Parker, Hrovat, Cummings, Askren win bronze medals at Canada Cup

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
07/12/2004


Four U.S. freestyle wrestlers claimed bronze medals at the Canada Cup, held in Guelph, Ontario, July 9-10.    The U.S. bronze medalists in the men's division were Greg Parker (New York, N.Y./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs., Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Pat Cummings (State College, Pa./New York) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.    Winning a bronze medal in the women's division was Hana Asken (Los Angeles, Calif./Santa Monica WC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.    The men's freestyle tournament featured Canadian and American wrestlers, plus top athletes from Cuba and Iran, along with competitors from other nations such as Poland, Japan, Albania, Namibia. The women's freestyle division included athletes from World champion Japanm as well as Austria.    In his bronze-medal match, Parker defeated Travis Cross of Canada. Hrovat, who was wrestling up a division, defeated Mykhail Abdul-Latif, an American who trains with the Burnaby Mountain Club in Canada, to take third. Cummings defeated Steve Snyders of Canada to capture his bronze medal. Scores are not currently available, but will be posted when possible.    Askren was entered in a weight division of five athletes. She placed behind the champion, Angela Mott of Canada, and the runner-up, Carol Huynh of Canada.    Two U.S. wrestlers who made the semifinals lost to past World Champions from Cuba. Parker was defeated in the semifinals by 1999 World Champion Yoel Romero, while Cummings was defeated in the semifinals by 1998 World Champion Alexis Rodriguez.    Two other American men qualified for the semifinals but were beaten. Abdul-Latif lost in his semifinal match to Hajmid Saifi of Iran. Ron Tarquino (Pittsburgh, Pa./New York AC) was defeated in the semifinals by Kiyofumi Kanebuchi of Japan. Tarquino finished fifth in the competition.    The lone American woman who made the semifinals was Jen Chu (Philadelphia, Pa.), who was defeated by Canada star Emily Richardson at 59 kg/130 lbs. Chu finished sixth in the tournament.    Another American who placed in the men's division was Mario Mercado (New York, N.Y./New York AC), who was fifth at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.    Other American women who earned a placement were Jessica Lamina (Philadelphia, Pa.), who was sixth at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Stefanie Shaw (Waterford, Conn.), who was sixth at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and Toni Copeland (McDonough, N.Y.) who was fourth at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.    A number of U.S. women athletes also participated in the Cadet division. It was the first year of a Cadet division for men and women at this tournament.     Three U.S. women won gold medals in the Cadet division: Alyssa Lampe (Tomahawk, Wis.) at 46 kg/101 lbs.), Caityln Chase (Naperville, Ill.) at 49 kg/108 lbs. and Sarah Peasley (Kimberley, Wis.) at 56 kg/123 lbs.    Two athletes from the Ursinus WC in Pennsylvania captured sixth in their weight classes: Megan Corden at 52 kg/114.5 lbs. and Shala Simms at 65 kg/143 lbs.    In the competition on the Senior level, Canada won the women's division, ahead of Japan and the United States. Canada had four individual women champions, including Olympians Tonya Verbeek at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Christine Nordhagen at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.    In the men's division, Cuba won the team title, followed by Iran and Canada. Cuba had five individual champions, all expected to be competing for Cuba at the Olympic Games. The winners included Romero and Rodriguez, plus Rene Montero at 55 kg/121 lbs., Yandro Quintana at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Ivan Fundora at 74 kg/163 lbs. In the gold-medal finals, Fundora beat 2000 Olympic champion Daniel Igali, 3-0.