U.S. places 10th at Karavaev Cup of Greco-Roman in Belarus, Nov. 25-26

MINSK, Belarus - The United States went 0-4 and placed 10th as a team at the highly competitive Karavaev Cup, a Greco-Roman dual meet competition, Nov. 25-26.

The U.S. dropped all four of its pool competition bouts. They lost to Ukraine by a 5-2 margin, Georgia by a 6-1 margin and Russia and Belarus-II by identical 7-0 margins.

Winning bouts for the United States in the Ukraine dual were Jermaine Hodge (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and 2009 U.S. World Team Chas Betts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm) at 84 kg/185 lbs.

Capturing the U.S. win in the dual against Georgia was R.C. Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

The U.S. team was coached by Assistant National Greco-Roman Coach Momir Petkovic.

Host Belarus - I won the team title, defeating Georgia in the championship match, 5-2. Placing third in the event was Russia, which defeated Poland, 7-0.

Many of the U.S. wrestlers competing in Belarus will travel to compete this weekend at the Haparanda Cup in Haparanda, Sweden.

KARAVAEV CUP
Minsk, Belarus, Nov. 25-26

Team Standings
1. Belarus - I
2. Georgia
3. Russia
4. Poland
5. Ukraine
6. France
7. Kazakhstan
8. Belarus - II
9. Lithuania
10. United States

Championship dual meet - Belarus - I 5, Georgia 2
Third Place dual Meet - Russia 7, Poland 0

U.S. dual meets

Ukraine 5, USA 2
55 kg/121 lbs. - Jermaine Hodge (USA) dec. Vugar Ragimov (Ukraine)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Konstantin Balitski (Ukraine) dec. Joe Betterman (USA)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Denis Semyankov (Ukraine) dec. Ben Sanchez (USA)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Dmytro Pyshkov (Ukraine) dec. Andrew Bisek (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Chas Betts (USA) dec. Vasyl Rychba (Ukraine)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Dmitro Timchenko (Ukraine) dec. Robbie Smith (USA)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Oleksandr Chernetskyy (Ukraine) dec. Tim Taylor (USA)

Georgia 6, USA 1
55 kg/121 lbs. - Lasha Gogitadze (Georgia) dec. Jermaine Hodge (USA)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Revazi Lashki (Georgia) dec. Joe Betterman (USA)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Antoni Mamageishvili (Georgia) dec. Ben Sanchez (USA)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Genadi Gogishvili (Georgia) dec. Andrew Bisek (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Vladimeri Gegeshidze (Georgia) dec. Ben Provisor (USA)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - R.C. Johnson (USA) dec. Mikheili Kajaia (Georgia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Gurami Pherselidze (Georgia) dec. Tim Taylor (USA)

Russia 7, USA 0
55 kg/121 lbs. - Sergey Poprushko (Russia) dec. Jermaine Hodge (USA)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Rustam Khuchbarov (Russia) dec. Joe Betterman (USA)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Migran Arutyanyan (Russia) dec. Ben Sanchez (USA)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Evgeny Saleev (Russia) dec. Andrew Bisek (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Oleg Shokalov (Russia) dec. Chas Betts (USA)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Rustam Totrov (Russia) dec. R.C. Johnson (USA)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Shokhruddi Ayubov (Russia) dec. Tim Taylor (USA)

Belarus-II 7, USA 0
55 kg/121 lbs. - Stanislav Chigrai (Belarus II) dec. Jermaine Hodge (USA)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Aliaksandr Zabahonski (Belarus II) dec. Joe Betterman (USA)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Yaraslali Kardash (Belarus II) dec. Ben Sanchez (USA)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Valery Palenski (Belarus II) dec. Andrew Bisek (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Javid Hamzatau (Belarus II) dec. Ben Provisor (USA)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Aliaksandr Mytsko (Belarus II) dec. Robbie Smith (USA)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Artsem Nagar (Belarus II) dec. Tim Taylor (USA)

Other Group B dual meets
Georgia 5, Ukraine 2
Georgia 4, Russia 3
Georgia 7, Belarus - II 0
Ukraine 5, Belarus - II 2
Russia 5, Ukraine 2
Russia 7, Belarus - II 0

Group A dual meets
Poland 5, Kazakhstan 2
Kazakhstan 5, Lithuania 2
France 5, Kazakhstan 2
Belarus - I 5, Kazakhstan 2
Poland 6, Lithuania 1
Poland 6, France 1
Belarus - I 6, Poland 1
France 4, Lithuania 3
Belarus - I 6, Lithuania 1
Belarus - I 7, France 0