USA Wrestling will be kicking off its international winter tour season by sending two talented teams to highly respected competitions in Russia during January.

An experienced U.S. Greco-Roman team will compete in the respected Podubbny International in Tumen, Russia, Jan. 14-15.

The team will feature 2005 World bronze medalist Justin Ruiz (Boise, Idaho/New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Ruiz was fifth at the 2010 World Championships.

Four other past U.S. World Team members will compete: 2007 U.S. World Team member Joe Betterman (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 60 kg/132 lbs., 2009 World Team members Chas Betts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Minnesota Storm) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and R.C. Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and 2010 U.S. World Team member Jake Fisher (Boise, Idaho/New York AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser and Assistant National Greco-Roman Coach Momir Petkovic, both of Colorado Springs, Colo., will coach the team.

A talented U.S. men’s freestyle team will compete in the respected Ivan Yarygin Memorial Grand Prix in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Jan. 27-30.

The team will feature 2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert (Evanston, Ill./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and 2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Herbert also competed on the 2010 U.S. World Team.

Four other members of the 2010 U.S. World Team will join Herbert on the trip: Obe Blanc (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., J.D. Bergman (Columbus, Ohio/New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Les Sigman (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. 

Andy Hrovat (Cleveland, Ohio/New York AC), a 2008 Olympian and 2006 U.S. World Team member, will be competing at 84 kg/185 lbs. Hrovat has been training this season in Vladkikavkaz, Russia.

Three members of the 2009 U.S. World Team are on the tour: Shawn Bunch (Columbus, Ohio/Gator WC) at 60 kg/132 lbs., Trent Paulson (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. A member of the 2007 U.S. World Team, Tommy Rowlands (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

The team will participate in an international training camp in Vladikavkaz, Russia prior to competing at the Yarygin Memorial. This is the city where Hrovat is currently training, and numerous Olympic and World medalists from a number of nations are expected to participate in the training sessions.

National Freestyle Coach  Zeke Jones and National Freestyle Developmental Coach Bill Zadick, both of Colorado Springs, Colo., will coach the U.S. team.

Both the Podubbny International and the Ivan Yarygin Memorial International are considered among the toughest competitions held in the world each year. There are numerous top competitors from Russia in both tournaments, plus stars from many of the former Soviet republics, as well as top wrestlers from a number of other respected national teams. Winning one of these events is a highlight of their career for any international wrestler.

Results from these events in Russia will be reported on TheMat.com.

There may be some U.S. wrestlers in women’s freestyle and men’s freestyle competing in January at the Guelph Open in Guelph, Canada, Nov. 22. These athletes will be representing their clubs at the competition, so this event is not considered part of USA Wrestling’s winter tour schedule. However, results from this event will also be reported on TheMat.com.

Rosters for U.S. teams competing in all three styles in February and March will be announced shortly. These international tours are designed to provide quality international experience for top U.S. athletes, and help them prepare for the major domestic and international events later in the season.

PODUBBNY TOURNAMENT
At Tumen, Russia, Jan. 14-15
U.S. Greco-Roman Team roster
55 kg/121 lbs. – Jermaine Hodge, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Joe Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jake Fisher, Boise, Idaho (New York AC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Andrew Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
84 kg/180.5 lbs. – Chas Betts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Justin Ruiz, Boise, Idaho (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – R.C. Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
National Greco-Roman Coach – Steve Fraser, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Assistant National Greco-Roman Coach – Momir Petkovic, Colorado Springs, Colo.

IVAN YARYGIN MEMORIAL GRAND PRIX
At Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Jan. 27-30
U.S. Freestyle Team roster
55 kg/121 lbs. – Obe Blanc, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Shawn Bunch, Columbus, Ohio (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Trent Paulson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Jake Herbert, Evanston, Ill. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Raymond Jordan, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Andy Hrovat, Cleveland, Ohio (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Les Sigman, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tommy Rowlands, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
National Freestyle Coach – Zeke Jones, Colorado Springs, Colo.
National Freestyle Developmental Coach – Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo.