Justin Ruiz and Robbie Smith battle at the 2010 U.S. World Team Trials. Ruiz won a silver and Smith won a bronze at the Grand Prix of Slovenia this weekend. Larry Slater photo.

MURSKA SOBATA, Slovenia – The United States won four medals in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Grand Prix of Slovenia, Feb. 19-20.

Claiming silver medals were Justin Ruiz (Boise, Idaho/New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Brandon Rupp (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Capturing bronze medals were Steven Forrest (Camp LeJeune, N.C./U.S. Marines) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Robbie Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Ruiz, a 2005 World bronze medalist, opened with two wins, stopping Roland Bin of Serbia, 6-0, 6-0 in the quarterfinals, then beating Peter Kalman of Hungary, 6-0, 3-0. 

He was defeated in the gold-medal bout by Nikita Melnikov of Russia, 0-5, 0-1. Melnikov was fifth in the 2007 Junior World Championships.

Rupp, a 2010 U.S. Open champion, also opened with two victories. He dominated Tatar Gergo of Hungary, 8-0, 5-0 in the quarterfinals, then pinned Olderich Kucera of the Czech Republic in the semifinals. 

He was beaten in the finals by Anton Dzok of Croatia, 2-3, 0-1. Dzok was eighth at the 2007 Junior World Championships.

Both Forrest and Smith won bronze medal matches uncontested, based upon the number of athletes in their draw.

Forrest opened with a victory over Aleksandr Maksimovic of Serbia, 2-0, 1-0, then was beaten in the semifinals by Petr Novak of the Czech Republic, 1-0, 0-4, 0-1. 

Smith lost his only bout to the eventual champion Nikita Melnikov of Russia, 0-6, 0-1.

Two U.S. athletes placed fifth after losing their bronze-medal bouts, Chad Vandiver (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Daniel Sotonieves (Camp LeJeune, N.C./U.S. Marines) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

The U.S. athletes competing in Slovenia this weekend will go on to Bourgas, Bulgaria to wrestle in the Dan Kolov International, Feb. 25-27.

GRAND PRIX OF SLOVENIA
At Murska Sobata, Slovenia, Feb. 19-20

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold – Roman Amoyan (Armenia)
Silver – Lee Jung-Beik (Korea)
Bronze – Jan Hocko (Czech Republic)
Bronze – Bekkhan Mankiev (Russia)
5th – Andrey Buleev (Russia)
5th – Alaev Mechman (Israel)

60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold – Ryu Han-Su (Korea)
Silver – Benjamin Sokman (Croatia)
Bronze – Vlad Tsaryuk (Israel)
Bronze – Rustam Khuchbarov (Russia)
5th – Chad Vandiver (USA)
6th – Marco Lara (USA)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold – Adam Kurak (Russia)
Silver – Viktor Nemes (Serbia)
Bronze – Ziga Pepel (Slovenia)
Bronze – Vahan Juharyan (Armenia)
5th – Daniel Sotonieves (USA)
5th – Sasun Ghambaryan (Armenia)

74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold – Kong Nae-Koo (Korea)
Silver – Petr Novak (Czech Republic)
Bronze – Steven Forrest (USA)
Bronze – Arsen Julfalakyan (Armenia)
5th – Tomas Sobecky (Czech Republic)
6th – Aleksandr Maksimovic (Serbia)

84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold – Artur Shahinyan (Armenia)
Silver – Azamat Bikbaev (Russia)
Bronze – Jure Kuhar (Slovenia)
Bronze – Petr Balo (Serbia)
5th – Vojtech Kukla (Czech Republic)
5th – Sejepan Lavric (Croatia)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Gold – Nikita Melnikov (Russia)
Silver – Justin Ruiz (USA)
Bronze – Robbie Smith (USA)
Bronze – Roland Bin (Serbia)
5th – Peter Kalman (Hungary)
6th – Dejan Franjkovic (Serbia)

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Gold – Anton Dzok (Croatia)
Silver – Brandon Rupp (USA)
Bronze – Milos Spasic (Serbia)
Bronze – Oldrich Kucera (Czech Republic)
5th – Marco Koscevic (Croatia)
5th – Tatar Gergo (Hungary)

U.S. Greco-Roman performances

60 kg/132 lbs. – Chad Vandiver, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 5th
LOSS Ryu Han-Su (Korea), 0-1, 0-4
LOSS Rustam Khuchbarov (Russia), 0-6, 0-6

60 kg/132 lbs. – Marco Lara, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 6th
LOSS Rustam Khuchbarov (Russia), 0-3, 0-3

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Daniel Sotonieves, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines), 5th
WIN Matej Markanovic (Croatia), 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Viktor Nemes (Serbia), 1-0, 0-1, 0-1
LOSS Ziga Pepel (Slovenia), 0-4, 4-0, 0-3

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Matt Holt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (unattached), 9th
WIN Ungi Lajos (Hungary), 0-3, 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Vahan Juharyan (Armenia), 0-5, 0-1

74 kg/163 lbs. – Andy Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm), 7th
LOSS Arsen Julfalakyan (Armenia), 0-4, 0-3

74 kg/163 lbs. – Steven Forrest, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines), 3rd
WIN Aleksandr Maksimovic (Serbia), 2-0, 1-0
LOSS Petr Novak (Czech Republic), 1-0, 0-4, 0-1

84 kg/185 lbs. – Chas Betts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm), 7th
LOSS Petr Balo (Serbia), 0-1, 1-0, 0-1

84 kg/185 lbs. – C.J. Meyers, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines), 10th
LOSS Vojtech Kukla (Czech Republic), 0-4, 0-1

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Justin Ruiz, Boise, Idaho (New York AC), 2nd
WIN Roland Bin (Serbia), 6-0, 6-0
WIN Peter Kalman (Hungary), 6-0, 3-0
LOSS Nikita Melnikov (Russia), 0-5, 0-1

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Robbie Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 3rd
LOSS Nikita Melnikov (Russia), 0-6, 0-1

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Brandon Rupp, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 2nd
WIN Tatar Gergo (Hungary), 8-0, 5-0
WIN Olderich Kucera (Czech Republic), pin
LOSS Anton Dzok (Croatia), 2-3, 0-1

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Pete Kowalczuk, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids). 7th
LOSS Marco Koscevic (Croatia), 2-0, 0-2, 0-1