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Five repeat as Masters Greco-Roman National champions to kick off U.S. Open week in Las Vegas

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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling

Repeat Masters Greco-Roman National champion Valery Sorokov of the Chicago WC throws Jeff Davis of the Florida Jets in Div. E at 88 kg. (Photo by Robbert Wijtman)

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The Open Wrestling Championships kicked off on Tuesday with the Masters Greco-Roman National Championships in the Exhibition Hall attached to the South Point Arena. Masters are wrestlers 35 years and above. The Masters division has been growing in recent years, and there was a strong turnout in Greco-Roman, with action on six mats.

There were 14 returning champions in the field, but when it was over, only five were able to repeat as Masters Greco-Roman champions.

The repeat champions included Aleksandr Sebrinnikov of Chicago WC (63 kg Div. B), Nathaniel Augustson of 505 Wrestling Club (88 kg Div. B), Igor Llin of Chicago WC (78 kg Div. D), Steve Barkman of Hunterdon Hills WC (62 kg Div. E) and Valery Sorokov of Chicago WC (85 kg Div. E).

Because of the changes in the weight classes this year, there were two different weight classes where a pair of returning champions ended up in the same weight class.

Sorokov had to defeat a returning champion on his way to going 4-0 in a five-athlete roundrobin. Also in his bracket was Steve Contarino of Palmetto, who won at 97 kg last year, while Sorokov won at 85 kg. Both were double champions last year. In the first round, Sorokov defeated Contarino, 13-8, then went on to win three more matches.

In Div. C at 62 kg, a pair of returning champions were in a three-athlete roundrobin. Ric Fehr of the Relentless Wrestling Club was the champion at 58 kg last year, and Joe Raia of the Chicago Wrestling Club was the champion at 63 kg. In their round robin bout, Raia pinned Fehr in 3:50. However, neither were able to repeat as Carson Gainey of the Other WC beat them both by technical fall. Gainey beat Fehr, 11-3 and stopped Raia, 11-2.

“It’s a great time. I love coming out to Vegas and wrestling my peers. I’m finally healthy this year. I had both hands, so it was a good time," said Gainey. "(Raia) is bigger than I thought. With the new weight classes, the guys are a little big. It was a tough fight. I just tried to wear him down with my hand fighting and then attack when I had openings."

Llin defeated a past U.S. Senior National Greco-Roman champion Craig Pollard in the finals, winning by a 9-0 technical fall.

Among those to defeat a returning champion in the finals was Dan Chaid of the Tarheel WC, the winner at the Div. E 130 kg weight class. Chaid, a past Veterans World champion, U.S. Senior freestyle champion and NCAA champion stopped returning Veterans National champion Brian Jones, 8-0, and won his other bout also by an 8-0 technical fall.
“I think I’ve wrestled Brian (Jones) before, but it was a pretty long time ago. He was very strong and he came at me pretty good. He tried a very aggressive headlock, which I was able to slip for no points, but I thought it was a pretty good match," said Chaid.

Like many of the Masters athletes, Chaid wears many hats. He is here also as a coach, and with his sons also competing, he is here as a parent.

“I had a really good time today, getting to see all the other Masters wrestlers. I’m here with my son, Mark, and he’s been my coach, so that was a lot of fun. We were also coaching one of my best friends’ son, Jordin Humphrey, and that was a great time. It’s fun to wrestle. Fun day,” said Chaid.

Gabe Beauperthuy was the champion at 130 kg in Div. C, winning a five-athlete roundrobin with a 4-0 record. Beauperthuy, a former national team member in Greco-Roman, is one of the most active athletes in USA Wrestling’s Associated Styles program, having competed on U.S. World Teams in Grappling, Beach Wrestling and Belt Wrestling. Beauperthuy will also compete in the Grappling World Team Trials later in the week.

This year, USA Wrestling included a division for 60 years and above (Div. E), which is no longer contested on the international level. There were 16 athletes competing in the event in Greco-Roman.

The 2018 Masters National Championships conclude on Wednesday with the men’s freestyle competition. All of the action is live on Trackwrestling.

MASTERS GRECO-ROMAN NATIONALS
At Las Vegas, Nev., April 24

Div. A

62 kg
1st – Rashad Riley (East St. Louis WC)

70 kg
Gold - Bakytbek Tashtanbekov (CWC)
Silver - David Haight (Los Osos Wrestling)
Bronze - Christopher Barajas (National Wrestling Advancement Association)
RR 1 – Haight pin Barajas, 0:32; Tashtanbekov pin Haight, 0:38; Tashtanbekov tech. Barajas, 10-0

78 kg
Gold - Paul Vasquez (Warrior Wrestling Club Tucson, AZ)
Silver - Kyle Riggs (FSE)
Bronze Alex Rinas (GHW)
4th - Mike Brooks (Lovelock Mustangs)
RR 1 – Rigges pin Rinas, 2:06, Vasques pin Brooks, 2:30
RR 2 – Vasquez tech. Riggs, 2:51, Rinas tech. Brooks, 9-0
RR 3 – Brooks tech. Riggs, 8-0; Vasquez pin Rinas, 8-0

88 kg
1st - Johnathon Gonzalez (Screaming Yetis) dec. Nick Africano (KT KIDZ), 5-3
3rd - Alexis Barcelo Tucson, AZ (Warrior Wrestling Club Tucson, AZ) tech. fall Tim Brooks (Lovelock Mustangs), 8-0 1:28
5th - Ernie Vasheresse (Unattached- CA) forfeit Daniel Hernandez (Core Speed)

100 kg
Gold - Garth Wara (Unattached)
Silver - Ryan Bascue (Spartan Mat Club)
Bronze - Marko Bojkovic (CWC)
RR – Bascue pin Bojovic, 0:15; Wara pin Bojovic, 0:30; Wara pin Bascue, 0:35

130 kg
Gold - Matthew Paeth (OJC)
Silver - Robert Gray (Fellowship of Christian Athletes)
RR 1 – Gray dec. Paeth, 4-2; Paeth dec. Gray, 10-4; Paeth dec. Gray, 5-2

Div. B

62 kg
Gold - Aleksandr Serebrinnikov (CWC)
Silver - Roger Stewart (NYAC)
RR – Serebrinnikov pin Stewart, 0:30; Sebrinnikov pin Stewart, 0:30

70 kg
1st - Jordin Humphrey (TMWC) dec. Mukesh Khatri (Independant), 8-2
3rd - Norman Manning (Limestone College) dec. Nick Rodriguez (Sons of Thunder Academy), 10-2 2:46
5th - Jeff Showalter (Washington Wrestling Club, DC) tech. fall Curtis Ray (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 9-1 4:22

78 kg
1st - Cort Petersen (Unattached) tech. fall Rudy James (Apple Valley), 9-0 5:22
3rd - Joe Uccellini (Curby 3 style WC) dec. Jeffery Estrada (Sons of Thunder Academy), 6-6
5th - Jayson Smith (Unattached) tech. fall Ryan Meloche (Team Fluffy), 8-0 0:59

88 kg
Gold - Nathaniel Augustson (505 WC)
Silver - Joseph Siprut (CWC)
Bronze - Jason Blakeman (OWC)
RR - Augustson pin Blakeman, 0:48; Augustson tech. Siprut, 10-0; Siprut pin Blakeman, 1:19

100 kg
1st - James Medeiros (SK Golden Boys) tech. fall Quinn Collett (Unattached), 10-1 3:37
3rd - Octavius Bellamy (Chicago Wrestling Club) pin Brandon Gruchow (West Central Wrestling Club MN), 0:23
5th - Karl Junitz (Chicago Wrestling Club) inj. dft. Zachary McGillis (Minnesota Storm)

130 kg
Gold - Travis Clark (AAWC)
Silver - Josiah Smith (Warrior Wrestling Club Tucson, AZ)
Bronze - Jarad Carson (Bomb Squad Wrestling)
RR – Clark pin Smith, 5:32; Smith pin Carson, 4-2; Clark dec. Carson, 4-0

Div. C

62 kg
Gold - Carson Gainey (Other)
Silver - Joe Raia (CWC)
Bronze - Ric A Fehr (Unattached)
RR – Gainey tech. Fehr, 11-3; Raia dec. Fehr, 11-5; Gainey tech. Raia, 11-2

70 kg
1st - Igor Leuskyi (Chicago Wrestling Club) dec. Geir Larsen (TiT Norway), 6-2
3rd - Gary Cook (Pin 2 Win/Mohawk Valley Wrestling) tech. fall Kipp Kahlenbeck (Bethel Wrestling Club), 9-0 4:12
5th - John Pedersen (Unattached) forfeit Marcus Collins (Mac Attack)
7th - David Sarmiento (Unattached-OR) inj. dft. Antonino Calandra (The Wrestling Family),

78 kg
Gold - Jon Banko (PWC)
Silver - Bryan Schiller (Fin Spin Elite)
Bronze - Dennis Gransbery (Siesta Colfax)
4th - Kevin Lepola (Cardiac Kids Wrestling)
RR 1 – Schiller tech. Gransbery, 8-0; Banko pin Lepola, 0:49
RR 2 – Banko tech. Schiller, 8-0; Gransbery dec. Lepola, 4-3
RR 3 – Schiller pin Lepola, 0:38; Banko tech. Gransbery, 8-0

88 kg
1st - Mariusz Wisnieski (Las Vegas WC) dec. Kevin Pine (Las Vegas WC), 6-1
3rd - Scott Herman (fish) tech. fall Janusz Lisiewski (Las Vegas WC), 11-1 3:31
5th - Scott Johnson (Minnesota Storm) forfeit Vincent Reece (Sons of Thunder Academy)

100 kg
Gold - Jeffery Anderson (CWC)
Silver - Domenico Lemme (Eastside Wrestling Club)
Bronze - Ronald Ayers (Unattached)
4th - Garland Bedford (Spartan Mat Club)
RR 1 – Lemme tech. Bedford, 2:34; Anderson pin Ayres, 1:52
RR 2 – Anderson tech. Lemme, 9-1; Ayers tech. Bedford, 9-0
RR 3 – Lemme dec. Ayers, 6-2; Anderson inj. Bedford

130 kg
Gold - Gabe Beauperthuy (Unattached)
Silver - Daniel Lovell (Screaming Yetis)
Bronze - Sean Jackson (Lakewood)
4th - Greg Conn (Corn)
5th - Samuel Tanios (CWC)
RR 1 – Jackson pin Conn, 2:13; Lovell pin Tanios, 0:56
RR 2 – Beauperthuy dec. Conn, 6-2; Jackson pin Tanios, 0:44
RR 3 – Beauperthuy tech. Tanios, 8-0; Lovell pin Jackson, 4-2
RR 4 – Beauperthuy dec. Lovell, 5-3; Conn pin Tanios, 1:20
RR 5 – Beauperthuy fft. Jackson; Lovell pin Conn, 2:55

Div. D

62 kg
Gold - Jeffrey Mallett (Unattached)
Silver - Roger Papotto (Las Vegas WC)
Bronze - Matthew Robertson (Auburn slam)
4th - Perry Watson (Left Coast Wrestling)
5th - Fred Mahnke (Unattached)
RR 1 – Robertson tech. Watson, 8-0; Papotto tech. Mahnke, 8-0
RR 2 – Mallett pin Watson, 1:21; Papotto dec. Robertson, 11-3
RR 3 – Mallett pin Pappoto, 0:18; Robertson fft. Mahnke
RR 4 – Mallett fft Mahnke; Papotto pin Watson, 0:48
RR 5 – Robertson dec. Mallett, 4-3; Watson fft Mahnke

70 kg
Gold - Domenico Piccinini (The Wrestling Family)
Silver - Dennis McInerney (Mac Attack)
Bronze - Jerry Valencia (Fin Spin Elite)
4th - Samei Rasool (Independant)
5th - Christopher Roos (Santa Monica Bay WC)
RR 1 – Piccininni pin Rasool, 0:54; McInerney tech Roos, 8-0
RR 2 – Piccininni tech Valencia, 8-0; Rasool dec. Roos, 8-6
RR 3 – Valencia pin Roos, 0:44; McInerney tech. Rasool, 3:30
RR 4 – McInerney dec. Valencia, 6-2; Piccinini fft Roos
RR 5 – Picinini pin McNerney, 8-0; Valencia pin Rasool, 0:48

78 kg
1st - Igor Llin (Chicago Wrestling Club) tech. fall Craig Pollard (team west coast toyota), 9-0 4:14
3rd - Russell Schenk (Brandon WC) pin Bruce Moe (Bison Wrestling Club), 5:11
5th - Louis Orr (Warriors Warehouse - Winona MN) inj. dft. Michael Ross (Other)

88 kg
Gold - Petros Petrosyan (Santa Monica Bay wrestling club)
Silver - Kevin Kares (Las Vegas WC)
Bronze - Patrick Daly (Unattached)
4th - Wade Gunter (Las Vegas WC)
RR 1 – Petrosyan tech Daly, 8-0, Kares tech Gunter, 9-0
RR 2 – Daly tech Gunter, 10-2, Petrosyan dec. Kares, 8-2
RR 3 – Kares tech Daly, 12-4; Petrosyan pin Gunter, 4:11

100 kg
Gold – Miroslaw Wieczorkiewicz (Las Vegas WC)
Silver – Joseph Cattan (KY)
Bronze - Jeff Henry (USA Wrestling Colorado Springs)
4th - Edward Freysinger (Unattached)
RR 1 – Cattan tech Henry, 9-0; Wieczorkiewicz tech Freysinger, 10-2
RR 2 – Wieczorkiewicz pin Cattan, 2:44; Henry tech. Freysinger, 8-0
RR 3 – Wieczorkiewicz pin Henry, 0:39; Cattan dec. Frysinger, 6-2

130 kg
Gold - Daniel Chaid (THWC)
Silver - Petrica Constandache (Las Vegas WC)
Bronze - Brian Jones (Santa Monica Bay WC)
RR – Chaid tech. Constandache, 8-0; Constandache dec. Jones, 5-2; Chaid tech, Jones, 8-0

Div. E

62 kg
Gold – Steve Barkman (Hunterdon Hills WC)
Silver – Clifford Ray (Sunkist Kids)
RR – Barkman tech. fall Ray, 10-0; Barkman inj. dft. Ray

70 kg
Gold - Didier Nicholas (Las Vegas WC)
Silver - Keith Lyndaker (Unattached)
Bronze - Craig Miner (Tactic 3 Style)
RR – Nicholas tech. Lyndaker, 10-0; Lyndaker pin Miner, 0:25; Nicholas tech. Miner, 9-0

78 kg
Gold - Kevin Hejnal (Unattached)
Silver - Mark Black (Santa Monica Bay wrestling club)
Bronze - Ken Bonte (LOG)
4th - Tim Holmstrom (Tactic 3 Style)
RR 1 – Hejnal pin Bonte, 0:46; Black pin Holstrom, 0:21
RR 2 – Bonte tech. Holstrom, 10-2; Hejnal dec. Black, 10-7
RR 3 – Black fft. Bonte; Hejnal pin Holstrom, 1:06

88 kg
Gold - Valery Sorokov (CWC)
Silver - Stephen Contarino (Unattached)
Bronze - Zdzizlaw Brzozowki (Las Vegas WC)
4th - Jeff Davis (Florida Jets)
5th - Dean Barnard (MF)
RR 1 – Sorokov dec. Contarino, 13-8; Brzozowski tech. Davis, 12-2
RR 2 – Contarino pin Brzozowski, 1:06; Sorokov disq Barnard
RR 3 – Brzozowski tech Barnard, 10-2; Contarino pin Davis, 0:56
RR 4 – Davis tech, Barnard, 8-0; Sorokov dec. Brzozowski, 6-2
RR 5 – Contarino tech. Barnard, 9-0; Sorokov pin Davis, 1:43

100 kg
1st – Jack Schwartz (Lakewood)

130 kg
1st – Stanislaw Kaminski (Las Vegas WC)

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