U.S. Marines tackle Grand Prix Zagreb Open on Feb. 3

A Greco-Roman squad, comprised primarily of U.S. Marine wrestlers, is headed to Zagreb, Croatia, for the Grand Prix Zagreb Open on Feb. 3, led by U.S. Marines head coach, Jason Loukides (Jacksonville, N.C.).
The one-day event will highlight U.S. Greco-Roman stand-out and past CISM Military World Championships representative Daniel Miller (Berlin, Md. / U.S. Marines), who will compete at 97 kg/213 lbs. Miller won international bronze medals at the Hungarian Grand Prix, S.A. Lavrikov and Paris International last season. He also finished in a respectable fourth place at the Dave Shultz Memorial International.
In the 130 kg/286 lbs. bracket is two-time silver medalist in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the Armed Forces Championships, Trent Osnes (Camp Lejeune, N.C. / U.S. Marines). He came in fourth at the U23 World Team Trials and eighth at Military Worlds in 2017.
Competing at 97kg/214 lbs. is Michael Rogers (Spring Mills, Pa. / USOTC), a bronze medalist in Greco-Roman and a silver medalist in freestyle at the UWW Pan American Junior Championships in 2015. Rogers was also fourth at the 2017 U23 World Team Trials.
Vaughn Monreal-Berner (Camp Lejeune, N.C. / U.S. Marines) and Colton Rasche (Emerald Isle, N.C. / U.S. Marines), who both captured Greco-Roman medals at the Armed Forces Championships in 2017, will also represent the U.S. in Zagreb. Rasche finished in the top eight at both the University Nationals and U.S. World team Trials last year.
Jayshon Wilson (Hubert, N.C./U.S. Marines), who is now competing under the Puerto Rico banner, is looking to battle it out at 77 kg/170 lbs. Wilson has finished in third place at the University Nationals the past two years.
Other U.S. wrestlers entered include fourth-place finisher at the 2017 U.S. Senior Nationals Xavier Johnson (Camp Lejeune, N.C. / U.S Marines) at 60 kg/ 132 lbs., German Diaz Maldonado (U.S. Marines/Puerto Rico) at 67 kg/148 lbs. and Peyton Walsh (Glen Allen, Va. / U.S. Marines) at 77 kg.
The Grand Prix Zagreb Open is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. local time, with the finals scheduled to begin at approximately 6 p.m. Zagreb is located six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.
There is not expected to be a live stream of the event. Further details on how to follow the event will be released by USA Wrestling as available.

GRAND PRIX ZAGREB OPEN

At Zagreb, Croatia, Feb. 3
Event Schedule (ET +6)
Saturday, Feb. 3
10 a.m. – Qualification, Repechage, Bronze Medal Matches
6 p.m. – Opening Ceremony, Gold Medal Matches.
U.S. Greco-Roman Roster
60 kg/132 lbs. – Xavier Johnson (Camp Lejeune, N.C. / U.S. Marines)
63 kg/138 lbs. – Colton Rasche (Emerald Isle, N.C. / U.S. Marines)
67 kg/148 lbs. – German Diaz Maldonado (U.S. Marines/Puerto Rico)
77 kg/170 lbs. – Peyton Walsh (Glen Allen, Va. / U.S. Marines)
77 kg/170 lbs. –Jayshon Wilson (Hubert, N.C. /U.S. Marines/Puerto Rico)
87 kg/192 lbs. – Vaughn Monreal-Berner (Camp Lejeune, N.C. / U.S. Marines)
97 kg/214 lbs. – Daniel Miller (Berlin, Md. / U.S. Marines)
97 kg/214 lbs. – Michael Rogers (Spring Mills, Pa. / U.S. Olympic Training Center)
130 kg/286 lbs. – Trent Osnes (Camp Lejeune, N.C. / U.S. Marines)
U.S. Delegation
Coach – Jason Loukides (Jacksonville, N.C.)
Referee – Dennis Thorson (Buffalo, N.Y.)