Veterans Greco-Roman World Championships set to begin Sept. 23 in Seinajoki, Finland
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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
09/22/2004
Nearly 20 U.S. athletes are expected to enter and compete at the 2004 Veterans Greco-Roman World Championships in Seinajoki, Finland, September 23-26. The competition will be held in the Sport and Swimming Hall of Seinajoki. Veterans are athletes 35 years old and above. They participate in five Age Divisions: Division A (35-40 yrs.), Division B (41-45 yrs.), Division C (56-50 yrs.), Division D (51-55 yrs.) and Division E (56 yrs. and older). The U.S. delegation is led by USA Wrestling National Greco-Roman Developmental Coach Ike Anderson (Colorado Springs, Colo.), who will also help coach the athletes. Competition begins on Thursday, September 23, with pool competition in all weight classes in Divisions A, D and E. On Friday, September 24, all divisions will compete. Semifinals and medal matches for Divisions A, D and E will be held Saturday, September 25. Semifinals and medal matches for Divisions B and C will be held Sunday, September 26. A number of 2004 U.S. Veterans Nationals champions will participate in the competition. Those who won Veterans Greco-Roman National titles in 2004 and will compete at the Veterans Worlds include: Div. B 97 kg - Steven Goss (Bay City, Mich.) Div. C 76 kg - Sarkis Dermenjian (Van Nuys, Calif.) Div. E 69 kg - Kevin Martin (Philadelphia, Pa.) Div. E 76 kg - Barry Aiken (Bremerton, Wash.) Div. E 85 kg - Donald Apodaca (Huntington Beach, Calif.) Div. E 97 kg - Bob Anderson (Chula Vista, Calif.) Competing in the U.S. Veterans Nationals was not required in order to participate at the Veterans Worlds, but most of those on the U.S. team did compete in the Veterans Nationals this year. In 2003, the U.S. won four medals. Capturing silver were Michael Mann of Virginia at 69 kg in Division B and Mark Allen Jordine of Idaho at 58 kg in Division C. Winning bronze medals were Ronald Hughes of California at 69 kg in Division A and Sarkis Dermenjian of California at 76 kg in Division C. U.S ENTRIES AT VETERANS GRECO-ROMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Division A (35-40 years old) 85 kg - Jeffery Anderson (Elburn, Ill.) 85 kg - Todd Falk (San Diego, Calif.) 97 kg - Wayne Purtell (Bay City, Mich.) Division B (41-45 years old) 97 kg - Steven Goss (Bay City, Mich.) Division C (46-50 years old) 58 kg - Steve Hart (Parker, Colo.) 69 kg - Gogi Parseghian (Capistrano Beach, Calif.) 76 kg - Sarkis Dermenjian (Van Nuys, Calif.) 85 kg - Stephen Contarino (Palmetto, Fla.) 97 kg - James Johnson (Fla.) 130 kg - Eric Davies (Hollywood, Fla.) Division D (51-55 years old) 97 kg - Ron Cole (Federal Way, Wash.) 130 kg - Piro Kokalari (Ridley Park, Pa.) Division E (56 + years old) 69 kg - Kevin Martin (Philadelphia, Pa.) 76 kg - Barry Aiken (Bremerton, Wash.) 85 kg - Donald Apodaca (Huntington Beach, Calif.) 97 kg - Bob Anderson (Chula Vista, Calif.) 130 kg - Ronald Tirpak (Swarthmore, Pa.)