U.S. Veterans World Team members train together at Ohio RTC, August 1-3
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by Chris Brown
Veterans Athletes and Coaches: Front: Steve Horton, Chris Brown, Jason Goldman, Mark Goldman; Standing: Jack McVickers, Greg Archer, Valentin Kalika, Brandon Slay, Jamey Kasser, Joe Chapman
Six members of the 2014 U.S. Veterans Wrestling team traveled to Columbus, Ohio to train at the Ohio Regional Training Center facility at the Ohio State campus, Aug 1-3.
The Veterans Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling World Championships will start in just 25 days, when it is held at Belgrade, Serbia, August 25-31.
"These experienced athletes are here training to also be World Champions,” Assistant National Freestyle Coach Brandon Slay told the U.S. FILA Junior World Freestyle Team, which was also training at the Ohio RTC at the time.
A combined total of 22 World Championship medals, 10 of them gold, were won by the Veterans at the camp, and reflected the success, caliber and dedication of these Veteran wrestlers.
Four-time Veterans world medalist and three-time Veterans Freestyle World Champion Jamey Kasser lives in Ohio and spearheaded the efforts to bring the Veterans together at the Ohio RTC. Kasser has trained at the Ohio RTC in the past, and felt that it would be a great opportunity for his teammates.
"I think it's important for us to have an opportunity to come together and train before Worlds," says Kasser.
He convinced five-time Veterans World Greco-Roman medalist and Veterans team captain Chris Brown of Maryland to drive six hours to train and help coach.
Air Force wrestler Steve Horton, a two-time World Veterans Greco-Roman medalist just transferred from Germany to Illinois 4 weeks ago. Still living out of suitcases, he made the 6 hour drive from the St Louis area to join his old USAF and Veterans teammate Brown.
Greg Archer is a two-time Veterans freestyle medalist and drove with Jack McVicker, his training partner from Indiana. Although not a veterans wrestler, Jack McVicker is a 5x World Ji Jitsu champion.
Last year’s defending Veterans FS champion and GR silver medalist Jason Goldman and his dad Mark, made the 10 hour drive from upstate New York. This will be Mark’s second year serving as team leader for the USA Veterans World Team.
Veteran new comer Joe Chapman flew from Amsterdam to train and visit family in the U.S. before the World Championships.
Another former Veterans World champ was also on hand. Valentin Kalika, who coaches Junior World Team member Aaron Pico, was reunited with his teammates and helped train them.
This years annual Veterans World Championships will be held in Belgrade, Serbia August 25-3. The deadline to register for this World Championships has passed. But it's not too late to start training for next years USA Veterans Championship (tentatively April -Las Vegas) and the 2015 Veterans World Championships scheduled for October on the Greek island of Crete.
Achievements of those in the photo
Steve Horton Div. C 69kg - 2x Greco-Roman World medalist
Jamey Kasser Div. D 69kg - 4xFSWM 3xChamp
Joe Chapman Div. 85kg
Mark Goldman. Team Leader
Jason Goldman Div. A 58kg, 2x World medalist, 1x freestyle World champion
Greg Archer Div.F 75kg, 2x freestyle World medalist
Jack McVicker, 5x World Jui jitsu Champ
Chris Brown Div. E 85kg, 5x Greco-Roman World medalist
Valentin Kalika, past Veterans Greco-Roman World Champion.
Brandon Slay, USA Wrestling Assistant National Coach and Olympic Gold medalist
Six members of the 2014 U.S. Veterans Wrestling team traveled to Columbus, Ohio to train at the Ohio Regional Training Center facility at the Ohio State campus, Aug 1-3.
The Veterans Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling World Championships will start in just 25 days, when it is held at Belgrade, Serbia, August 25-31.
"These experienced athletes are here training to also be World Champions,” Assistant National Freestyle Coach Brandon Slay told the U.S. FILA Junior World Freestyle Team, which was also training at the Ohio RTC at the time.
A combined total of 22 World Championship medals, 10 of them gold, were won by the Veterans at the camp, and reflected the success, caliber and dedication of these Veteran wrestlers.
Four-time Veterans world medalist and three-time Veterans Freestyle World Champion Jamey Kasser lives in Ohio and spearheaded the efforts to bring the Veterans together at the Ohio RTC. Kasser has trained at the Ohio RTC in the past, and felt that it would be a great opportunity for his teammates.
"I think it's important for us to have an opportunity to come together and train before Worlds," says Kasser.
He convinced five-time Veterans World Greco-Roman medalist and Veterans team captain Chris Brown of Maryland to drive six hours to train and help coach.
Air Force wrestler Steve Horton, a two-time World Veterans Greco-Roman medalist just transferred from Germany to Illinois 4 weeks ago. Still living out of suitcases, he made the 6 hour drive from the St Louis area to join his old USAF and Veterans teammate Brown.
Greg Archer is a two-time Veterans freestyle medalist and drove with Jack McVicker, his training partner from Indiana. Although not a veterans wrestler, Jack McVicker is a 5x World Ji Jitsu champion.
Last year’s defending Veterans FS champion and GR silver medalist Jason Goldman and his dad Mark, made the 10 hour drive from upstate New York. This will be Mark’s second year serving as team leader for the USA Veterans World Team.
Veteran new comer Joe Chapman flew from Amsterdam to train and visit family in the U.S. before the World Championships.
Another former Veterans World champ was also on hand. Valentin Kalika, who coaches Junior World Team member Aaron Pico, was reunited with his teammates and helped train them.
This years annual Veterans World Championships will be held in Belgrade, Serbia August 25-3. The deadline to register for this World Championships has passed. But it's not too late to start training for next years USA Veterans Championship (tentatively April -Las Vegas) and the 2015 Veterans World Championships scheduled for October on the Greek island of Crete.
Achievements of those in the photo
Steve Horton Div. C 69kg - 2x Greco-Roman World medalist
Jamey Kasser Div. D 69kg - 4xFSWM 3xChamp
Joe Chapman Div. 85kg
Mark Goldman. Team Leader
Jason Goldman Div. A 58kg, 2x World medalist, 1x freestyle World champion
Greg Archer Div.F 75kg, 2x freestyle World medalist
Jack McVicker, 5x World Jui jitsu Champ
Chris Brown Div. E 85kg, 5x Greco-Roman World medalist
Valentin Kalika, past Veterans Greco-Roman World Champion.
Brandon Slay, USA Wrestling Assistant National Coach and Olympic Gold medalist
