Large U.S. team to compete at Veterans World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 18-23
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by Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
The United States will send a large and experienced group of athletes to compete in the Veterans World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Sept.
Veterans are athletes who are 35 years old and above. This year, FILA has combined the Greco-Roman and men's freestyle competition at the same location. There are seven different age categories in each style.
The U.S. claimed five gold medals at the Veterans Worlds in men's freestyle last year and all five are returning to defend their titles. The returning champions, and their weights this year include:
- Anthony Piva of Meridian, Idaho at 58 kg in Div. B.
- Jamey Kasser of Lewis Center, Ohio at 63 kg in Div. C
- Jon Tush of Maplewood, N.J. at 76 kg in Div. C
- Brad Swartz of Auburn, Wash. at 76 kg in Div. D.
- Shirzad Ahmadi of Coventry, Conn. at 63 kg in Div. F
Ahmadi has won seven Veterans World titles in his career. Swartz is also a multiple Veterans World champion, with five Veterans titles, and Kasser has been Veterans World champion for two straight years.
The USA does not have a returning Veterans World champion competing in Greco-Roman. However, a past Veterans World Greco-Roman champions, Ronald Hughes of Hollister, Calif., will compete at 69 kg in Div. C.
The USA has numerous past Veterans World medalists in both styles, and is expected to be one of the strongest teams in the field.
Because FILA put both styles in the same location this year, many of the U.S. wrestlers have chosen to compete in both styles this week.
VETERANS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 18-23
U.S. men's freestyle roster
Div. A (35 - 40 years old)
69 kg - Ignacio Ramirezlazos, Vista, Calif.
85 kg - August Wesley, Sacramento, Calif.
85 kg - Hooman Tavakolian, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.
97 kg - Octavius Bellamy, River Forest, Ill.
97 kg - Dan Lovell, Marshalltown, Iowa
Weight TBA - Kazeka Muniz, Lancaster, Calif.
Div. B (41 - 45 years old)
63 kg - Dave Cannizzo, New York, N.Y.
69 kg - Greg Welch, Germantown, Md.
76 kg - Anthony Piva, Meridian, Idaho
85 kg - Michael Schyck, Port Charlotte, Fla.
85 kg - Borys Kulich, Westmont, Ill.
85 kg - Kevin Pine, Las Vegas, Nev.
Div. C (46 - 50 years old)
58 kg - Victor Aybar, Manchester, Md.
58 kg - Rodger Horton, Winfield, Kan.
63 kg - Jamey Kasser, Lewis Center, Ohio
69 kg - David Hines, McKinleyville, Calif.
69 kg - Ronald Hughes, Hollister, Calif.
76 kg - Steve Horton, Ramstein AFB, Germany
76 kg - Jon Tush, Maplewood, N.J.
85 kg - Petros Petrosyan, Los Alamitos, Calif.
85 kg - Richard Tado, Huntley, Ill.
85 kg - Jeffery Anderson, Zeeland, Mich.
Div. D (51 - 55 years old)
76 kg - Chris Brown, Boyds, Md.
76 kg - Brad Swartz, Auburn, Wash.
85 kg - Gregg Stensgard, Vernal, Utah
Div. E (56 - 60 years old)
58 kg - Steven Turgeon, South Windsor, Conn.
63 kg - Steve Barkman, Bloombury, N.J.
69 kg - Craig Johnson, Broomfield, Colo.
76 kg- Zelig Ziegelbaum, Port Washington, N.Y.
85 kg - Peter Haag, Chicago, Ill.
85 kg - Steve Contarino, Palmetto, Fla.
Div. F (61 - 65 years old)
63 kg - Ron Engel, St. Helena, Calif.
63 kg - Shirzad Ahmadi, Coventry, Conn.
63 kg - Jack Hornbuckle, Poteau, Okla.
76 kg - Pat Ancil, Bradenton, Fla.
76 kg - Kenneth Peters, Elmhurst, Ill.
76 kg - Greg Archer, Terre Haute, Ind.
85 kg - Garry Price, Mifflintown, Pa.
Div. G (66 - 70 years old)
76 kg - Terrell Harris, Chicago, Ill.
U.S. Greco-Roman roster
Div. A (35 - 40 years old)
58 kg - Jose Gamez, Jr., Tucson, Ariz.
69 kg - Ignacio Ramirezlazos, Vista, Calif.
85 kg - August Wesley, Sacramento, Calif.
97 kg - Octavius Bellamy, River Forest, Ill.
Div. B (41 - 45 years old)
85 kg - Kevin Pine, Las Vegas, Nev.
Div. C (46 - 50 years old)
58 kg - Victor Aybar, Manchester, Md.
69 kg - Ronald Hughes, Hollister, Calif.
76 kg - Steve Horton, Ramstein AFB, Germany
Div. D (51 - 55 years old)
76 kg - Chris Brown, Boyds, Md.
76 kg - Bruce Moe, Hillsborough, N.D.
85 kg - Gregg Stensgard, Vernal, Utah
Div. E (56 - 60 years old)
85 kg - Sarkis Dermenjian, Valley Glenn, Calif.
85 kg - Peter Haag, Chicago, Ill.
85 kg - Steve Contarino, Palmetto, Fla.
Div. F (61 - 65 years old)
63 kg - Ron Engel, St. Helena, Calif.
76 kg - Pat Ancil, Bradenton, Fla.
76 kg - Kenneth Peters, Elmhurst, Ill.
85 kg - Garry Price, Mifflintown, Pa.
Freestyle Team Leader -Mike Torriero, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Referee - Matthew Fiala, Merrick, N.Y.
Event Schedule
Tuesday, September 18
Greco-Roman (Div. B, E, F)
Wednesday, September 19
Greco-Roman (Div. C, D)
Thursday, September 20
Greco-Roman (Div. A, G)
Friday, September 21
Freestyle (Div. B, E, F)
Saturday, September 22
Freestyle (Div. C, D)
Sunday, September 23
Freestyle (Div. A, G)
Veterans are athletes who are 35 years old and above. This year, FILA has combined the Greco-Roman and men's freestyle competition at the same location. There are seven different age categories in each style.
The U.S. claimed five gold medals at the Veterans Worlds in men's freestyle last year and all five are returning to defend their titles. The returning champions, and their weights this year include:
- Anthony Piva of Meridian, Idaho at 58 kg in Div. B.
- Jamey Kasser of Lewis Center, Ohio at 63 kg in Div. C
- Jon Tush of Maplewood, N.J. at 76 kg in Div. C
- Brad Swartz of Auburn, Wash. at 76 kg in Div. D.
- Shirzad Ahmadi of Coventry, Conn. at 63 kg in Div. F
Ahmadi has won seven Veterans World titles in his career. Swartz is also a multiple Veterans World champion, with five Veterans titles, and Kasser has been Veterans World champion for two straight years.
The USA does not have a returning Veterans World champion competing in Greco-Roman. However, a past Veterans World Greco-Roman champions, Ronald Hughes of Hollister, Calif., will compete at 69 kg in Div. C.
The USA has numerous past Veterans World medalists in both styles, and is expected to be one of the strongest teams in the field.
Because FILA put both styles in the same location this year, many of the U.S. wrestlers have chosen to compete in both styles this week.
VETERANS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 18-23
U.S. men's freestyle roster
Div. A (35 - 40 years old)
69 kg - Ignacio Ramirezlazos, Vista, Calif.
85 kg - August Wesley, Sacramento, Calif.
85 kg - Hooman Tavakolian, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.
97 kg - Octavius Bellamy, River Forest, Ill.
97 kg - Dan Lovell, Marshalltown, Iowa
Weight TBA - Kazeka Muniz, Lancaster, Calif.
Div. B (41 - 45 years old)
63 kg - Dave Cannizzo, New York, N.Y.
69 kg - Greg Welch, Germantown, Md.
76 kg - Anthony Piva, Meridian, Idaho
85 kg - Michael Schyck, Port Charlotte, Fla.
85 kg - Borys Kulich, Westmont, Ill.
85 kg - Kevin Pine, Las Vegas, Nev.
Div. C (46 - 50 years old)
58 kg - Victor Aybar, Manchester, Md.
58 kg - Rodger Horton, Winfield, Kan.
63 kg - Jamey Kasser, Lewis Center, Ohio
69 kg - David Hines, McKinleyville, Calif.
69 kg - Ronald Hughes, Hollister, Calif.
76 kg - Steve Horton, Ramstein AFB, Germany
76 kg - Jon Tush, Maplewood, N.J.
85 kg - Petros Petrosyan, Los Alamitos, Calif.
85 kg - Richard Tado, Huntley, Ill.
85 kg - Jeffery Anderson, Zeeland, Mich.
Div. D (51 - 55 years old)
76 kg - Chris Brown, Boyds, Md.
76 kg - Brad Swartz, Auburn, Wash.
85 kg - Gregg Stensgard, Vernal, Utah
Div. E (56 - 60 years old)
58 kg - Steven Turgeon, South Windsor, Conn.
63 kg - Steve Barkman, Bloombury, N.J.
69 kg - Craig Johnson, Broomfield, Colo.
76 kg- Zelig Ziegelbaum, Port Washington, N.Y.
85 kg - Peter Haag, Chicago, Ill.
85 kg - Steve Contarino, Palmetto, Fla.
Div. F (61 - 65 years old)
63 kg - Ron Engel, St. Helena, Calif.
63 kg - Shirzad Ahmadi, Coventry, Conn.
63 kg - Jack Hornbuckle, Poteau, Okla.
76 kg - Pat Ancil, Bradenton, Fla.
76 kg - Kenneth Peters, Elmhurst, Ill.
76 kg - Greg Archer, Terre Haute, Ind.
85 kg - Garry Price, Mifflintown, Pa.
Div. G (66 - 70 years old)
76 kg - Terrell Harris, Chicago, Ill.
U.S. Greco-Roman roster
Div. A (35 - 40 years old)
58 kg - Jose Gamez, Jr., Tucson, Ariz.
69 kg - Ignacio Ramirezlazos, Vista, Calif.
85 kg - August Wesley, Sacramento, Calif.
97 kg - Octavius Bellamy, River Forest, Ill.
Div. B (41 - 45 years old)
85 kg - Kevin Pine, Las Vegas, Nev.
Div. C (46 - 50 years old)
58 kg - Victor Aybar, Manchester, Md.
69 kg - Ronald Hughes, Hollister, Calif.
76 kg - Steve Horton, Ramstein AFB, Germany
Div. D (51 - 55 years old)
76 kg - Chris Brown, Boyds, Md.
76 kg - Bruce Moe, Hillsborough, N.D.
85 kg - Gregg Stensgard, Vernal, Utah
Div. E (56 - 60 years old)
85 kg - Sarkis Dermenjian, Valley Glenn, Calif.
85 kg - Peter Haag, Chicago, Ill.
85 kg - Steve Contarino, Palmetto, Fla.
Div. F (61 - 65 years old)
63 kg - Ron Engel, St. Helena, Calif.
76 kg - Pat Ancil, Bradenton, Fla.
76 kg - Kenneth Peters, Elmhurst, Ill.
85 kg - Garry Price, Mifflintown, Pa.
Freestyle Team Leader -Mike Torriero, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Referee - Matthew Fiala, Merrick, N.Y.
Event Schedule
Tuesday, September 18
Greco-Roman (Div. B, E, F)
Wednesday, September 19
Greco-Roman (Div. C, D)
Thursday, September 20
Greco-Roman (Div. A, G)
Friday, September 21
Freestyle (Div. B, E, F)
Saturday, September 22
Freestyle (Div. C, D)
Sunday, September 23
Freestyle (Div. A, G)
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