54 kg/119 lbs. - Eric Akin, Overland Park, Kan. 
 pin Arnel Kernizian, Puerto Rico, 3:20 
 "The guy wasn't very technical. I could have made it a quick match, but I needed to break a sweat, work the fluid and food through me, because I'm facing the Cuban next. I was feeling a little sluggish. It's always like that with the first match. It was an all right match; I wish I could have sweated more." 
 "The next match is my biggest, but you can't overlook anyone. I caught Les' match, and it really fired me up." 
 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Eric Guerrero, Stillwater, Okla. 
 won by tech. fall over Luis Cortes, Colombia and won by tech. fall over Sidney Guzman, Peru, 10-0 
 "I just got back from a wedding. Life is not ideal, but this is my job. When opportunities come, you have got to take them. I believe things happen for a reason, and you make the best out of them. The tournament is not over, you get first you feel good. You get second, you don't feel quite as quite." 
 62 kg/138.75 lbs. - Cary Kolat, Bethlehem, Pa. 
 won by tech. fall over Henrique Fernandez, Dominican Republic, 11-1, 1:38 
 "I just wanted to get the first match over with. I'm waiting around for those guys (Cuban and Canadian opponents). You don't want to overlook anyone. You have to stay sharp." 
 69 kg/152 lbs. - Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa 
 pin Modesto Graneros, Argentina, 0:43 
 "The first match, it's nice to get going. I had to sit around a long time. When you keep waiting, you tend to get nervous. It was nice to finally get out there. I can live with my performance. The competition will get tougher. I will have to keep turning it up. I love having my wife and kids. I'm really lucky to be able to bring them along." 
 76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa 
 won by tech. fall over George Orbi, Canada, 11-0, 3:26 
 "I didn't feel like I wanted, regardless, I've got to perform. It's not a tuneup. I'm looking at this as a tournament I want to win. Anybody that weighed in is my competition. That's my frame of thinking. I'm focusing on who I am wrestling each match." 
 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore. 
 dec. Yoel Romero, Cuba, 5-2, ot, 2:55 
 "He's probably the best competition. It's one of those draws - I knew I would face him either first or last. As far as credentials, he was the toughest match out of the barrel. We've wrestled four times. There have been some exchanges. In Spokane (in April ), the love-taps went the other way. I'm not proud of it, but it goes both ways.  
 "I was talking to my fiancee last night and I traditionally have bad first matches. I had a bad first match at the nationals, and she asked if I was going to be ready. But we are both in the same boat. We are both going to feel like hell in the first match.  
 "No, I didn't wrestle well. I want to get 10 points and give none. I gave up some positions. That's not the best Les Gutches can wrestle. There is no time to be satisfied when you are thinking about the Worlds." 
 Head Coach - John Smith 
 "What can I say? We looked good. Perfection. Seven matches, and none lasted the full six minutes. I'm looking forward to seeing the tougher competition."