Thirteen U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers reach finals at Concord Cup

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
05/23/1998


THIRTEEN U.S. GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLERS QUALIFY FOR FINALS AT 1998 CONCORD CUP INTERNATIONAL  

Thirteen U.S. wrestlers earned spots in the finals of the 1998 Concord Cup International at Mt. Diablo High School in Concord, Calif, May 23. The competition will be completed on Sunday, May 24, with consolation and championship finals bouts.

The Concord Cup is the annual international Greco-Roman tournament held in the United States and traditionally features top athletes from the United States and other nations. Among the finalists is 1984 Olympic silver medalist Greg Gibson (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marines), who will battle Marko English of Germany in the finals at 213.75 pounds. Gibson upset 1998 U.S. Nationals champion Jason Klohs (Osseo, Minn./Minn. Storm) in the semifinals, 3-1. Also in the finals is two-time Olympian Shawn Sheldon (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), who will battle 1995 World silver medalist Hiroshi Kado of Japan in the finals at 119 pounds. Sheldon, who was a 1991 World silver medalist, defeated Salah Belguidoum of France in the semifinals, 3-0 in overtime. 1998 Pan American Champion James Gruenwald (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) will face Djamel Aianoui of France in the finals. Gruenwald beat Jacob Hey (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Air Force) in the semifinals, 10-0. The other five weight classes will feature all-United States finals, as U.S. wrestlers won their semifinal matches in the weight divisions. One of the featured finals will be at 187.25 pounds, where a pair of 1998 U.S. Nationals champions. Dan Niebuhr (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), the 1998 national champion at 187.25 pounds, will face Matt Lindland (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids), the 1998 national champion at 167.5 pounds. Lindland moved up a weight class for this competition. On Sunday, May 24, Session III is set from 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., and Session IV from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 per day for adults, and $2 per day for children.

1998 CONCORD CUP INTERNATIONAL

FINALISTS

54 kg/119 lbs.

Shawn Sheldon, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) vs. Hiroshi Kado, Japan

58 kg/127.75 lbs. -

Jim Gruenwald, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) vs. Djamel Ainaoui, France

63 kg/138.75 lbs. -

Marco Sanchez, Chandler, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) vs. Glenn Nieradka, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)

69 kg/152 lbs. -

Chris Saba, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) vs. David Zuniga, New Brighton, Minn. (Minn. Storm)

76 kg/167.5 lbs. -

T.C. Dantzler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Wildcat WC) vs. Keith Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)

85 kg/187.25 lbs. -

Dan Niebuhr, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) vs. Matt Lindland, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)

97 kg/213.75 lbs. -

Greg Gibson, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marines) vs. Mirko English, Germany

130 kg/286 lbs.

Rulon Gardner, Gilbert, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) vs. Billy Pierce, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minn. Storm)