Day 2 of the 2017 Military World Championships in Klaipeda, Lithuania are tomorrow and for the hardcore Greco-Roman fan, there is a lot to like. A cavalcade of Olympians and World medalists are sprinkled throughout the remaining four brackets, including familiar names such as Nikita Melnikov (RUS, world no. 6), Evgeni Saleev (RUS, world no. 16), Zhan Belenyuk (UKR, world no. 10), and Heiki Nabi (EST, world no. 13). Team USA is countering with four wrestlers, who compared to many of the top stars at the event, as a whole are short on experience but not tenacity.
Courtney Myers (80 kg, Army), John Stefanowicz (85 kg, Marines), Daniel Miller (98 kg, Marines), and Eric Fader (130 kg, Marines) are the service member athletes representing the United States and each brings his own strengths to the table. Myers has been one of the toughest “Greco guys” throughout his career as he has managed to make multiple National Teams between competing for the Marines and the Army’s World Class Athletes Program. Stefanowicz started his rise on the domestic scene several years ago, but in 2017 he really made waves with a strong performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix followed by a runner-up showing at the US World Team Trials. Heavyweight Fader is still young, but has already acquired relevant international matches under his belt with appearances at both the World Wrestling Clubs Cup and the Paris International.
Of the bunch, Miller has demonstrated the most prowess against overseas foes. A close loss last year to eventual Olympic bronze medalist Cenk Ildem (TUR, world no. 10) was the first sign. The Marine then went on to score bronze medals at the Paris International and Hungarian Grand Prix, respectively, making him one of five US Seniors to place across the Atlantic more than once in 2017.
2017 CISM MILITARY WORLDS ENTRIES
80 kg
COURTNEY MYERS — USA
Rafik Manukyan — ARM (2011 Junior World Champion, 2016 Takhti Cup gold medalist)
Eltun Vasirzade — AZE
Latkutko Dstradub — BLR
Ninghu Su — CHN
Hardo Toots — EST (2014 Nordic Championships silver medalist, 2015 Nordic Championships bronze medalist)
Nikolaos Varkas — GRE (2015 Olympia Tournament gold medalist)
Ali Sharifi — IRI
Yu Yein-Tak — KOR
Aivis Vangovskis — LAT
Valdemaras Venckaitis — LTU
Munkhtogtokh Choijilsuren — MGL
Azamat Khalulov — RUS (2017 Russian National bronze medalist)
Damian Dietsche — SUI
Adreii Antoniuk — UKR (2013 Junior World silver medalist)
85 kg
JOHN STEFANOWICZ — USA
Adam Boudjemline — ALG
Islam Abbasov — AZE world no. 3 (2014 Junior World Champion, 2015 Junior World silver medalist, 2013 Cadet World Champion, 2016 World Military Championships silver medalist, 2016 Junior European Championships gold medalist)
Argisti Abgaryan — ARM
Xiaobin Yao — CHN
Martin Plaser — EST
Illias Boukis — GRE
Toni Metsomaki — FIN
Mahdi Fallah Hamidbadi — IRI
Lim Sung-Hoon — KOR
Julius Matuzevicius — LTU (2016 Haavisto Cup gold medalist)
Amarsanaa Sanjaasuren — MGL
Evgeni Saleev, world no. 16 — RUS (2014 World silver medalist, 2016 World Military Championships gold medalist, 2015 World Military Games silver medalist)
Zhan Belenyukm world no. 10 — UKR (2015 World Champion, 2016 Olympic silver medalist, 2014 World bronze medalist, 2015 World Military Games gold medalist, 2011 Junior World silver medalist)
98 kg
DANIEL MILLER — USA (2017 Paris International bronze medalist, 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix bronze medalist)
Halovi Hamza — ALG
Vagharskih Minasyan — ARM
Orkhan Nuriev — AZE, world no. 8 (2014 Junior World Champion, 2013 Junior World bronze medalist, 2017 U23 European Championships gold medalist, 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games gold medalist)
Stradub Siarhei — BLR
Alimulati Dalawibai — CHN
Spyridon Kountouratzis — GRE
Elias Kousmanen — FIN
Samad Kazemi Hassangavar — IRI
Gu Hak-Bon — KOR
Begzsuren Turmunkh — MGL
Vilius Laurinitis — LTU
Marcin Olejnicak — POL
Nikita Melnikov — RUS, world no. 6 (2013 World Champion, two-time University World Champion, 2015 World Military Games gold medalist, 2016 European Championships gold medalist)
Yevheni Saveta — UKR
130 kg
ERIC FADER — USA (2016 Bill Farrell Memorial/NYAC Open silver medalist)
Edgar Khatchattyan — ARM
Cavid Feyzyev — AZE
Sienge Garibu — CHN
Heiki Nabi — EST, world no. 13 (2013 World Champion, 2012 Olympic silver medalist, 2016 World Military Championships gold medalist, 2014 World bronze medalist, 2015 European Games bronze medalist, three-time Nordic Championships gold medalist)
Konsta Maenpaa — FIN
Giorgadze Mirian — GEO
Ionnis Kargiotakis — GRE
Armen Nasari — IRI
Mantas Knystautas — LTU (2014 Junior World silver medalist, 2017 Nordic Championships gold medalist)
Battsengel Chimedvandan — MGL
Lukasz Banak — POL (2010 World Military Championships gold medalist, 2006 World Military Championships silver medalist, two-time World Military Games bronze medalist)
Lenard Istvan Berei — ROU
Vasily Parshin — RUS (2014 European Championships bronze medalist, 2017 Grand Prix of Zagreb silver medalist, 2011 Junior European Championships gold medalist)
Oleksander Chernetskyy — UKR (2015 World bronze medalist, 2008 World Military Championships gold medalist, two-time World Military Championships bronze medalist)
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