Numerous U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers will compete in overseas international wrestling events in late November and early December.

USA Wrestling has organized three different tours which will bring groups of American Greco-Roman wrestlers to Europe for competition and training.

The first tour will include two different events in Finland, the Vantaa Cup in Vantaa, Nov. 20-21 and the Arlo Haavisto Cup in Ilmajoki, Nov. 26-27.

Included on the tour are athletes from a variety of U.S. club programs, along with a team from the U.S. Marine Corps. Included on the tour is Greco-Roman National Team member Steven Forrest (Camp Lejeune, N.C./U.S. Marines) at 74 kg/163 lbs. National Team members are ranked in the top three based upon World Team Trials results.

The second tour will feature events in Belarus and Sweden. The U.S. athletes will participate for a week in a training camp in Minsk, Belarus, then will compete in a dual meet competition there, the Karavaev Cup, Nov. 26-28. The U.S. team will then compete in the Haparanda Cup in Haparanda, Sweden, Dec. 4-5.

Past U.S. World Team members on this tour include Joe Betterman (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 lbs., Chas Betts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Minnesota Storm) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and RC Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. 

Other Greco-Roman Team USA members on the Belarus and Sweden tour are Andrew Bisek (Colorado Springs, Colo./Minnesota Storm) at 74 kg/163 lbs., Robbie Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Tim Taylor (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

The third U.S. tour will include international competitions in France and Sweden. This group will start with the Henri Deglane Challenge in Nice, France, Nov. 25-27 and follow up with the Haparanda Cup in Haparanda, Sweden, Dec. 4-5.

2009 U.S. World Team Trials runner-up Pete Gounaridis (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) will compete in both events at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. There will be a team of seven U.S. Marines athletes wrestling in the Haparanda Cup.

Check TheMat.com for results from these competitions.

U.S. GRECO-ROMAN INTERNATIONAL TOURS

Tour 1: Finland Tour
Nov. 20-21: Vantaa Cup in Vantaa, Finland
Nov. 26-27: Arlo Haavisto Cup in Ilmajoki, Finland
U.S. wrestlers
55 kg/121 lbs - Paul Tellgren, Anoka, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Marco Lara, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Chad Vandiver, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Ryan Hope, Carol Stream, Ill. (USOEC)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Cameron Duckworth, Portland, Ore. (OTC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Zac Nielsen, Zimmerman, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
U.S. Marine Corps wrestlers
60 kg/132 lbs. - Donavan Depatto, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Joel Ahern, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Steven Forrest, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Dewald, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Courtney Myers, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
Coaches: Dale Oliver, Stafford, Va.; Dan Hicks, Quantico, Va. (Vantaa only); James Johnson, Phoenix, Ariz. (Haavisto only)

Tour 2: Belarus and Sweden Tour
Nov. 16-25 – Training in Minsk, Belarus
Nov. 26-28 - Karavaev Cup, in Minsk, Belarus (Duals)
Dec. 4-5 – Haparanda Cup in Haparanda, Sweden
U.S. wrestlers
55 kg/121 lbs. - Jermaine Hodge, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Ben Sanchez, Leominster, Mass. (USOEC) (only Belarus tour)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Andrew Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Chas Betts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Ben Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - RC Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Robbie Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tim Taylor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Coaches: Assistant National Greco-Roman Coach Momir Petkovic of Colorado Springs, Colo., Bruce Robinson, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Tour 3: France and Sweden Tour
Nov. 25-27 - Henri Deglane Challenge, Nice, France
Dec. 4-5 - Haparanda Cup, Haparanda, Sweden
U.S. wrestlers
60 kg/132 lbs: Chad Vandiver, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) (Sweden only)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Marco Toledo, Brandon, Fla. (USOEC) (France only)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Talan Knox, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Cameron Duckworth, Portland, Ore. (OTC) (Sweden only)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Pete Gounaridis, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Marine Corps wrestlers (Sweden only)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Donavan Depatto, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Joel Ahern, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – John Cox, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Steven Forrest, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Dewald, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Donald Simmons, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Courtney Myers, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)