Connell named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
09/22/2004


Gordon Connell (Chattanooga, Tenn./Sunkist Kids) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for the week of September 14-20.    Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level. The announcement will be made each week on Wednesday.    Connell won a gold medal in Div. E at 76 kg/167.5 lbs. at the 2004 Veterans World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, Sept. 10-12. Division E is for athletes 56 yrs. and older. He wrestled in a very competitive weight class, and won a number of challenging bouts.    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.    In his pool competition, Connell defeated 2003 Veterans World Champion Arnost Bohm of the Czech Republic, 8-6 and pinned  Charles Boyd of the United States.    It was Connell's first Veterans World title. The Veterans division is for athletes who are 35 years old and above, and is broken into five age divisions.    Click here to view previous Athletes of the Week