Stefanowicz takes gold, four other Americans earn medals at Haparanda Cup in Sweden

Photo of John Stefanowicz on top of the podium by Spenser Mango.

Haparanda Sweden – U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers earned five medals today at the Haparanda Cup. Leading the way for Team USA was John Stefanowicz at 87 kg. Stefanowicz, a 2019 World Team member at 82 kg, bumped up a weight class and took gold.
Initially, Stefanowicz finished second in his three-man pool. Defeating fellow American Vaughn Monreal-Berner, 7-5, and falling to Daniel Bogdanov of Russia, 7-5. Stefanowicz’s performance in the pool earned him a berth in the semifinals.
Stefanowicz grinded out a 3-3 victory on criteria over Aleksandar Stjepanetic of Sweden to advance to the finals. His opponent Davyd Shadt of Ukraine defeated Bogdanov in the other semifinal. Stefanowicz used his high pace to defeat the Ukranian, claiming the gold with a, 6-2, victory.
Other 2019 World Team members that earned medals include Max Nowry at 55 kg and Raymond Bunker at 72 kg. Bunker put together a 2-1 record to take bronze, while Nowry fell in his only match of the day, 9-7, to finish with silver.
On his run to bronze, Bunker faced three Ukrainians. He opened the tournament with a 9-4 victory over Ihor Bychkov before losing by fall in the semifinals to Andrii Kulyk. In his bronze medal match, Bunker defeated Vladyslav Shysko by technical fall, 10-2.
The two other Americans to earn medals were Nolan Baker at 67 kg and Lucas Sheridan at 97 kg.
Baker, a 2018 U23 World Team member, took bronze with a 2-1 record. He dropped his opening match to the eventual champion Mamadassa Sylla of France, 7-4. In repechage, he pinned his opponent Elmer Mattila of Finland to make the bronze medal match. Going for bronze, Baker picked up another pin, this time against fellow American and No. 2 on the National Team Jamel Johnson.
Sheridan, who is No. 2 on the National Team, started off his tournament with a pin over No. 3 on the National Team Daniel Miller. He would lose his next match to Maksim Safarian of Russia, who would go on to win silver. In repechage Sheridan earned another pin, this time over Loric Samen of France. To take bronze, Sheridan pinned his third opponent of the day, Anestis Zarifes of Greece.
Haparanda Cup

at Haparanda, Sweden, November 30
Final Results
55 kg
Gold - Andrii Semenchuk (Ukraine)
Silver – Max Nowry (USA)
60 kg
Gold – Radion Samatov (Russia)
Silver – Dinislam Bammatov (Russia)
Bronze – Niklas Ohlen (Sweden)
Bronze – Alexander Bica (Sweden)
63 kg
Gold – Marat Garipov (Russia)
Silver – Tigran Galustyan (France)
Bronze – Maksym Liu (Ukraine)
67 kg
Gold- Mamadassa Sylla (France)
Silver – Emil Ziganshin (Russia)
Bronze – Mihai Mihut (Romania)
Bronze – Nolan Baker (USA)
72 kg
Gold – Mikko Peltonkangas (Finland)
Silver – Andril Kulyk (Ukraine)
Bronze – Joni Komppa (Finland)
Bronze – Raymond Bunker (USA)
77 kg
Gold – Ruslan Isakov (Russia)
Silver – Artjom Komarov (Russia)
Bronze – Roni Purolainen (Finland)
Bronze – Evrik Nikoghosyan
82 kg
Gold – Ivan Chernov (Russia)
Silver – Dmytro Gardubei (Ukraine)
Bronze – Vlad Mariea (Romania)
87 kg
Gold- John Stefanowicz (USA)
Silver – Davyd Shadt (Ukraine)
Bronze Daniel Bogdanov (Russia)
97 kg
Gold - Felix Baldauf (Norway)
Silver – Maksim Safarian (Russia)
Bronze – Lucas Sheridan (USA)
Bronze – Pontus Lund (Sweden)
130 kg
Gold – Alin Alexuc (Romania)
Silver – Lenard Berei (Romania)
Bronze – Mattias Viitanen (Sweden)


U.S. Greco-Roman results
55 kg
Max Nowry, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) SILVER
LOSS Andrii Semenchuk (Ukraine), 9-7
60 kg
Dalton Roberts, Fowlerville, Mich. (New York AC)
WIN Henri Halonen (Sweden), FALL
LOSS Radion Samatov (Russia), 9-1
Ryan Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP)
LOSS Alexander Bica (Sweden), 7-5
67 kg
Xavier Johnson, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (Marines)
LOSS Jamel Johnson (USA), 5-4
Alejandro Sancho, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP)
LOSS Mihai Mihut (Romania), 4-0
Colton Rasche, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (Marines)
LOSS, Mihai Mihut (Romania), 8-0
Jamel Johnson, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (Marines)
LOSS Nolan Baker (USA), FALL
LOSS Mamadassa Sylla (France), 6-2
WIN Michael Hooker (USA), 6-4
WIN Xavier Johnson (USA), 5-4
Nolan Baker, Colorado Springs, Colo. (USOPTC) BRONZE
WIN Jamel Johnson (USA), FALL
WIN Elmer Mattila (Finland), FALL
LOSS Mamadassa Sylla (France), 7-4
Morgan Flaharty, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
LOSS Michael Hooker (USA), 5-2
Michael Hooker, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP)
WIN Morgan Flaharty (USA), 5-2
LOSS Jamel Johnson (USA), 6-4


72 kg
Raymond Bunker, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (Marines) BRONZE
WIN Vladyslav Shysko (Ukraine), 10-2
LOSS Andril Kulyk (Ukraine), FALL
WIN Ihor Bychkov (Ukraine), 9-4
Chris Rodgers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (USOPTC)
LOSS Vladyslav Shysko (Ukraine), 9-0
LOSS Andril Kulyk (Ukraine), FALL
77 kg
Brandon Mueller, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Airforce)
LOSS Juan Angel Escobar (Mexico), 8-0
Spencer Woods, Marquette, Mich. (New York AC)
LOSS Elmar Nuraliev (Ukraine), 10-0
LOSS Ruslan Isakov (Russia), 8-1
WIN Alex Mossing (USA), 8-4
Nick Tarpley, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC)
LOSS Corey Hope (USA), 10-1
Corey Hope, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC)
LOSS Artjom Komarov (Russia)
WIN Nick Tarpley (USA), 10-1
Peyton Walsh, Fort Lejeune, N.C. (Marines)
LOSS Evrik Nikoghisyan (France), 7-6
WIN Arkadiy Kirakosyan (Russia)
Alex Mossing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Airforce)
LOSS Spencer Woods (USA), 8-4

87 kg
John Stefanowicz, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (Marines), GOLD
WIN Vaughn Monreal-Berner (USA), 7-5
LOSS Daniel Bogdanov (Russia), 7-5
WIN Davyd Shadt (Ukraine), 6-2
WIN Aleksandar Stjepanetic (Sweden), 3-3
Vaughn Monreal-Berner, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (Marines)
LOSS John Stefanowicz (USA), 7-5
LOSS Daniel Bogdanov (Russia), 8-0
97kg
Daniel Miller, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (Marines)
LOSS, Lucas Sheridan (USA), FALL
Lucas Sheridan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) BRONZE
WIN Anestis Zarifes (Greece), FALL
WIN Loric Samen (France), FALL
LOSS Maksim Safarian (Russia), 5-3
WIN, Daniel Miller (USA), FALL