KOLAT, ROBIE WINS GOLD MEDALS AND GIURA WINS A SILVER MEDAL AT CERRO PELADO TOURNAMENT IN CUBA, FEB. 22-23Two U.S. wrestlers, Cary Kolat (Bellefonte, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) and Tony Robie (Edinboro, Pa./New York AC) claimed gold medals for the United States at the Cerro Pelado Tournament in St. Spiritus, Cuba, Feb. 22-23.
Kolat, a two-time World medalist, dominated field at 138.75 pounds, and was awarded the Best Technical Wrestler in the tournament. He pinned his first three opponents, then defeated veteran Carlos Ortiz of Cuba by technical fall in the gold-medal match, 13-3. Overall, Kolat scored 58 technical points in his four matches.
Kolat was second in the 1997 World Championships and third at the 1998 World Championships.
Robie won his first major international tournament, with an impressive performance at 167.5 pounds. He won five straight matches, including a 5-1 decision over Walter Torrientes of Cuba in the gold-medal match. Two of his victories were by technical fall.
John Giura (New York, N.Y./Dave Schultz WC) claimed a silver medal at 152 pounds, losing only to Yosmany Sanchez of Cuba in the finals, 3-1. He won four straight matches to qualify for the gold-medal finals. Giura was seventh at the 1989 World Championships, and is a two-time World Cup champion.
Winning a bronze medal for the United States was Jon McGovern (Philadelphia, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) at 187.25 pounds. He won four of his five bouts, including a 10-0 technical fall over Carlos Hernandez of Cuba in the bronze medal match.
Danny Felix (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) placed fifth at 127.75 pounds. Sean Bormet (Madison, Wis./Team Excel) placed sixth at 167.5 pounds. Chris Bono (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) was seventh at 152 pounds and Frank Trigg (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) was ninth at 167.5 pounds.
The United States placed second in the tournament, behind only host Cuba. A total of 15 nations participated in the event.
Coaching the U.S. team were Joe Seay of Perry, Okla., Ed Giese of Wooddale, Ill. and USA Wrestling Freestyle Resident Coach Kevin Jackson of Colorado Springs, Colo.
CERRO PELADO TOURNAMENT at St. Spiritus, Cuba, Feb. 22-23
Medalists
119 - 1st - Rene Montero (Cuba); 2nd - Mariel Rosell (Cuba); 3rd - Geovany Mora (Mexico)
127.75 - 1st - Yeondris Albear (Cuba); 2nd - Michele Liuzzi (Italy); 3rd -
138.75 - 1st - Cary Kolat (USA); 2nd - Carlos Ortiz (Cuba); 3rd - Pedro Garcia (Cuba) 152 - 1st - Yosmany Sanchez (Cuba); 2nd - John Giura (USA); 3rd - Ivan Fundora (Cuba)
167.5 - 1st - 1st - Tony Robie (USA); 2nd - Walter Torrientes (Cuba); 3rd - Daniel Gonzales (Cuba) 187.25 - 1st - Joel Romero (Cuba); 2nd - Wilber Silega (Cuba); 3rd - Jon McGovern (USA)
213.75 - 1st - 1st - Wilfredo Morales (Cuba); 2nd - Dayan Tejeda (Cuba); 3rd - Manuel Valier (Cuba)
286 - 1st - Alexis Rodriguez (Cuba); 2nd - Angel Anaya (Cuba); 3rd - Carlos Nancumil (Chile)
U.S. performances
127.75 - Danny Felix, Phoenix, Ariz., 5th - dec. Osvaldo Tanreife (Colombia), 7-0; won by ref. dec. over Giovanny Ramirez (Guatamala), 2-1, ot, 9:00; lost dec. to Michel Liuzzi (Italy), 7-1
127.75 - Jeff Bedard, Atlanta, Ga., dnp - lost dec. to Joel Garcia (Cuba), 8-3; lost by tech. fall to Michel Liuzzi (Italy), 16-4
138.75 - Cary Kolat, Bellefonte, Pa., 1st - pin Serguei Rondon (Cuba); pin Fernando Taberas (Dominican Rep.); pin Jhony Cedeno (Venezuela); won by tech. fall over Carlos Ortiz (Cuba), 13-3
152 - John Giura, New York, N.Y., 2nd - pin Fernando Orcero (Peru); dec. Chris Bono (USA), 4-3; won by tech. fall over Stewart Petrie (Canada), 10-0; dec. Rosquel Giulbert (Cuba), 3-0; lost dec. to Yosmany Sanchez (Cuba), 3-1
152 - Chris Bono, Ames, Iowa, 7th - won by tech. fall over Fernando Orcero (Peru), 11-0; lost dec. to John Giura (USA), 4-3
167.5 - Tony Robie, Edinboro, Pa., 1st - won by tech. fall over Martin Siri (Dominican Rep.), 14-3; dec. Frank Trigg (USA), 9-0; dec. Yosmany Romero (Cuba), 3-2; won by tech. fall over Leigh Vierling (Canada), 11-1; dec. Walter Torrientes (Cuba), 5-1
167.5 - Sean Bormet, Madison, Wis., 6th - dec. Angelo Camarda (Italy), 5-2; lost by pin to Daniel Gonzales (Cuba); pin Miguel Carasco (Mexico)
167.5 - Frank Trigg, Norman, Okla., 9th - pin Martin Siri (Dominican Republic); lost dec. to Tony Robie (USA), 9-0 187.25 - Jon McGovern, Philadelphia, Pa., 3rd - dec. Gary Holmes (Canada), 5-0; dec. Mateu White (Puerto Rico), 7-0; won by inj. dft. over Ariel Ramos (Cuba); lost dec. to Wilber Silenga (Cuba), 4-0; won by tech. fall over Carlos Hernandez (Cuba), 10-0
213.75 - Melvin Douglas, Mesa, Ariz., dnp - lost dec. to Wilfredo Morales (Cuba), 3-0; dec. Owen Dawkins (Canada), 4-0; double disqualification with Miguel Molina (Cuba)
Team standings: 1. Cuba; 2. United States; 3. Italy; 4. Chile; 5. Mexico; 6. Argentina; 7. Australia; 8. Canada; 9. Colombia; 10. Dominican Republic; 11. Guatemala; 12. Peru; 13. Puerto Rico; 14. St. Spiritus club (Cuba); 15. Venezuela