Kalika wins gold medal on second day of Veterans Greco Worlds in Kouvola, Finland
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by Gary Abbott
KOUVOLA, Finland - Valentin Kalika (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Valentin Kalika WC) won a gold medal at 69 kg/152 lbs. in Division D (51-55 years old), during the second day of action at the Veterans World Greco-Roman Championships on Saturday.
Kalika defeated N. Ilvevicius of Lithuania in the finals, 7-0, 1-0. In the semifinals, he stopped past Veterans World champion Igiz Shaydullin of Russia, 1-0, 0-2, 2-0.
"It is a great tournament. There are a lot of countries here, including many of the tough European countries. I have not wrestled for about 25 years. I am glad I won the gold medal for America. I have been here for 14 years, coming from Ukraine. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to travel and wrestle for my new country. I am proud to win this gold medal for the United States. I have never felt anything like this before," said Kalika.
Kalika returned to the mat in over two decades at the 2009 U.S. Veterans National Championships, where he won a national title. He coached at a club in California while his son was competing, and now that his son has retired, Valentin decided to return to competition this year.
"In my semifinal, I wrestled a Russian who was a two-time World champion," said Kalika. "I won the first period, lost the second, then won it in the third. That was my toughest match. In the final, I wrestled well. I teched him in the first period with gut wrenches. In the second period, I took him down and controlled the match."
Also in Div. D, Chris Brown (Boyds, Md./Montgomery County WC), won a bronze medal at 76 kg/167.5 lbs. He opened with a loss to A. Sergachev of Russia, 4-2, 2-4, 2-4, but came back to win a bronze medal match against Ivan Rangelov of Bulgaria by pin.
"In my first match, I lost to a two-time World champion from Russia. It went three periods, and there was a controversial call at the end. The call did not go my way. I bounced back and won the bronze-medal bout. I trained harder for this than I did for Nationals. It was my first time at the World Championships. I am pretty pleased."
It was a very difficult day for the members of the U.S. delegation, because one of their teammates, Michael Cain of Summerfield, Fla., passed away while competing at the event on Saturday. USA Wrestling extends its sincere condolences to the friends and family of Michael Cain.
Cain collapsed during his opening round match of the tournament against Harri Niemi of Finland. Cain received immediate medical assistance, but those providing care could not revive him. Cain was competing at 130 kg/286 lbs. in Div. D (51-55 years old). There were three athletes in his weight class and FILA has awarded a bronze medal to him, which was accepted by his teammates.
For additional information on Cain, click the following link:
http://www.themat.com/section.php?section_id=3&page=showarticle&ArticleID=20775
On Saturday, there was competition in Division C (46-50 years old) and Division D (51-55 years old).
On Friday, a number of wrestlers competed in Division B (41-45 years old) and Division E (56 years and older).
Capturing a silver medal at 58 kg/127.75 lbs. in Division E on Friday was James Schartner (Frederick, Md./FIWC). Schartner was defeated in the finals by Alexander Korenkov of Russia, 1-4, 1-6. There were two athletes in the weight class.
On Sunday, there will be competition in Division A (35-40 years old) and other U.S. wrestlers will be in action.
VETERANS GRECO-ROMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Kouvola, Finland, Sept. 4-5
U.S. results on Saturday
Division C (46-50 years old)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Ronald Hughes, Hollister, Calif.
WIN K. Sergaziyev (Kazakhstan), 5-1, 1-0
LOSS A. Kritsciunas (Lithuania), 6-0, 1-0
Division D (51-55 years old)
69 kg/152 lbs. - Valentin Kalika, Laguna Niguel, Calif. (Valentin Kalika WC), 1st
WIN Igiz Shaydullin (Russia), 1-0, 0-2, 2-0
WIN N. Ilkevicius (Lithuania), 7-0, 1-0
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Chris Brown, Boyds, Md. (Montgomery County WC), 3rd
LOSS A. Sergachev (Russia), 4-2, 2-4, 2-4
WIN Ivan Rangelov (Bulgaria), pin
130 kg/286 lbs. - Michael Cain, Summerfield, Fla. (Caines Lake WC), 3rd
LOSS Harri Niemi (Finland), inj. dft.
U.S. results on Friday
Division B (41-45 years old)
69 kg/152 lbs. - Steve Horton, Ramstein AFB, Germany (U.S. Air Force), 5th
WIN Sergei Zibrov (Russia), 1-0, 2-0
LOSS Alexander Smirnov (Russia), 5-0, 0-1, 0-1
LOSS Domenico Piccinini (Italy), 1-0, 0-1, 0-1
97 kg/214 lbs. - Jeff Anderson, Aurora, Ill. (Greater Chicago WC), 7th
LOSS Sergiy Yankovskiy (Russia), 0-6, 0-3
Division E (56 years and older)
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - James Schartner, Frederick, Md. (FIWC), 2nd
LOSS Alexander Korenkov (Russia), 1-4, 1-6
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Peter Haag, Chicago, Ill. (Greater Chicago WC), 7th
LOSS Peter Vamos (Hungary), 0-2, 0-2
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Ray Lofti (unattached), 5th
LOSS Zoltan Fekete (Hungary), 4-0, inj. dft.
LOSS Artur Sammet (Germany), inj. forfeit
Kalika defeated N. Ilvevicius of Lithuania in the finals, 7-0, 1-0. In the semifinals, he stopped past Veterans World champion Igiz Shaydullin of Russia, 1-0, 0-2, 2-0.
"It is a great tournament. There are a lot of countries here, including many of the tough European countries. I have not wrestled for about 25 years. I am glad I won the gold medal for America. I have been here for 14 years, coming from Ukraine. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to travel and wrestle for my new country. I am proud to win this gold medal for the United States. I have never felt anything like this before," said Kalika.
Kalika returned to the mat in over two decades at the 2009 U.S. Veterans National Championships, where he won a national title. He coached at a club in California while his son was competing, and now that his son has retired, Valentin decided to return to competition this year.
"In my semifinal, I wrestled a Russian who was a two-time World champion," said Kalika. "I won the first period, lost the second, then won it in the third. That was my toughest match. In the final, I wrestled well. I teched him in the first period with gut wrenches. In the second period, I took him down and controlled the match."
Also in Div. D, Chris Brown (Boyds, Md./Montgomery County WC), won a bronze medal at 76 kg/167.5 lbs. He opened with a loss to A. Sergachev of Russia, 4-2, 2-4, 2-4, but came back to win a bronze medal match against Ivan Rangelov of Bulgaria by pin.
"In my first match, I lost to a two-time World champion from Russia. It went three periods, and there was a controversial call at the end. The call did not go my way. I bounced back and won the bronze-medal bout. I trained harder for this than I did for Nationals. It was my first time at the World Championships. I am pretty pleased."
It was a very difficult day for the members of the U.S. delegation, because one of their teammates, Michael Cain of Summerfield, Fla., passed away while competing at the event on Saturday. USA Wrestling extends its sincere condolences to the friends and family of Michael Cain.
Cain collapsed during his opening round match of the tournament against Harri Niemi of Finland. Cain received immediate medical assistance, but those providing care could not revive him. Cain was competing at 130 kg/286 lbs. in Div. D (51-55 years old). There were three athletes in his weight class and FILA has awarded a bronze medal to him, which was accepted by his teammates.
For additional information on Cain, click the following link:
http://www.themat.com/section.php?section_id=3&page=showarticle&ArticleID=20775
On Saturday, there was competition in Division C (46-50 years old) and Division D (51-55 years old).
On Friday, a number of wrestlers competed in Division B (41-45 years old) and Division E (56 years and older).
Capturing a silver medal at 58 kg/127.75 lbs. in Division E on Friday was James Schartner (Frederick, Md./FIWC). Schartner was defeated in the finals by Alexander Korenkov of Russia, 1-4, 1-6. There were two athletes in the weight class.
On Sunday, there will be competition in Division A (35-40 years old) and other U.S. wrestlers will be in action.
VETERANS GRECO-ROMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Kouvola, Finland, Sept. 4-5
U.S. results on Saturday
Division C (46-50 years old)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Ronald Hughes, Hollister, Calif.
WIN K. Sergaziyev (Kazakhstan), 5-1, 1-0
LOSS A. Kritsciunas (Lithuania), 6-0, 1-0
Division D (51-55 years old)
69 kg/152 lbs. - Valentin Kalika, Laguna Niguel, Calif. (Valentin Kalika WC), 1st
WIN Igiz Shaydullin (Russia), 1-0, 0-2, 2-0
WIN N. Ilkevicius (Lithuania), 7-0, 1-0
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Chris Brown, Boyds, Md. (Montgomery County WC), 3rd
LOSS A. Sergachev (Russia), 4-2, 2-4, 2-4
WIN Ivan Rangelov (Bulgaria), pin
130 kg/286 lbs. - Michael Cain, Summerfield, Fla. (Caines Lake WC), 3rd
LOSS Harri Niemi (Finland), inj. dft.
U.S. results on Friday
Division B (41-45 years old)
69 kg/152 lbs. - Steve Horton, Ramstein AFB, Germany (U.S. Air Force), 5th
WIN Sergei Zibrov (Russia), 1-0, 2-0
LOSS Alexander Smirnov (Russia), 5-0, 0-1, 0-1
LOSS Domenico Piccinini (Italy), 1-0, 0-1, 0-1
97 kg/214 lbs. - Jeff Anderson, Aurora, Ill. (Greater Chicago WC), 7th
LOSS Sergiy Yankovskiy (Russia), 0-6, 0-3
Division E (56 years and older)
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - James Schartner, Frederick, Md. (FIWC), 2nd
LOSS Alexander Korenkov (Russia), 1-4, 1-6
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Peter Haag, Chicago, Ill. (Greater Chicago WC), 7th
LOSS Peter Vamos (Hungary), 0-2, 0-2
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Ray Lofti (unattached), 5th
LOSS Zoltan Fekete (Hungary), 4-0, inj. dft.
LOSS Artur Sammet (Germany), inj. forfeit
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