Joe Williams Wins Title at the Takhti Cup During First Day of Finals Competition, Feb. 22
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Heather Van Peursem (USA Wrestling)
02/22/2001
Joe Williams Wins Title at the Takhti Cup During First Day of Finals Competition, Feb. 22 Joe Williams (Coralville, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) won the title at 167.5 pounds during the first day of finals action at the 20th Takhti Cup in Mashhad, Iran, Feb. 22. Bill Zadick (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) added the bronze medal at 138.75 pounds for the United States. In preliminary action, Williams scored three decisions with a 5-1 score over Khodaei of Iran, then a 4-3 win over Akbarnejad of Iran and a 3-0 decision over Hadjizadeh of Iran. He decisioned Jamshidi of Iran in the semifinals, 5-1, followed by a 4-1 victory over Hadjizadeh of Iran in the gold medal match. Zadick decisioned Bigdeli of Iran 5-2 in preliminary action, then lost a 4-2 decision in the semifinals to Babajasari of Iran. He won the bronze-medal match, 5-4 in overtime, over Bazri of Iran. Chad Lamer (Coralville, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) placed fourth at 213.75 pounds. Lamer lost two times in the meet to 1998 World Champion Ali Reza Heidari of Iran. He first lost to him in his pool, then again in the bronze-medal match, both by pin. In the other weight classes, the U.S. is still going strong. Three wrestlers are still undefeated: Chris Bono (Gilbert, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 152 pounds, Lee Fullhart (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) at 187.25 pounds and 1999 World Champion Stephen Neal (Bakersfield, Calif./Dave Schultz WC) at 286 pounds. Two of the Greco-Roman U.S. wrestlers are undefeated after the second day of competition. In preliminary action, 2000 Olympian Kevin Bracken (Colorado Springs, Colo./NYAC) pinned Abdullahi of Iran in 5:30. 2000 Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland (Oregon City, Ore./Sunkist Kids) scored a decision in his preliminary round, 8-1 over Mahbizadeh of Iran.