TUMEN, Russia - R.C. Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) placed fifth at 96 kg/211.5 lbs., the top U.S. performance on the final day of the respected Ivan Podubbny Grand Prix on Sunday.

Johnson, a member of the 2009 U.S. World Team, was defeated in a bronze-medal match against 2008 Olympic champion Aslanbek Khushtov of Russia, 0-1, 3-0, 1-0.

He opened with a loss to Artur Shakhbanov of Russia, 0-4, 0-4. When Shakhbanov defeated Khushtov in the semifinals to become a finalist, he drew Johnson back into the repechage rounds. In his first repechage match, Johnson defeated an opponent from Moldova in three periods to earn a spot in the bronze-medal round.

Three weight classes were contested on Sunday. Johnson was the only athlete to place in the top five who was not from Russia.

“R.C. wrestled strong his last two matches,” said National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser. “He almost took the Russian Olympic champion down to win the bout for bronze. It was a very good match. The Russian had to turn R.C. in the last period to win. Unfortunately, he caught R.C. in his famous reverse lift to beat him.”

The U.S. had four other competitors wrestling on Sunday who did not qualify for the medal rounds.

Winning one match on Sunday were 2007 U.S. World Team member Joe Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and 2010 U.S. World Team member Jake Fisher, Boise, Idaho (New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs.

“We had a rough start on the second day,” said Fraser. “We are just plain getting beaten in the par terre position and overall. Our USA squad needs to get a lot better with two main areas: par terre defense and capitalizing on our feet. Most guys still need to decide what their go-to move is on their feet and then force the action. Until we get better in par terre defense, we will struggle.”

Team USA finished the two-day tournament in third place, behind the champion Russian team and the runner-up Belarus team. Winning a bronze medal at 84 kg/185 lbs. on Saturday was Chas Betts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Minnesota Storm).

IVAN PODUBBNY GRAND PRIX
At Tumen, Russia, Jan. 16

60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold - Ivan Kuylakov (Russia - Tver, Novosibirsk)
Silver - Aslan Abdullin (Russia - Moscow-Nalchik)
Bronze - Zaur Kuramagomedov (Russia - Rostov-on-Don - Nalchik)
Bronze – Maxim Mordovin (Russia - Irkutsk, Novosibirsk)
5th - Rustam Khuchbarov (Russia - Krasnoyarsk)
5th - Ibrahim Labazanov (Russia - St. Petersburg) 

74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Roman Vlasov (Russia - Novosibirsk)
Silver - Varteres Samurgashev (Russia - Rostov-na-Donu)
Bronze - Alexander Chehirkin (Russia - Rostov-na-Donu)
Bronze – Ildar Batashov (Russia - Nalchik, St. Petersburg)
5th - Imil Sharafetdinov (Russia - Moscow)
5th - Magomedali Magomedaliev (Russia - Moscow)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Gold - Rustem Totrov (Russia - Tyumen-Vladikavkaz)
Silver - Artur Shakhbanov (Russia - Moscow)
Bronze - Aslambek Khushtov (Russia - Krasnoyarsk, Nalchik)
Bronze - Nikita Melnikov (Russia - Krasnoyarsk)
5th – R.C. Johnson (USA)
5th - Zaur Kodo (Russia - Ekaterinburg, Khanty-Mansiysk)

U.S. Greco-Roman performances

60 kg/132 lbs. – Joe Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
LOSS name not available (Russia), 0-4, 0-1
WIN name not available (Russia), 0-1, 3-0, 1-0
LOSS name not available (Russia), 0-1, 2-0, 0-3

74 kg/163 lbs. – Jake Fisher, Boise, Idaho (New York AC), dnp
WIN name not available (Russia), 0-1, 4-0, 1-0
LOSS name not available (Russia), 0-2, 0-2

74 kg/163 lbs. – Andrew Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm), dnp
LOSS name not available (Russia), 0-2, 0-1

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Justin Ruiz, Boise, Idaho (New York AC), dnp
LOSS name not available (Russia), 0-1, 0-1

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – R.C. Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 5th
LOSS Artur Shakhbanov (Russia), 0-4, 0-4
WIN name not available (Moldova), 0-1, 3-0, 1-0
LOSS Aslanbek Khushtov (Russia), 0-1, 1-0, 3-0