Eight American Greco-Roman wrestlers place at Haparanda Cup in Sweden, Dec. 1-2

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
12/03/2001


Eight U.S. wrestlers placed in the top six of their weight divisions at the Haparanda Cup in Haparanda, Sweden Dec. 1-2.    This was a mixed tour, with a team of U.S. athletes competing for their individual clubs and a team competing for the U.S. Marine Corps team. The U.S. team was coached by Rich Estrella of Colorado Springs, Colo. and the U.S. Marine Corps team was coached by Jay Antonelli of Quantico, Va.    Americans placing fourth were Nathan Piasecki (Marquette, Mich./USOEC) at 119 pounds, Jess Hargrave (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marine Corps) at 152 pounds and Kenny Owens (Stafford, Va./U.S. Marine Corps) at 187.25 pounds.    Claiming fifth place were Keith Barkers (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marine Corps) at 167.5 pounds and Deon Hicks (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marine Corps) at 213.75 pounds.    Taking sixth place were Jacob Hey (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Air Force) at 138.75 pounds, Justin Millard (Marquette, Mich./USOEC) at 187.25 pounds and Tipton Peterson (Stafford, Va./U.S. Marine Corps) at 213.75 pounds.    The two U.S. teams will next compete at the Vaanta Cup in Vaanta, Finland Dec. 8-9.      HAPARANDA CUP  at Haparanda, Sweden, Dec. 1-2  Medalists  54 kg/119 lbs. - Gold - Shachin Gassimov (St. Petersburg, Russia); Silver - Gennard Vesyrtev (St. Petersburg, Russia); Bronze - Bronze - Petri Iskoski (Finland)  58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Gold - Oleg Byokov (Ukraine); Silver - Jani Haapamaki (Finland); Bronze - Maksym Matvieev (Ukraine)  63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Gold - Rustem Mambetov (St. Petersburg, Russia); Silver - Okeksiy Mazur (Ukraine); Bronze - Joel Karlsson (Sweden)  69 kg/152 lbs. - Gold - Sergei Kovalenko (St. Petersburg, Russia); Silver - Kim-Jussi Nurmela (Finland); Bronze - Alexander Hodotai (Ukraine)  76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Gold - Aleksei Shirokih (St. Petersburg, Russia); Silver - Rami Takamaa (Nurmon Jimy club, Sweden); Bronze - Johann Pettersson (Sweden)  85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Gold - Bolat Abdulaiyv (Ukraine); Silver - Aleksan Sardaryan (Ukraine); Bronze - Lennie Persson (Sweden)  97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Gold - Denis Shakaja (St. Petersburg, Russia); Silver - Roman Tymonyakin (Ukraine); Bronze - Oleksander Chernetskiy (Ukraine)   130 kg/286 lbs. - Gold - Jan-Ake Forslund (Sweden); Silver - Beytaula Haziz Hasan (Bulgaria); Bronze - Svoslav Ivanov (Bulgaria)    U.S. Placewinners  54 kg/119 lbs. - Nathan Piasecki, Marquette, Mich. (USOEC) - 4th place  63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Jacob Hey, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force) - 4th place  85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Justin Millard, Marquette, Mich. (USOEC) - 6th place    U.S. Marine Corps placewinners  69 kg/152 lbs. - Jess Hargrave, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps) - 4th place  76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Keith Barkers, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps) - 5th place  85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Kenny Owens, Stafford, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps) - 4th place  97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Deon Hicks, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps) - 5th place  97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Tipton Peterson, Stafford, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps)- 6th place