U.S. falls short of placing at final Olympic qualifier in Greco-Roman
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by Craig Sesker
The United States Greco-Roman wrestling team came up short in its quest to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games at 60 kg/132 lbs.
2007 U.S. World Team member Joe Betterman went 1-1 and did not place at Greco-Roman Olympic Qualifying Tournament No. 2 on Saturday in Novi Sad, Serbia.
Betterman (Chicago, Ill./New York AC/USOEC) beat Hungary's Balint Korpasi 3-0, 3-0 in the first round at 60 kg/132 lbs. Betterman then fell to past World silver medalist Karen Mnatsakanyan of Armenia 2-0, 1-1.
Betterman was eliminated when the Armenian wrestler fell one match short of reaching the finals.
The top three wrestlers in each weight class from the second of two qualifiers qualified their countries for the 2008 Olympics, set for Aug. 12-21 in Beijing, China.
The U.S. team, which won the team title at the 2007 World Championships, qualified the other six Greco-Roman weight classes for the Olympics.
Betterman came up short in two other opportunities to qualify the weight class for the Olympics. He did not place at the 2007 World Championships and won a bronze medal at the 2008 Pan American Championships.
American Jim Gruenwald (Marquette, Mich./Sunkist Kids) failed to place at 60 kilos at Greco-Roman Olympic Qualifying Tournament No. 1 on May 10 in Rome, Italy. Gruenwald suffered a shoulder injury in that event.
The U.S. has qualified 16-of-18 weight classes overall for the Olympics. The U.S. has qualified 6-of-7 classes in Greco-Roman, 6-of-7 classes in freestyle and all four classes in women's freestyle.
2007 U.S. World Team member Joe Betterman went 1-1 and did not place at Greco-Roman Olympic Qualifying Tournament No. 2 on Saturday in Novi Sad, Serbia.
Betterman (Chicago, Ill./New York AC/USOEC) beat Hungary's Balint Korpasi 3-0, 3-0 in the first round at 60 kg/132 lbs. Betterman then fell to past World silver medalist Karen Mnatsakanyan of Armenia 2-0, 1-1.
Betterman was eliminated when the Armenian wrestler fell one match short of reaching the finals.
The top three wrestlers in each weight class from the second of two qualifiers qualified their countries for the 2008 Olympics, set for Aug. 12-21 in Beijing, China.
The U.S. team, which won the team title at the 2007 World Championships, qualified the other six Greco-Roman weight classes for the Olympics.
Betterman came up short in two other opportunities to qualify the weight class for the Olympics. He did not place at the 2007 World Championships and won a bronze medal at the 2008 Pan American Championships.
American Jim Gruenwald (Marquette, Mich./Sunkist Kids) failed to place at 60 kilos at Greco-Roman Olympic Qualifying Tournament No. 1 on May 10 in Rome, Italy. Gruenwald suffered a shoulder injury in that event.
The U.S. has qualified 16-of-18 weight classes overall for the Olympics. The U.S. has qualified 6-of-7 classes in Greco-Roman, 6-of-7 classes in freestyle and all four classes in women's freestyle.
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