Going on right now throughout the country is the month-long training camp for Senior Greco athletes. It is a uniquely executed endeavor; most, if not all camps take place in a centralized location for a week or two, and if you’ve been following recent editions of the Coach Lindland’s Report, you know that isn’t the case here. Instead, Senior wrestlers and coaches are participating in the camp’s directives via satellite from their home training centers.
Since the Senior Winter Camp has become an increasingly hotter topic over the last week with many fans asking questions, we plan to make it a focal point in the next edition of the Coach Lindland’s Report due out later this week.
Scandinavia Results from the Weekend
Two Senior Greco-Roman events were held over the weekend in Scandinavia — the Vatter Cupen Grand Prix in Huskvarna, Sweden and the Herman Kare International in Kouvola, Finland. The events differed in the scope of competition present. While the Vatter Cupen GP is basically a national tournament for Sweden, the Herman Kare is an annual destination for wrestlers from all over Europe and elsewhere (for instance, Hayden Zillmer was a runner-up there a year ago).
One item both tournaments had in common was that many of the medalists had recently paired up with US wrestlers. At the Vatter Cupen GP, Linus Markusson emerged victorious at 55 kilograms. Back in November, Markusson was defeated by Randon Miranda (NYAC/OTS) by tech in the Klippan Cup. It’s the same story for Christoffer Svensson (60 kg, BK Pan), who was downed by Miranda and Benji Peak (NMU/OTS) at Klippan. Svensson grabbed a bronze on Saturday. Alexander Bica (Malmö Tigers) took the top spot at 63 kilos. Earlier this year, Bica won the Junior Greco World Duals in California, and after that, scored a victory over Alston Nutter (NMU/OTS) — also at the Klippan Cup. Runner-up Artur Vardanyan (77 kg, Spårvägen Wrestling) is yet another example. Peyton Walsh (Marines) turned back Vardanyan 6-2 last month at Haavisto. Vatter Cupen gold Emil Sandahl (HBK Bergania) represented Sweden at the U23 Worlds in November and came away with a 2-0 passivity-filled victory over Barrett Stanghill (Minnesota Storm).
Meanwhile in Finland, Juuso Latvala (60 kg, FIN) snared a bronze — Miranda beat Latvala 6-3 in the Haavisto Cup final. Julius Matuzevicius (87 kg, LTU) is a name most are familiar with. Patrick Martinez (NYAC) turned back Matuzevicius in the repechage round of the 2015 Worlds in Vegas and was supposed to meet up with him again in the Haavisto finals only to see the Lithuanian forfeit out. 130 kilos at the Herman Kare offered two big guys who have tangled with Americans somewhat recently. Oskar Marvik (NOR, fourth place) defeated four-time World Team member Robby Smith (NYAC) back in March at the Thor Masters Invitational, and then was caught and pinned by G’Angelo Hancock (Sunkist) in the gold medal match at Haavisto. To close it all out, Herman Kare silver medalist Artur Vititin (EST) was the man who stopped eventual Cadet World Champion Cohlton Schultz (CO) in the first round of the Junior Worlds.
Two of the more exceptional Senior Greco-Roman wrestlers from Scandinavia won their respective brackets on Saturday. At the Herman Kare, 34-year-old Stig-Andre Berge (NOR, world no. 20) was back in action for the second time in as many months. The 2016 Olympic bronze medalist was up at 67 kilograms where he cleaned up a decidedly more youthful Andrey Kulik (UKR) 12-5 in the finals. It isn’t known at this time whether or not Berge will stay at 67, drop to 63, or if/when he is set to go back down to 60 kilos, where he has spent the majority of his sparkling career. 2017 U23 European Championships gold medalist Alex Kessidis (82 kg, AIK Brottning) ran the table at the Vatter Cupen GP in his adopted home country by overcoming 2014 Nordic Championships winner Alexander Jersgren (Marsvinsholms IF) 2-1 in the final.
2018 Vatter Cupen GP Results
(* = contested in round-robin format; this event did not include a 130 kg category)
*55 kg
GOLD: Linus Markusson (Varbergs BOIS Brottarklubb) def. Pavlos Chatsatourov (Paok Wrestling Team) 5-2
BRONZE: Avraam Karakasidis (Spårvägen Wrestling)
60 kg
GOLD: Ardit Fazlija (Huddinge BK) def. Timmy Sköld (Norrtälje BK) 8-0, TF
BRONZE: Christoffer Svensson (BK Pan) def. Inaya Mohseni (Västerås BK) 8-0, TF
63 kg
GOLD: Alexander Bica (Malmö Tigers) def. Latif Khayri (BK Athen) 8-0, TF
BRONZE: Abbe Aziz Hussein (Spårvägen Wrestling) def. Rohollah. Haydari (BK Pan) 8-1
67 kg
GOLD: Erik Soini (Västerås BK) won via default over Håvard Jørgensen (Kolbotn IL)
BRONZE: Apostolos Manouilidis (Paok Wrestling Team) def. Danielo Di Feola (Örgryte IS Brottning) 10-10 (criteria)
72 kg
GOLD: Vegard Jørgensen (Kolbotn IL) def. Ako Ameen (BK Athen) 6-3
BRONZE: Daniel Soini (AIK Brottning) def. Avto Gigolashvili (Spårvägen Wrestling) 1-0
77 kg
GOLD: Anders Hallbäck (HBK Bergania) def. Artur Vardanyan (Spårvägen Wrestling) 9-0, TF
BRONZE: Jakob Brink (Varbergs BOIS Brottarklubb) def. Efraim Hildén (BK Athen) 3-3 (criteria)
82 kg
GOLD: Alex Kessidis (AIK Brottning) def. Alexander Jersgren (Marsvinsholms IF) 2-1
BRONZE: Oskar Johansson (Varbergs BOIS Brottarklubb) def. Anton Olsson (BK Ore) 11-1, TF
87 kg
GOLD: Emil Sandahl (HBK Bergania) def. Alexander Stjepanetic (Björnekulla BK) 2-0
BRONZE: Jacob Logård (Norrtälje BK) def. Johannes Holmström (Limhamns BK) 4-0
*97 kg
GOLD: Kalle Persson (BK Pan) def. Oscar Svensson (BK Ore) 4-0
BRONZE: Billy Rääf (Arboga AK)
2018 Herman Kare International Results
(* = contested in round-robin format; this event did not include a 55, 63, 72, or 82 kg category)
*60 kg
GOLD: Justas Petravicius (LTU) def. Dovudyon Toshev (RUS) 8-0, TF
BRONZE: Juuso Latvala (FIN) def. Lauri Karjalainen (FIN) 8-0, TF
67 kg
GOLD: Stig-Andre Berge (NOR) def. Andrey Kulik (UKR) 12-5
BRONZE: Arkadi Kirakosian (RUS) def. Rami Syrjä (FIN) 8-0, TF
BRONZE: Kristupas Sleiva (LTU) def. Ricardas Ivanovas (LTU) via fall
77 kg
GOLD: Matias Lipasti (FIN) def. Niko Erkkola (FIN) 8-0, TF
BRONZE: Ivan Chernov (RUS) won via default over Arteom Gerasimenko (RUS)
BRONZE: Paulius Galkinas def. Volodymyr Yakovleiv (UKR) 6-0
87 kg
GOLD: Toni Metsomäki (FIN) def. Danila Bogdanov (RUS) 8-0, TF
BRONZE: Rami Hietaniemi (FIN) def. Arttu-Petteri Klami (FIN) 12-0, TF
BRONZE: Eerik Aps (EST) def. Vili Ropponen (FIN) 7-1
*97 kg
GOLD: Arvi Savolainen (FIN) def. Aleksandr Badanin (RUS) 8-0, TF
BRONZE: Kevin Baumann (EST) def. Aleksandr Badanin (RUS) via fall
*130 kg
GOLD: Mantas Knystautas (LTU) def. Artur Vititin (EST) 8-0, TF
BRONZE: Konsta Mäenpää (FIN) def. Oskar Marvik (NOR) 7-6
Wrestlers on Social Media
Your weekly dose of inspiring words, knuckleheaded antics, or thought-provoking questions from your favorite US Greco-Roman athletes and coaches.
You just knew the Minnesota people were going to lose their minds.
Not big on superstitions, but when @the_don285 was in the room the @Vikings were losing. When he left we won 🤔Pulling out the stops #Skol pic.twitter.com/aijvQPCsVp
— Pat Smith (@papsmitty) January 15, 2018
Usually when Bisek tweets, it’s a cause for celebration. Maybe not this time.
@AmericanAir Our team PS4 was removed from our baggage Dec 23rd, we have tried resolving over the phone with no success. So glad that you are not Team USA’s official airline. How are we going to solve this injustice? @George_TooRaw @benji_peak862
— Andrew Bisek (@Biseks_Stache) January 15, 2018
Don’t buy the mean mug, he’s like a saint.
Had to include, for several reasons.
In more ways than one.
Everyone deserves a second chance. It’s America. America loves a redemption story 😈
— G’angelo Hancock (@OlympicKidd) January 11, 2018
Every week it’s something.
It’s not all good, but I know what is good, I know what is great and I know what I need to work on. There’s no delusion and I care not what anyone else thinks. I know exactly who I am n what I’m fighting for. If you are not self-aware then you shouldn’t be going to war. I’m ready
— Josef Rau (@Raustler84) January 14, 2018
This reads like a double entendre for Greco folks.
It’s not about making money. It’s making World Medals. But it’s not Free -CWCTF
— combat (@combatwc1) January 15, 2018
Been awhile since we’ve seen this guy…
A new chapter begins.
From Texas to Marquette to Arkansas
Coming up right away this week is a brief look at Williams Baptist wrestler Chris Anderson (67 kg). Anderson, a native of the Houston, Texas area, originally began his full-time Greco-Roman career at Northern Michigan a couple of years back. He intended to stay put in Marquette for the long haul, but fatherhood intervened. With his being needed closer to home, Anderson didn’t have a lot of options to continue wrestling — that is until he heard about Williams launching its program. Now, Anderson is back on track with his development and is still able to tend to his priorities off the mat, as well.
Questions? Concerns? Feel like reaching out? Do so on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
Listen to “5PM11: Greco-Roman World Teamer & former UFC Champion Randy Couture” on Spreaker.
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