SPLIT, CROATIA - Russia walked away with top honors in the 20th Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) World Military Wrestling Championship conducted October 10-13 in Split, Croatia.  Twenty countries participated in the Olympic style tournament featuring some of the best Greco-Roman and Freestyle competitors in the world.  Russia captured 13 medals from both styles combined, including four gold, two silver, and two bronze in Freestyle.  Ukraine finished third in Greco-Roman and second in Freestyle.     The competition was held at the "Poljud," the host venue for the 1979 Mediterranean Games. This marked the second time in three years that Croatia hosted a world military championship, as Zagreb hosted the 2nd World Military Games in 1999.  The United States Armed Forces finished in eighth place in Greco-Roman and fourth place in Freestyle.  Overall, the USA finished in fifth place behind Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Germany.    Marine Corps Sgt. Marcel Cooper (Quantico, Va.), won the only medal for the United States when he finished second behind Russia's Maxim Semenov.  Cooper lost to Semenov in the gold medal match, 6-0.  Semenov was named outstanding Greco-Roman wrestler of the tournament.      In other matches, at 85 kg, Air Force's Senior Airman Aaron Sieracki (Peterson AFB, Colo.), defeated Adam Bakaev, Russia, 4-1, before losing to Marek Szustek, Poland, 3-2, in the semi-finals.  Sieracki finished fourth in the competition following a 6-5 defeat from Dai Dittrich of Germany.      In Freestyle at 76 kg, Marine Corps Sgt. Brian Van Hoven (Quantico, Va.) won his pool with a 5-4 win over Jaroslov Benko, Slovakia, and a 8-1 win of Abullah Ali Abdulgader of Qatar.  Van Hoven lost his semi-final bout to Alik Muzaiev of the Ukraine, and lost the bronze medal match 8-2 at the hands of Ergin Hasan of Turkey.    Also in Freestyle, fellow Marine 1st Lt. Frank Workman (Marine Corps Air Station, New River, NC) won his pool at 130 kg by beating Ivan Radic of Croatia 11-0 and Semeonidas Anatassia of Greece, 3-2.  Workman lost his semi-final match to Yurli Chobitko of Ukraine, 12-0, before dropping the bronze medal match, 12-2 to Russia's Nikolay Telegin..    Qatar made their first appearance as a team in the World Military Championships and were presented the fair play award at the conclusion of competition.     "In my opinion, this was one of the toughest international competitions in the world, aside from the World Championships and the European Championships.  The technical performance of the competitors, as well as the conduct of the competition, mirrored the competition two years earlier.," stated team captain, Mr. Van Stokes (Fort Campbell, Ky.)  "Furthermore, in the light of major events unfolding in the world at the time of the competition, this event clearly signaled success for CISM's objective of "Friendship Through Sport."      Marine Corps Cpt. Jay Antonelli (Quantico, Va.) served as head coach and was assisted by Army Staff Sgt. Shon Lewis (Fort Carson, Colo.).     The 2002 World Military Championship will be held 21-28 October 2002 in Tallinn, Estonia.