The United States defeated Ukraine, 15-11, at the Third annual Dan Gable Classic, Tuesday, February 8, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa     The United States defeated Ukraine, 15-11, at the third annual Dan Gable Classic Tuesday, February 8, in a sold-out Coe College gymnasium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.   
 All of the U.S. wrestlers have a direct connections to Iowa. The competition is held in recognition of Olympic champion and coach Dan Gable, a legend in Iowa.   
 Mike Mena (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) started the match off with a win at 119 pounds over Alexandre Zakharuk, 3-0. Mena competed for Dan Gable at the Univ. of Iowa and was second in the 1997 NCAA Championships. He is currently ranked No. 3 on the U.S. National Team.   
 Zakharuk won a bronze medal at the 1999 World Championships. He has won the gold medal at the European Championships for three straight years (1997-99).    
 At 138.75 pounds, Mark Ironside (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) won a close decision in overtime, 7-6, over Vasil Fedoryshyn. Ironside competed for Dan Gable at the Univ. of Iowa, where he was a 1997-98 NCAA champion.   
 Chris Bono (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) lost a decision at 152 pounds to Orest Skobelsky, 4-2. Bono is currently ranked No. 3 in the United States and is a U.S. National Team Member. He attended Iowa State Univ., where he was a 1996 NCAA Champion.   
 1999 U.S. World Team Member Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) won by a referee's decision at 167.5 pounds. He decisioned Alik Muzaev, 2-0. Williams placed fourth in the 1999 World Championships and was a three-time NCAA champion for the University of Iowa.    
 Muzaev was eighth in the 1999 World Championships.    
 Lee Fullhart (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) scored a big decision over Tara Danko, 9-2 to give the U.S. a nice lead towards the end of the match at 187.25 pounds. Fullhart was fifth in the 1999 U.S. Nationals. He competed for Dan Gable and Jim Zalesky at the Univ. of Iowa where he was a 1997 NCAA champion.   
 Chad Lamer (Coralville, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) lost a close decision, 4-2, to Sergei Pryadun at 213.75 pounds.    
 Pryadun placed fifth in the 1997 World Championships.   
 Tolly Thompson (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) lost a 7-1 decision to 1993 World Silver Medalist Merabi Valiev at 286 pounds. Thompson attended high school in Janesville, Iowa, and is now an assistant wrestling coach at the Univ. of Northern Iowa.    
 Valiev also placed seventh in the 1996 Olympic Games. He was fourth in the 1994 World Championships, and was the 1994 European champion.   
 The U.S. team was coached by Dan Gable of Iowa City, Iowa, Jim Zalesky of Iowa City, Iowa and Mike Duroe of Colorado Springs, Colo. 
  2000 DAN GABLE CLASSIC 
  Tuesday, February 8, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa 
  United States 15, Ukraine 11 
  54kg/119 lbs. - Mike Mena, Iowa City, Iowa, dec. Alexandre Zakharuk, 3-0 
  63kg/138.75lbs. - Mark Ironside, Iowa City, Iowa dec. Vasil Fedoryshyn,  7-6, ot 
  69kg/152 lbs. - Orest Skobelsky (Ukraine) dec. Chris Bono, Ames, Iowa, 4-2 
  76kg/167.5 lbs. - Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa, ref. dec. over Alik Muzaev, 2-0 
  85kg/187.25 lbs. - Lee Fullhart, Iowa City, Iowa, dec. Tara Danko, 9-2 
  97kg/213.75 lbs. - Sergei Pryadun (Ukraine) dec. Chad Lamar, Coralville, Iowa, 4-2 
  130kg/286 lbs.  - Merabi Valiev (Ukraine) dec. Tolly Thompson, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 7-1