Cheney Haight of the USA in action. Larry Slater photo

HAVANA, Cuba – Two U.S. Greco-Romn wrestlers placed fifth in their divisions on the first day of the Granma Cup on Wednesday.

Placing fifth after dropping their bronze medal bouts were Cheney Haight, Boise Idaho (New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Kerry Regner (Darlington, Pa./Sunkist Kids) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

Haight, a 2010 U.S. Open champion, started strong with wins over Jose Antonio Mendoza of Mexico and Talan Knox of the United States. In the semifinals, he lost a close three-period match to 2006 Junior World silver medalist Jan Fischer of Germany, 2-1, 0-2, 0-1.

Haight lost his bronze-medal bout to Francia of Cuba, 1-0, 0-1, 0-2.

Regner, a member of the 2010 U.S. University World Team, lost his opening bout. He won his first repechage bout to eventual runner-up Reinier Lescay of Cuba. In the repechage rounds, he beat Benito Mejias of Honduras, 6-0, 1-0.

Regner fell in the bronze-medal round to 2008 Pan American bronze medalist Ivan Duque of Colombia, 2-0, 0-1, 0-2.

“We wrestled tough today,” said National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser. “We look forward to a strong day tomorrow.”

Seven U.S. athletes compete on the final day of the event on Thursday, including 2002 World champion and three-time World medalist Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. along with two-time World bronze medalist Harry Lester (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 74 kg/163 lbs.

GRANMA CUP
At Havana, Cuba, Feb. 16

Greco-Roman medalists

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold – Javier Dumenico Gonzalez (Cuba)
Silver – Gustavo Balart (Cuba)
Bronze – Carderas (Cuba)
Bronze – Juan Carlos Lopez (Cuba)
5th – Jefferson Mayea (Ecuador)
5th – Nilford Baptist (Honduras)

Gold - Gonzales dec. Balart, 1-0, 0-1, 2-0
Bronze – Carderas dec. Mayea, 6-0, 6-0
Bronze – Lopez dec. Baptist, 7-0, 7-1

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold – Reineri Salas (Cuba)
Silver – Reinier Lescay (Cuba)
Bronze – Frank Staebler (Germany)
Bronze – Ivan Duque (Colombia)
5th – Manuel Torres (Venezuela)
5th – Kerry Regner (USA)

Gold – Salas dec. Lescay, 1-0, 1-0
Bronze – Staebler dec. Torrez, 1-0, 6-0
Bronze – Duque dec. Regner, 0-2, 1-0, 2-0

84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold – Melonin Noumonvi (France)
Silver – Jan Fischer (Germany)
Bronze – Francia (Cuba)
Bronze – Olivera (Cuba)
5th – Cheney Haight (USA)
5th – Kevin Mejias (Honduras)

Gold – Noumonvi dec. Fischer, 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
Bronze – Francia dec. Haight, 0-1, 1-0, 2-0
Bronze – Olivera dec. Mejias, 4-0, 2-0

U.S. Greco-Roman performances

55 kg/121 lbs. – Nate Engel, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), dnp
WIN Idelphonso Arangure (Mexico), 7-0, 1-0
LOSS Jefferson Mayea (Ecuador), 0-2, 0-1

55 kg/121 lbs. – Jermaine Hodge, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), dnp
LOSS Gustavo Belart (Cuba), 0-4, 0-2
LOSS Carderas (Cuba), 0-1, 0-1

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Kerry Regner, Darlington, Pa. (Sunkist Kids), 5th
LOSS Reinier Lescay (Cuba), 0-2, 0-3
WIN Benito Mejias (Honduras), 6-0, 1-0
LOSS Ivan Duque (Colombia), 2-0, 0-1, 0-2

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Glenn Garrison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), dnp
WIN Xavier Solis (Ecuador), 5-0, pin 1:10
LOSS Ivan Duque (Colombia), 0-2, 5-6

84 kg/185 lbs. – Talan Knox, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), dnp
WIN Saul Romero (Cuba), 5-0, 1-0
LOSS Cheney Haight (USA), 0-1, pin 0:34

84 kg/185 lbs. – Cheney Haight, Boise Idaho (New York AC), 5th
WIN Jose Antonio Mendoza (Mexico), 4-0, 6-0
WIN Talan Knox (USA), 1-0, pin 0:34
LOSS Jan Fischer (Germany), 2-1, 0-2, 0-1
LOSS Francia (Cuba), 1-0, 0-1, 0-2

U.S. draws for Thursday

60 kg/132 lbs. – Joe Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Vs. Ismael Borrero (Cuba)
If he wins, will face winner of Liando (Venezuela) vs. Maikel Anache (Cuba)

74 kg/163 lbs. – Ben Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Vs. Timo Padusch (Germany)
If he wins, will face winner of Walter Toubel (Brazil) vs. Fidel Alvaraez (Cuba)

74 kg/163 lbs. – Marco Toledo, Foley, Ala. (USOEC)
Vs. Adam Juretzko (Germany)
If he wins, will face winner of Steeve Guenot (France) vs. Mayli Consuegra (Cuba)

74 kg/163 lbs. – Harry Lester, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Vs. Jesus Mina (Ecuador)
If he wins, will face winner of Anton Gottredson (USA) vs. Maximillian Prudentano (Argentina)

74 kg/163 lbs. – Anton Gottfredson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Vs. Maximillian Prudentano (Argentina)
If he wins, will face winner of Harry Lester (USA) vs. Jesus Mina (Ecuador)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – R.C. Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Vs. Oliver Hassler (Germany)
If he wins, will face Mirko Englich (Germany)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Vs. Ralf Boerringer (Germany)
If he wins, will face winner of Ruben Walselik (Argentina) vs. Antonio Santos (Brazil)