LAS VEGAS, NEV. - The first day of competition during U.S. Nationals week in Las Vegas features three divisions of Greco-Roman wrestling: Junior, FILA Junior and Veterans.

The adult athletes competing in the Veterans division come from across the nation for a Wednesday afternoon event for a variety of reasons. The athletes all have different stories, but one thing is certain; they take their wrestling very seriously.

Consider Steve Horton of the U.S. Air Force, who was a double champion at last year's Veterans Nationals, and defended his Greco-Roman title with a victory in Div. C at 152 pounds. For many years, Horton competed on the Senior national level in Greco-Roman, and has continued his passion for wrestling in the Veterans division.

"It is great. I always said I'd keep wrestling until physically I couldn't do it any more or it wasn't fun for me any more," said Horton.

Horton has wrestled in the Veterans Nationals five times, and won the Greco-Roman title each time, as well as a number of freestyle golds. He won a bronze medal at the Veterans World Championships last summer in Russia.

Horton, now 42 years old, will reach his 20th year in the Air Force this year. He is currently stationed at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. Horton works out twice a week with a club in the town of Thalesweiler which competes in the German professional bundeslige. He fits the training in between his work duties, as well as raising two small children who are both under 4 years old.

During his military career, Horton has been deployed overseas in Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan, in addition to being stationed in Germany and other locations. He knows he won't be back to defend his title next year, because he will be deployed to Afghanistan in his job as a public affairs officer.  He wrestles for himself, but also to help him excel with his job with the military.

"This helps. I have to stay in shape for my job," said Horton. "You have to pull your weight at work. The wrestling helps. I want to show them that I am capable."

Steve Goss of The Dow T club, a 1983 U.S. Nationals Greco-Roman champion, has also wrestled in this event before. He continues to come back for both social and health reasons. This year, he captured the gold medal at 130 kg/286 lbs. in Division D, winning a best-of-three series in two straight bouts over Joe Scott.

"It is fun. The social aspect is what a lot of us come here for. Sure, you love to compete. But there are a lot of good people here," said Goss.

Goss is the head wrestling coach at his alma mater, Bay City Western High in Michigan, a position he accepted this year after coaching another high school in the area. 

"It serves a dual purpose. My keeping in shape helps them. The better they get, the more it helps me. Competing here helps me keep in shape. You know you have to compete. It forces you to stay in shape so you don't get your butt beaten out there," said Goss. 

Jim Hall of the New York AC, who competed on the national level in both freestyle and Greco-Roman in the 1980's, is at the Veterans Nationals for the second straight year. A longtime wrestling coach, Hall now remains active in the sport as a high school wrestling referee on Long Island, N.Y.

Last year, Hall did not train much in advance, and indicated that he returned quite battered and fatigued. This year, he did considerable running and other crosstraining prior to the tournament, and lost 20 pounds, which made him drop a weight class.

He reached the championship match this year in Division D at 214 pounds against returning champion Mike Paquette of TNT New York Wrestling, who he had wrestled during their Senior Greco-Roman careers. Paquette won the match by injury default.

"It was gut wrench city, Mike used a technically sound gut wrench. We both had pretty good gut wrenches when we used to compete, said Hall. "One thing I will do next year is more wrestling training in addition to all the running."

Horton and Paquette were joined as repeat Veterans Greco-Roman National champions by Jason French of Freebirds WC (Div. A 152) and Chad Shilson of Minnesota Storm (Div. B, 138.5).

Most of these men will return tomorrow for the Veterans freestyle championships.

VETERANS GRECO-ROMAN NATIONALS
At Las Vegas, Nev., April 8

Division A - 58 KG/127.75 lbs
1st Place - Roger Stewart of Navy Mat Club

Division A - 63 KG/138.5 lbs 
1st Place - Matthew Hardman of USS Emory S Land

Division A - 69 KG/152 lbs 
1st Place - Jason French of Freebirds Wrestling Club

Division A - 76 KG - 167.5 lbs
1st Place - Fredrick Gutierrez of Bakersfield

Division A - 85 KG/187.25 lbs
1st Place - Anthony Uchytil of Delta Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Hovik Soibatian of Main Event Sports Club

Division A - 97 KG/214 lbs
1st Place - Ruslan Mukhamadiyarov of Greater Chicago Wrestlers
2nd Place - Jason Blakeman of Channel Coast Pirates

Division A - 130 KG/286.5 lbs 
1st Place - Orlando Iddings of Delta Wrestling Club

Division B - 63 KG/138.5 lbs Results
1st Place - Chad Shilson of Minnesota Storm
2nd Place - Kevin Robinson of South Brevard Wrestling Club

Division B - 69 KG/152 lbs
1st Place - Shane Rosselle of DSWC Bakersfield
2nd Place - Frank Johnson of Forest Grove Jr Vikings
3rd Place - Ignacio Ramirezlazos of No Mercy School of Wrestling
4th Place - Richard Weissinger of MMA Lab Phoenix
1st - Shane Rosselle (DSWC Bakersfield) over Frank Johnson (Forest Grove Jr Vikings) Fall 0-1,1:59
3rd - Ignacio Ramirezlazos (No Mercy School of Wrestling) over Richard Weissinger (MMA Lab Phoenix) Dec 7-0,2-1

Division B - 76 kg/167.5 lbs 
1st Place - Tony Piva of USA Idaho
2nd Place - Brent Wright of Santa Monica Bay Wrestling
3rd Place - Todd Lattimer of Windy City
4th Place - Juan Swan of Fall Guys
1st - Tony Piva (USA Idaho) over Brent Wright (Santa Monica Bay Wrestling) Fall 1:36
3rd - Todd Lattimer (Windy City) over Juan Swan (Fall Guys) Dec 4-1,1-0

Division B - 85 KG/187.25 lbs 
1st Place - Bryan Lindsey of www.TeamZxoom.com
2nd Place - Eric Mancini of New England AllStars
3rd Place - Rudy Soliz of Redmond Wrestling Club
Round Robin Matches
Eric Mancini (New England AllStars) over Rudy Soliz (Redmond Wrestling Club) Dec 5-0,7-1
Bryan Lindsey (www.TeamZxoom.com) over Rudy Soliz (Redmond Wrestling Club) Fall 6-3,0:34
Bryan Lindsey (www.TeamZxoom.com) over Eric Mancini (New England AllStars) Fall 0:37

Division B - 97 KG - 214 lbs
1st Place - Octavius Bellamy of Greater Chicago Wrestlers
2nd Place - Christopher Colbert of pilot built
3rd Place - Alsandro Turner of unattached
4th Place - Richard Jensen of lost dreams awaken
Round Robin Matches
Octavius Bellamy (Greater Chicago Wrestlers) over Alsandro Turner (unattached) 3-0,ID 
Christopher Colbert (pilot built) over Alsandro Turner (unattached) Fall 4-1,1:21
Octavius Bellamy (Greater Chicago Wrestlers) over Christopher Colbert (pilot built) Fall 1:11

Division B - 130 KG - 286.5 lbs
1st Place - Gabe Beauperthuy of unattached
2nd Place - Patrick Hayhurst of FREEBIRDS WRESTLING CLUB

Division C - 58 KG - 127.75 lbs
1st Place - Michael Tuck of Team Central

Division C - 63 KG - 138.5 lbs Results
1st Place - Matt Ciampa of Eclipse
2nd Place - Sammy Chagolla of Arizona Champions
3rd Place - David Sherman of Patriot Wrestling Club
4th Place - Faren Stroh of unattached
Round Robin Matches
Matt Ciampa (Eclipse) over Sammy Chagolla (Arizona Champions) Fall 7-1,1:44
Sammy Chagolla (Arizona Champions) over David Sherman (Patriot Wrestling Club) Dec 0-3,0-1
Matt Ciampa (Eclipse) over David Sherman (Patriot Wrestling Club) Fall 8-0,0:08

Division C - 69 KG - 152 lbs Results
1st Place - Steve Horton of Air Force
2nd Place - David Urrutia of Napa Sheriff`s
3rd Place - Jesse Ortega of unattached
4th Place - Saleh Aliev of Greater Chicago Wrestlers
Round Robin Matches
David Urrutia (Napa Sheriff`s) over Jesse Ortega (unattached) Dec 1-0,6-0
Steve Horton (Air Force) over Jesse Ortega (unattached) TF 8-0,6-0
Steve Horton (Air Force) over David Urrutia (Napa Sheriff`s) Dec 6-0,5-0

Division C - 76 KG - 167.5 lbs Results
1st Place - Dennis Gransbery of Siesta
2nd Place - Grigore Gutsu of ABBY Wrestling Club

Division C - 85 KG - 187.25 lbs Results
1st Place - Kevin Pine of Vegas West
2nd Place - Themis Lonis of unattached
3rd Place - Anthony Porcelli of TEAM PORCELLI
4th Place - Ronald Sigler of pilot built
1st Place Match
Kevin Pine (Vegas West) over Themis Lonis (unattached) Fall 1:48


Division C - 97 KG - 214 lbs 
1st Place - Ronald Ayers of Army National Guard
2nd Place - Jeff Anderson of Greater Chicago Wrestlers
3rd Place - James Kiernan of TAO of BELL
4th Place - Adam Ruiz of Team Ruiz/Gilroy Hawks
Round Robin Matches
Jeff Anderson (Greater Chicago Wrestlers) over James Kiernan (TAO of BELL) Dec 0-3,5-0,2-0
Ronald Ayers (Army National Guard) over James Kiernan (TAO of BELL) Dec 0-1,1-0,0-1
Ronald Ayers (Army National Guard) over Jeff Anderson (Greater Chicago Wrestlers) Dec 0-2,2-0,1-0

Division C - 130 KG - 286.5 lbs
1st Place - Trace Robinson of Greater Chicago Wrestlers
2nd Place - Chad Begley of independent

Division D - 63 KG - 138.5 lbs 
1st Place - Nerses Okhikian of N/A
2nd Place - Mark LeVasseur of Minnesota Storm
3rd Place - Charles Elliott of Valley Freestyle
Round Robin Matches
Mark LeVasseur (Minnesota Storm) over Charles Elliott (Valley Freestyle) Fall 1:03
Nerses Okhikian (N/A) over Mark LeVasseur (Minnesota Storm) Dec 2-0,3-9,4-1
Nerses Okhikian (N/A) over Charles Elliott (Valley Freestyle) Fall 6-0,0:43

Division D - 69 KG - 152 lbs
1st Place - Valentin Kalika of valentin kalika wrestling
2nd Place - Dexter H. Carpenter of unattached

Division D - 76 KG - 167.5 lbs 
1st Place - Chris Brown of Montgomery County WC
2nd Place - Ron Reider of Spartek Kiev
3rd Place - Frank Anaya of El Paso Wizards
Round Robin Matches
Chris Brown (Montgomery County WC) over Ron Reider (Spartek Kiev) Fall 0:28
Ron Reider (Spartek Kiev) over Frank Anaya (El Paso Wizards) Fall 3-5,0:37
Chris Brown (Montgomery County WC) over Frank Anaya (El Paso Wizards) FF 

Division D - 85 KG - 187.25 Results
1st Place - Steve Contarino of unattached
2nd Place - Bruce Jasperson of AGOGE
3rd Place - Brad Brosius of Broken Cage Wrestling Club
Round Robin Matches
Steve Contarino (unattached) over Bruce Jasperson (AGOGE) TF 6-0,7-2
Steve Contarino (unattached) over Brad Brosius (Broken Cage Wrestling Club) Fall 7-0,0:21
Bruce Jasperson (AGOGE) over Brad Brosius (Broken Cage Wrestling Club) Fall 6-0,1:21

Division D - 97 KG - 214 lbs Results
1st Place - Michael Paquette of TNT New York Wrestling
2nd Place - Jim Hall of NYAC
3rd Place - Larry Robertson of Double Concrete Mat Club
4th Place - Eric Harmon of White Mountain Wrestling Club
Round Robin Matches
Michael Paquette (TNT New York Wrestling) over Larry Robertson (Double Concrete Mat Club) FF 
Michael Paquette (TNT New York Wrestling) over Jim Hall (NYAC) ID 
Jim Hall (NYAC) over Larry Robertson (Double Concrete Mat Club) Dec 2-1,2-1

Division D - 130 KG/286.5 lbs 
1st Place - Steven Goss of The Dow t
2nd Place - Joe Scott of unattached

Division E - 58 KG/127.75 lbs
1st Place - Kevin Ida of unattached
2nd Place - James Schartner of FIWC

Division E - 69 KG/152 lbs
1st Place - Boris Parkhomovsky of N/A
2nd Place - Kevin Martin of unattached
3rd Place - Charles Hotcaveg of NYAC
Round Robin Matches
Kevin Martin (unattached) over Charles Hotcaveg (NYAC) Dec 1-0,6-0
Boris Parkhomovsky (N/A) over Charles Hotcaveg (NYAC) Fall 1:17
Boris Parkhomovsky (N/A) over Kevin Martin (unattached) Dec 3-0,2-0

Division E - 76 KG/167.5 lbs 
1st Place - Mark Black of Santa Monica Bay Wrestling
2nd Place - Kenneth Peters of Greater Chicago Wrestlers
3rd Place - Bob Ward of TooSoonToQuit
4th Place - Barry Joe Aiken of Kitsap Ironman
Round Robin Matches
Kenneth Peters (Greater Chicago Wrestlers) over Bob Ward (TooSoonToQuit) Fall 0-3,1:54
Mark Black (Santa Monica Bay Wrestling) over Bob Ward (TooSoonToQuit) Fall 1:55
Mark Black (Santa Monica Bay Wrestling) over Kenneth Peters (Greater Chicago Wrestlers) Fall 2-0,0:36

Division E - 85 kg/187.25 lbs
1st Place - Peter Haag of Greater Chicago Wrestlers
2nd Place - William Kalivas of unattached
3rd Place - Igor Gorodetsky of unattached
Round Robin Matches
Peter Haag (Greater Chicago Wrestlers) over William Kalivas (unattached) Fall 0-2,2-0,0:19
Peter Haag (Greater Chicago Wrestlers) over Igor Gorodetsky (unattached) Dec 3-0,3-0
William Kalivas (unattached) over Igor Gorodetsky (unattached) 1-0,ID 

Division E - 97 KG/214 lbs 
1st Place - Donald Apodaca of Air Force
2nd Place - Robert Musante of Sheriffs League
3rd Place - Joe Reasbeck of Superior
Round Robin Matches
Robert Musante (Sheriffs League) over Joe Reasbeck (Superior) Dec 3-5,3-1,6-6
Donald Apodaca (Air Force) over Robert Musante (Sheriffs League) Dec 3-0,4-0
Donald Apodaca (Air Force) over Joe Reasbeck (Superior) Fall 0:56

Division E - 130 KG/286.5 lbs Results
1st Place - Ray Lotfi of N/A