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News | Sept. 28, 2014

Numerous world-class athletes expected at CISM World Military Championships in New Jersey, Oct. 3-6

By Mr. Gary Abbott USA Wrestling

The CISM World Military Wrestling Championships is traditionally a very competitive tournament featuring many of the world’s best Olympic wrestlers. This year, the event will be hosted at Joint Base McGuire – Dix – Lakehurst, in New Jersey, October 3-6.

There are 24 nations entered, with over 200 athletes expected. The participating nations this year include: Algeria, Armenia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, United Arab Emirets, Ukraine, and the United States.

2008 Olympic bronze medalist Randi Miller of the United States is among the six past Olympic medalists in the expected field at this year’s CISM World Championships. She is joined by another women’s freestyle star, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Agnieszka Wieszczek-Kordus of Poland.

There are four Greco-Roman Olympic medalists who have registered to compete: 2012 Olympic silver medalist Heiki Nabi of Estonia, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Mindaugas Mizgaitis of Lithuania, 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Aleksandr Kazakevich of Lithuania and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Damian Janikowski of Poland.

There are three past World champions in the field, including 2005 World champion Iris Smith of the United States in women’s freestyle. 2006 and 2013 World Champion Heiki Nabi of Estonia in Greco-Roman, and 2014 World champion Tserenchimeg Sukhee of Mongolia in women’s freestyle are the other World champions.

Including the World champions, there are 15 past World medalists in the competition, including 2006 and 2007 Greco-Roman World bronze medalist Justin Lester of the United States.

Iris Smith of the United States, who won the CISM World gold medal in 2010, is among the 12 past CISM Military World champions who are returning to compete this year. Included is a two-time CISM World Military champion, Aleksandr Shyshman of Ukraine in Greco-Roman. Overall, 39 athletes who have won past CISM World Military medals are expected in this year’s field.

There are many past age-group World champions and medalists among the wrestlers coming to New Jersey to compete. Greco-Roman star Spenser Mango of the United States is among the two past University World champions. Four past Junior World champions are in the field, including women’s freestyle star Whitney Conder of the United States. Justin Lester of the United States is among the three past Cadet World champions expected to wrestle.

The depth and experience of this international field makes winning a CISM World Military medal a major achievement and a great honor. 

“CISM has a long tradition. You have a lot of World medalists that compete here. It gives our military athletes a chance to compete against many of the best wrestlers in the world,” said U.S. coach Shon Lewis.

The United States last hosted the CISM World Military Championships in 2000 at the U.S. Marine Corps base at

Camp Lejeune, N.C. The team won 12 medals at that event, led by Greco-Roman champion Duaine Martin at 58 kg and freestyle champions Jeff Bedard at 63 kg and Mike Van Arsdale at 97 kg.

Media wishing to cover the event in person should contact Sgt. Tereyama of Public Affairs at Katherine.Tereyama@us.af.mil or 609-754-5510, who will assist in making arrangements for media to participate.

Media with wrestling-related questions or needs should contact Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling at gabbott@usawrestling.org or 719-659-9637 cell.


CISM WORLD MILITARY WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Joint Base McGuire – Dix – Lakehurst, N.J., October 3-6

International stars expected at CISM World Military Championships

Olympic medalists (6)

Heiki Nabi (Estonia), Greco-Roman 130 kg, 2012 Olympic silver medalist

Aleksandr Kazakevich (Lithuania), Greco-Roman 80 kg, 2012 Olympic bronze medalist

Mindaugas Mizgaitis (Lithuania), Greco-Roman 130 kg, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist

Damian Janikowski (Poland), Greco-Roman 85 kg, 2012 Olympic bronze medalist

Randi Miller (United States), women’s freestyle 69 kg, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist

Agnieszka Wieszczek-Kordus (Poland), women’s freestyle 69 kg, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist

World champions (3)

Heiki Nabi (Estonia), Greco-Roman 130 kg, 2006 and 2013 World Champion, 2014 World bronze

Iris Smith (United States), women’s freestyle 75 kg, 2005 World Champion

Tserenchimeg Sukhee (Mongolia), women’s freestyle 60 kg, 2014 World Champion

World medalists (12 plus 3 champions = 15)

Justin Lester (United States), Greco-Roman 71 kg, 2006 World bronze, 2007 World bronze

Valdemaras Venckaitis (Lithuania), Greco-Roman 75 kg, 2007 World bronze medalist

Damian Janikowski (Poland), Greco-Roman 85 kg, 2011 World silver medalist

Aline da Silva Ferreira (Brazil), women’s freestyle 75 kg, 2013 World silver

Li Hui (China), women’s freestyle 53 kg, 2003 World bronze

Xu Haiyan (China), women’s freestyle 63 kg, 2006 World silver, 2002 CISM bronze

Jaqueline Schellen (Germany), women’s freestyle 53 kg, 2012 World bronze

Badrakh Odonchimeg (Mongolia), women’s freestyle 69 kg, 2009 World bronze

Iwona Matkowska (Poland), women’s freestyle 48 kg, 2014 World silver, 2006 World bronze

Monika Michalik (Poland), women’s freestyle 63 kg, 2006 and 2007 World bronze

Oliver Hassler (Germany), freestyle 98 kg, 2012 World silver

Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (Mongolia), freestyle 70 kg, 2013 and 2014 World bronze

CISM World Military Championships/Games champions (12)

Lukasz Banak (Poland), Greco-Roman 130 kg, 2010 CISM World champion, 2006 CISM silver, 2007  and 2013 CISM bronze

Aleksander Shyshman (Ukraine), Greco-Roman 80 kg, 2010 and 2013 CISM World champion

Sergey Yeroshkin (Ukraine), Greco-Roman 98 kg, 2013 CISM World champion, 2008 CISM World silver

Aleksander Chernetski (Ukraine), Greco-Roman 130 kg, 2008 CISM World champion, 2010 CISM World bronze

Iris Smith (United States), women’s freestyle 75 kg, 2010 CISM World champion

Li Hui (China), women’s freestyle 53 kg, 2010 CISM World champion

Xu Haiyan (China), women’s freestyle 63 kg, 2010 CISM World champion, 2006 CISM silver, 2002 CISM bronze

Iwona Matkowska (Poland), women’s freestyle 48 kg, 2010 CISM World champion

Deng Zhiwei (China), freestyle 125 kg, 2013 CISM World champion, 2008 and 2010 CISM World bronze

Krystian Brzozowski (Poland), freestyle 74 kg, 2010 CISM World champion

Evgeni Khavilov (Ukraine), freestyle 65 kg, 2005 CISM World champion, 2008 CISM silver, 2013 CISM bronze

Oleg Bilotserkivski (Ukraine), freestyle 86kg, 2008 CISM World champion

CISM World Military Championships/Games medalists (27 plus 12 champions = 39)

Gevorg Sahakyan (Armenia), Greco-Roman 66 kg, 2013 CISM World silver

Tarek Benaissa (Algeria), Greco-Roman 66 kg, 2013 CISM World bronze

Zhang Jianfeng (China), Greco-Roman 59 kg, 2010 CISM World bronze

Velli-Karri Souminen (Finland), Greco-Roman 80 kg, 2013 CISM World bronze

Horlan Zhakansha (Kazakhstan), Greco-Roman 55 kg, 2013 CISM World bronze

Aleksandr Kazakevich (Lithuania), Greco-Roman 80 kg, 2006 CISM World silver

Laimutis Adomaitis (Lithuania), Greco-Roman 85 kg, 2005 and 2007 CISM World bronze

Mindaugas Mizgaitis (Lithuania), Greco-Roman 130 kg, 2005 and 2008 CISM World bronze

Michal Tracz (Poland), Greco-Roman 59 kg, 2013 CISM World bronze

Damian Janikowski (Poland), Greco-Roman 85 kg, 2013 CISM World silver

Vugar Ragimov (Ukraine), Greco-Roman 59 kg, 2007 CISM World silver, 2008 CISM World bronze

Ruslan Israfilov (Ukraine), Greco-Roman 66 kg, 2005 CISM World bronze

Othella Feroleto (United States), women’s freestyle 60 kg, 2010 CISM World bronze

Jaqueline Schellen (Germany), women’s freestyle 53 kg, 2010 CISM World bronze

Agnieszka Wieszczek-Kordus (Poland), women’s freestyle 69 kg, 2010 CISM World bronze

Liao Rong (China), women’s freestyle 48 kg, 2010 CISM World silver

Monika Michalik (Poland), women’s freestyle 63 kg, 2010 CISM World silver

Viktor Kazishvili (Armenia), freestyle 97 kg, 2013 CISM World bronze

Tian Zehng-Guan (China), freestyle 61 kg, 2008 CISM World bronze

Huwatibieke Bahetihan (China), freestyle 86 kg, 2013 CISM World bronze

Manoj Kumar (India), freestyle 65 kg, 2006 and 2008 CISM World bronze

Eldos Abikenov (Kazakhstan), freestyle 61 kg, 2013 CISM World bronze

Adilet Davlumbaev (Kazakhstan) freestyle 86 kg, 2013 CISM World bronze

Nadir Khan (Pakistan), freestyle 74 kg, 2013 CISM World bronze

Maciej Balawender (Poland), freestyle 86 kg, 2010 and 2013 CISM World silver

Radoslaw Baran (Poland), freestyle 125 kg, 2013 CISM World silver, 2010 CISM World bronze

Mykola Aivazian (Ukraine), freestyle 61 kg, 2013 CISM World bronze

University World Championships/Games champions (2)

Spenser Mango (United States), Greco-Roman 59 kg, 2005 World University champion

Oleg Bilotserkivski (Ukraine), freestyle 86kg, 2008 World University champion

University World Championships/Games medalists (18 plus 2 champions = 20)

Justin Lester (United States), Greco-Roman 71 kg, 2005 World University bronze

Maksim Manukyan (Armenia), Greco-Roman 85 kg, 2013 World University silver

Heiki Nabi (Estonia), Greco-Roman 130 kg, 2005 and 2006 World University bronze

Ashkat Dilmukhamedov (Kazakhstan), Greco-Roman 75 kg, 2006 World University bronze

Ilya Nastochenko (Kazakshtan), Greco-Roman 98 kg, 2014 World University bronze

Valdemaras Venckaitis (Lithuania), Greco-Roman 75 kg, 2006 World University silver

Laimutis Adomaitis (Lithuania), Greco-Roman 85 kg, 2006 World University bronze

Michal Tracz (Poland), Greco-Roman 59 kg, 2012 World University silver

Othella Feroleto (United States), women’s freestyle 60 kg, 2006 World University bronze

Xu Haiyan (China), women’s freestyle 63 kg, 2002 World University bronze

Badrakh Odonchimeg (Mongolia), women’s freestyle 69 kg, 2006 World University silver

Iwona Matkowska (Poland), women’s freestyle 48 kg, 2004 World University bronze

Agnieszka Wieszczek-Kordus (Poland), women’s freestyle 69 kg, 2004 World University silver, 2005 bronze

Kararzyna Krawczyk (Poland), women’s freestyle 53 kg, 2010 World University bronze

Jamel Johnson (United States), freestyle 65 kg, 2012 World University bronze in Greco-Roman

Batchuluun Batmagnai (Mongolia), freestyle 65 kg, 2014 World University bronze

Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (Mongolia), freestyle 70 kg, 2013 World University bronze

Krystian Brzozowski (Poland), freestyle 74 kg, 2005 World University silver

Junior World champions (4)

Karapat Chalyan (Armenia), Greco-Roman 75 kg, 2013 Junior World Champion, 2012 Junior World bronze

Villius Laurinaitis (Lithuania), Greco-Roman 98 kg, 2012 Junior World Champion

Whitney Conder (United States), women’s freestyle 53 kg, 2007 Junior World champion

Tserenchimeg Sukhee (Mongolia), women’s freestyle 60 kg, 2013 Junior World champion

Junior World medalists (21 plus 4 champions = 25)

Spenser Mango (United States), Greco-Roman 59 kg, 2006 Junior World bronze

Velli-Karri Souminen (Finland), Greco-Roman 80 kg, 2010 Junior World bronze

Valdemaras Venckaitis (Lithuania), Greco-Roman 75 kg, 2003 Junior World silver

Aleksandr Kazakevich (Lithuania), Greco-Roman 80 kg, 2005 Junior World bronze

Damian Janikowski (Poland), Greco-Roman 85 kg, 2009 Junior World bronze

Aleksander Shyshman (Ukraine), Greco-Roman 80 kg, 2008 Junior World bronze

Feng Jiamin (China), women’s freestyle 58 kg, 2012 Junior World bronze

Jaqueline Schellen (Germany), women’s freestyle 53 kg, 2010 Junior World bronze

Dalma Caneva (Italy), women’s freestyle 63 kg, 2014 Junior World silver, 2013 Junior World bronze

Orkhon Purevdorj (Mongolia), women’s freestyle 58 kg, 2013 Junior World bronze

Enkhbayar Tsevegmed (Mongolia), women’s freestyle 63 kg, 2008 Junior World bronze

Shinekhuu Purvekhuu (Mongolia), women’s freestyle 75 kg, 2010 Junior World bronze

Iwona Matkowska (Poland), women’s freestyle 48 kg, 2000 Junior World silver

Anna Zwirydowska (Poland), women’s freestyle 58 kg, 2006 Junior World bronze

Monika Michalik (Poland), women’s freestyle 63 kg, 2000 Junior World bronze

Nadine Tokar (Switzerland), women’s freestyle 53 kg, 2003 Junior World bronze

Artak Hovhannisyan (Armenia), freestyle 61 kg, 2013 Junior World bronze

Viktor Kazishvili (Armenia), freestyle 97 kg, 2013 Junior World silver

Oliver Hassler (Germany), freestyle 98 kg, 2008 Junior World bronze

Manoj Kumar (India), freestyle 65 kg, 1998 Junior World silver

Tsogbaatar Damdinbazar (Mongolia), freestyle, 57 kg, 2008 Junior World bronze

Cadet World champions (3)

Justin Lester (United States), Greco-Roman 71 kg, 1999 Cadet World Champion in freestyle

Vladimir Kudrin (Kazakhstan), freestyle 57 kg, 2011 Cadet World Champion

Krystian Brzozowski (Poland), freestyle 74 kg, 1997 Cadet World Champion, 1998 Cadet World silver

Cadet World medalists (2 plus 3 champions = 5)

Tserenchimeg Sukhee (Mongolia), women’s freestyle 60 kg, 2011 Cadet World bronze

Iwona Matkowska (Poland), women’s freestyle 48 kg, 1998 Cadet World silver

Youth Olympic Games (1)

Artak Hovhannisyan (Armenia), freestyle 61 kg, 2010 Youth Olympic Games bronze

 

Competition Schedule

Friday, 3 October

Competition in Men’s freestyle (57 kg, 61 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg) and women’s freestyle (48 kg, 53 kg, 55 kg, 58 kg)

Saturday, 4 October

Competition in Men’s freestyle (74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg) and women’s freestyle (60 kg, 63 kg, 69 kg, 75 kg)

Sunday, 5 October

Competition in Greco-Roman (59 kg, 66 kg, 71 kg, 75 kg)

Monday, 6 October

Competition in Greco-Roman (80 kg, 85 kg, 98 kg, 130 kg)