HENSON WINS GOLD MEDAL AT 119 POUNDS AT FREESTYLE WORLD WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN TEHRAN, IRAN, SEPT. 10; KOLAT CLAIMS BRONZE MEDAL AT 138.75 POUNDS 
  
 Sam Henson (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) won a gold medal at 119 pounds at the 1998 World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Sept. 10. 
  
 Henson defeated 1996 Olympic silver medalist Namik Abdullayev of Azerbaijan in the gold-medal finals, 3-1. Henson was competing in his first World Championships. 
  
 Henson received a warm reception from the Iranian fans, according to a report from the Associated Press. This is only the second time in 20 years that a sports team from the USA has competed in Iran. "I never imagined the Iranians were like this. You are the best fans in the world. I really respect you," Henson told the crowd, according to the Associated Press story. 
  
 This is the third meeting this season between these two wrestlers. Henson beat Abdullayev, 4-1, at the Uzbekistan Cup on November 23, and Abdullayev stopped Henson 3-2 at the Kiev Grand Prix in Ukraine, February 22. 
  
 Henson, 27, was the 1998 U.S. Nationals champion, and won two NCAA titles for Clemson Univ. He placed second in the 1998 World Cup and the 1998 Goodwill Games. He is originally from Francis Howell High School in St. Peters, Mo. He is a new assistant wrestling coach at the Univ. of Northern Iowa. 
  
 KOLAT WINS BRONZE MEDAL AT 138.75 POUNDS 
  
 Cary Kolat (Lock Haven, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) claimed a bronze medal at 138.75 pounds. He defeated 1995 World Champion Elbrus Tedeev of Ukraine in the bronze medal match, 3-1. Kolat won a World medal for the second straight year, after claiming a silver medal at the 1997 World Championships in Russia. 
  
 He won two earlier consolation bouts to qualify for the bronze-medal match. Kolat opened with a 10-1 win over Lucjan Gralak of Poland, then defeated 1994 World Champion Magomed Azizov of Russia, 3-1. 
  
 Kolat¹s only loss was to Serafim Barzakov of Bulgaria, on a bout which was overturned by protest. Barzakov went on to win the gold medal. 
  
 Kolat won titles at the 1998 Goodwill Games and the 1998 World Cup. Kolat, 25, a two-time NCAA champion for Lock Haven Univ, is originally from Rices Landing, Pa. 
  
 McCOY BEATEN IN SEMIFINALS ON PROTESTED BOUT 
   
 The gold medal hopes of Kerry McCoy (State College, Pa./New York AC) were crushed, when his semifinal victory over 1997 World silver medalist Alexis Rodriguez of Cuba was overturned through a protest. 
  
 McCoy originally won the bout on a 1-1 referee's decision, but the Cuban team lodged a protest. FILA, the international wrestling federation, reviewed the match and changed the outcome to a 4-1 victory for the Cuban athlete. Rodriguez moves into the gold-medal match against Rasul Khadem of Iran. 
  
 McCoy will now compete in the consolation rounds, with a chance to wrestle back for the bronze medal. The lowest that McCoy could place in his division is sixth. 
  
 McCoy, 23, was a two-time NCAA champion for Penn State Univ. He was a Junior World Champion in 1992, and has also won a silver medal at the 1998 Goodwill Games. He is originally from Middle Island, N.Y. 
  
 DOUGLAS DEFEATED IN CONSOLATIONS 
  
 1993 World Champion Melvin Douglas (Mesa, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) was defeated by Vadim Tasoev of Ukraine on Thursday morning, 3-0 at 213.75 pounds. With the victory, Tasoev moved on to the bronze medal match. The final standings have not been announced, but Douglas will place either fifth or sixth. 
  
 Douglas has won four career World medals and was seventh in the 1996 Olympic Games. He was a silver medalist at the 1998 Goodwill Games. Douglas, 34, won two NCAA titles for the Univ. of Oklahoma and is originally from Topeka, Kan.  
  
 GUTCHES, McILRAVY REMAIN ALIVE IN HUNT FOR BRONZE MEDALS 
  
 Still alive in their quest for the bronze medal in their weight classes are Lincoln McIlravy (Iowa City, Iowa/Gateway) at 152 pounds and 1997 World Champion Les Gutches (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) at 187.25 pounds. Both must win two matches on Friday morning to qualify for the bronze-medal bout. 
  
 McIlravy beat Almazbek Askarov of Kyrgyzstan, 3-0 in the consolation round. He will face Kim Eun You of Korea in his first match on Friday. 
  
 McIlravy was the 1998 World Cup champion and the 1998 Goodwill Games champion. McIlravy, 23, was a three-time NCAA champion for the Univ. of Iowa, and hails from Philip, S.D. 
  
 Gutches scored a 6-3 win over Sergei Borchankov of Belarus in the consolation rounds. He will face Yang Hyun Mo of Korea in his first match on Friday. 
  
 Gutches claimed a gold medal at the 1998 Goodwill Games. He was seventh at the 1996 Olympic Games. He has won the U.S. Nationals three straight years, and was third in the 1998 World Cup. Gutches, 25, was a two-time NCAA champion for Oregon State Univ., and hails from Medford, Ore. 
  
 PURLER ELIMINATED AFTER CONSOLATION LOSS 
  
 Tony Purler (Clarion, Pa./Sunkist Kids) was eliminated from medal contention after a loss in the consolation rounds at 127.75 pounds. He was defeated by Sianiok of Belarus, 10-2. 
  
 Purler placed third at the 1998 Goodwill Games. Purler, 28, was an NCAA champion for the Univ. of Nebraska. He placed 10th in the 1997 World Championships. He is originally from Wentzville, Mo. 
  
 CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN FOUR WEIGHT DIVISIONS 
  
 Champions were crowned in the first four weight classes contested at the Freestyle World Championships. The first champion was Sam Henson of the United States at 119 pounds.  
  
 Bouvaisa Saitiev of Russia won his fourth straight World-level title, claiming the 167.5 pound crown. He was the 1996 Olympic champion, and has won World titles in 1995, 1997 and 1998. 
  
 Claiming his first World title for host Iran was 1996 Olympic silver medalist Abbas Jadidi at 213.75 pounds. Also winning his first World title was Serafim Barzakov of Bulgaria at 138.75 pounds. 
  
 1998 WORLD FREESTYLE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS at Tehran, Iran, Sept. 10 
  
 U.S. athletes, Group 1 results 
  
 54 kg/119 lbs. - Sam Henson, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist) - dec. Namik Abdullayev (Azerbaijan), 3-1 
  
 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Cary Kolat, Lock Haven, Pa. (Dave Schultz WC) - dec. Lucjan Gralak (Poland), 10-1; dec. Magomed Azizov (Russia), 3-1; dec. Elbrus Tedeev (Ukraine), 3-1 
  
 97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Melvin Douglas, Mesa, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) - lost dec. to Vadim Tasoev (Ukraine), 3-0 
  
 U.S. athletes, Group 2 results 
  
 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Tony Purler, Clarion, Pa. (Sunkist Kids) - lost dec. to Sianiok (Belarus), 10-2 
  
 69 kg/152 lbs. - Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa (Gateway) - dec. Almazbek Askarov (Kyrgyzstan), 3-0 
  
 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids) - dec. Sergei Borchankov (Belarus), 6-3 
  
 130 kg/286 lbs. - Kerry McCoy, State College, Pa. (New York AC) - lost dec. to Alexis Rodriguez (Cuba), 4-1, ot 
  
 Medal Results for Group 1 weight classes 
  
 54 kg/119 lbs. - Gold - Sam Henson (United States); Silver - Namik Abdullayev (Azerbaijan); Bronze - Gholamreza Mohammadi (Iran) 
  
 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Gold - Serafim Barzakov (Bulgaria); Silver - Abbas Haji Kenari (Iran); Bronze - Cary Kolat (United States) 
  
 76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Gold - Bouvaisa Saitiev (Russia); Silver - Moon Eui Jae (Korea); Bronze - Alexander Leipold (Germany) 
  
 97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Gold - Abbas Jadidi (Iran); Silver - Marek Garmulewicz (Poland); Bronze - Kouramagomed Kouramagomedov (Russia) 
  
 Gold medal finals for Group 2 weight classes on Friday 
  
 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Ali Reza Dabir (Iran) vs. Giuvi Sissaouri (Canada) 
  
 69 kg/152 lbs. - Araik Gevorgyan (Armenia) vs. Zaza Zazirov (Ukraine) 
  
 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Ali Reza Heideri (Iran) vs. Magomed Ibrachimov (Macedonia) 
  
 130 kg/286 lbs. - Alexis Rodriguez (Cuba) vs. Rasul Khadem (Iran)