U.S. to Defend its Team Title at the 2001 World Cup in Baltimore, Md.

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Heather Van Peursem (USA Wrestling)
04/25/2001


The United States will enter a talented and experienced team in an attempt to defend its team title at the 2001 World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling, set for May 5-6 in Baltimore, Md.    Top international nations Russia, Iran, Turkey and Uzbekistan will participate in this annual world dual meet championship event. Numerous World and Olympic medalists are expected to participate, as well as young stars training for the 2004 Olympic Games.    The U.S. team will be led by 2000 Olympic team members Cary Kolat  (Morgantown, W.Va/Dave Schultz WC) at 138.75 lbs., Charles Burton (Bloomington, Ind./NYAC) at 187.25 lbs. and Kerry McCoy (Bethlehem, Pa./NYAC) at 286 lbs.    Kolat boasts a pair of World medals, a silver in 1997 and a bronze in 1998. Burton and McCoy  both finished fifth at the 2000 Olympic Games.    Another World Cup team member is Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 167.5 lbs., who placed fourth in the 1999 World Championships. Also on the U.S. team are 2000 Olympic Team Trials runners-up Kerry Boumans (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) at 127.75 lbs., Chris Bono (Gilbert, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 152 lbs. and Dominic Black (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 213.75 lbs. Teague Moore (Pittsburgh, Pa./Sunkist Kids) finished third in the 2000 Olympic Team Trials and will compete at 119 pounds.     The U.S. team will be led by 2001 World Team coaches Mark Manning and Zeke Jones, along with USA Wrestling National Coaches Kevin Jackson and Mike Duroe.     Russia dominated the 2000 Olympic Games in freestyle, led by four individual champions. Russian champions in Sydney were Mourat Umakhanov (138.75 lbs.), Adam Saitiev (187.25 lbs.), Saghid Mourazaliyev (213.75 lbs.) and David Moussoulbes (286 lbs.). Iran was led in Sydney by Olympic gold-medalist Ali Reza Dabier (127.75 lbs.). Turkey is a traditional world power, which won the World Team title in 1994. Uzbekistan is led by 2000 Olympic silver medalist Artur Taymazov (286 lbs.).     The dual meet format at the World Cup is entertaining and exciting. Fans have the opportunity to cheer for Team USA, while seeing many of the best international stars from other top nations.     The first U.S. dual will be vs. Uzbekistan Saturday, May 5 at 12:00 p.m., then they will face Iran at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday as well. On Sunday, May 6, they will compete against Turkey at 12:00 p.m. and against Russia at 5:00 p.m.    For information on the World Cup, contact Alan Gebhart at (410) 666-3400.    Team Rosters  United States  54 kg/119 lbs. - Teague Moore (Pittsburgh, Pa./Sunkist Kids)  58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Kerry Boumans (Colorado Springs/Dave Schultz WC)  63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Cary Kolat  (Morgantown, W.Va/Dave Schultz WC)  69 kg/152 lbs. - Chris Bono (Gilbert, Iowa/Sunkist Kids)  76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa/Sunkist Kids  85 kg./187.25 lbs.- Charles Burton (Bloomington, Ind./NYAC)  97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Dominic Black (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)  130 kg/286 lbs. - Kerry McCoy (Bethlehem, Pa./NYAC)      Iran  54 kg/119 lbs. - Golam Reza Mohammadi  58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Bayman Tayebi, Massoud Mostafa Joukar  63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Ali Reza Dabier  69 kg/152 lbs. - Mehdi Baraati, Mohsen Babaie  76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Mehdi Akbarnejad  85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Ahmad Shekofteh  97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Ali Reza Heidari, M. Hossein Khaleghifar  130 kg/286 lbs. - Yasser Nourzaee, Ebrahim Mehraban      Turkey  54 kg/119 lbs. - Melvana Kulac, Vedat Oztemur  58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Tevfik Odabasi, Arif Kama  63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Omer Cubukci, Mehmet Yozgat  69 kg/152 lbs. - Ahmet Gulhan, Selahattin Sahin  76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Gokhan Yavaser, Fahrettin Ozatav  85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Nuri Zengin, Osman Ozgun  97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Vedat Ergin, Kasim Sakiroglu  130 kg/286 lbs. -Aydin Polatci, Tolga Topcu      Russia  54 kg/119 lbs. - Alexandre Kontoev  58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Murat Ramazanov  63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Miron Dzadzaev  69 kg/152 lbs. - Iskhak Boziev  76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Inal Dzagourov  85 kg/187.25 lbs. -Khadjimourat Gatsalov, Khadjimourat Magomedov  97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Taimouraz Tiguiev  130 kg/286 lbs. -Nikolai Telegin      Uzbekistan  54 kg/119 lbs. - Adkham Achilov, D. Mansurov  58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Damir Zakhartdinovv  63 kg/138.75 lbs. - J. Abdurakhmanov  69 kg/152 lbs. - IT. Buronov  76 kg/167.5 lbs. - K. Khaldarov, A. Gorelik  85 kg/187.25 lbs. -A. Sanakoev  97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Rasul Katinovossov  130 kg/286 lbs. -R. Utegenov