This week, nine athletes from Norway arrived in Marquette for a two-week training program in men’s Greco-Roman wrestling.
The camp is being led by USOEC head coach Dennis Hall and assistant coach Willie Madison.
The camp is provided in order to give the athletes international experience.  The meet also gives the wrestlers a chance to compete at home and showcase the USOEC and the Greco-Roman program.
A dual meet was held between the two teams on Monday, Feb. 22 at Westwood High School in Ishpeming.
“International tournaments are rare for guys this age,” said Hall. “The experience for both teams is huge and the dual meet will give us a good sense for things we need to work on during the second half of the camp.”
The USOEC wrestlers made their country proud by shutting out the Norway team at the meet, winning every match on the evening.

The tournament opened up with the 66 kilogram matchups. Joakim Braseth from Norway and Alex Fleming from the United States started things off, as Fleming won the match in two periods with a score of 1-0, 3-0.
Next Tanner Andrews overcame Joakim Korsnes in a 1-0, 7-0 by scoring six consecutive points in a period.
In the 70 kilogram weight class, Thrasher Porcher defeated Andreas Lillehagen 3-0, 2-0 for a two-period win.
In a 74 kilogram match, between Norway’s Bendik Wollman and USOEC athlete Josh Castellano went into a hard fought three rounds before Castellano ultimately won with a 0-1, 5-0 and 6-0 decision.
Through out the entire meet, the United States stayed consistent with their offensive game, always looking for another way to get a score.
In the toughest match of the night, at 74 kilogram, USOEC’s Aaron Briggs  proved this to be true in his win over Norway’s Rasmus Nes Tjorstad, 1-0, 1-0.
The last match of the night was Norway’s Jon Isaksen against USOEC athlete Mark Stenberg at 84 kilograms. Stenberg won the match  in two-periods 1-0, 2-0.
Despite the lost, the Norway team members kept their heads up and smiles on their faces.
“We got our butts kicked,” the team said in unison.
Braseth said that the Norwegians were facing a great team.
“The American guys are great,” Braseth said while looking over at his competitors.
The Norway team explained that in two weeks is when the real training starts and now, thanks to this dual meet, they have an idea of what to work on.
Wollmann said that he and his team are capable of more and are ready for more training.
“Right now we are in our off-season,” he said. “In two weeks when we really start up.”
Hall was also pleased with the results.
“The main thing was to have a good, friendly competition with Norway and to get the feel for foreign competition,” said Hall.
Hall said he has big plans for his team and is ready for the second half of training camp to improve on the mistakes he saw at the meet.
“No matter what, we are always looking for a score,” Hall added.
In addition to the competition, 2008 Olympian Spenser Mango and 2009 World Team member Chas Betts was there to talk with the athletes and sign autographs.