U.S. Wins Three Medals at the Granma Cup in Havana, Cuba, Feb. 20-21
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Heather Van Peursem (USA Wrestling)
02/22/2001
U.S. wins three medals at the Granma Cup in Havana, Cuba, Feb. 20-21 Two young U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers turned major upsets claiming medals for the U.S. at the Granma Cup in Havana, Cuba, Feb. 20-21. Jacob Clark (Woodbridge, Va./U.S. Marine Corps) pinned veteran Liubal Colas of Cuba in the semifinals, then lost by a 9-3 decision to 1996 and 2000 Olympic Champion Filiberto Azcuy of Cuba in the finals at 167.5 pounds. Clark placed fourth at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials and is currently ranked No. 4 at 167.5 pounds. U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete Darnell Lollis (Colorado Springs, Colo./NYAC) went up a weight class and placed third at 138.75 pounds. Lollis decisioned 2000 Olympic silver medalist Juan Maren of Cuba 3-0 to earn the bronze medal. Lollis placed third at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials and was a 2000 NYAC Christmas Open Champion. He is ranked third at 127.75 pounds. Corey Farkas (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Air Force) placed second at 286 pounds. He won his first two matches by decisions, then lost in the finals to Mijail Lopez of Cuba, 8-0. Farkas was third in the 2000 U.S. Nationals. Chris Saba (Colorado Springs, Colo./NYAC) at 167.5 pounds and Jason Loukides (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 213.75 pounds both placed fifth for the United States. Saba was second in the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials at 152 pounds and was a U.S. World Team member in 1997 and 1998. Loukides placed second in the 1999 Winter Classic. The tournament was conducted with new rules, which provides two bronze medalists at each weight class.