Kolat, Williams win twice to advance to semifinals at the 1999 World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Ankara, Turkey, Oct. 8; Guerrero, McIlravy, Gutches, Neal undefeated after first day of actionTwo U.S. wrestlers, Cary Kolat (Madison, Wis./Dave Schultz WC) at 138.75 pounds and Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) at 167.5 pounds, have qualified for the semifinals at their weight divisions at the 1999 World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Ankara, Turkey, Oct. 8.
In the round of 16, Kolat defeated John Melling of Great Britain, 6-4. Kolat then defeated Maksat Bobyrbekov of Kyrgyzstan, 3-1, in the quarterfinals.
Kolat will face 1995 World Champion Elbrus Tedeev of Ukraine in the semifinals. Kolat defeated Tedeev in the 1998 World Championships bronze-medal match .
Kolat was a 1997 World silver medalist and 1998 World bronze medalist. He has won two World Cup gold medals, as well as the 1998 Goodwill Games and 1999 Pan American Games titles. He was a two-time NCAA champion for Lock Haven Univ.
In the round of 16, Williams edged Daniel Gonzales of Cuba, by a 1-1 overtime referee's decision. Williams scored an injury default victory over 1998 World silver medalist Moon Eui-Jae of Korea in the quarterfinals. Williams was leading 4-1 in the match when the injury occurred at the 5:20 mark and Moon could not continue.
Williams will battle Adam Saitiev of Russia in the semifinals. Saitiev is the younger brother of 1996 Olympic champion Buvaisa Saitiev.
"Tomorrow, I have to stay in good position, wrestle hard, and create a lot of scoring opportunities," said Williams.
Williams won a gold medal at the 1999 Pan American Games. He swept the 1999 U.S. Nationals and World Team Trials events. Williams was a three-time NCAA champion for the Univ. of Iowa.
By making the semifinals, Kolat and Williams have clinched at least fourth place and have qualified the United States to compete in their weight classes at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
This event serves as the first freestyle wrestling qualifier for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. The top eight place winners at the 1999 World Championships qualify their nation to participate in the 2000 Olympic Games in their weight division. It is important to remember that the athletes do not qualify themselves for the Games; rather, they are qualifying their nation to participate in that weight class.
In the round of 16 on Friday morning, Eric Akin (Overland Park, Kan./Dave Schultz WC) lost to Kim Woo-Young of Korea, 3-0, at 119 pounds. The loss eliminated Akin from the tournament. By not advancing to the quarterfinals, Akin was unable to qualify the United States for the 2000 Olympics through this event.
Akin placed third in the 1999 Pan American Games. He was second in the 1996 Olympic Team Trials, and was also second in the 1998 World Team Trials. Akin was an NCAA runner-up for Iowa State Univ.
The four U.S. wrestlers who began competition on Friday, Oct. 8 remain unbeaten: Eric Guerrero (Stillwater, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 127.75 pounds, Lincoln McIlravy (Iowa City, Iowa/Gateway WC) at 152 pounds, Les Gutches (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 187.25 pounds and Stephen Neal (Bakersfield, Calif./Dave Schultz WC) at 286 pounds.
Guerrero and McIlravy each won two matches to claim their pool competition, advancing to the round of 16 in their weight division.
Guerrero opened with a 10-0 technical fall over B. Mohamad Amine of Algeria, then beat David LePrince of France, 7-3. His opponent in the round of 16 has yet to be determined.
"I felt real good today," said Guerrero. "I'm glad to get the first day out of the way. I want to stay focused and sharp and be ready to go tomorrow."
Guerrero, a 1999 Pan American Games silver medalist, completed his college career at Oklahoma State Univ. this year, after winning three NCAA Div. I titles for the Cowboys (1997, 1998, 1999). Guerrero, competing in his first World Championships, replaced two-time World Champion Terry Brands in the U.S. lineup.
McIlravy opened with a convincing 14-4 technical fall over Ruslan Veliev of Kazakhstan, then pinned Ivan Tudorov of Bulgaria. McIlravy will likely face Amir Tavakolian of Iran in the round of 16 on Saturday.
"My best guys are yet to come," said McIlravy. "They get tougher and tougher. You have to get through the pool unscathed," "The key to beating Tavakolian tomorrow is to keep my hands down and beat the tar out of him. I know he doesn't want to wrestle me. I just need to go out and remind him."
McIlravy was a 1998 World bronze medalist. He also boasts two World Cup gold medals as well as Goodwill Games and Pan American Games titles. He was a three-time NCAA champion at the Univ. of Iowa.
Gutches received a bye in the morning session, then pinned Rudolf Boboril of the Czech Republic to open the tournament. Gutches has one more match in his pool on Saturday morning, when he will battle Egidisus Velavicius of Lithuania. A victory over Velavicius would qualify Gutches for the round of 16.
"You have to get out of the pool," said Gutches. "I wrestled fairly well in my first match. My draw is good and I'm prepared to wrestle."
Gutches was the 1997 World Champion, and was seventh in the 1996 Olympic Games. Gutches was a two-time NCAA champion for Oregon State Univ.
Like Gutches, Neal had a bye in the morning session. He opened the World Championships in explosive fashion, pinning Frans Vanden Heever of South Africa in just five seconds. Neal has one more match in his pool on Saturday morning, against Symionidos of Greece. A victory over Symionidos would qualify Neal for the quarterfinals.
Neal competed for Cal-State Bakersfield, where he won two NCAA titles. He also won 1999 gold medals at the University Nationals, the U.S. Nationals, the World Team Trials and the Pan American Games.
The U.S. team is led by co-head coaches Dan Gable of Iowa City, Iowa, John Smith of Stillwater, Okla. and Greg Strobel of Bethlehem, Pa., as well as National Freestyle Coach Bruce Burnett of Colorado Springs, Colo.
After two days, the United States is right in the thick of the team race, along with top nations such as Russia, Iran, Turkey and Ukraine.
"I know our guys can compete with the best in the world." said Burnett. "We have out-conditioned our opponents. I'm proud of the way these guys are competing. Our team philosophy is everyone takes care of their business, and if everyone does their job, the team race will take care of itself."
In total, 64 Olympic berths will be determined at the 1999 World Freestyle Championships in Ankara. Additional Olympic qualifying events will be held during the 2000 season.
1999 WORLD FREESTYLE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Ankara, Turkey, Oct. 8
U.S. results from first set of weight classes
119 lbs./54 kg - Eric Akin, Overland Park, Kan. - lost dec. to Kim Woo-Young (Korea), 3-0
138.75 lbs./63 kg - Cary Kolat, Madison, Wis. - dec. John Melling (Great Britain), 6-4; dec. Maksat Bobyrbekov (Kyrgyzstan), 3-1
167.5 lbs./76 kg - Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa - won by ref. dec. over Daniel Gonzales (Cuba), 1-1, ot, 9:00; won by inj. dft. over Moon Eui-Jae (Korea), 5:20
U.S. results from second set of weight classes
127.75 lbs./58 kg - Eric Guerrero, Stillwater, Okla. - won by tech. fall over B. Mohamad Amine (Algeria), 10-0; dec. David LePrince (France), 7-3
152 lbs./69 kg - Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa - won by tech. fall over Ruslan Veliev (Kazakhstan), 14-4; pin Ivan Tudorov (Bulgaria)
187.25 lbs./85 kg - Les Gutches, Colorado Springs, Colo. - pin Rudolf Boboril (Czech Rep.)
286 lbs./130 kg - Stephen Neal, Bakersfield, Calif. - pin Frans Vanden Heever (South Africa), 0:05
U.S. Semifinal matchups for Saturday, Oct. 9
138.75 lbs./63 kg - Cary Kolat, Madison, Wis. - vs. Elbrus Tedeev (Ukraine)
167.5 lbs./76 kg - Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa - vs. Adam Saitiev (Russia)
U.S. Round of 16 matchups for Saturday, Oct. 9
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