Betterman places second at Hungarian Golden Grand Prix
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by Gary Abbott
SZOMBATHELY, Hungary - In a competitive match, Joe Betterman (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) was defeated in the 60 kg/132 lbs. finals at the Hungarian Golden Grand Prix on Saturday night.
He was beaten by 2008 Olympic silver medalist Rovshan Bayramov of Azerbaijan, 0-1, 1-3. Bayramov won the first period by defending on the bottom position in the clinch. Betterman led 1-0 in the second period, forcing Bayramov out of bounds with a slick counter move on the edge of the mat. However, Bayramov scored two more takedowns and an exposure to secure the victory.
"It was a tough match," said Betterman. "I made a few mistakes. I need these tournaments. I make mistakes now, not in Denmark. It is a learning experience now, not at the Worlds. Even though I lost, I learned a lot. He is an Olympic silver medalist. I learned about my conditioning, about not extending myself. I know I still have to brush up on my technique."
Betterman had defeated three tough opponents on the way to the finals, all who had beaten him previously. Included was a victory in the quarterfinals over three-time World bronze medalist Eusebio Diacono of Romania.
"I learned not to give up. I hurt my shoulder in the second match. It messed me up mentally. I just listened to Momir (Petkovic) and got through it. It was hurting in the semifinals, too. I sucked it up and pushed through to win," said Betterman.
Betterman has been wrestling often, competing in four major events over the last month and a half. He will make it five international events by competing in the Slovenia Grand Prix next week.
"After next week, I will have had seven tournaments this season, and 23 international matches. The goal is 30 international bouts," said Betterman.
Assistant National Greco-Roman Coach Momir Petkovic is pleased with his effort.
"He showed a lot of progress," said Petkovic. He beat successful wrestlers. He lost in the finals. He was leading 1-0 in the second period and he made a mistake that is not acceptable. He is learning. He is changing the gap. He is heading in the right direction. He showed a change in his mentality. He is keeping calm. He has come around. I am satisfied with his progress.
The U.S. had one other wrestler in a medal match Saturday night, but fell short of winning another medal. Brandon Rupp (Colorado Springs, Colo./Pocatello WC) was defeated by Losev Chugoshvili of Belarus, 0-7, 0-4 in a bronze-medal match at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
"He is a talented, explosive, coordinated kid," said Petkovic. "He has potential. He is giving everything he has. That is all you can ask of him right now."
HUNGARIAN GOLDEN GRAND PRIX
At Szombathely, Hungary, Feb. 28
60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold - Rovshan Bayramov (Azerbaijan)
Silver - Joe Betterman (USA)
Bronze -Eusebio Diacono (Romania)
Bronze - Yasoyuki Tanioka (Japan)
5th - Emil Milev (Bulgaria)
5th - Eduard Barseghian (Poland)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Celcuk Sebi (Turkey)
Silver - Aliaksandr Kikiniov (Belarus)
Bronze - Farid Mansurov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Renato Kun (Hungary)
5th - Neven Zugaj (Croatia)
5th - Julian Kwit (Poland)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold - Zoltan Fodor (Hungary)
Silver - David Karchava (Georgia)
Bronze - Zsolt Dajka (Hungary)
Bronze - Artur Michalkiewicz (Poland)
5th - Ahmet Yilidrim (Turkey)
5th - Aliaksandr Hrabovik (Belarus)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Gold - Riza Kayaolp (Turkey)
Silver - Mihaly Deak-Bardos (Hungary)
Bronze - Loseb Chugoshivili (Belarus)
Bronze -Revaz Chelidze (Georgia)
5th - Brandon Rupp (USA)
5th - Ivan Ivanov (Bulgaria)
U.S. performances
60 kg/132 lbs. - Glenn Garrison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 7th
WIN Ville Pasanen (Finland), 1-0, 2-0
WIN Rahman Bilici (Turkey), 0-2, disq.
LOSS Rovshan Bayramov (Azerbaijan), 0-3, 1-0, 0-6
LOSS Edward Barsegian (Poland), 0-3, 0-1
60 kg/132 lbs. - Chad Vandiver, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Unattached), 9th
WIN Istvan Kozak (Hungary), 0-1, 5-1, 6-0
LOSS Rovshan Bayramov (Azerbaijan), 0-2, 1-7
LOSS Edward Barsegian (Poland), 0-2, 0-6
60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 2nd
WIN Ede Komarami (Hungary), 1-0, 3-0
WIN Eusebio Diacono (Romania), 1-0, 0-5, 1-0
WIN Emil Milev (Bulgaria), 0-5, 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Rovshan Bayramov (Azerbaijan), 0-1, 1-3
74 kg/163 lbs. - Anton Gottfredson, Marquette, Mich. (USOEC), 8th
LOSS Celcuk Cebi (Turkey), 0-1, 0-3
WIN Zoltan Lakatos (Hungary), 0-3, inj. dft.
LOSS Julian Kwit (Poland), 0-1, 0-1
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jake Fisher, Platte City, Mo. (New York AC), dnp
LOSS Tsukasa Tsuramaki (Japan), 1-0, 0-2, 1-6
84 kg/185 lbs. - Aaron Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 7th
WIN Vostach Kukla (Czech Republic), pin 1:54
LOSS Artur Mikhalkiewcz (Poland), 1-3, 0-1
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), dnp
LOSS Revaz Chelidze (Georgia), 1-0, 0-1, 1-1
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Brandon Rupp, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Pocatello WC), 5th
WIN Gyula Branda (Hungary), 2-0, 1-3, 3-0
WIN Vladimir Guralski (Israel), pin 0:35
LOSS Riza Kayaolp (Turkey), 0-2, 5-0, 0-2
LOSS Losev Chugoshvili (Belarus), 0-7, 0-4
He was beaten by 2008 Olympic silver medalist Rovshan Bayramov of Azerbaijan, 0-1, 1-3. Bayramov won the first period by defending on the bottom position in the clinch. Betterman led 1-0 in the second period, forcing Bayramov out of bounds with a slick counter move on the edge of the mat. However, Bayramov scored two more takedowns and an exposure to secure the victory.
"It was a tough match," said Betterman. "I made a few mistakes. I need these tournaments. I make mistakes now, not in Denmark. It is a learning experience now, not at the Worlds. Even though I lost, I learned a lot. He is an Olympic silver medalist. I learned about my conditioning, about not extending myself. I know I still have to brush up on my technique."
Betterman had defeated three tough opponents on the way to the finals, all who had beaten him previously. Included was a victory in the quarterfinals over three-time World bronze medalist Eusebio Diacono of Romania.
"I learned not to give up. I hurt my shoulder in the second match. It messed me up mentally. I just listened to Momir (Petkovic) and got through it. It was hurting in the semifinals, too. I sucked it up and pushed through to win," said Betterman.
Betterman has been wrestling often, competing in four major events over the last month and a half. He will make it five international events by competing in the Slovenia Grand Prix next week.
"After next week, I will have had seven tournaments this season, and 23 international matches. The goal is 30 international bouts," said Betterman.
Assistant National Greco-Roman Coach Momir Petkovic is pleased with his effort.
"He showed a lot of progress," said Petkovic. He beat successful wrestlers. He lost in the finals. He was leading 1-0 in the second period and he made a mistake that is not acceptable. He is learning. He is changing the gap. He is heading in the right direction. He showed a change in his mentality. He is keeping calm. He has come around. I am satisfied with his progress.
The U.S. had one other wrestler in a medal match Saturday night, but fell short of winning another medal. Brandon Rupp (Colorado Springs, Colo./Pocatello WC) was defeated by Losev Chugoshvili of Belarus, 0-7, 0-4 in a bronze-medal match at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
"He is a talented, explosive, coordinated kid," said Petkovic. "He has potential. He is giving everything he has. That is all you can ask of him right now."
HUNGARIAN GOLDEN GRAND PRIX
At Szombathely, Hungary, Feb. 28
60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold - Rovshan Bayramov (Azerbaijan)
Silver - Joe Betterman (USA)
Bronze -Eusebio Diacono (Romania)
Bronze - Yasoyuki Tanioka (Japan)
5th - Emil Milev (Bulgaria)
5th - Eduard Barseghian (Poland)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Celcuk Sebi (Turkey)
Silver - Aliaksandr Kikiniov (Belarus)
Bronze - Farid Mansurov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Renato Kun (Hungary)
5th - Neven Zugaj (Croatia)
5th - Julian Kwit (Poland)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold - Zoltan Fodor (Hungary)
Silver - David Karchava (Georgia)
Bronze - Zsolt Dajka (Hungary)
Bronze - Artur Michalkiewicz (Poland)
5th - Ahmet Yilidrim (Turkey)
5th - Aliaksandr Hrabovik (Belarus)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Gold - Riza Kayaolp (Turkey)
Silver - Mihaly Deak-Bardos (Hungary)
Bronze - Loseb Chugoshivili (Belarus)
Bronze -Revaz Chelidze (Georgia)
5th - Brandon Rupp (USA)
5th - Ivan Ivanov (Bulgaria)
U.S. performances
60 kg/132 lbs. - Glenn Garrison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 7th
WIN Ville Pasanen (Finland), 1-0, 2-0
WIN Rahman Bilici (Turkey), 0-2, disq.
LOSS Rovshan Bayramov (Azerbaijan), 0-3, 1-0, 0-6
LOSS Edward Barsegian (Poland), 0-3, 0-1
60 kg/132 lbs. - Chad Vandiver, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Unattached), 9th
WIN Istvan Kozak (Hungary), 0-1, 5-1, 6-0
LOSS Rovshan Bayramov (Azerbaijan), 0-2, 1-7
LOSS Edward Barsegian (Poland), 0-2, 0-6
60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 2nd
WIN Ede Komarami (Hungary), 1-0, 3-0
WIN Eusebio Diacono (Romania), 1-0, 0-5, 1-0
WIN Emil Milev (Bulgaria), 0-5, 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Rovshan Bayramov (Azerbaijan), 0-1, 1-3
74 kg/163 lbs. - Anton Gottfredson, Marquette, Mich. (USOEC), 8th
LOSS Celcuk Cebi (Turkey), 0-1, 0-3
WIN Zoltan Lakatos (Hungary), 0-3, inj. dft.
LOSS Julian Kwit (Poland), 0-1, 0-1
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jake Fisher, Platte City, Mo. (New York AC), dnp
LOSS Tsukasa Tsuramaki (Japan), 1-0, 0-2, 1-6
84 kg/185 lbs. - Aaron Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 7th
WIN Vostach Kukla (Czech Republic), pin 1:54
LOSS Artur Mikhalkiewcz (Poland), 1-3, 0-1
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), dnp
LOSS Revaz Chelidze (Georgia), 1-0, 0-1, 1-1
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Brandon Rupp, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Pocatello WC), 5th
WIN Gyula Branda (Hungary), 2-0, 1-3, 3-0
WIN Vladimir Guralski (Israel), pin 0:35
LOSS Riza Kayaolp (Turkey), 0-2, 5-0, 0-2
LOSS Losev Chugoshvili (Belarus), 0-7, 0-4
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