U.S. beats France, loses close dual to Iran at Greco-Roman World Cup
<< Back to Articles
John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
11/07/2004
The United States won five of seven matches in a 16-7 win over France before dropping a close 14-12 dual to Iran at the 2004 Greco-Roman World Cup in Tbilisi, Georgia. The U.S. team now has a 2-1 record overall with its 14-12 win over Belarus on the first day of competition. The World Cup is the annual international dual meet championship. This competition is being held with the old FILA competition rules still in place. Against France, the U.S. was able to win the final three matches to seal the win. 2004 Olympian Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) defeated Olympian Meloni Noumonvi 3-0 at 84 kg/185 lbs. before Adam Wheeler (Marquette, Mich./Gator WC) defeated Vincent Vidal 3-1 at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Russ Davie (Cleveland, Ohio/New York AC) downed David Millen 3-1 at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Also winning matches in the win over France were Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), who defeated Mourad El Bakali 3-0 at 55 kg/121 lbs., and Glenn Garrison (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army), who defeated Philippe Benjoudi 4-0 at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. In the loss to Iran, the U.S. won three matches and lost one overtime bout in the 14-12 defeat. Vering and Davie both won again. Vering defeated Kasem Rezai by fall in the second period. Davie escaped with a 3-1 overtime win against Siavesh Alavandi. Also winning for the U.S. against Iran was Darryl Christian (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), who defeated Farshad Alizade 5-1 at 74 kg/163 lbs. Vering and Davie are both 3-0 in the competition, one win away from securing an individual gold medal. The U.S. squad is still yet to face host Georgia in the competition. 2004 U.S. Greco-Roman World Cup Team at Tbilisi, Georgia, November 5-7 55 kg/121 lbs. - Lindsey Durlacher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) 60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Warren, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) 66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Glenn Garrison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) 74 kg/163 lbs. - Darryl Christian, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) 84 kg/185 lbs. - Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) 96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Adam Wheeler, Marquette, Mich. (Gator WC) 120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Russ Davie, Cleveland, Ohio (New York AC) Coaches: Joe DeMeo, Niskayuna, N.Y., Bob Anderson, Chula Vista, Calif., and Momir Petkovic, Colorado Springs, Colo.