USA Olympic Team vs. Georgia in Greco Roman Wrestling May 19, 2012 La Grange, IL We Welcome the Georgian National Wrestling Federation! კეთილი იყოს საქართველოს ჭიდაობის ეროვნული ფედერაციის მობრძანება! USA Line-up 55 kg/121 lbs. Spenser Mango US Army College: USOEC -Northern Michigan High School: St. Louis, Mo. (Christian Brothers College) 3 x US Open Champion Bronze in Junior World Championships World University Champion 8th in Beijing 60 kg/132 lbs. ELLIS COLEMAN NYAC Age: 26 Residence: OTC, Colorado Springs, CO High School: Oak Park. IL (Oak Park-River Forest) Third in Pan American Championships Bronze in Junior World Championships Age: 20 66 kg /145.5 lbs. JUSTIN LESTER US Army College: Northern Michigan (USOEC) High School: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (Cuyahoga Falls Valley Christian) US Open Champion 2 x World Championships bronze medalist Pan American Games gold medalist 2011 USA Wrestling Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year Age: 28 74 kg/163 lbs. BEN PROVISOR Sunkist Kids High School: Stevens Point Area Senior High, Stevens Point, WI Residence: OTC, Colorado Springs, CO US Open Champion 3rd in Dave Schultz International Competed in two Junior World Championships Age: 22 84 kg/185 lbs. CHAS BETTS Minnesota Storm Residence: OTC, Colorado Springs, CO College: Northern Michigan USOEC High School: St. Michael, MN 3rd in Nikola Petrov, 3rd in Ivan Podubbny, 2nd in Haparanda Cup, 2nd in Vantaa Cup, 96 kg/211.5 lbs. RC JOHNSON New York AC International Champion, Sunkist Kids, Age: 29 U.S. World Team Trials Champion, College: Northern Michigan-USOEC 3rd in Slovenia Grand Prix, High School: Plymouth, MN 2nd in World University Championships (Robbinsdale Armstrong) Age: 26 Henri Deglane Challenge Champion, Sunkist Kids International Champion, Second in Pytlasinski International, U.S. World Team Trials Champion, Olympic Trials Champion 96 kg JUSTIN RUIZ NYAC College: Nebraska High School: Salt Lake City, Utah (Taylorsville) Age: 32 US Open Champion World Bronze Medalist 120 kg/264.5 lbs DREMIEL BYERS US Army Pan American Champion Age: 38 College: North Carolina A&T High School: Kings Mountain, N.C. (Kings Mountain) 2002 and 2009 USA Wrestling Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year Outstanding Wrestler at 1999 U.S. Greco-Roman Nationals World Champion and World Silver Medalist Georgian Line-up Lasha Gogitadze – 55 kg 2008 Olympic Games – 10th 2006 Junior World Championship – 3rd Age: 24 Revaz Lashkhi – 60 kg Age: 24 2011 European Champion 2010 World Championship 5th 2010 World Cup 2nd 2009 World Championship 7th 2005 Junior World Championships 3rd Manuchar Tskhadaia – 66 kg Age: 27 2012 European Championship 2nd 2011 World Championship 2nd 2009 World Championship 2nd 2009 European Championship 3rd Manuchar Kvirkelia – 74 kg Age: 33 2008 Olympic Champion 2007 European Champion 2006 World Championships 3rd 2006 European Championships 3rd 2003 World Champion 2002 World Championship 3rd 2002 European Championship 2nd Vladimer Gegeshidze – 84 kg Age: 25 2010 2010 Golden Grand Prix Champion 2004 European Cadet Championship 2003 European Cadet Champion Soso Jabidze – 96 kg Age: 25 2012 Nikola Petrov Tournament Champion 2010 European Championship 3rd Guram Pherselidze – 120 kg Age: 24 2010 World Championship 10th 2008 Golden Grand Prix 2nd GEORGIA was one of 15 Soviet Republics, but gained its independence in 1991. Located between Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of Georgia is Tbilisi. Within Georgia, there are a number of folk styles of wrestling, including the popular Kakhetian style. Georgia has a history of great international champions. The famous Tbilisi International Tournament is now named for their first world champions. Givi Kartozia was a Greco-Roman world champion in 1953, 1955, and 1958 and Olympic Champion in 1956. Vachtang Balawadze was the first freestyle world champion in 1954, and again in 1957. More recent champions include the great Levan Tediashvili, a freestyle Olympic Champion in 1972 and 1976; David Gobedishvili the heavyweight Olympic champ in 1988; and 2008 Olympic Greco-Roman champ Manuchar Kvirkvelia, who will be wrestling at the Curby Cup. The Tbilisi Freestyle International began in 1962 and became known as the “Small World Championship.” To many Americans of the 70′s and 80′s, Tbilisi meant TOUGH! It was in this tournament that Dan Gable burst onto the international scene by winning the championship. The Georgian fans held him in very high regard. Another American who was highly respected by the Georgians was the great Dave Schultz. The Kartozia Greco-Roman Tournament began in 1974. These tournaments were reestablished in 2005. Jake Curby was the first American to place in it, winning a bronze in 2009. GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLING is a style of wrestling practiced in Olympic and international competition. In Greco- Roman wrestling the legs may not be used to trip, and no holds may be taken below the waist. Other rules and procedures for Greco-Roman wrestling are the same as those for freestyle wrestling, the other international amateur style. Greco-Roman wrestling originated in France in the early 19th century, in imitation of classical Greek and Roman representations of the sport. When the Olympic Games returned in 1896 after a 1500-year gap, Greco Roman was the chosen style. You have 3 two minute periods, but to win you have to win 2 of the 3 periods Each period is broken up into 1½ minutes on the feet followed by 30 seconds for ground wrestling (par terre) If takedowns are scored there will be no 30 second par terre. The period is decided by who accumulates the most points during both the standing and ground phases Takedown = 1-5 points: One for just taking him to his stomach or side on the mat, three for a takedown taking him to his back, and five for a “grand amplitude” throw that brought your opponents feet above his head. When a “grand amplitude” throw is awarded the period automatically ends. Reversal = 1 point Exposure or when your opponents back faces the mat = 2-3 points (Breaks 90 degrees) Penalty = 1-2 points When wrestling the 30 second period on the mat, when there was no score on the feet, the bottom man can score a point if he is not turned to his back. Pushing/knocking opponent out of bounds = 1 point Prelude Bout Exceptionale 96kg (211lbs) Mohamed Abdelfatah v. RC Johnson 2006 World Champion from Egypt Olympic Trials Champion 55kg (121lbs) Lasha Gogitadze v. Spencer Mango 60kg (133lbs) Revaz Lashkhi v. Ellis Coleman 66kg (149.5lbs) Manuchar Tskhadaia v. Justin Lester 74kg (163lbs) Manuchar Kvirkelia v. Ben Provisor 84kg (185lbs) Vladimer Gegeshidze v. Chas Betts 96kg (211lbs) Soso Jabidze v. Justin Ruiz 120kg (264lbs) Guram Pherselidze v. Dremiel Byers About Jacob Curby Jacob Curby loved wrestling, and it was a central part of his life from his early days spent in a playpen of the Lyons Township HS wrestling room to his first Greco match in Finland at age six. Jake accomplished a great deal in his 25 years, but it was the manner in which he conducted himself that stands out in the reflections of family, friends, and friends of wrestling. He was hard-working, humble, determined, tough, and kind to others. He was, as an article on Themat.com states, “a warrior on and off the mat.” He overcame a battle with cancer during high school and quietly dealt with his epilepsy. He was coached by Mark King from his early days in the Lions Wrestling Club where he won an IKWF state title through high school where he was All-State and a leading Greco- Roman competitor. Following high school, Jake joined Ivan Ivanov in Marquette, MI where he trained at the US Olympic Education Center and attended college at Northern Michigan University. Here he began his steady climb up the Olympic ladder that he hoped would end as a world and Olympic medalist. At the time of Jake’s passing, he was ranked number two at 66 kg in the US. He was showing continued improvement and had some big wins in Europe where he beat the US National Champ in Finland and then defeated the European bronze medalist in Sweden where he won a bronze medal. His wrestling achievements include being a 4-time senior national place winner; 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place finishes in the World Team Trials; University Nationals Champion; 2 University World Teams; Sunkist Champion; NYAC International Champion; Dave Schultz International Champion; Slovenia Grand Prix Champion; Hamid Elofir International Champion; Bronze Medal in Pan Am Tournament; Bronze medal in the Kartozia International in Tbilisi, Georgia; and a Bronze medal in the Happaranda Tournament in Sweden. Jake was so proud to represent USA Wrestling around the world. Coaching the Illinois Greco teams in Fargo brought him great satisfaction. He was the Greco clinician at the Overtime School of Wrestling and stated, “Overtime is wrestling paradise!” His message as stated on his website was simple – “you control who you are or want to become in the future. My experiences as a world-class athlete have taught me to be resilient; my battle with cancer taught me to be tough; my relationships with my God, family and country have taught me to be thankful. I cannot guarantee a world championship, but I can guarantee total dedication. I will never fail a drug test, I will always be in shape, and I will conduct myself in a manner that will make my sponsors, family and country proud!” Several days after returning to the US after wrestling in the Podubbny Tournament in Russia, Jake passed away while taking a nap after his afternoon practice.