COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Numerous international Greco-Roman wrestling stars will be on display at the Kiki Cup, set for the U.S. Olympic Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 29. 

Foreign teams that are participating in the international Greco-Roman dual meet tournament are Bulgaria, Japan, Poland and a Scandinavian team comprised of wrestlers from Norway and Sweden.

The Kiki Cup (formerly known as the Kit Carson Cup) will also include four different teams from the United States.

“All of the teams are very strong. We’re looking for good competition,” said the National Greco-Roman coach Steve Fraser.

The Bulgarian team includes 2010 World champion Hristo Marinov at 84 kg. Also competing are Aleksandar Kostadinov, a two-time Junior World Champion (2007, 2008) and 2009 European silver-medalist at 55 kg, 2005 and 2009 European bronze medalist Ivo Angelov at 60 kg, and 2008 European bronze medalist Elis Guri at 96 kg.

Poland’s line-up features 2009 European silver medalist Edward Barsegjan at 60 kg. Also, 2010 Junior European bronze medalist Mateusz Lukasz Wolny at 74 kg, and 2009 Junior European bronze medalist Damian Janikowski at 84 kg.

Leading the Scandinavian team are Norway’s Stig Andre Berge, the 2007 European silver medalist at 60 kg, and Sweden’s Johan Magnus Euren the 2010 European and 2010 World Cup bronze medalist at 120 kg. Also attending are Sweden’s Sharur Vardanyan the 2009 European bronze medalist at 66 kg, and 2007 Junior World bronze medalist Fredrik Schoen at 96 kg.

Representing Japan is 2006 Asian Junior champion Ryo Minemura at 55 kg along with some talented young athletes.

While the talent is not in short supply, all sides are looking to learn about their opponents.

“It’s good for our guys because that’s how they learn, that’s how they get better, that’s how they advance. The fact that they’re wrestling four matches in one day win or lose is great. It will help them to improve,” Fraser said. “It’s good for [the foreign teams] for the same reason. We have a good system of training. Our athletes are considered the best conditioned so they’re trying to get some of that. It’s a win, win situation.”

The lineups for the four U.S. teams in the competition will be announced next week.

KIKI CUP at Colorado Springs, Colo, Jan. 29

International Rosters

Bulgaria
55 kg/121 lbs. – Aleksandar Kostadinov
60 kg/132 lbs. – Ivo Angelov
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Emilian Tordorov
74 kg/163 lbs. – Ilian Georgiev
84 kg/185 lbs. – Hristo Marinov
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Elis Guri
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Ivan Ivanov

Japan
55 kg/121 lbs. – Ryo Minemura
60 kg/132 lbs. – Kazuma Kuramoto
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Yuji Okamoto
74 kg/163 lbs. – Kosuke Sumi
84 kg/185 lbs. – Taichi Oka
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Katsuya Kitamura
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Hirokazu Shinjo

Scandinavia
Norway
60 kg/132 lbs. – Stig Andre Berge
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Marius Thommesen
Sweden
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Sharur Vardanyan
84 kg/185 lbs. – Christoffer Ljungbeck
84 kg/185 lbs. – Fisnik Zahiti
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Kristoffer Johansson
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Fredrik Schoen
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Johan Magnus Euren

Poland
55 kg/121 lbs. – David Andrzej Ersetic
60 kg/132 lbs. – Edward Barsegjan
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jakub Tim
74 kg/163 lbs. – Mateusz Lukasz Wolny
84 kg/185 lbs. – Damian Janikowski
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Przemyslaw Malinowski
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Lukasz Banak