Snyder, Stieber help US finish second

Ohio State junior Kyle Snyder and former OSU wrestling star Logan Stieber both compiled 3-1 records as the United States finished second to Iran in the eightnation Freestyle World Cup in Kermanshah, Iran.

Snyder won a 6-0 decision and Steiber lost 6-1 in the gold-medal dual match against Iran on Friday. By winning five of the eight matches, the Iranians won their fifth consecutive Freestyle World Cup title.

Stieber, the reigning world champion at 134 pounds, had gone 3-0 to help the Americans to victory over Azerbaijan on Friday morning after wins over Georgia and Russia on Thursday.

Snyder, the reigning world and Olympic champion at 213 pounds, won two matches before he was upset by Aslanbek Alborov of Azerbaijan, who had a four-point move in the final 30 seconds.

David Taylor at 189 pounds and Jordan Burroughs at 163 both went 4-0 for the United States.

During the competitions, Iranian spectators warmly welcomed the American wrestlers, and many took selfies with them.

Earlier in February, Iran reversed its position and allowed U.S. wrestlers to participate in the competition after an earlier U.S. travel ban, now frozen, by President Donald Trump on nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran.

American and Iranian wrestlers have frequently hosted each other in similar competitions.