Action from the 2013 Veterans National Freestyle Championships. Robbert Wijtman photo

The 2013 Veterans Men’s Freestyle Nationals in Las Vegas, Nev. had its largest turnout in a number of years with 113 Veteran competitors in Divisions A-E on the mats at the Las Vegas Convention Center

An impressive total of nine Veteran wrestlers earned gold in both men’s freestyle on Thursday and Greco-Roman on Wednesday. Four of these are returning double champions, having won in both styles of wrestling in 2012 as well.

Jason Goldman of Thorobred Wrestling Club took home first in both Greco-Roman and freestyle this year in Division B at 58 kg/127.75 lbs. This is Goldman’s third year in a row as a double champion at this event. 

“I had all great competition,” Goldman said. “I feel better each time I go, I felt good right up to the end. It feels great. I love coming to this event.” 

Other returning double champions are Ryan Vottero of Air Force Wrestling Club, who took home two gold medals in Division A at 69 kg/152 lbs. for the second time. Also winning his second straight double title was Jamey Kasser of Crush Wrestling Club in Division D at 69 kg/152 lbs. Kasser won at 63 kg/138.5 lbs. in 2012. Stephen Campbell (Unattached) also won in the Greco-Roman and freestyle competitions in 2012 and again this year in Division E at 97 kg/214 lbs. Darryl Hall won in Division C at 76 kg/167.5 lbs. in 2012 and this year in Division D at 76 kg/167.5 lbs.

Other double champions from this year’s tournament include Maurice Washington of Torrance, winning in Division A at 76 kg/167.5 lbs., Michael Tuck of GHW in Division C at 63 kg/138.5 lbs., Paul Jones of GoSoHard Wrestling in Division D at 97 kg/216 lbs., Victor Chirkov of Russia in Division E at 58 kg/127.75, Bruce Moe of Hillsborobruce in Division E at 76 kg/167.5 lbs. and Joe Reasbeck of Superior Wrestling in Division E at 130 kg/286.5 lbs.

Returning freestyle champions from 2012 that defended their title this year include Shawn Henebry in Division B at 85 kg/187.25 lbs., Kevin Pine of Palo Verde in Division C at 85 kg/187.25 lbs., Petros Petrosyan of SK Golden Boys Club in Division D at 85 kg/187.25 lbs. and Kevin Hejnal of Modesto Wrestling Academy in Division E at 85 kg/187.25 lbs.

Goldman echoed the sentiments of several Veteran wrestlers, who are just excited to still be competing at their age.

“I guess [being a Veteran] means we’re old, but I still feel young,” Goldman said. “I feel great. I still have years to compete. I do it because I can.”

2013 MEN’S FREESTYLE VETERAN NATIONALS 
At Las Vegas, Nev., April 18, 2013

Men’s Freestyle Results

Division A 

63 kg/138.5 lbs.
1st Place - Travis Mercado of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Alaibek Ibraev of CHICAGO WRESTLING CLUB

69 kg/152 lbs. 
1st Place - Ryan Vottero of air force wrestling club
2nd Place - Zaur Gochiyaev of CHICAGO WRESTLING CLUB

76 KG/167.5 lbsl
1st Place - Maurice Washington of Torrance
2nd Place - Christopher Quast of Riverside

85 KG/187.25 lbs 
1st  - Luke Santos (D.O.G.) over Michael Hoover (Clan Hoover) Dec 5-0,4-0
3rd - Andre Blake (AZ Gladiators) over Anthony Uchytil (Delta Wrestling Club) TF 7-0,6-0

97 KG/214 lbs
1st Place - Matthew Ishler of Santa Monica Bay Wrestling Clu
2nd Place - B McCrillis of Nieves wrestling

130 KG/286.5 lbs 
1st Place - Ryan Hoover of Clan Hoover

Division B

58 KG/127.75 lbs 
1st Place - Jason Goldman of Thorobred Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Elliot Diaz of Canyon Springs Cougars
3rd Place - Jason Lorang of Cascade Wrestling Club
4th Place - Craig Terhaar of Predator
Round Robin Matches
Jason Goldman (Thorobred Wrestling Club) over Jason Lorang (Cascade Wrestling Club) Fall 7-0,0:44
Elliot Diaz (Canyon Springs Cougars) over Jason Lorang (Cascade Wrestling Club) Dec 6-5,7-0
Jason Goldman (Thorobred Wrestling Club) over Elliot Diaz (Canyon Springs Cougars) Dec 8-2,2-0

63 KG/138.5 lbs 
1st Place - Aleksandr Serebrinnikov of Russia

69 KG/152 lbs 
1st Place - Tracy Dent of Predator
2nd Place - Tony Cooper of The Monkey Gym
3rd Place - Ignacio Ramirezlazos of No Mercy School of Wrestling
Round Robin Matches
Tracy Dent (Predator) over Tony Cooper (The Monkey Gym) Dec 1-0,3-1
Tracy Dent (Predator) over Ignacio Ramirezlazos (No Mercy School of Wrestling) Dec 1-0,1-2,1-0
Tony Cooper (The Monkey Gym) over Ignacio Ramirezlazos (No Mercy School of Wrestling) Dec 0-3,3-0,1-0

76 KG/167.5 lbs
1st Place - Dustin Clocherty of Oxnard Sting
2nd Place - Joseph Longano of World Class Wc

85 KG/187.25 lbs 
1st Place - Shawn Henebry of Simple Man Wrestling
2nd Place - Scott Herman of Redondo beach

97 kg/214 lbs.
1st Place - Jason Blakeman of Oxnard Sting
2nd Place - Octavius Bellamy of Greater Chicago Wrestlers
3rd Place - Jesse Campos of Team Roadrunner Shuttle
4th Place - Steve Flores of N/A
Round Robin Matches
Jason Blakeman (Oxnard Sting) over Octavius Bellamy (Greater Chicago Wrestlers) Dec 1-4,2-1,2-0
Jason Blakeman (Oxnard Sting) over Jesse Campos (Team Roadrunner Shuttle) Fall 3-1,0:27
Octavius Bellamy (Greater Chicago Wrestlers) over Jesse Campos (Team Roadrunner Shuttle) Dec 1-0,6-0

130 kg/286.5 lbs. 
1st Place - Timothy Duggan of CHICAGO WRESTLING CLUB
2nd Place - Amos Tong of honolulu

Division C

63 kg/138.5 lbs. 
1st Place - Michael Tuck of GHW
2nd Place - Merujan Aslikyan of S. K. Golden Boys Wrestling Cl
3rd Place - David Range of Cleveland Heights
Round Robin Matches
Michael Tuck (GHW) over Merujan Aslikyan (S. K. Golden Boys Wrestling Cl) Dec 3-0,4-1
Merujan Aslikyan (S. K. Golden Boys Wrestling Cl) over David Range (Cleveland Heights) Dec 3-0,1-0
Michael Tuck (GHW) over David Range (Cleveland Heights) Dec 5-0,5-0

69 kg/152 lbs.
1st Place - Bret Fry of Grand Canyon Wrestling Club
2nd Place - David Cannizzo of NYAC
3rd Place - Anthony Schettino of NYAC
4th Place - Evgeny Didenko of Russia
Round Robin Matches
Bret Fry (Grand Canyon Wrestling Club) over David Cannizzo (NYAC) TF 6-0,9-2
Bret Fry (Grand Canyon Wrestling Club) over Anthony Schettino (NYAC) Fall 7-0,0:21
David Cannizzo (NYAC) over Anthony Schettino (NYAC) Dec 3-3,7-0

76 kg/167.5 lbs.
1st Place - Igor Ilin of Russia
2nd Place - Steve Horton of air force wrestling club
3rd Place - Jamie Kirmser of NYAC
4th Place - Matthew Bartlett of DCAC
1st Place Match
Igor Ilin (Russia) over Steve Horton (air force wrestling club) Dec 0-3,1-0,2-0
3rd Place Match
Jamie Kirmser (NYAC) over Matthew Bartlett (DCAC) Dec 5-4,3-0

85 kg/187.25 lbs.
1st Place - Kevin Pine of palo verde
2nd Place - Boris Kulich of CHICAGO WRESTLING CLUB
3rd Place - Alexander Sergeev of Russia
4th Place - Joseph Riedell of Sacramento
1st Place Match
Kevin Pine (palo verde) over Boris Kulich (CHICAGO WRESTLING CLUB) Fall 0:28
3rd Place Match
Alexander Sergeev (Russia) over Joseph Riedell (Sacramento) Fall 6-0,1:03

97 kg/214 lbs.
1st Place - Craig Fredrikson of Puyallup
2nd Place - Andrey Shchegolev of Unattached
3rd Place - Mt Ayers of Tri-cities wrestling club
Round Robin Matches
Andrey Shchegolev (Unattached) over Mt Ayers (Tri-cities wrestling club) Fall 0:48
Craig Fredrikson (Puyallup) over Andrey Shchegolev (Unattached) Dec 1-1,0-1,4-0
Craig Fredrikson (Puyallup) over Mt Ayers (Tri-cities wrestling club) Fall 0:38

130 kg/286.5 lbs.
1st Place - Tyrone Abercrombie of Quiet Storm
2nd Place - Dave Arbogast of Corespeed Wrestling - Round Ro
3rd Place - John Payne of Florida Jets
Round Robin Matches
Tyrone Abercrombie (Quiet Storm) over Dave Arbogast (Corespeed Wrestling - Round Ro) Dec 4-2,6-0
Tyrone Abercrombie (Quiet Storm) over John Payne (Florida Jets) Dec 3-0,3-0
Dave Arbogast (Corespeed Wrestling - Round Ro) over John Payne (Florida Jets) Dec 1-0,2-1

Division D

58 kg/127.75 lbs. 
1st Place - Zhora Hovhannisyan of Armanian Wrestling Federation
2nd Place - Victor Aybar of WARHAWK WRESTLING CLUB
3rd Place - Chris Splees of unattached
4th Place - Victor Ilyenko of Russia
Round Robin Matches
Victor Aybar (WARHAWK WRESTLING CLUB) over Chris Splees (unattached) Dec 5-0,3-0
Zhora Hovhannisyan (Armanian Wrestling Federation) over Chris Splees (unattached) Fall 1:19
Zhora Hovhannisyan (Armanian Wrestling Federation) over Victor Aybar (WARHAWK WRESTLING CLUB) Dec 0-1,1-0,2-0

63 kg/138.5 lbs.
1st Place - Steven Michalke of unattached
2nd Place - Michael Madry of World Class Wc

69 kg/152 lbs.
1st Place - Jamey Kasser of Crush Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Brandon Bridges of Mustang Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Michael DiFelice of Peoria Scramblers
4th Place - Samei Rasool of unattached
Round Robin Matches
Jamey Kasser (Crush Wrestling Club) over Michael DiFelice (Peoria Scramblers) Dec 6-0,1-0
Jamey Kasser (Crush Wrestling Club) over Brandon Bridges (Mustang Wrestling Club) Fall 0-6,0:51
Brandon Bridges (Mustang Wrestling Club) over Michael DiFelice (Peoria Scramblers) Fall 0:41

76 kg/167.5 lbs.
1st Place - Darryl Hall of BlueBlood Wrestling

85 kg/187.25 lbs.
1st Place - Petros Petrosyan of SK Golden Boys Club
2nd Place - Juan Lopez of palo verde
3rd Place - Adam Ruiz of Team Ruiz Gilroy Pumas
4th Place - Paul Porter of Tucson Badger Wrestling Club
Round Robin Matches
Juan Lopez (palo verde) over Adam Ruiz (Team Ruiz Gilroy Pumas) Dec 6-0,1-0
Petros Petrosyan (SK Golden Boys Club) over Juan Lopez (palo verde) Fall 0:39
Petros Petrosyan (SK Golden Boys Club) over Adam Ruiz (Team Ruiz Gilroy Pumas) Fall 1:07

97 kg/214 lbs.
1st Place - Paul Jones of GoSoHard Wrestling
2nd Place - James Kiernan of JDKAM Fight Club
3rd Place - Larry Robertson of Who`s Your Daddy
4th Place - Jeff Henry of Crush Wrestling Club
1st Place Match
Paul Jones (GoSoHard Wrestling) over James Kiernan (JDKAM Fight Club) Dec 3-0,8-0
3rd Place Match
Larry Robertson (Who`s Your Daddy) over Jeff Henry (Crush Wrestling Club) TF 6-0,6-0

130 kg/286.5 lbs.
1st Place - Safiyula Abdrashitov of Russia
2nd Place - Brian Jones of Santa Monica Bay Wrestling Clu
3rd Place - Michael Morey of unattached
Round Robin Matches
Safiyula Abdrashitov (Russia) over Michael Morey (unattached) Fall 0:16
Brian Jones (Santa Monica Bay Wrestling Clu) over Michael Morey (unattached) Fall 7-0,0:30
Safiyula Abdrashitov (Russia) over Brian Jones (Santa Monica Bay Wrestling Clu) Dec 2-0,5-3

Division E

58 kg/127.75 lbs.
1st Place - Victor Chirkov of Russia
2nd Place - DonaldD Mondragon of Columbia County Mat Club
3rd Place - Derril Fry of Elko wrestling
Round Robin Matches
Victor Chirkov (Russia) over Derril Fry (Elko wrestling) Dec 6-0,7-4
DonaldD Mondragon (Columbia County Mat Club) over Derril Fry (Elko wrestling) Fall 0:12
Victor Chirkov (Russia) over DonaldD Mondragon (Columbia County Mat Club) Dec 7-3,6-2

63 kg/138.5 lbs.
1st Place - Shirzad Ahmadi of Teamshirzad

69 kg/152 lbs.
1st Place - Jd Hawkins of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Naser Aziz of S. K. Golden Boys Wrestling Cl
3rd Place - Craig Johnson of Broomfield
4th Place - Christopher Roos of Santa Monica Bay Wrestling Clu
1st Place Match
Jd Hawkins (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) over Naser Aziz (S. K. Golden Boys Wrestling Cl) Dec 7-0,5-0

76 kg/167.5 lbs.
1st Place - Bruce Moe of HillsboroBruce
2nd Place - Mark Black of Santa Monica Bay Wrestling Clu
3rd Place - Arthur De La Cruz of Bernalillo County Wolfpack
4th Place - Craig Miner of Riverton, Utah
Round Robin Matches
Bruce Moe (HillsboroBruce) over Arthur De La Cruz (Bernalillo County Wolfpack) Dec 3-0,6-0
Mark Black (Santa Monica Bay Wrestling Clu) over Arthur De La Cruz (Bernalillo County Wolfpack) Dec 4-1,1-0
Bruce Moe (HillsboroBruce) over Mark Black (Santa Monica Bay Wrestling Clu) Dec 3-3,1-0,6-0

85 kg/187.25 lbs.
1st Place - Kevin Hejnal of Modesto Wrestling Academy
2nd Place - Steve Contarino of unattached
3rd Place - Peter Haag of CHICAGO WRESTLING CLUB
4th Place - Valery Sorokov of Russia
Round Robin Matches
Kevin Hejnal (Modesto Wrestling Academy) over Peter Haag (CHICAGO WRESTLING CLUB) Dec 4-0,6-0
Kevin Hejnal (Modesto Wrestling Academy) over Steve Contarino (unattached) Dec 0-1,1-0,0-4
Steve Contarino (unattached) over Peter Haag (CHICAGO WRESTLING CLUB) Dec 7-6,0-1,4-1

97 kg/214 lbs.
1st Place - Stephen Campbell of unattached
2nd Place - Donald Apodaca of Santa Monica Bay Wrestling Club

130 kg/286.5 lbs.
1st Place - Joe Reasbeck of Superior Wrestling
2nd Place - Ray Lotfi of N/A