Six U.S. Pan American freestyle wrestlers unbeaten after Tuesday's Session

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
07/27/1999


Six members of the United States team remain unbeaten after the second session at the 1999 Pan American Games freestyle wrestling competition on Tuesday, July 27 at Winnipeg Convention Centre B. 

Two-time World medalist Cary Kolat (Bethlehem, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) won his second match of the day, scoring a rapid 11-0 technical fall in 1:12 over Lucas Garralda of Argentina at 63 kg/138.75 pounds.

1998 World bronze medalist Lincoln McIlravy (Iowa City, Iowa/Gateway WC) won his second bout of the day, dominating the action with a 10-0 technical fall in 3:36 over Juan Suarez of Venezuela at 69 kg/152 pounds.

Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) claimed his second straight win, stopping Manuel Garcia of Puerto Rico, 8-2, at 76 kg/167.5 pounds.

1997 World Champion Les Gutches (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) had no problems in his 11-0 technical fall victory over Javier Broschini of Argentina, in 1:14. It was his second victory of the day.

Dominic Black (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) dominated his first match of the day, scoring an 11-1 technical fall over Antoine Aboujaoude of Brazil in 4:32 at 97 kg/213.75 pounds

Stephen Neal (Bakersfield, Calif./Dave Schultz WC) came out quickly in his opening match, pinning Jose Marin of Venezuela in just 15 seconds at 130 kg/286 pounds.

The first U.S. loss of the event came at 58 kg/127.75 pounds, where 1996 Olympic silver medalist Giuvi Sissaouri of Canada defeated Eric Guerrero (Stillwater, Okla./Sunkist Kids), 6-3. Sissaouri, also a World silver medalist in 1995, led 6-2 after the first period, then held off Guerrero's repeated attacks throughout the second period.

The loss gave Guerrero a 2-1 record for the day. He is still eligible to wrestle back and qualify for the semifinals in his weight class, with the potential for a rematch with Sissaouri later in the event.

At 54 kg/119 lbs., 1997 World Champion Wilfredo Garcia edged Eric Akin (Overland Park, Kan./ Dave Schultz WC), 3-2. Garcia jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first period, and Akin battled back with two points in the second stanza but could not overcome the deficit.

All eight U.S. wrestlers are competing in their first Pan American Games.

The U.S. team is led by head coach John Smith of Stillwater, Okla. and assistant coach Greg Strobel of Bethlehem, Pa.

PAN AMERICAN GAMES FREESTYLE WRESTLING

At Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Tuesday, July 27, Session II

54 kg/119 lbs. - Eric Akin, Overland Park, Kan. (Dave Schultz WC) - lost dec. to Wilfredo Garcia, Cuba, 3-2

58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Eric Guerrero, Stillwater, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) - lost dec. to Giuvi Sissaouri, Canada, 6-3

63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Cary Kolat, Bethlehem, Pa. (Dave Schultz WC) - won by tech. fall over Lucas Garralda, Argentina, 11-0, 1:12

69 kg/152 lbs. - Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa (Gateway WC) - won by tech. fall over Juan Suarez, Venezuela, 10-0, 3:36

76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC) - dec. Manuel Garcia, Puerto Rico, 8-2

85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids) - won by tech. fall over Javier Broschini, Argentina, 11-0, 1:14

97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Dominic Black, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) - won by tech. fall over Antoine Aboujaoude, Brazil, 11-1, 4:32

130 kg/286 lbs. - Stephen Neal, Bakersfield, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC) - pin Jose Marin, Venezuela, 0:15