USA Greco-Roman athletes wrap up action at Henri Deglane Grand Prix

Photo of Jamel Johnson by Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarrior.com.

NICE, France – Three Americans took fifth in Greco-Roman at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix on Sunday in Nice, France, including U.S. Marines wrestlers Jamel Johnson, John Stefanowicz and Terrence Zaleski.

Wrestling at 67 kg, Jamel Johnson, a 2019 Final X runner-up, went 2-2 for a fifth-place finish. He began the day with a decisive 9-3 win over Akur Al Obaidi of Austria before losing to France’s Mamadassa Sylla, who was fifth at the 2018 World Championships. Moving to the consolation bracket, Johnson bounced back with a 9-1 victory against 2014 Junior World bronze medalist Yasin Ozay of France to advance to the bronze-medal match. There, he fell to Stefan Clement from France, 8-0, to end his day.

Stefanowicz and Zaleski both took fifth at 87 kg, each going 1-2 on the day.

2019 World Team member Stefanowicz began his tournament with a solid 9-6 win over Michal Dybka from Poland in the quarterfinals. In the semis, he met up with Cadet and Junior World champ and two-time U23 World bronze medalist Islam Abbasov from Azerbaijan, who overpowered the American for a 6-0 win, putting Stefanowicz in the bronze match. There, he went back-and-forth with 2019 U23 World silver medalist Gurami Khetsuriani from Georgia. At the end of the bout, the score was knotted, 5-5, but criteria went to Khetsuriani, who scored a four-pointer in the match.

Zaleski also won his quarterfinal match, defeating Szymon Szymonowicz of Poland, 3-0, to land a spot in the semifinals, where he faced 2018 Senior World champion Metehan Basar of Turkey. Zaleski kept the bout close but ultimately fell, 3-1, to go to the bronze match. For the medal, Zaleski lost to Tyrone Sterkenburg from the Netherlands, who scored all his points in the first period for a 4-0 win.

Five other athletes represented the USA at the event but did not place, including Devin Hester (63 kg), Colton Rasche (63 kg), Pat Smith (77 kg), Peyton Walsh (77 kg) and Daniel Miller (97 kg).

Over the weekend among all three styles, Team USA won 16 medals, including eight gold, four silver and four bronze.

2021 HENRI DEGLANE GRAND PRIX

Nice, France | Jan. 17, 2021

U.S. Greco-Roman results
63 kg: Colton Rasche (Marines) – did not place
LOSS Yanis Nifri (France), 10-0
LOSS Mcateusz Szewczuk (Poland), 9-0
LOSS Abdurahman Altan (Turkey), 8-0

63 kg: Devin Hester (Marines) – did not place
LOSS Mehmet Ceker (Turkey), 10-0
LOSS Fatih Ucuncu (Turkey), 10-0
LOSS Tigran Galustyan (France), 8-0

67 kg: Jamel Johnson (Marines) – FIFTH
WIN Aker Al Obaidi (Austria), 9-3
LOSS Mamadassa Sylla (France), 10-0
WIN Yasin Ozay (France), 9-1
LOSS Stefan Clement (France), 8-0

77 kg: Pat Smith (Minnesota Storm) – did not place
WIN Patryk Bednarz (Poland), 2-1
LOSS Fatih Cengiz (Turkey), 6-0
LOSS Evrik Nikoghosyan (France), 5-3

77 kg: Peyton Walsh (Marines) – did not place
LOSS Maksym Zakharczuk (Poland), 12-8
LOSS Evrik Nikoghosyan (France), 13-6

87 kg: John Stefanowicz (Marines) - FIFTH
WIN Michal Dybka (Poland), 9-6
LOSS Islam Abbasov (Azerbaijan), 6-0
LOSS Gurami Khetsuriani (Georgia), 5-5

87 kg: Terrence Zaleski (Marines) - FIFTH
WIN Szymon Szymonowicz (Poland), 3-0
LOSS Metehan Basar (Turkey), 3-1
LOSS Tyrone Sterkenburg (Netherlands), 4-0

97 kg: Daniel Miller (Marines) – did not place
LOSS Giorgi Melia (Georgia), 9-0
LOSS Daniel Gastl (Austria), 7-3
WIN Gerard Kurniczak (Poland), 7-1