R.C. Johnson battles with Pete Gounaridis at the 2009 World Team Trials. Johnson beat Gounaridis at the Haparanda Cup in Sweden on Saturday. Larry Slater photo.

HAPARANDA, Sweden – Two U.S. wrestlers remain unbeaten after the first day of competition at the Haparanda Cup on Saturday.

2007 U.S. World Team member Joe Betterman (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and 2009 U.S. World Team member R.C. Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. completed the day with 3-0 records.

Betterman is competing in a six-athlete round robin. He defeated Ruslan Israfilov of Ukraine, Artem Kduk of Ukraine and Chad Vandiver of the United States to finish the first day unbeaten. He will have two more matches on Sunday.

Johnson also is part of a six-athlete round robin. His victories are over Ismo Pieilainen of Finland, Pete Gounaridis of the United States and Tuomas Lathi of Finland.

The competition was not conducted in the current FILA format. The tournament was conducted in a double-elimination vertical pairing format. There were single pools at 55 kg, 60 kg, 96 kg and 120 kg, and two pools at 66 kg, 74 kg and 84 kg.

A total of 13 U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers entered the tournament. All four U.S. entries at 84 kg/185 lbs. have lost two matches and have been eliminated from medal contention. The rest of the U.S. athletes will continue to compete on Sunday.

Champions in each weight class earn $1,000.

HAPARANDA CUP
At Haparanda, Sweden, Dec. 4

U.S. Greco-Roman performance on Saturday

55 kg/121 lbs. - Jermaine Hodge, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
WIN Ivan Blattsev (Russia), 2-0, 4-3
LOSS Jevgeni Miagkyi (Ukraine), 2-0, 0-2, 2-0

60 kg/132 lbs. - Chad Vandiver, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Maksim Miagkyi (Ukraine), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Oleg Drozdov (Russia), 1-0, 0-5, 2-8
LOSS Joe Betterman (USA), 0-3

60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Ruslan Israfilov (Ukraine), 0-1, 1-1, 2-0
WIN Artem Kduk (Ukraine), 1-0, 5-0
WIN Chad Vandiver (USA), 3-0

74 kg/163 lbs. - Andrew Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
LOSS Eldar Botashev (Russia – St. Petersburg), 0-1, 0-1
WIN Jusso Ukkola (Finland), 0-2, 6-0, 7-0
WIN Veli-Karri Suominen (Finland), 1-0, 0-1, 7-0

74 kg/163 lbs. – Anton Gottredson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Henri Palomaki (Finland), 1-0, 1-2, 3-0
LOSS Roman Vlasov (Russia), 0-6, 0-6
WIN Riku Tolkkinen (Finland), 1-0, 2-0

84 kg/185 lbs. - Ben Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
LOSS Dmitro Pihkov (Ukraine), 3-0, 0-2, 0-1
LOSS Kritofer Johansson (Sweden), 0-5, 2-1, 0-4

84 kg/185 lbs. – Cameron Duckworth, Portland, Ore. (OTC)
LOSS Chrstoffer Ljunback (Sweden), 0-3, 0-3
LOSS Jonne Ukkola (Finland), 0-1, 0-8

84 kg/185 lbs. – Talan Knox, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
LOSS Tobias Kvarnmark (Sweden), 1-0, 0-7, 0-4
LOSS Jim Pettersson (Sweden), 0-2, 0-5

84 kg/185 lbs. - Chas Betts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
LOSS Azamat Bikbalev (Russia), 1-0, 0-4, 0-1
LOSS Rami Hietami (Finland), 0-2, 1-0, 0-2

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - RC Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Ismo Pieilainen (Finland) 1-0, 5-0
WIN Pete Gounaridis (USA), 1-0, 1-0
WIN Tuomas Lathi (Finland), 2-0, 1-0

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Pete Gounaridis, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Tuomas Lathi (Finland), 1-0, 1-0
LOSS R.C. Johnson (USA), 0-1, 0-1
LOSS Robbie Smith (USA), 0-1, 0-1

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Robbie Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
LOSS Artur Shakbanov (Russia), 0-6, 0-2
WIN Ismo Pietilainen (Finland), 1-0, 0-2, 1-0
WIN Pete Gounaridis (USA), 1-0, 1-0

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tim Taylor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
LOSS Johan Euren (Sweden), 0-2, 0-1
LOSS Aleksandr Ekimov (Russia), 0-1, 0-3