Akin, Burton Win Titles at the Kiev Open in Kiev, Ukraine, Feb. 23

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Heather Van Peursem (USA Wrestling)
02/24/2001


Akin, Burton win titles at the Kiev Open in Kiev, Ukraine, Feb. 23      Erik Akin (Overland Park, Kan./Dave Schultz WC) and Charles Burton (Bloomington, Ind./NYAC) won titles at the Kiev Open in Kiev, Ukraine, Feb. 23 for the United States.     Akin won the title at 119 pounds. He was a 1999 World Team member and placed second at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials.     Burton placed fifth in the 2000 Olympic Games and competed at 187.25 pounds.      Two other wrestlers won bronze medals for the U.S.: Byron Tucker (Norman, Okla./Team Excel) at 167.5 pounds and Tolly Thompson (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 286 pounds.     Tucker is a 2000 World University champion and placed fourth in the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials.     Thompson is a 1998 U.S. Nationals champion and placed fourth in the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials.     Complete results will be posted when available.    54 kg/119 lbs. -  Eric Akin, Overland Park, Kan. (Dave Schultz WC), 1st place    58 kg/127.75 lbs. -  Mike Mena, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC), dnp    58 kg/127.75 lbs. -  Jason Kutz, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), dnp    63 kg/138.75 lbs. -  Mike Eierman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Team Excel), dnp    76 kg/167.5 lbs. -  Byron Tucker, Norman, Okla. (Team Excel), 3rd place    85 kg/187.25 lbs. -  Charles Burton, Bloomington, Ind. (NYAC), 1st place    130 kg/286 lbs. -  Tolly Thompson, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 3rd place