US SWEEPS SEVEN MATCHES IN MORNING SESSION AT PAN AMERICAN GAMES IN FREESTYLE WRESTLING; GUTCHES BEATS ROMERO IN BATTLE OF WORLD MEDALISTS 
 The United States swept all of its seven matches in the first session at the 1999 Pan American Games freestyle wrestling competition on Monday, July 26 at Winnipeg Convention Centre B. 
 In the feature match of the session, 1997 World Champion Les Gutches (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) defeated 1998 World bronze medalist Yoel Romero of Cuba, 5-2 in overtime at 6:18 at 85 kg/187.25 pounds.The bout was tied at 2-2 in regulation, and went to sudden death overtime. Gutches hit a duck under to a body lock, and took Romero to his back for three points just 18 seconds into the extra session. 
 Gutches and Romero have become archrivals, and their bouts are legendary for being fierce and intense. Romero had beaten Gutches the last two times that they met (1998 and 1999 World Cup events). Sharp words and gestures were exchanged between Gutches and Romero at the conclusion of the bout. 
 Eric Akin (Overland Park, Kan./ Dave Schultz WC) opened with a pin over Arnel Kernizian of Puerto Rico in 3:20 at 54 kg/119 lbs. Akin executed a "spladle"  technique on Kernizian, an unique move where the opponent is twisted like a pretzel and pinned. 
 Eric Guerrero (Stillwater, Okla./Sunkist Kids), won two morning matches at 58 kg/127.75 pounds. He opened with a 12-2 technical fall victory over Luis Cortes of Colombia, in 3:39, then followed with another technical fall, this time by a 10-0 margin in 2:55 over Sidney Guzman of Peru. 
 Guerrero was a late replacement for Terry Brands (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye), who was ill and could not compete. Guerrero holds a No. 2 national ranking in the United States. 
 1998 World bronze medalist Lincoln McIlravy (Iowa City, Iowa/Gateway WC) had a bye in the first round, then pinned Modesto Graneros of Argentina in 43 seconds at 69 kg/152 pounds. McIlravy tossed Graneros from his feet directly to his back for the pin. 
 Two-time World medalist Cary Kolat (Bethlehem, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) opened with a dominant 11-1 techincal fall over Fernando Henriquez of the Dominican Republic, 11-1 in 1:38 at 63 kg/138.75 pounds. 
 Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) also dominated the action at 76 kg/167.5 pounds, scoring an 11-0 technical fall over George Orbi of Canada in 3:26.   Two U.S. wrestlers drew byes and did not compete in the first session: Dominic Black (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 97 kg/213.75 pounds and Stephen Neal (Bakersfield, Calif./Dave Schultz WC) at 130 kg/286 pounds. 
 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, Morning Session 
 54 kg/119 lbs. - Eric Akin, Overland Park, Kan. (Dave Schultz WC) - pin Arnel Kernizian, Puerto Rico, 3:20 
 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Eric Guerrero, Stillwater, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) - won by tech. fall over Luis Cortes, Colombia, 12-2, 3:39; won by tech. fall over Sidney Guzman, Peru, 10-0, 2:55 
 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Cary Kolat, Bethlehem, Pa. (Dave Schultz WC) - won by tech. fall over Henrique Fernandez, Dominican Republic, 11-1, 1:38 
 69 kg/152 lbs. - Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa (Gateway WC) - bye; pin Modesto Graneros, Argentina, 0:43 
 76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC) - won by tech. fall over George Orbi, Canada, 11-0, 3:26 
 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids) - dec. Yoel Romero, Cuba, 5-2, ot, 6:18 
 97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Dominic Black, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) - bye 
 130 kg/286 lbs. - Stephen Neal, Bakersfield, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC) - bye