UPDATED - U.S. wins six Veterans World Freestyle gold medals in Czech Republic
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
09/14/2004
The United States captured six gold medals, and 11 total medals at the 2004 Veterans World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, Sept. 10-12. Veterans are athletes 35-years old and above. They participate in five Age Divisions: Division A (35-40 yrs.), Division B (41-45 yrs.), Division C (56-50 yrs.), Division D (51-55 yrs) and Division E (56 yrs and older). Claiming individual titles were: Div. B 76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Brad Swartz (Auburn, Wash.) Div. B 97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Dale Porcher (W. Palm Beach Fla.) Div. D 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Shirzad Ahmadi (Coventry, Conn.) Div. D 69 kg/152 lbs. - Russ Cozart (Brandon, Fla.) Div. E 76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Gordon Connell (Chattanooga, Tenn.) Div. E 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Jack Hornbuckle (Poteau, Okla.) The United States had six athletes qualify for gold-medal matches, and all six won their championship bouts. Swartz defeated Gioso Lakota of Hungary, 2-1 in overtime in the finals match.He won four matches during the tournament, including two pins and a 9-2 decision. Porcher scored a 6-2 decision over Jiri Loukota of the Czech Republic in the championship match. He had three wins in the competition, with a pin and a technical fall victory . Ahmadi defeated Ismael Kosouglu of Turkey in the finals bout, 4-1 in overtime. Kosouglu was an athlete that wrestling legend Dan Gable beat in the 1971 World Championships. He won his previous two matches, a technical fall and an 8-1 decision. Cozart scored a 3-0 gold-medal victory over Imre Jaskoc of Hungary. Cozart went 3-0 in the tournament, with a pin and a technical fall in his pool. Hornbuckle had a 3-0 finals win, stopping Imre Baumann of Hungary. He won three matches on the way to the title. Connell scored a tight 4-1 overtime win over Magomed Badrunov of Russia in the championship match. He won four straight matches on the way to the title, including a tight 3-2 win over Johann Sweirkot of Germany in the semifinals. The United States also captured five bronze medals, bringing the team's total to 11 overall medals for the tournament. Winning individual bronze medals were: Div. A 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Charles Brooks (Fulton, Mo.) Div. C 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Steve Hart (Parker, Colo.) Div. D 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Peter Zurfleigh (Camp Hill, Pa.) Div. E 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Ed Knecht (Peoria, Ariz.) Div. E 69 kg/152 lbs. - James Baron (Dallas, Texas) The U.S. had 26 athletes in the tournament, and all but one placed in the top 10 of their division. Six Americans placed fourth, just missing out on a medal. "If you figure the team points, the United States placed second behind Russia, and they had many more participants," said Dave Bennett, USA Wrestling National Freestyle Developmental Coach. "We did very well. We got more golds than anybody else. It was a very good tournament for the guys."