U.S. Olympic Team Trials preview in Greco-Roman at 60 kg/132 lbs.
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by Craig Sesker
Joe Betterman replaced past World champion Joe Warren on the World Team last year and Betterman will be the favorite at the Trials. Betterman has paid his dues through the USOEC program at Northern Michigan University.
The U.S. has not qualified this weight class for the Olympics.
Two-time Olympian Jim Gruenwald came out of retirement this season and beat Betterman in the finals of the 2008 U.S. Nationals. But Gruenwald suffered a shoulder injury at an Olympic qualifier in Rome and his career appears to be over.
Veteran Glenn Garrison, who has dropped down a weight class this season, placed third at U.S. Nationals. He was a U.S. Nationals champion up at 66 kg in 2007. Marco Lara was fourth at U.S. Nationals and has been showing improvement in recent years.
Past National Team members Jeremiah Davis and Willie Madison also should be in contention. Davis and Madison placed fifth and sixth at U.S. Nationals. Eric Stevenson was seventh at the U.S. Nationals and won the Northwest Regional. Among the qualifiers is college wrestler Tony Mustari from the Univ. of Northern Colorado.
2008 U.S. Nationals results
1st - Jim Gruenwald, Marquette, Mich. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Joe Betterman, Chicago, Ill. (New York AC), 5-0, 6-3
3rd - Glenn Garrison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Marco Lara, Long Beach, Calif. (New York AC), 6-0, 4-0
5th - Jeremiah Davis, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Willie Madison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 3-2, 0-3, 5-3
7th - Eric Stevenson, Newberg, Ore. (Orange Crush) dec. Donny DePatto, Monticello, Minn. (U.S. Marine Corps), 1-4, 2-1, 1-1
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds
1. Joe Betterman, Chicago, Ill. (New York AC/USOEC)
2. Glenn Garrison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
3. Marco Lara, Long Beach, Calif. (New York AC)
4. Jeremiah Davis, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
5. Willie Madison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
6. Eric Stevenson, Newberg, Ore. (Orange Crush)
7. Donovan DePatto, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps)
8. CC Fisher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Unattached)
9. Chad Vandiver, Roscoe, Ill. (Unattached)
10. Noah Blankenship, Bucyrus, Ohio (U.S. Marines)
11. Tony Mustari, Greeley, Colo. (Northern Colorado Wrestling)
The U.S. has not qualified this weight class for the Olympics.
Two-time Olympian Jim Gruenwald came out of retirement this season and beat Betterman in the finals of the 2008 U.S. Nationals. But Gruenwald suffered a shoulder injury at an Olympic qualifier in Rome and his career appears to be over.
Veteran Glenn Garrison, who has dropped down a weight class this season, placed third at U.S. Nationals. He was a U.S. Nationals champion up at 66 kg in 2007. Marco Lara was fourth at U.S. Nationals and has been showing improvement in recent years.
Past National Team members Jeremiah Davis and Willie Madison also should be in contention. Davis and Madison placed fifth and sixth at U.S. Nationals. Eric Stevenson was seventh at the U.S. Nationals and won the Northwest Regional. Among the qualifiers is college wrestler Tony Mustari from the Univ. of Northern Colorado.
2008 U.S. Nationals results
1st - Jim Gruenwald, Marquette, Mich. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Joe Betterman, Chicago, Ill. (New York AC), 5-0, 6-3
3rd - Glenn Garrison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Marco Lara, Long Beach, Calif. (New York AC), 6-0, 4-0
5th - Jeremiah Davis, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Willie Madison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 3-2, 0-3, 5-3
7th - Eric Stevenson, Newberg, Ore. (Orange Crush) dec. Donny DePatto, Monticello, Minn. (U.S. Marine Corps), 1-4, 2-1, 1-1
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds
1. Joe Betterman, Chicago, Ill. (New York AC/USOEC)
2. Glenn Garrison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
3. Marco Lara, Long Beach, Calif. (New York AC)
4. Jeremiah Davis, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
5. Willie Madison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
6. Eric Stevenson, Newberg, Ore. (Orange Crush)
7. Donovan DePatto, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps)
8. CC Fisher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Unattached)
9. Chad Vandiver, Roscoe, Ill. (Unattached)
10. Noah Blankenship, Bucyrus, Ohio (U.S. Marines)
11. Tony Mustari, Greeley, Colo. (Northern Colorado Wrestling)
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