TUMEN, RUSSIA - 2007 U.S. World Team member Joe Betterman (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) won a silver medal at 60 kg/132 lbs. on the first day of the Ivan Podubbny Grand Prix on Sunday.

This annual competition is considered one of the toughest Greco-Roman events in the world each year, as it includes numerous entries from Russia, as well as many other former Soviet Republics and top wrestling nations.

Betterman became the second U.S. silver medalist at the event this year, joining Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) who won a silver medal at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. on the first day. The United States placed third in the team standings, behind champion Russia and runner-up Kazakhstan. It is believed to be the highest team finish for the USA at this respected event.

Betterman won his first three bouts of the day to qualify for the gold-medal finals, defeating opponents from Uzbekistan, Russia and Kazakhstan in order.

In the championship match, Betterman was defeated by Almat Kebespaev of Kazakhstan, by injury default in the second period. 

Kebespaev was a 2008 World University champion, and placed second in the 2009 Asian Senior Championships. He was the only non-Russian athlete to win a gold medal during the two-day event.

Betterman was the only American to win a bout on Sunday, as four other teammates were defeated in their matches. 

Two U.S. wrestlers qualified for the repechage rounds when their opening opponent reached the finals, then were defeated in their second match: Donovan DePatto (Camp Lejeune, N.C./U.S. Marines) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Justin Ruiz (Boise, Idaho/New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

IVAN PODUBNY INTERNATIONAL
at Tumen, Russia, January 17

60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold - Almat Kebespaev (Kazakhstan) 
Silver - Joseph Betterman (USA) 
Bronze - Zaur Kuramagomedov (Russia, Rostov region)
Bronze - Maxim Mordovin (Russia, Irkutsk) 

74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Ruslan Belharoev (Russia, Moscow-YNAO)
Silver - Alexei Popov (Russia, Novosibirsk) 
Bronze - Imil Sharafetdinov (Russia, Moscow)
Bronze - Dmitry Vaseline (Ukraine) 

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Gold - Rustem Totrov (Russia, Russia)
Silver - Aset Mambetov (Kazakhstan) 
Bronze - Basil Teploukhov (Novosibirsk)
Bronze - Maxim Safarian (St. Petersburg) 

U.S. match summaries

60 kg/132 lbs. -Joe Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 2nd
WIN Obbojev Aslanov (Uzbekistan), 1-0, 2-0
WIN Zaur Kumagomedov (Russia), 1-0, 2-0
WIN Ibrahim Labazon (Kazakhstan), 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Almat Kebespaev (Kazakhstan), 3-2, inj. dft

60 kg/132 lbs. - Donovan DePatto, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
LOSS Almat Kebespaev (Kazakhstan), 0-1, 0-2
LOSS Arnen Kazarian (Russia), 0-2, 0-2

74 kg/163 lbs. - Andrew Bisek, Chaska, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
LOSS Dmitrov Bushkov (Ukraine), 0-1, 0-7

74 kg/163 lbs. - Steve Forrest, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines) 
LOSS Andre Salovyov (Russia), 0-1, 2-6

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Justin Ruiz, Boise, Idaho (New York AC) 
LOSS Rustam Totorov (Russia), 0-1, 0-2
LOSS Nikita Melnikov (Russia), pin 1st period