UPDATED: Hazewinkel, Smith win golds at Haparanda Cup; USA wins team title

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
12/02/2007


Two U.S. wrestlers won gold medals at the Haparanda Cup, Dec. 1-2. Capturing titles were Greco-Roman wrestler Sam Hazewinkel (Norman, Okla./Gator WC) and women's freestyle wrestler Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army).

Hazewinkel won three matches on the way to the title, defeating fellow American Jermaine Hodge (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) in the finals. Among his other wins was a semifinal victory over Maksim Mordovin of Russia.

Smith, a 2005 World champion, won a three-athlete round-robin to capture her weight class. She defeated Josefin Nilsson of Sweden and Diana Mudrag of Romania to win her division.

The United States won the team title at the Haparanda Cup, which combined team scores in both Greco-Roman and women's freestyle. The USA had 130 points, followed by Russia with 100 points and Ukraine with 64 points.

Three U.S. wrestlers won silver medals, Hodge, plus Greco-Roman wrestlers Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs..

Ruiz, a 2005 World bronze medalist, won two matches to qualify for the finals, where he was defeated by Aslanbek Khushtov of Russia. His semifinal win was over David Kaladze of Russia.

Byers, a 2002 World champion and 2007 World bronze medalist, also won two matches to reach the finals, where he was defeated by 2004 Olympic champion Khasan Baroev of Russia. Byers defeated Army teammate Tim Taylor in the semifinals.

Both Ruiz and Byers had won gold medals one week ago at the Vantaa Cup in Finland.

Hodge won three matches to earn his spot in the finals against Hazewinkel. Among his victories was a semifinal win over Ievgen Miagkyi of Ukraine.

Four U.S. wrestlers captured bronze medals. Three were Greco-Roman wrestlers: Faruk Sahin (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Aaron Sieracki (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Brad Ahearn (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 84 kg/185 lbs. Leigh Jaynes (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) also captured a bronze medal at 55 kg/121 lbs. in women's freestyle.

Sahin had a 3-1 record in the tournament, including an injury default win in the bronze-medal match over Ivan Bolotov of Russia. 

Sieracki had a 2-1 record in the tournament, winning two matches in the wrestlebacks after an opening loss. He defeated Mats Rolfsen of Norway in his bronze-medal bout.

Ahearn posted a 3-1 record in the tournament, including a victory over Mykhaylo Ganaga of Ukraine in the bronze-medal round.

Jaynes had a 2-1 record in her division, beating Tiina Vainionpaa of Finland in the bronze-medal round. Jaynes was a member of the 2007 U.S. World Team, competing at 59 kg/130 lbs.

Six U.S. wrestlers placed fifth after losing bronze medal matches:
- Glenn Garrison (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 60 kg/132 lbs.
- Brandon McNab (Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
- Phil Johnston (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
- Adam Wheeler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
- Tim Taylor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
- Rachel Bernardes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. in women's freestyle

Updated results also mention a few U.S. wrestlers who placed in the top 10 of their weight classes.

HAPARANDA CUP
At Haparanda, Sweden, Dec. 1-2

Team Standings
1. USA 130
2. Russia 100
3. Ukraine 64
4. Sweden  51
5. Romania 40
6. Gällivare Sportklubb (Sweden) 27
7. Finland  26
8. Norway  24
9. Great Britain 17
10. (tie) Austria 10
10. (tie) Estonia 10
10. USA Marine Corps 10
 (of 24 teams)	

Greco-Roman medalists

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Sam Hazewinkel (USA)
Silver - Jermaine Hodge (USA)
Bronze - Maxim Mordovin (Russia)
Bronze - Ievgen Miagkyi (Ukraine)

60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold - Aslanbek Albiev (Russia)
Silver - Stig Andre Berge (Norway)
Bronze - Victor Volfgang (Sweden)
Bronze - Ivan Kuyakov (Russia)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold - Ruslan Belkharoev (Russia)
Silver - Valeriy Volokin (Ukraine)
Bronze - Ion Panait (Romania)
Bronze - Faruk Sahin (USA)

74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Magomed Askabov (Russia)'
Silver - Matti Kautto (Sweden)
Bronze - Oleg Goshoskyi (Ukraine)
Bronze - Sergiy Proskura (Ukraine)

84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold -Evgeny Bogomolov (Russia)
Silver - Evgeny Stroganov (Russia)
Bronze - Aaron Sieracki (USA)
Bronze - Brad Ahearn (USA)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Gold - Aslanbek Khushtov (Russia)
Silver - Justin Ruiz (USA)
Bronze - Sergiy Yeroshkin (Ukraine)
Bronze - David Kaladze (Russia)

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Gold - Khasan Baroev (Russia)
Silver - Dremiel Byers (USA)
Bronze - Matti Hamalainen (Finland)
Bronze - Yevgen Kozlayatin (Ukraine)

U.S. Greco-Roman results

U.S. Greco-Roman results

55 kg/121 lbs. - Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Gator WC), 1st
WIN Eduanrin Relles Zamora (AK)
WIN Maksim Mordovin (Russia)
WIN Jermaine Hodge (USA)

55 kg/121 lbs. - Jermaine Hodge, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 2nd
WIN Jeremy McLean (USA)
WIN Vyacheslav Pak (Ukraine)
WIN Ievgen Miagkyi (Ukraine)
LOSS Sam Hazewinkel (USA)

55 kg/121 lbs. - Josh Habeck, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 8th
WIN Maksim Tokarev (Russia)
LOSS Maksim Mordovin (Russia)

55 kg/121 lbs. - Jeremy McLean, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marines), 9th
LOSS Jermaine Hodge (USA)
LOSS Vyacheslav Pak (Ukraine)

55 kg/121 lbs. - Andrew Hogan, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marines), dnp
LOSS Emil Sundberg (Sweden)

60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Betterman, Chicago, Ill. (New York AC/USOEC), 7th
WIN Anar Zeinalov (Estonia)
LOSS Ivan Kulyakov (Russia)

60 kg/132 lbs. - Willie Madison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), dnp
LOSS Ivan Kulyakov (Russia)

60 kg/132 lbs. - Glenn Garrison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 5th
WIN Miron Catalin (Romania)
WIN Karl-Johan Niva (KGB)
LOSS Aslanbek Albiev (Russia)
LOSS Victor Volfgang (Sweden)

60 kg/132 lbs. - Donovan DePatto, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marines), dnp
WIN Maksim Miagkyi (Ukraine)
LOSS Stig Andre Berge (Norway)
LOSS Smytro Zlatkin (Ukraine)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Faruk Sahin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 3rd
WIN Vahab Daneshvar (Sweden)
LOSS Ruslan Belkharoev (Russia)
WIN Oscar Wood (USA), forfeit
WIN Ivan Bolotov (Russia), injury 

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Oscar Wood, Fountain, Colo. (U.S. Army), dnp
LOSS Ruslan Belkharoev (Russia)
LOSS Faruk Sahin (USA), forfeit

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Brandon McNab, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 5th
WIN Pavel Murmask Kabanov (Russia)
WIN Frederik Ekstrom (Denmark)
LOSS Valeriy Volokin (Ukraine)
LOSS Ion Panait (Romania)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jake Curby, LaGrange, Ill. (Gator/USOEC), dnp
LOSS Ion Panait (Romania)

74 kg/163 lbs. - Steven Forrest, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marines), 7th
WIN Jonee Ukkola (Sweden)
WIN Elshad Veliev (Russia)
LOSS Ionel Puscasu (Romania)

74 kg/163 lbs. - Marcel Cooper, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), dnp
WIN Margus Umda (Estonia)
LOSS Magomed Askabov (Russia)
LOSS Keith Sieracki (USA), forfeit)

74 kg/163 lbs. - Keith Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 5th
LOSS Magomed Askabov (Russia)
WIN Marcel Cooper (USA), forfeit
LOSS Oleg Goshoskyi (Ukraine)

74 kg/163 lbs. - Jess Hargrave, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 9th
WIN Sharur Vardanyan (Sweden)
LOSS Oleg Goshoskyi (Ukraine)

74 kg/163 lbs. - Curtis Barnes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), dnp
LOSS Sergiy Proskura (Ukraine)

84 kg/185 lbs. - Aaron Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 3rd
LOSS Evgeni Stroganov (Russia), fall
WIN Oleksandr Levtushenko (Ukraine), fall
WIN Mats Rolfsen (Norway)

84 kg/185 lbs. - Brad Ahearn, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army). 3rd
WIN Kristoffer Ljungback (Sweden)
WIN Jim Pettesson (Sweden)
LOSS Evgeny Bogomolov (Russia)
WIN Mykhaylo Ganaga (Ukraine)

84 kg/185 lbs. - Jeremy Pederson, Quantico, Va. (U.S Marines), dnp
LOSS Evgeny Bogomolov (Russia), fall
LOSS Mykhaylo Ganaga (Ukraine)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Justin Ruiz, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 2nd
WIN Phil Johnston (USA)
WIN David Kaladze (Russia)
LOSS Aslanbek Khushtov (Russia)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Phil Johnston, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 5th
LOSS Justin Ruiz (USA)
LOSS David Kaladze (Russia)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Adam Wheeler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 5th
LOSS Aslanbek Khushtov (Russia)
LOSS Sergiy Yeroshkin (Ukraine)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 2nd
WIN Matti Hamalainen (Finland)
WIN Tim Taylor (USA)
LOSS Khasan Baroev (Russia)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tim Taylor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 5th
LOSS Dremiel Byers (USA)
LOSS Matti Hamalainen (Finland)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - David Arent, Quantico, Va. U.S. Marines
LOSS Yegeng Kozlyatin (Ukraine)

Women's medalists

48 kg/105.5 lbs
Gold - Sofia Mattson (Sweden)
Silver - Cristina Critoru (Romania)
Bronze - Tiina Ylinen (Finland)
Bronze - Yana Stadnik (Great Britain)

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Johanna Mattson (Sweden)
Silver - Nanna Pedersson Hyllegaard (Sweden)
Bronze - Leigh Jaynes (USA)

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold - Nicola Hartmann (Austria)
Silver -  Olga Butkevych (Great Britain)
Bronze - Gudrun Anette Hoie (Norway)

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Gold - Iris Smith (USA)
Silver - Diana Mudrag (Romania)
Bronze - Josefin Nilsson (Sweden)

U.S. women's performances

48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Rachel Bernardes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force), 5th
LOSS Cristina Critoru (Romania)
LOSS Yana Stadnik (Great Britain)

55 kg/121 lbs. - Leigh Jaynes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 3rd
WIN Viktoriia Kalndrova (Kyrgyzstan)
LOSS Nanna Pedersen Hyllegaard (Sweden)
WIN Tiina Vainionpaa (Finland)

72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 1st
WIN Josefin Nilsson (Sweden)
WIN Diana Mudrag (Romania)