Joe Betterman wins bronze medal on final day of Vantaa Cup

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
11/22/2009


VANTAA, Finland - Joe Betterman (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) won a bronze medal at 60 kg/132 lbs. on the final day of the Vantaa Cup of Greco-Roman wrestling,

Betterman, a 2007 U.S. World Team member, defeated fellow American Chad Vandiver (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) in the bronze medal match, 1-0, 2-0.

He opened the tournament with wins over Russians Maxime Mordovin and Artur Movsesjan, but was defeated in the semifinals by eventual champion Ibragim Labazanov of Russia, 0-4, 3-2, 0-2.

Betterman won the fourth medal by an American at the Vantaa Cup this year. On Saturday, Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) won a gold medal at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Silver medals were added on Saturday by Brandon Rupp (Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. and Chas Betts (St. Michael, Minn./Minnesota Storm at 84 kg/185. lbs.

Three U.S. wrestlers placed fifth on Sunday, losing in the bronze-medal round: Vandiver, plus a pair of wrestlers at 96 kg/211.5 lbs, Robbie Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) and Moises Hernandez (Camp LeJeune, N.C./U.S. Marines).

Smith finished the tournament with a 2-2 record, while Hernandez had a 1-2 record in the competition. 

The United States placed second in the team standings with 28 points, behind Russia, with 40 team points. Sweden, Ukraine and the St. Petersburg club of Russia round out the top five teams in the tournament.

A number of the U.S. wrestlers will travel on the Haparanda, Sweden, to compete in next weekend's Haparanda Cup.

VANTAA CUP
At Vantaa, Finland, Nov. 22

60 kg/132 lbs.
1.  Ibragim Labazanov (Russia)
2.  Danylo Krymov (Ukraine)
3.  Ville Käki (Finland)  
3.  Joseph Betterman (USA) 
5.  Jani Haapamäki  (Finland)
5.  Chad Vandiver (USA)

74 kg/163 lbs. 
1.  Danyal Gadzhiev (Russia)
2.  Zakarias Tallroth (Sweden)
3.  Jonne Ukkola (Finland) 
3.  Ruslan Belkhoroev (Russia)
5.  Andrius Putna (Lithuania) 
5.  Valdemaras Venckaitis (Lithuania)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. 
1.  Maksim Safaria (Russia-St. Petersburg)  
2.  Sergii Rutenko (Ukraine)  
3.  Fredrik Schön (Sweden)
3.  Theodoros Tounosidis  (Finland) 
5.  Moises Hernandez  (USA)  
5.  Robert Smith (USA)

Final team standings
1. Russia, 40 
2. United States, 28 
3. Sweden, 19 
4. Ukraine, 14 
5. St. Petersburg, Russia, 13 
6. Estonia, 9 
7. tie. Lithuania, 8 
7. tie. Norway, 8 
9. Spårvägens Brottningsklubb, 5 
10. tie Haukiputaan Heitto, 4 
10. tie Huddinge BK, 4 
10. tie. Kotkan Painimiehet, 4 
10. tie, Finland, 4 
14. 15 teams with 0 points  

U.S. performances

60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 3rd
WIN Maxime Mordovin (Russia), injury
WIN Artur Movsesjan (Russia-St. Petersburg), 2-1, 1-0
LOSS Ibragim Labazanov (Russia), 0-4, 3-2, 0-2
WIN Chad Vandiver (USA), 1-0, 2-0

60 kg/132 lbs. - Donovan DePatto, Jacksonville, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
WIN Ville Kyllonen (Finland), 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Jani Haapamaki (Finalnd), 0-1, 0-6

60 kg/132 lbs. - Chad Vandiver, Colorado Springs, Colo., 5th
WIN Jussi-Pekka Niemisto (Finland), 0-2, 2-0, 1-0
LOSS Ibraghim Labazanov (Russia), 0-6, 0-1
WIN Juho Portti (Finland), 1-0, 5-0
LOSS Joe Betterman (USA), 0-1, 0-2

74 kg/163 lbs. - Faruk Sahin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
LOSS Ruslan Belkhoroev (Russia), 0-1, 0-1

74 kg/163 lbs. - Anton Gottfredson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Rafael Toijanen (Finland), 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Jonne Ukkola (Finland), 0-6, 0-1

74 kg/163 lbs. - Steven Forrest, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
WIN George Bancroft (USA), 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Danyal Gadziev (Russia), pin 1:44
WIN Hardo Toots (Estonia), 1-0, 4-0
LOSS Ruslan Belkhoroev (Russia), 2-9, 0-4

74 kg/163 lbs. - George Bancroft, Colorado Springs, Colo.
LOSS Steve Forrest (USA), 0-1, 0-1

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Robbie Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 5th
WIN Matti Hamalainen (Finland), 0:50
WIN Zaur Karezhev (Russia), injury 1:53
LOSS Sergeii Rutenko (Ukraine), 0-1, 0-3
LOSS Theodoris Tounosidis (Sweden), 0-2, 0-6

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Justin Ruiz, Boise, Idaho (New York AC)
WIN Miltos Mitiadous (Sweden), 1-0, 3-0
LOSS Sergii Rutenko (Ukraine), 0-1, 0-2
LOSS Theodoris Tounosidis (Sweden), injury

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Moises Hernandez, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines), 5th
WIN Markus Koivisto (Finland), 8-0, 4-0
LOSS Maksim Safaria (Russia), 0-1, 0-3
LOSS Fredrik Schon (Sweden), 0-5, 0-1