U.S. GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLERS TO COMPETE IN SWEDEN AND FINLAND IN EARLY DECEMBERA group of U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers will participate at a pair of major tournaments in Scandinavia in December.
The competitions include the Haparanda Cup in Haparanda, Sweden, Dec. 5-6 and the Vaanta Cup in Vaanta, Finland, Dec. 12-13.
The athletes will include a group from the U.S. Marines Corps wrestling team, a number of U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athletes, as well as other top competitors from across the nation.
A number of top U.S. athletes will participate on the tour, including heavyweight stars Billy Pierce (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) and Rulon Gardner (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids). Pierce is currently ranked No. 2 and Gardner is No. 3 in the nation at the weight class.
1996 Olympic team member Jason Gleasman (Minneapolis, Minn./New York AC) will compete at 213.75 pounds.
The U.S. Marines Corps team, which won the 1998 Armed Forces Greco-Roman title, will also participate. Leading the team effort are Dan Hicks (Fredricksburg, Va./U.S. Marines), the No. 2 ranked athlete at 213.75 pounds, and Duaine Martin (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marines), the No. 3 ranked athlete at 127.75 pounds.
These two competitions traditionally feature many top international stars from across Europe, and should have strong fields in all weight divisions.
GRECO-ROMAN SCANDINAVIAN TOUR
in Sweden and Finland, Dec. 3-14
119 - Jeff Cervone, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Air Force
127.75 - Jacob Hey, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Air Force
138.75 - Brandon McNab, Colorado Springs, Colo., Dave Schultz WC
138.75 - Paul Gagich, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Air Force
152 - Mike Ellsworth, Colorado Springs, Colo., Michigan WC
152 - Steve Woods, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Air Force
167.5 - Aaron Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Air Force
187.25 - Ethan Bosch, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC
213.75 - Jason Gleasman, Minneapolis, Minn., New York AC
286 - Billy Pierce, Minneapolis, Minn., Minnesota Storm
286 - Rulon Gardner, Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunkist Kids
286 - Corey Farkas, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Air Force
U.S. Marine Corps athletes
127.75 -Dwaine Martin, Quantico, Va., U.S. Marines
138.75 - James Shillow, Quantico, Va., U.S. Marines
152 - Marcel Cooper, Quantico, Va., U.S. Marines
152 - Brian Van Hoven, Quantico, Va., U.S. Marines
167.5 - Patrick Owens, Quantico, Va., U.S. Marines
187.25 - William Carr, Quantico, Va., U.S. Marines
213.75 - Dan Hicks, Fredricksburg, Va., U.S. Marines
U.S. Marine Corps Coach - Jay Antonelli, Quantico, Va.