Rau claims Lavrikov Cup gold in Russia; Bunker, Johnson, Smith, Zaleski and Miller take bronzes
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
U.S. delegation at the S.A. Lavrikov Cup in St. Petersburg, Russia, poses with some of their international friends after the tournament. Photo courtesy of Jay Antonelli and Dr. Jim Kliamovich.
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – Six U.S. Greco-Roman athletes won medals, including an individual gold medal from Joe Rau at 87 kg, on the final day of the S.A. Lavrikov Cup on Saturday.
Rau finished the tournament with a perfect 4-0 record. He claimed the gold medal when his opponent in the finals forfeited, citing a back injury. Rau had scored technical falls in all of his three other victories.
After securing wins on Saturday, bronze medals went to:
• Raymond Bunker, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps) at 72 kg with a 3-1 record
• Jamel Johnson, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps) at 72 kg with a 3-1 record
• Pat Smith, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) at 77 kg with a 4-1 record
• Terrence Zaleski, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps) at 82 kg with a 2-1 record
• Daniel Miller, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps) at 97 kg with a 2-1 record
Placing fifth after dropping his bronze-medal bout was Morgan Flaherty, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/OTC) at 67 kg.
“The guys really wrestled hard. They fought extremely hard for every point, and there were many matches that were won because of our conditioning. Joe Rau, our champ, looked really sharp and executed his technique well. Unfortunately his opponent in the finals injury defaulted, because it would have been a good match. And we missed out on another opportunity to compete,” said U.S. coach Jay Antonelli.
There were 18 U.S. athletes competing in the S.A. Lavrikov Cup, a combined team with athletes from the U.S. Marine Corps, NMU-OTS, the Minnesota Storm and the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Also coaching the U.S. wrestlers was Dr. Jim Kliamovich of Viera, Fla.
“This competition is all about getting in matches and the training camp that will follow next week. We need to keep broadening our technique during this time of the year. You never know when or where you’ll pick up something new that will help you later on. I’ve been coming here now for 20 years and every time I’m here I seem to pick up something new. Our hosts are outstanding and are always willing to help our guys,” said Antonelli.
A good number of these wrestlers will continue on for other competitions and training opportunities. . Next up is the Haparanda Cup in Haparanda, Sweden on December 1. That is followed by the Arvo Haavisto Cup in Ilmajoki, Finland on December 8.
S.A. LAVRIKOV CUP
At St. Petersburg, Russia, Nov. 22
U.S. Greco-Roman performances
63 kg - Delon Kenari, Volo, Ill. (NMU-OTS), dnp
0-1 record
63 kg - Raffaele Masi, Greenville, N.Y. (NMU-OTS), dnp
0-1 record
63 kg - Adrian Gomez, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (Lancer WC), dnp
0-1 record
67 kg - Morgan Flaherty, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/OTC), 5th place
1-2 record
67 kg – Chris Rodgers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (OTC), dnp
1-2 record
72 kg - Colby Baker, Panama City, Fla. (NMU-OTS), dnp
0-1 record
72 kg – Raymond Bunker, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps), bronze medal
3-1 record
72 kg – Jamel Johnson, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps), bronze medal
3-1 record
72 kg - Aaron Kliamovich, Sweet Valley, Pa. (NMU-OTS), dnp
0-2 record
77 kg - Pat Smith, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), bronze medal
4-1 record
77 kg - Mike Donato, Brooklyn, N.Y. (NMU-OTS), dnp
1-1 record
77 kg – Peyton Walsh, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps), dnp
1-1 record
77 kg - Spencer Woods, Kotzebue, Alaska (NMU-OTS), dnp
0-1 record
82 kg – Terrence Zaleski, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps), bronze medal
2-1 record
87 kg - Joe Rau, Chicago, Ill. (Minnesota Storm/Chicago RTC), gold medal
4-0 record
97 kg – Daniel Miller, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps), bronze medal
2-1 record
97 kg – Ben Durbin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Cyclone WC/OTC), dnp
0-1 record
130 kg – Trent Osnes, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps), dnp
0-2 record
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – Six U.S. Greco-Roman athletes won medals, including an individual gold medal from Joe Rau at 87 kg, on the final day of the S.A. Lavrikov Cup on Saturday.
Rau finished the tournament with a perfect 4-0 record. He claimed the gold medal when his opponent in the finals forfeited, citing a back injury. Rau had scored technical falls in all of his three other victories.
After securing wins on Saturday, bronze medals went to:
• Raymond Bunker, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps) at 72 kg with a 3-1 record
• Jamel Johnson, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps) at 72 kg with a 3-1 record
• Pat Smith, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) at 77 kg with a 4-1 record
• Terrence Zaleski, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps) at 82 kg with a 2-1 record
• Daniel Miller, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps) at 97 kg with a 2-1 record
Placing fifth after dropping his bronze-medal bout was Morgan Flaherty, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/OTC) at 67 kg.
“The guys really wrestled hard. They fought extremely hard for every point, and there were many matches that were won because of our conditioning. Joe Rau, our champ, looked really sharp and executed his technique well. Unfortunately his opponent in the finals injury defaulted, because it would have been a good match. And we missed out on another opportunity to compete,” said U.S. coach Jay Antonelli.
There were 18 U.S. athletes competing in the S.A. Lavrikov Cup, a combined team with athletes from the U.S. Marine Corps, NMU-OTS, the Minnesota Storm and the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Also coaching the U.S. wrestlers was Dr. Jim Kliamovich of Viera, Fla.
“This competition is all about getting in matches and the training camp that will follow next week. We need to keep broadening our technique during this time of the year. You never know when or where you’ll pick up something new that will help you later on. I’ve been coming here now for 20 years and every time I’m here I seem to pick up something new. Our hosts are outstanding and are always willing to help our guys,” said Antonelli.
A good number of these wrestlers will continue on for other competitions and training opportunities. . Next up is the Haparanda Cup in Haparanda, Sweden on December 1. That is followed by the Arvo Haavisto Cup in Ilmajoki, Finland on December 8.
S.A. LAVRIKOV CUP
At St. Petersburg, Russia, Nov. 22
U.S. Greco-Roman performances
63 kg - Delon Kenari, Volo, Ill. (NMU-OTS), dnp
0-1 record
63 kg - Raffaele Masi, Greenville, N.Y. (NMU-OTS), dnp
0-1 record
63 kg - Adrian Gomez, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (Lancer WC), dnp
0-1 record
67 kg - Morgan Flaherty, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/OTC), 5th place
1-2 record
67 kg – Chris Rodgers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (OTC), dnp
1-2 record
72 kg - Colby Baker, Panama City, Fla. (NMU-OTS), dnp
0-1 record
72 kg – Raymond Bunker, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps), bronze medal
3-1 record
72 kg – Jamel Johnson, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps), bronze medal
3-1 record
72 kg - Aaron Kliamovich, Sweet Valley, Pa. (NMU-OTS), dnp
0-2 record
77 kg - Pat Smith, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), bronze medal
4-1 record
77 kg - Mike Donato, Brooklyn, N.Y. (NMU-OTS), dnp
1-1 record
77 kg – Peyton Walsh, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps), dnp
1-1 record
77 kg - Spencer Woods, Kotzebue, Alaska (NMU-OTS), dnp
0-1 record
82 kg – Terrence Zaleski, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps), bronze medal
2-1 record
87 kg - Joe Rau, Chicago, Ill. (Minnesota Storm/Chicago RTC), gold medal
4-0 record
97 kg – Daniel Miller, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps), bronze medal
2-1 record
97 kg – Ben Durbin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Cyclone WC/OTC), dnp
0-1 record
130 kg – Trent Osnes, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps), dnp
0-2 record
