Cuba defeats U.S. in a World Dual meet, 19-13, in Houston, Texas, Feb. 15The United States lost a World Dual meet to Cuba, 19-13, in Houston, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 15.
The biggest win for the U.S. came at 152 pounds when Chris Bono (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) decisioned Yosmany Sanchez, 3-2, in overtime to claim the victory.
Bono lost to Sanchez 4-1 in the finals of the Dave Schultz Memorial International Tournament just three days earlier in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Bono is ranked No. 3 in the United States at 152 pounds. Bono was a 1999 Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open champion. He competed for Iowa State University where he was a 1996 NCAA Champion.
Yosmany Sanchez placed fourth in the 1996 Olympic Games, and was a 1997 World Cup silver medalist. He won the gold medal at the 1998 Pan American Championships and was second in the 1999 Pan American Games.
Competing at 119 pounds, Stephen Abas (Fresno, Calif./Sunkist Kids) lost a close decision to Rene Montero, 3-1, in overtime.
Abas is a 1999 Winter Classic champion and a 1999 Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open champion. He was also a 1998 Junior World Champion and a 1999 NCAA Champion for Fresno State University.
Danny Felix (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) competed at 127.75 pounds, and lost a decision, 3-0, to Yandro Quintana.
Felix was second in the 1999 Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open.
Frank Trigg (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) lost by a pin in 2:10 to Daniel Gonzales at 167.5 pounds.
Trigg was second in the 1999 Dave Schultz Memorial International. He was also a 1998 Winter Classic champion. He was a former assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma.
John Kading (Evanston, Ill./Wildcat WC) lost a close match at 213.75 pounds. He was decisioned by Wilfredo Morales, 3-1.
Kading competed at the University of Oklahoma where he was a 1996 NCAA champion. He is currently an assistant coach at Northwestern University.
Morales placed ninth in the 1996 Olympic Games. He won gold medals at the 1994, 1996 and 1998 Pan American Championships, as well as the 1995 Pan American Games.
The United States won two forfeits in the dual, one at 138.75 pounds and one at 286 pounds.
John Fisher (Ypsilanti, Mich./Sunkist Kids) won by forfeit at 138.75 pounds. Fisher is currently ranked No. 3 at 138.75 pounds in the U.S. He was the 1999 Winter Classic champion and the 1999 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion. He was also a 1997 World Cup champion.
Tom Erikson (W. Lafayette, Ind./Sunkist Kids) won by forfeit at 286 pounds.
Erikson was fourth in the 1997 World Championships and is currently ranked No. 4 in the U.S. at 286 pounds, and is an assistant coach at Purdue University.
The U.S. forfeited at 187.25 pounds.
The U.S. team was coached by Joe Seay of Perry, Okla.
USA VS. CUBA DUAL
Tuesday, Feb. 15 in Houston
54 kg/119 lbs. - Rene Montero (Cuba) dec. Stephen Abas, Fresno, Calif. (Sunkist Kids), 3-1, ot
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Yandro Quintana (Cuba) dec. Danny Felix, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids), 3-0
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - John Fisher, Ypsilanti, Mich. (Sunkist Kids) won by forfeit
69 kg/152 lbs. -Chris Bono, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) dec. Yosmany Sanchez (Cuba), 3-2, ot
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Daniel Gonzales (Cuba) pinned Frank Trigg, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids), 2:10
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Yoel Romero (Cuba) won by forfeit
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Wilfredo Morales (Cuba) dec. John Kading, Evanston, Ill. (Wildcat WC), 3-1
130 kg/286 lbs. - Tom Erikson, W. Lafayette, Ind. (Sunkist Kids) won by forfeit