USA vs. Russia dual Wednesday at Cornell

MOUNT VERNON - Wrestling fans in Eastern Iowa have seen their share of world-class competitors, but they get a chance to see a world-class competition.

Three former Iowa collegiate wrestlers and two members of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club will compete for USA Wrestling in a dual against Russia tonight at Cornell College. Doors open at 5:30 with competition at 7.

“If you're a wrestling fan, or a sports fan in general, it's one of those deals you don't get a lot of opportunities to witness,” assistant University of Iowa Coach Terry Brands said.

The event, organized by the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, will feature former Hawkeyes Mike Zadick (132 pounds) and Doug Schwab (145.5). Both competed in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Paul Donahoe, a former NCAA national champion at Nebraska and last year's runner-up for Edinboro, and Lloyd Rogers, who competed for Brands at UT-Chattanooga from 2003-05, are members of the HWC and will wrestle at 121 and 163, respectively.

Former Hawkeye national champion Steve Mocco was slated to wrestle, but will sit out due to an injured knee, according to Brands. Former Wartburg national champion and three-time NCAA finalist and four-time Iowa Conference champ Blake Gillis will replace Mocco.

Bryce Hasseman and Kyle Cerminara, both members of the New York Athletic Club, fill out the U.S. lineup.

“I feel good about our guys,” said Brands, a former national team coach. “We have to come to wrestle and we have to know that we're getting ourselves into a pretty good situation with these guys and some of the best people in the world on the mat. They'll have to be ready to go.”