U.S. wins six gold medals to dominate the 1999 Pan American Games freestyle wrestling competitionSix U.S. wrestlers won gold medals at the 1999 Pan American Games freestyle wrestling competition on Wednesday, July 28 at Winnipeg Convention Centre B.
Cary Kolat (Bethlehem, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) won the first gold medal for Team USA at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., defeating Carlos Ortiz of Cuba, 5-1. Kolat jumped to a 3-0 lead after the first period, and continued to control the match the rest of the way. Kolat boasts a 1997 World silver medal and 1998 World bronze medal.
Lincoln McIlravy (Iowa City, Iowa/Gateway WC) followed with a nailbiter, edging Yosmany Sanchez of Cuba, 4-3 at 69 kg/152 lbs. The bout was tied 2-2 after the first period, but McIlravy scored the next two takedowns for a 4-2 lead. Sanchez scored in the final minute, and put tremendous pressure on McIlravy before time ran out. McIlravy was a 1998 World bronze medalist.
Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) won the gold medal at 76 kg/167.5 lbs., stopping Yosmany Romero of Cuba, 3-0. Williams scored three takedowns in the match. The bout was delayed twice when Williams received a bleeding head injury from repeated face and head strikes from Romero.
Les Gutches (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) controlled the action the entire match for a 6-1 victory at 85 kg/187.25 lbs., over Gary Holmes of Canada. The key was a three-point takedown with exposure early in the second period. Gutches was a 1997 World Champion.
Dominic Black (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) scored the lone takedown late in the second period, and went on a 1-0 overtime referee's decision at 97 kg/213.75 lbs. over Wilfredo Morales of Cuba. Black, who is short for his weight class, and Morales, very tall for the division, wrestled a strategic match that was equally matched.
Stephen Neal (Bakersfield, Calif./Dave Schultz WC), in the most spectacular match of the night, came from behind for an exciting 8-7 win at 130 kg/286 lbs. over 1998 World Champion Alexis Rodriguez of Cuba. Rodriguez hit two three-point throws in the first period, but Neal battled back to tie it up in the second period at 7-7. With just 20 seconds left, Neal hit a single leg takedown for the victory.
Winning a silver medal was Eric Guerrero (Stillwater, Okla./Sunkist Kids), at 58 kg/127.75 pounds. Guerrero was defeated in the finals by 1996 Olympic silver medalist Giuvi Sissaouri of Canada, 7-2. It was their second meeting of the event, as Sissaouri won a 6-3 match in the preliminary rounds. Guerrero was a late addition to the U.S. lineup, and joined the team on Monday morning.
Eric Akin (Overland Park, Kan./ Dave Schultz WC) won a bronze medal at 54 kg/119 lbs. during the morning session, pinning Geovanny Mora of Mexico in 3:54.
The U.S. claimed a medal in all eight weight classes in freestyle, and combined with the eight medals in Greco-Roman on Sunday night, a total of 16 medals for the Games. The entire U.S. freestyle team was competing in its first Pan American Games.
In the unofficial team standings, the United States placed first with 77 points, followed by Cuba with 71 points and Canada with 66 points.
The U.S. team is led by head coach John Smith of Stillwater, Okla. and assistant coach Greg Strobel of Bethlehem, Pa.
Also claiming a gold medal at 54 kg/119 lbs. was Wilfredo Garcia of Cuba, who won by technical fall over Paul Ragusa of Canada, 11-0, in 4:36.
PAN AMERICAN GAMES FREESTYLE WRESTLING
At Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Wednesday, July 28, Evening Session
Medalists
54 kg/119 lbs.
Gold - Wilfredo Garcia, Cuba
Silver - Paul Ragusa, Canada
Bronze - Eric Akin, United States
58 kg/127.75 lbs.
Gold - Giuvi Sissaouri, Canada
Silver - Eric Guerrero, United States
Bronze - Yeondris Albear, Cuba
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold - Cary Kolat, United States
Silver - Carlos Ortiz, Cuba
Bronze - Marty Calder, Canada
69 kg/152 lbs.
Gold - Lincoln McIlravy, United States
Silver - Yosmany Sanchez, Cuba
Bronze - Daniel Igali, Canada
76 kg/167.5 lbs.
Gold - Joe Williams, United States
Silver - Yosmany Romero, Cuba
Bronze - Manuel Garcia, Puerto Rico
85 kg/187.25 lbs.
Gold - Les Gutches, United States
Silver - Gary Holmes, Canada
Bronze - Yoel Romero, Cuba
97 kg/213.75 lbs.
Gold - Dominic Black, United States
Silver - Wilfredo Morales, Cuba
Bronze - Dean Schmeichel, Canada
130 kg/286 lbs.
Gold - Stephen Neal, United States
Silver - Alexis Rodriguez, Cuba
Bronze - Wayne Weathers, Canada
Medal Matches and final placings
Note: Bronze medal match held at 11:00 a.m. session; gold medal match held at 7:00 p.m.
54 kg/119 lbs.
Gold - Wilfredo Garcia, Cuba, won by tech. fall over Paul Ragusa, Canada, 11-0, 4:36
Bronze - Eric Akin, United States, pin Geovany Mora, Mexico, 3:54
5th - Arnel Kernizian, Puerto Rico; 6th - Jose Barreto, Venezuela; 7th - Ronier Menieta, Nicaragua
58 kg/127.75 lbs.
Gold - Giuvi Sissaouri, Canada dec. Eric Guerrero, United States, 7-2
Bronze - Yeondris Albear, Cuba, dec. David Ortiz, Venezuela, 9-0
5th - Edgar Ramirez, Guatemala; 6th - Edgar Castillo, Panama; 7th - Fuastino Ozuna, Dominican Republic; 8th - Luis Cortes, Colombia; 9th - Joan Vega, Puerto Rico; 10th - Sidney Guzman, Peru
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold - Cary Kolat, United States, dec. Carlos Ortiz, Cuba, 5-1
Bronze - Marty Calder, Canada, won by tech. fall over Edison Hurtado, Colombia, 11-0, 3:42
5th - Jhonny Cedeno, Venezuela; 6th - Fernando Henrique, Dominican Republic; 7th - Lucas Garralda, Argentina; 8th - Jose Paico, Peru; 9th - Yuri Castro, Bolivia
69 kg/152 lbs.
Gold - Lincoln McIlravy, United States, dec. Yosmany Sanchez, Cuba, 4-3
Bronze - Daniel Igali, Canada, won by tech. fall over Alex Coriano, Puerto Rico, 11-0, 1:24
5th - Juan Suarez, Venezuela; 6th - Leonardo Gonzales, Panama; 7th - David Cubas, Peru; 8th - Angelo Brea, Dominican Republic; 9th - Modesto Graneros, Argentina;10th -William Fernandez, Uruguay
76 kg/167.5 lbs.
Gold - Joe Williams, United States, dec. Yosmany Romero, Cuba, 3-0
Bronze - Manuel Garcia, Puerto Rico, dec. Gustavo Dominguez, Venezuela, 7-0
5th - George Orbi, Canada; 6th - Victor Parreno, Peru; 7th - Olguin Sabua, Dominican Republic; 8th - Ariel Mild, Argentina
85 kg/187.25 lbs.
Gold - Les Gutches, United States, dec. Gary Holmes, Canada, 6-1
Bronze - Yoel Romero, Cuba, won by tech. fall over Felix Isisola, Peru, 10-0, 5:37
5th - Matt White, Puerto Rico; 6th - Mario Miranda, Brazil; 7th - Javier Broschini, Argentina
97 kg/213.75 lbs.
Gold - Dominic Black, United States, won by ref. dec. over Wilfredo Morales, Cuba, 1-1, ot, 9:00
Bronze - Dean Schmeichel, Canada, dec. Arnulfo Hernandez, Colombia, 5-0
5th - Edgar Becerra, Venezuela; 6th - Antoine Aboujaoude, Brazil
130 kg/286 lbs.
Gold - Stephen Neal, United States, dec. Alexis Rodriguez, Cuba, 8-7
Bronze - Wayne Weathers, Canada, pin Jose Morin, Venezuela, 0:35
5th - Gamalier Coats, Dominican Republic; 6th - Edwin Millet, Puerto Rico
Unofficial team standings:
1. United States, 77 pts., 2. Cuba, 71 pts.; 3. Canada, 66 pts; 4. Venezuela, 44 pts.; 5. Puerto Rico, 35 pts.; 6. Dominican Republic, 22 pts.; 7. Peru, 20 pts.; 8. Colombia, 17 pts.; 9. Argentina, 13 pts.; 10 (tie) Panama and Brazil, 10 pts; 12. Mexico, 7 pts.; 13. Guatemala, 6 pts.; 14. Nicaragua, 4 pts.; 15. Bolivia, 2 pts.; 16. Uruguay, 1 pt.