CHANDLER, Ariz. - Joe Betterman took a couple of weeks off after competing at last month's World Championships.

But then he went right back to work.

With two-time Olympian Jim Gruenwald coming out of retirement, Betterman is fully aware there is one more top opponent he needs to keep an eye on in his Greco-Roman weight class at 60 kg/132 lbs.

Betterman responded to the challenge Saturday, twice using an explosive reverse lift to launch Gruenwald en route to a convincing 7-1, 5-0 finals win at the Sunkist Kids International Open.

Gruenwald is one of Betterman's coaches at the U.S. Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University.

"It was very weird having to wrestle him at a competition because you keep thinking he is going to coach you and then you have to compete against him," said Betterman, named Outstanding Wrestler in Greco-Roman. "He's really pushing me, and I've been doing extra training before and after practices. I have to protect my No. 1 spot right now."

Also winning Greco-Roman titles Saturday at the Rawhide Arena were Sam Hazewinkel of the Gator Wrestling Club at 55 kg/121 lbs., Oscar Wood of the U.S. Army at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Cheney Haight of the New York AC at 74 kg/163 lbs., Aaron Sieracki of the U.S. Army at 84 kg/185 lbs., Adam Wheeler of the Gator WC at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Dremiel Byers of the U.S. Army at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

The U.S. Army won the team title with 24 points with the Sunkist Kids second with 23 and the Gator Wrestling Club third with 21.

Betterman executed a spectacular five-point move on his first reverse lift as he planted Gruenwald on his back. Betterman then followed with a three-point reverse lift in the second period.

"That's one of my techniques and it is kind of my bread and butter," said Betterman, who wrestles for the New York Athletic Club. "This was a huge win for me."

Betterman was a late replacement for 2006 World champion Joe Warren on the 2007 U.S. World Team. He lost in the first round at the World Championships and did not place last month in Baku, Azerbaijan.

"I benefited 100 percent from being on the World Team," Betterman said. "I trained in Colorado Springs for a month before I went to the Worlds. I had great coaching out there at the Olympic Training Center and I learned a lot. Being on the World Team was a huge experience for me, especially since we won the team title. I had great teammates and those guys on the World Team helped me a lot. Getting a taste of that event boosted my confidence so much. It makes me want to get back there and win a medal next time."

Hazewinkel outlasted Spenser Mango in a lengthy, three-period battle where a number of sequences in the match were reviewed. Hazewinkel won the final period 4-1 to prevail.

Wood finally put a halt to the surprise run by Minnesota high school senior Jake Deitchler. Wood downed Deitchler 6-0, 4-2 in the finals. Deitchler earlier knocked off past U.S. World Team Trials runner-up Brandon McNab en route to the finals.

Byers, a 2002 World champion and 2007 World bronze medalist, steamrolled through the heavyweight class. He overpowered Canadian World Team member Ari Taub 6-0, 7-1 in the finals.

FINAL ROUND RESULTS

55 kg/121 lbs. - Sam Hazewinkel (Gator WC) dec. Spenser Mango (USOEC/Gator WC) 0-4, 5-0, 4-1

60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Betterman (USOEC/New York AC) dec. Jim Gruenwald (Sunkist Kids) 7-1, 5-0

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Oscar Wood (U.S. Army) dec. Jake Deitchler (Minnesota Storm) 6-0, 4-2

74 kg/163 lbs. - Cheney Haight (USOEC/New York AC) dec. Jake Fisher (USOEC/New York AC) 1-1, 1-1, 3-1

84 kg/185 lbs. - Aaron Sieracki (U.S. Army) dec. Chas Betts (USOEC/Minnesota Storm) 1-1, 1-1

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Adam Wheeler (Gator WC) dec. R.C. Johnson (Sunkist Kids) 1-1, 1-1

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers (U.S. Army) dec. Ari Taub (Canada) 6-0, 7-1