Zach Rey, a member of the 2015 U.S. World Team, is among the top stars on a U.S. tour team to Russia this week.

The United States has sent a talented men’s freestyle team to the respected Intercontinental Cup in Khasavjurt, Russia, October 17-18.

Three past U.S. World Team members headline the team, which includes 10 top Olympic hopefuls.

2015 World Team member Zach Rey (Bethlehem, Pa./Lehigh Valley WC) will compete at 125 kg/275 lbs. Rey was a 2015 Pan American Games champion, and a past NCAA champion for Lehigh.

Jimmy Kennedy (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC/Cliff Keen WC), a member of the 2014 U.S. World Team, will compete at 65 kg/143 lbs. Kennedy is a member of the Freestyle National Team, with a No. 3 ranking at the weight class.

Angel Escobedo (Ames, Iowa/New York AC), who was fifth at the 2013 World Championships, is entered at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. Escobedo, a past NCAA champion for Indiana, is also a national team member with a No. 3 ranking at his weight class.

Another national team member, Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC/Finger Lakes WC) will compete at 86 kg/189 lbs. Dake, a four-time NCAA champion at Cornell, is moving up a weight class, as he holds a No. 2 national team ranking at 74 kg/163 lbs.

Competing at 65 kg/143 lbs. is Aaron Pico (Whittier, Calif./Titan Mercury WC), who has won an age-group World medal for the United States the last three summers. Pico was a 2013 Cadet World champion, 2014 Junior World silver medalist and 2015 Junior World bronze medalist.

Other experienced international wrestlers on the trip include Brandon Precin (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC/Cliff Keen WC) at 57 kg/125.5 lbs., Chase Pami (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 70 kg/154 lbs., Dustin Kilgore (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 97 kg/213 lbs. and Wynn Michalak (Champaign, Ill./Titan Mercury WC) at 97 kg/213 lbs.

Bobby Telford (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC), who was a three-time All-American for Iowa, is kicking off his Senior-level freestyle career by competing at 125 kg/275 lbs. at the Intercontinental Cup.

National Freestyle Coach Bruce Burnett will lead the coaching staff, along with top club coaches Jeff Buxton of the Lehigh Valley WC and Valentin Kalika of the Titan Mercury WC.

INTERCONTINENTAL CUP
At Khasavjurt, Russia, Oct. 17-18

57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Angel Escobedo, Ames, Iowa (New York AC)
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Brandon Precin, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC)
65 kg/143 lbs. – Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC)
65 kg/143 lbs. – Aaron Pico, Whittier, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
70 kg/154 lbs. – Chase Pami, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
86 kg/189 lbs. – Kyle Dake, Ithaca, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC/Finger Lakes WC)
97 kg/213 lbs. – Dustin Kilgore, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
97 kg/213 lbs. – Wynn Michalak, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Zach Rey, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley WC)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Bobby Telford, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
National Freestyle Coach – Bruce Burnett, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach – Jeff Buxton, Easton, Pa.
Coach – Valentin Kalika, Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Team Leader – Paul Kieblesz, New York, N.Y.
Medical – Dr. Jeremy Frank, Parkland, Fla.

Event Schedule

Saturday, October 17
57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 97 kg (Escobedo, Precin, Kennedy, Pico, Kilgore, Michalak)

Sunday, October 18
61 kg, 70 kg, 86 kg, 125 kg (Pami, Dake, Rey, Telford)