Session II at Avista Corp. XXVII World Cup of Freestyle WrestlingIran defeats Germany, 19-11, in second session
Iran defeated Germany 19-11 in the second session of the Avista Corp. XXVII World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling at the Spokane Arena in Spokane, Wash., April 2
Iran dominated the early matches, with victories by Gholam Reza Mohammadf at 119 pounds, Ali Reza Dabier at 127.75 pounds, Medhi Baraati at 138.75 pounds and Amir Tavakolian at 152 pounds. Dabier, the 1998 World Champion, stopped Othmar Kuhner, 7-0.
1994 World Champion Alexander Leipold won Germany's first bout, with a 3-1 over Pejman Dorostkar. Iran rebounded with a win at 187.25 pounds by Ferydon Ghanbari.
In a battle of World champions, 1998 World Champion Ali Reza Heidari beat 1994 World Champion Arawat Sabejew of Germany, 5-3 in overtime at 7:27 at 213.75 pounds. Heidari rallied from behind to tie the bout at 3-3 in regulation, then won the bout on a two-point ankle lace turn. In the final match, Sven Thiele of Germany scored a 1-0 overtime referee's decision over Ebrahim Mehraban.
Iran had a 2-0 record, and Germany a 0-2 record in the World Cup after the match.
Iran 19, Germany 11
54 kg/119 lbs. - Gholam Reza Mohammadi, Iran, dec. Vasili Zeiher, Germany, 8-1
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Ali Reza Dabier, Iran, dec. Othmar Kuhner, Germany, 7-0
63 kg/138.8 75 lbs. - Mehdi Baraati, Iran, dec.. Jurgen Scheibe, Germany, 3-2
69 kg/153 lbs. - Amir Tavakolian, Iran, dec. Jens Gundling, Germany, 6-1
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Alexander Leipold, Germany dec. Pejman Dorostkar, Iran, 3-1
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Ferydon Ghanbari, Iran, dec. Andre Backhaus, Germany, 6-5
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Ali Reza Heidari, Iran dec. Arawat Sabejew, Germany, 5-3, ot, 7:27
130 kg/286 lbs. - Sven Thiele, Germany won by ref. dec. over Ebrahim Mehraban, Iran, 1-0, ot, 9:00
Cuba defeats Canada, 22-4, in second session
Cuba opened the Avista Corp. XXVII World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling with a 22-4 victory over Canada at the Spokane Arena in Spokane, Wash., April 2
Cuba opened with three shutout victories. 1997 World Champion Wilfredo Garcia beat Selwyn Tam, 6-0 at 119 pounds and Joel Garcia beat Dennis Pagliniwan, 4-0.At 138.75 pounds, Carlos Ortiz shut out Jeremy Podlog, 7-0. In a wide open bout at 152 pounds, Daniel Igali of Canada scored a takedown in sudden death 23 seconds into overtime to defeat Yosvany Sanchez, 6-5. Igali jumped to an early lead, but Sanchez tied it up in the final 30 seconds of regulation.
Cuba won the final four bouts, with wins by Walter Torrientes at 167.5 pounds, Yoel Romero at 187.25 pounds, Wilfredo Morales at 213.75 pounds and 1998 World Champion Alexis Rodriguez at 286 pounds.
Cuba had a 1-0 record and Canada a 0-2 record in the World Cup after the match.
Cuba 22, Canada 4
54 kg/119 lbs. - Wilfredo Garcia, Cuba, dec. Selwyn Tam, Canada, 3-0
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Yoel Garcia, Cuba, dec. Dennis Pagliniwan, Canada, 4-0
63 kg/138.8 75 lbs. - Carlos Ortiz, Cuba. vs. Jeremy Podlog, Canada, 7-0
69 kg/153 lbs. - Daniel Igali, Canada dec. Yosvany Sanchez, Cuba, 6-5, ot, 6:23
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Walter Torrientes, Cuba, dec. Nick Ugoalah, Canada, 3-2
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Yoel Romero, Cuba, dec. Justin Abdou, Canada, 3-0
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Wilfredo Morales, Cuba, dec. Dean Schmeichel, Canada, 6-0
130 kg/286 lbs. - Alexis Rodriguez, Cuba, dec. Wayne Weathers, Canada, 4-0
United States beats Cuba in final match of second session, 20-9
The United States won its second match of day at the Avista Corp. XXVII World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling with a 20-9 win over Cuba at the Spokane Arena in Spokane, Wash., April 2
In a battle of World Champions at 119 pounds, 1998 World Champion Sammie Henson (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) scored a 3-1 victory over 1997 World Champion Wilfredo Garcia. Henson scored the mandatory third point as the time ran out.
Tony Purler (Clarion, Pa./Sunkist Kids) followed with a 6-4 overtime win over Yoel Garcia at 127.75 pounds. Garcia tied the bout at 4-4 with 28 seconds left in regulation, but Purler's two-point takedown just 27 seconds into overtime ended the bout.
Two-time World medalist Cary Kolat (Bellefonte, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) followed with a 3-0 shutout of Carlos Ortiz at 138.75 pounds. 1998 World bronze medalist Lincoln McIlravy won by injury default over Yosvany Sanchez at 2:34, after leading 4-0 at the time of injury.
Steve Marianetti (Urbana, Ill./New York AC) won a hard-fought, 2-0 overtime decision over Walter Torrientes at 167.5 pounds.
Cuba won its first match at 187.25 pounds, when 1998 World bronze medalist Yoel Romero beat 1997 World Champion Les Gutches, 3-0 in overtime at 7:40. Wilfredo Morales of Cuba scored a last-second two-point gutwrench to defeat J.J. McGrew (Stillwater, Okla./Sunkist Kids), 3-2 at 213.75 pounds.
Kerry McCoy (State College, Pa./New York AC) closed the night with a 3-1 win over 1998 World Champion Alexis Rodriguez at 286 pounds. With the match scoreless in the second period, McCoy scored a three-point takedown on the edge to take an insurmountable lead. At the 1998 World Championships, McCoy had an apparent semifinal win over Rodriguez overturned by appeal, and ended up placing fourth, while Rodriguez went on to win the gold medal.
The USA ended the day with a 2-0 record, while Cuba's record stood at 1-1.
United States 20, Cuba 9
54 kg/119 lbs. - Sammie Henson, Norman, Okla.. dec. Wilfredo Garcia, Cuba, 3-1
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Tony Purler, Clarion, Pa. dec. Yoel Garcia, Cuba, 6-4, ot, 6:29
63 kg/138.8 75 lbs. - Cary Kolat, Bellefonte, Pa. dec. Carlos Ortiz, Cuba, 3-0
69 kg/153 lbs. - Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa won by inj. dft. Over Yosvany Sanchez, Cuba, 2:34
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Steve Marianetti, Urbana, Ill., won by ref. dec. over Walter Torrientes, Cuba, 2-0, ot, 9:00
85 kg/187.25 lbs. -Yoel Romero, Cuba, dec. Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore., 3-0, ot, 7:40
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Wilfredo Morales, Cuba, dec. J.J. McGrew, Stillwater, Okla., 3-2
130 kg/286 lbs. - Kerry McCoy, State College, Pa. dec. Alexis Rodriguez, Cuba, 3-1