U.S. Wins Sixteen Medals and Finishes in Second Place as a Team at the Veterans Freestyle Worlds
8/22/2001
Heather Van Peursem/USA Wrestling

U.S. Wins Sixteen Medals and Takes Second Place as a Team at the 2001 World Veterans Freestyle Championships in Martigny, Switzerland, Aug. 19

America's best Veteran freestyle wrestlers took on the world in Martigny, Switzerland at the 2001 World Veterans Championships, August 16-19. The United States finished with an impressive sixteen medals (three gold, six silver and seven bronze), and finished in second place as a team with 273 points. Iran won the team competition with 319 points.

The best wrestlers in the world who are 35-years-old and older participated in this annual event. There are five divisions: Division A (35-40 years), Division B (41-45 years), Division C (46-50 years), Division D (51-55 years) and Division E (56 years and above).

Winning gold medals for the United States were: Dan Chaid (San Jose, Calif.) in Division A at 97 kg, Brad Swartz (Auburn, Wash.) in Division B at 76 kg and Constantine Barkoczy (Phoenix, Ariz.) in Division B at 97 kg.

Chaid also won the gold medal in 2000 at the Veterans World Championships. He is a former U.S. Nationals champion on the Senior level and member of Freestyle Team USA many times.

Swartz won his first Veterans gold medal in style with a technical fall over Zeinola Babaei Bahnamiri of Iran, 11-1. He is also a former U.S. Veterans National Champion.

Barkoczy scored a 5-0 decision over Sac Chalechale Nazari of Iran to win his first Worlds gold medal.

2001 Silver medalist Russ Cozart now has nine World Veterans medals and is a six-time Veterans World Champion. He lost a close 2-1 decision to Ehrhard Pocher of Germany in the gold-medal finals.

Taking home silver medals for the U.S. were: Gerard Silva (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) in Division C at 58 kg, Frank Holloran (Flower Mound, Texas) of Division C at 63 kg, Russ Cozart (Brandon, Fla.) in Division C at 69 kg, Donald Apodaca (Huntington Beach, Calif.) in Division D at 85 kg, Ron Cole (Auburn, Wash.) in Division D at 97 kg and James Tanniehill (Indianapolis, Ind.) in Division E at 85 kg.

The seven bronze medalist for the United States include: Michael Dehart (Bradford, Ohio) in Division A at 58 kg, Rob Porter (Urbana, Ill.) in Division A at 63 kg, Anibal Nieves (Springfield, Mass.) in Division A at 69 kg, James Johnson (Phoenix, Ariz.) in Division B at 130 kg, Donald Moore (Williamsburg, Va.) in Division C at 69 kg, Ahmadi Shirzad (Coventry, Conn.) in Division D at 58 kg and Charles Hotcaveg in Division E at 69 kg.

The U.S. team featured 16 Veterans National Champion wrestlers from 2001. And 34 of 48 American wrestlers finished in the top 10 of their weight classes.

The U.S. team was coached by Dr. Dave Bennett of Colorado Springs, Colo., a NCEP gold-level certified coach and a USA Wrestling national staff member.

Team Points: 1. Iran - 319 pts.; 2. USA - 273 pts.; 3. Russia - 227 pts.; 4. Germany - 185 pts.

Medal count - Iran - 25; Russia - 17; USA - 16; Germany - 12

2001 Veterans World Championships
8/22/2001
Martigny, Switzerland
Entered by Heather Van Peursem

Team Scoring

Results By Weight
Team Points: 1. Iran - 319 pts.; 2. USA - 273 pts.; 3. Russia - 227 pts.; 4. Germany - 185 pts.

Medal count - Iran - 25; Russia - 17; USA - 16; Germany - 12

U.S. FINISHES AT THE 2001 VETERANS WORLD FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS

at Martigny, Switzerland, Aug. 16-19

Div. A (35-40 years)

127.75 lbs./58 kg - Kevin Menefee of Olney, Md., 4th; lost by tech. fall to Ali Mohammad Babaiee (Iran), 10-0, 3:00; lost by tech. fall to Michael Dehart (USA), 11-1, 2:51

127.75 lbs./58 kg - Michael Dehart of Bradford, Ohio, 3rd; tech. fall Tumender Sunkhbaator (Mongolia), 10-0, 2:43; tech. fall Kevin Menefee (USA), 11-1, 2:51

138.75 lbs./63 kg - Jamey Kasser of Lewis Center, Ohio; 5th; dec. Erik Imaniajzov (Kazakhstan), 10-2; lost dec. to Rob Porter (USA), 8-3; pin Gardjiada Ibragimov (Russia), 3:44; lost dec. to Jamie Wise (USA), 2-0

138.75 lbs./63 kg - James Wise of Moses Lake, Wash., 4th; lost dec. to Abbas Kimpour Gholam (Iran), 5-1; lost dec. to Boris Savva (Moldova), 4-0; tech. fall Alexandre Nimguirov (Russia), 15-5, 3:36; dec. Jamey Kasser (USA), 2-0; lost by inj. def. to Gardjiada Ibragimov (Russia)

138.75 lbs./63 kg - Rob Porter of Urbana, Ill., 3rd; dec. Erik Imaniajzov (Kazakhstan), 8-1; dec. Jamey Kasser (USA), 8-3; lost dec. to Boris Savva (Moldova), 2-1; dec. Jamie Wise (USA), 4-3, ot

152 lbs./69 kg - Anibal Nieves of Springfield Mass., 3rd; won by inj. def. over Parkash Singh Atam (India),; tech. fall Bryan Wilkes (USA), 10-0, 2:50; lost dec. to Jalil Jahan Shani (Iran), 4-2; tech. fall Freddie De Preez (South Africa), 11-0, 2:37

152 lbs./69 kg -Bryan Wilkes, 8th; tech. fall Parkash Singh Atam (India), 10-0, 1:37; lost by tech. fall to Anibal Nieves (USA), 10-0, 2:50;

167.5lbs. /76 kg - Bob Freund of Kelso, Wash., 9th; lost dec. to Gyozo Lakatos (Hungary), 5-4; lost dec. to Piet Van Rensburg (South Africa), 4-3

167.5lbs. /76 kg - Kenneth Wharry of Medford, Ore., 6th; dec. Bruno Mazzantini (Italy), 6-3; lost dec. to Charpoudi Ismailov (Russia), 3-0; tech. fall Mike Travern (South Africa), 10-0, 0:57; lost by inj. def. to Mog Kudiyamagomedov (Russia)

187.5 lbs./ 85 kg - Jeff Anderson of Elburn, Ill., 6th; lost by pin to Francois Pienaar (South Africa), 1:58; lost by tech. fall to Alexandr Derivolcov (Moldova), 12-1, 3:18; lost dec. to Sokorevics Vitalijs (Latvia), 5-3

213.75 lbs./97 kg - Dan Chaid, San Jose, Calif., 1st; tech. fall Vladimir Litvinenko (Russia), 14-4, 4:00; pin Slakteris Igors (Latvia), 0:27; dec. Ahmad Roudbari (Iran), 3-2

Div. B (41-45 years)

127.75 lbs./58 kg - John Smithson of Ventura, Calif., 7th; lost dec. to Hennie Bekker (South Africa), 6-4; dec. Valeriy Brusentsov (Russia), 7-0; dec. Fedor Tucan (Moldova), 7-3

127.75 lbs./58 kg - George Dunn, 6th; lost by pin to Valleie Siamak (Denmark), 3:35; pin Vitaly Mitkin (Russia), 1:39; lost by pin to Hassan Nejad Maghsoud (Iran), 5-1

152 lbs./69 kg - Lou Lazzari, 6th; dec. Eric Pagliotti (Sweden), 4-2; lost dec. to Kurt Martin (Germany), 4-1; lost dec. to Almasi Hormoz (Iran), 5-4

167.5 lbs./76 kg - Bruce Moe of Hissboro, N.D., 4th; dec. Sergey Orechkin (Russia), 2-0; dec. Alirre Garshasebikahrizi (Germany), 2-0; lost by pin to Brad Swartz (USA), 0:40; lost dec. to Farrub Abdullajev (Estonia), 7-0

167.5 lbs./76 kg - Kevin Hejnal of Patterson, Calif., 6th; lost by tech. fall to Farrub Abdullajev (Estonia), 10-0, 3:17; pin Koos Horn (South Africa), 1:45

167.5 lbs./76 kg - Brad Swartz of Auburn, Wash., 1st; pin Jaskai Istvan (Hungary), 1:17; tech. fall Chris Kunneke (South Africa), 11-0, 1:03; pin Bruce Moe (USA), 0:40; tech. fall Zeinola Babaei Bahnamiri (Iran), 11-1, 3:01

187.5 lbs./85 kg - Michael Mitrowski of Shrewsbury, Mass., dnp; lost dec. to Alexandre Vertokhvostov (Russia), 3-0; dec. Nicholas Peterken (Great Britain), 7-0

213.75 lbs./97kg - Jeff Henry of Los Angeles, Calif., 5th; pin Minkov Stoyan (Bulgaria), 1:44; won by inj. def. over Emil Tarta (Romania); lost by pin to Akhmed Abdoulkhanov (Russia), 1:07

213.75 lbs./97kg - Constantine Barkoczy of Phoenix, Ariz., 1st; pin Asghar Ramezani (Iran), 1:04; pin Flip Van Der Merwe (South Africa), 0:30; dec. Akhmed Abdoulkhanov (Russia), 2-1; dec. Sac Chalechale Nazari (Iran), 5-0

286 lbs./130 kg - James Johnson of Phoenix, Ariz., 3rd; dec. Magomed Magomedov (Russia), 3-0; pin Yakub Tanzirov (Russia), 0:24; dec. Eric Davies (USA), 4-0; won by inj. def. over Feridoon Habibi (Iran); lost dec. to Andreas Schroder (Germany), 1-0; won by inj. def. over Dimitri Petrov Bojerikov (Bulgaria)

286 lbs./130 kg - Eric Davies, 5th; dec. Heinz Lengacher (Switzerland), 6-0; pin Dimitri Petrov Bojerikov (Bulgaria), 0:18; lost dec. to James Johnson (USA), 4-0; pin Feridoon Habibi (Iran), 1:56

Div. C (46-50 years)

127.75 lbs./58 kg - Gerald Silva of Mechanicsburg, Pa., 2nd; dec. Gawor Jacek (Poland), 5-0; lost by tech. fall to Asghar Ali Besharati (Iran), 11-0, 1:54

138.75 lbs./63 kg - Frank Halloran of Flower Mound, Texas, 2nd; dec. Len Bornman (South Africa), 5-0; dec. Peter Heckmann (Germany), 5-2; lost dec. to Anatoly Kara-Sal (Russia), 7-3; lost by pin to Hossein Touranian (Iran), 0:35

138.75 lbs./63 kg - Loren Rabnick of Fairlawn, Ohio, 8th; lost by pin to Jacques Laborie (France), 1:30; lost by tech. fall to Antonio clemente (Italy), 11-0, 1:34; lost by pin to Hossein Touranian (Iran), 1:17

152.75 lbs/69 kg - Craig Johnson of Broomfield, Colo., 8th; lost by tech. fall to Ali Rezataleghani (Iran), 10-0, 2:17; lost dec. to Zdravko Pekec (Croatia), 7-1;

152.75 lbs/69 kg - Donald Moore of Williamsburg, Va., 3rd; lost by tech. fall to Wernfried Dornfeld (Germany), 14-4, 2:47; tech. fall Paul-Andre Jordan (Switzerland), 10-0, 2:00; tech. fall Dean Olson (USA), 12-1, 2:27; lost dec. to Ehrhard Pocher (Germany), 10-2; dec. Ali Rezataleghani (Iran), 6-4

152.75 lbs/69 kg - Dean Olson of Mantua, Ohio, 5th; dec. Paul-Andre Jordan (Switzerland), 15-6; dec. Wernfried Dornfeld (Germany), 7-0; lost by tech. fall to Donald Moore (USA), 12-1, 2:27

152.75 lbs/69 kg - Russ Cozart, of Brandon, Fla., 2nd; pin Wolfgang Stemmler (Germany), 1:36; tech. fall Jim Lucas (USA), 10-0, 1:30; tech. fall Ali Rezataleghani (Iran), 10-0, 2:30; lost dec. to Ehrhard Pocher (Germany), 2-1

152.75 lbs/69 kg - Jim Lucas of Santa Cruz, Calif., dnp; lost by tech. fall to Russ Cozart (USA), 10-0, 1:30; dec. Wolfgang Stemmler (Germany), 4-2;

167.5 lbs./76 kg - Sarkis Dermenjian, 7th; lost dec. to Mohsen Koshalfar (Iran), 5-0; dec. Bernd Radestock (Germany), 4-3; won by inj. def. over Horaguchi Yoshiyuki (Japan)

187.5 lbs./85 kg - Steve Contarino of Palmetto, Fla., 8th; lost by pin to Herbert Saum (Germany), 1:09; lost by dec. to Badirsoltan (Russia), 7-5; lost by tech. fall to Gerhard Brown (South Africa), 10-0, 2:43

213.75 lbs./97kg - Tom Hazell of Torrance, Calif., 4th; dec. Slahkov Dimital (Bulgaria), 4-0; dec. Reg Holder (South Africa), 3-1; lost by pin to Singh Kartar (India), 0:29; lost by pin to Golubers Vladimirs (Latvia), 0:24

Div. D (51-55 years)

127.75 lbs./58 kg - Tommy Reyna of Oklahoma City, Okla., 5th; lost by tech. fall to Mevludi Chkhaidze (Georgia), 12-0, 2:58; dec. Nikolai Georgiev Minchev (Bulgaria), 12-4; lost by tech. fall to Viktor Chirkov (Russia), 10-0

127.75 lbs./58 kg - Ahmadi Shirzad of Coventry, Conn., 3rd; lost dec. to Vladimir Kim (Russia), 10-9; won by tech. fall over George Kiesling (South Africa), 13-0, 2:53; won by tech. fall over Mevludi Chkhaidze (Georgia), 12-0, 1:54

152.75 lbs./69 kg - Daniel Lincoln of Santa Rosa, Calif., 6th; lost dec. to Myrzager Urgeshbavev (Kazakhstan), 6-4; pin Winfried Nisius (Germany), 1:43

167.5 lbs./76 kg - James Butcher of Richmond, Va., 7th; lost by tech. fall to Magomed Badrudinov (Russia), 11-0; pin Undzenko Leons (Latvia), 0:59; lost dec. to Emzar Kikabidze (Georgia), 8-2

167.5 lbs./76 kg -Jesse Saenz of Cashion, Ariz., dnp; lost by pin to Vasiliy (Russia), 1:47; lost by inj. def. to Suveizda Alberts (Latvia)

187.5 lbs./85 kg - Donald Apodaca of Huntington Beach, Calif., 2nd; dec. Hanko Jan (Slovakia), 4-0; dec. Singh Gulzar (India), 5-0; pin Jaros Marian (Slovakia), 2:47; lost dec. to Michael Busse (Poland), 9-1

213.75 lbs./97 kg - Ron Cole of Auburn, Wash., 2nd; pin Paul Stull (USA), 1:05; dec. Erhard Schmelzer (Germany), 6-1; dec. Artur Sammet (Germany), 4-2; lost dec. to Alireza Ziba (Iran), 8-0

213.75 lbs./97 kg - Paul Stull of Lemoyne, Pa., 7th; lost by pin to Ron Cole (USA), 1:05; lost dec. to Artur Sammet (Germany), 8-0; lost by pin to Erhard Schmelzer (Germany), 0:41

Div. E (56 years and above)

152 lbs./69 kg - Charles Hotcaveg, 3rd; dec. Marc Ruchet (Switzerland), 6-0; lost dec. to Friedrich Machauer (Germany), 3-1; lost by pin to Guerbert Djadrailov (Russia), 0:40

187.5 lbs./85 kg - Bruce Bird of Novelty, Ohio, dnp; lost by pin to Ito Katsuharu (Japan), 1:09; lost by pin to Bertold Lorbach (Germany), 0:52

187.5 lbs./85 kg - Glenn Clark of Newfoundland, Canada, 9th; lost by pin to James Tanniehill (USA), 0:54; lost by pin to Jagdish Kumaz (India), 3:04;

187.5 lbs./85 kg - James Tanniehill of Indianapolis, Ind., 2nd; pin Glenn Clark (USA), 0:54; pin Jagdish Kumaz (India), 0:23; dec. Bertold Lorbach (Germany), 4-0; lost by tech. fall to Adolf Seger (Germany), 10-0, 1:23

213.75 lbs./97kg - Roger Olesen of Redwood City, Calif., 4th; pin Khadzhi-Umar Arapiev (Russia), 2:12; lost by pin to Joseph Reasbeck (USA), 2:20; lost by pin to Shaban Karami (Iran), 3:20; lost by dec. to Josip Corak (Croatia), 6-1

213.75 lbs./97kg -Joseph Reasbeck, III of Superior, Wis., 5th; lost by pin to Shaban Karami (Iran), 1:28; ; pin Roger Olesen (USA), 2:20; won by inj. def. over Khadzhi-Umar Arapiev (Russia)

Final Individual Placings

Div. A (35-40 years)

127.75 lbs./58 kg - Gold - Ali Mohammad Babaiee (Iran); Silver - Tumendembe Sunkhbaator (Mongolia); Bronze - Michael Dehart (USA)

138.75 lbs./63 kg - Gold - Boris Savva (Moldova); Silver - Nader Nitoei (Iran); Bronze - Rob Porter (USA)

152 lbs./69 kg - Gold - Jalil Jahan Shani (Iran); Silver - Peter Haack (Germany); Bronze - Anibal Nieves (USA)

167.5 lbs./76 kg - Gold - Samad Nejadi (Iran); Silver - Piet Van Rensburg (South Africa); Bronze - Gyozo Lakatos (Hungary)

187.25 lbs./85 kg - Gold - Alijear Saraie (Iran); Silver - Alexandr Derivolcov (Moldova); Bronze - Radislav Namajap (Russia)

213.75 lbs./97 kg - Gold - Dan Chaid (USA); Silver - Ahmad Roudbari (Iran); Bronze - Vladimir Litvinenko (Russia)

286 lbs./130 kg - Gold - Igor Klimov (Russia); Silver - Detlev John (Germany); Bronze - Thomas Dybiona (Germany)

Div. B (41-45 years)

127.75 lbs./58 kg - Gold - Hennie Bekker (South Africa); Silver - Fedor Tucan (Moldova); Bronze - Valleie Siamak (Denmark)

138.75 lbs./63 kg - Gold - Ayub Safavi (Iran); Silver - Fatahi Kheirolah (Iran); Bronze - Zakiy Bikbulatov (Russia)

152 lbs./69 kg - Gold - Aghil Heidari (Iran); Silver - Sandor Nemeth (Hungary); Bronze - Kurt Martin (Germany)

167.5 lbs./76 kg - Gold - Brad Swartz (USA); Silver - Zeinolabdin Babaei Bahnamiri (Iran); Bronze - Farrub Abdullajev (Estonia)

187.25 lbs./85 kg - Gold - Willem Putter (South Africa); Silver - Hlopoks Evgenigs (Latvia); Bronze - Alexandre Vertokhvostov (Russia)

213.75 lbs./97 kg - Gold - Csaba Barkoczy (USA); Silver - Sadegh Chalechale Naza (Iran); Bronze - Akhmedula Abdoulkhanov (Russia)

286 lbs./130 kg - Gold - Andreas Schroder (Germany); Silver - Magomed Magomedov (Russia); Bronze - James Johnson (USA)

Div. C (46-50 years)

127.75 lbs./58 kg - Gold - Ali Asghar Besharati (Iran); Silver - Gerard Silva (USA); Bronze - Gawor Jacek (Poland)

138.75 lbs./63 kg - Gold - Hossein Touranian (Iran); Silver - Frank Holloran (USA); Bronze - Anatoly Kara-Sal (Russia)

152 lbs./69 kg - Gold - Ehrhard Pocher (Germany); Silver - Russ Cozart (USA); Bronze - Donald Moore (USA)

167.5 lbs./76 kg - Gold - Petru Marta (Moldova); Silver - Bernd Radestock (Germany); Bronze - Mohsen Koshalfar (Iran)

187.25 lbs./85 kg - Gold - Rahim Aboiei (Iran); Silver - Herbert Saum (Germany); Bronze - Tilt Tartlan (Estonia)

213.75 lbs./97 kg - Gold - Singh Kartar (India); Silver - Valeriy Sodboev (Russia); Bronze - Golubers Vladimirs (Latvia)

286 lbs./130 kg - Gold - Roland Gerke (Germany); Silver - Masoud Moghrrebi (Iran); Bronze - Said Ammaev (Russia)

Div. D (51-55 years)

127.75 lbs./58 kg - Gold - Viktor Chirkov (Russia); Silver - Vladimir Kim (Russia); Bronze - Ahmadi Shirzad (USA)

138.75 lbs./63 kg - Gold - Ito Kazumasa (Japan); Silver - Viktor Arnautov (Ukraine); Bronze - Khosrow Zamani (Iran)

152 lbs./69 kg - Gold - Anzor Lazishvili (Georgia); Silver - Cornel Cornea (Romania); Bronze - Genusarus Kvins (Latvia)

167.5 lbs./76 kg - Gold - Magomed Badrudinov (Russia); Silver - Emzar Kikabidze (Georgia); Bronze - Suveizda Alberts (Latvia)

187.25 lbs./85 kg - Gold - Michael Busse (Poland); Silver - Donald Apodaca (USA); Bronze - Shiro Aoyama (Japan)

213.75 lbs./97 kg - Gold - Alireza Ziba (Iran); Silver - Ron Cole (USA); Bronze - Artur Sammet (Germany)

286 lbs./130 kg - Gold - Mohammad Fatghi (Iran); Silver - Viktor Kozliakov (Russia); Bronze - Cliff Etzebeth (South Africa)

Div. E (56 years and above)

127.75 lbs./58 kg - Gold - Ali Bagherzadeh (Iran); Silver - Masaaki Hatta (Japan); Bronze - Ebrahim Javadi (Iran)

138.75 lbs./63 kg - Gold - Katsumura Yasuo (Japan); Silver - Watanabe Osamu (Japan); Bronze - Gennadiy Trunin (Kazakhstan)

152 lbs./69 kg - Gold - Viktor Tonkich (Russia); Silver - Friedrich Machauer (Germany); Bronze - Charles Hotcaveg (USA)

167.5 lbs./76 kg - Gold - Abbasi Seyd (Iran); Silver - Taimouraz Khodov (Russia); Bronze - Ivan Kouzmitchev (Russia)

187.25 lbs./85 kg - Gold - Adolf Seger (Germany); Silver - James Tanniehill (USA); Bronze - Hashem Ghanbari (Iran)

213.75 lbs./97 kg - Gold - Shaban Karami (Iran); Silver - Avtandil Todria (Georgia); Bronze - Josip Corak (Croatia)

286 lbs./130 kg - Gold - Todorov Valko Vasil (Bulgaria); Silver - Abolfazi Anvari (Iran); Bronze - Jozsef Kovacs (Hungary)