DEGAIN WINS SILVER MEDAL AT CADET WORLD FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS; USA PLACES SEVENTH AS A TEAM IN MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, JULY 2-5
Pat DeGain of White Lake, Mich. won a silver medal at 138.75 pounds, the top U.S. performancer at the 1998 Cadet World Freestyle Championships, held in Manchester, England, July 2-5.
The event featured the top 14-16 year old wrestlers in the world, competing in freestyle, one of the two international styles of wrestling.
DeGain lost by injury default in the championship finals to Khoutaba of Russia. The bout was tied at 3-3, when DeGain injured his ankle. He attempted to continue wrestling, but could not complete the match. He won three straight matches to qualify for the gold-medal match.
No other U.S. wrestler was able to win a medal. James Woodall of DuPont, Pa. placed fifth at 152 pounds, with an impressive 4-2 record.
Placing sixth at 125.5 pounds was Paul Collum of Bolingbrook, Ill., with a 3-2 record at his weight class. Collum was originally an alternate to the U.S. team, and had a superb performance.
The United States placed seventh as a team, with eight of the 10 team members placing in the top 10 of their weight classes. Russia won the team title with 82 points, followed by Azerbaijan with 69 points and Georgia with 67 points.
Two wrestlers placed seventh at their weight classes: Ruben Villorreal of Plano, Ill. at 92.5 pounds and Rich Cordova of Ogden, Utah at 114.5 pounds.
Justin Millard of Bellefont, Pa. was eighth at 167.5 pounds. Kyle Ott of Huber Heights, Ohio, placed ninth at 105.5 pounds and Mike Pirozolla of Levittown, Pa. placed 10th at 138.75 pounds.
Coaching the U.S. team were Tadaaki Hatta of Oberlin, Ohio and Dave Grant of Dekalb, Ill.
The U.S. team was determined at the 1998 Cadet World Team Trials for men, held at Northwestern Univ. in Evanston, Ill., April 10-11.
1998 CADET FREESTYLE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS at Manchester, England, July 2-5
Medalists
42 kg/92.5 lbs. - Gold - Sedimov (Azerbaijan); Silver - Elbakidze (Georgia); Bronze - Amankosov (Kazakhstan)
45 kg./99 lbs. - Gold - Sushil (India); Silver - Brzpzpwski (Poland); Bronze - Dianaloudin (Russia)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Gold - Verlan (Moldova); Silver - Auchundov (Azerbaijan); Bronze - Soultan (Russia)
52 kg/114.5 lbs. - Gold - Ismailous (Azerbaijan); Silver - Yilmaz (Turkey); Bronze - Tcmermen (Russia)
57 kg/125.5 lbs. - Gold - Bakir (Turkey); Silver - Okropirdze (Georgia); Bronze - Hapsha (Ukraine)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Gold - Iossopov (Russia); Silver - Karadeniz (Turkey); Bronze - Ivashkidashvili (Georgia)
69 kg/152 lbs. - Gold - Khazbouatov (Russia); Silver - Erdenetuga (Mongolia); Bronze - Datagaev (Azerbaijan)
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Gold - Alijev (Azerbaijan); Silver - Akylbekou (Kazakhstan); Bronze - Gamidov (Russia)
83 kg/182.75 lbs. - Gold - Balcis (Turkey); Silver - Magomed (Russia); Bronze - Bagauri (Azerbajain)
95 kg/209.25 lbs. - Gold - Khoutaba (Russia); Silver - DeGain (USA); Bronze - Guswinov (Azerbaijan)
U.S. performances
42 kg/92.5 lbs. - Ruben Villorreal, Plano, Ill., 7th place, 3-2 record
45 kg./99 lbs. - Nathan Schy, Hampton, Va., did not place, 1-2 record
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Kyle Ott, Huber Heights, Ohio, 9th place, 2-2 record
52 kg/114.5 lbs. - Rich Cordova, Ogden, Utah, 7th place, 2-2 record
57 kg/125.5 lbs. - Paul Collum, Bolingbrook, Ill., 6th place, 3-2 record
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Mike Pirozolla, Levittown, Pa., 10th place, 1-2 record
69 kg/152 lbs. - James Woodall, DuPont, Pa., 5th place, 4-2 record
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Justin Millard, Bellefont, Pa., 8th place, 2-2 record
83 kg/182.75 lbs. - Karl Knothe, Stillwater, Minn., did not place, 1-2 record
95 kg/209.25 lbs. - Pat DeGain, White Lake, Mich., 2nd place, 3-1 record
Top Ten Teams
1. Russia, 82 pts.; 2. Azerbaijan, 69 pts,; 3. Georgia, 67 pts.; 4. Turkey, 49 pts.; 5. Kazakhstan, 42 pts.; 6. Ukraine, 42 pts.; 7. United States, 34 pts.; 8. Moldova, 32 pts.; 9. Mongolia, 22 pts.; 10. India, 21 pts.