV (AZE) df. Semih YAZICI (TUR), 4-1 
BRONZE: Ilija MATUHIN (GER) df. Hovhannes MKHITARYAN (ARM), 5-1
BRONZE: Karamjeet KARAMJEET (IND) df. Ruslanbek ALDIEV (RUS), 4-2

Semifinal: Semih YAZICI (TUR) df. Ilija MATUHIN (GER), 6-5
Semifinal: Shamil SADULLAYEV (AZE) df. Ruslanbek ALDIEV (RUS), 4-2