USA beats Russia, 24-6 in Dan Gable Classic in Des Moines, Iowa 
  
 The United States won seven of eight matches to defeat Russia 24-6, in the Dan Gable Classic in Des Moines, Iowa, May 9. The freestyle dual meet was held in honor of 1972 Olympic Champion Dan Gable, a legend in U.S. wrestling and a native of Iowa. 
   
 Eric Akin (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) opened the meet at 119 pounds with a pin over Maxim Molonov at 1:37. Molonov was fifth in the 1997 World Championships. 
   
 Mike Mena (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) followed with a 7-1 decision over Junior World silver medalist Belitko Jargalov at 127.75 pounds.  
   
 Bill Zadick (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) scored a 10-2 win over Jamso Lkhmajanov at 138.75 pounds. 
   
 Three-time University Nationals champion Chris Bono (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) edged Artour Tavkaozakhov, 7-6 at 152 pounds. 
   
 Russia¹s only win came at 167.5 pounds, where Akmed Arsamakov beat 1998 U.S. Nationals runner-up Daryl Weber (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC), 6-4. 
   
 Jon McGovern (Burke, Va./Dave Schultz WC) came back with a pin of Roustem Soupaev, at 4:15 at 187.5 pounds. 
   
 At 213.75 pounds, Joel Sharratt (Bethlehem, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) beat Nikolai Telegin, 5-0. 
   
 1998 U.S. Nationals champion Tolly Thompson (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids), closed the meet by defeating 1997 Junior World bronze medalist Artem Achigev, 3-0. 
   
 All of the U.S. athletes have been connected to wrestling programs in Iowa. Mena, Zadick, Weber and Sharratt all competed for the Univ. of Iowa. Bono wrestled for Iowa State Univ. Akin and McGovern have trained in Iowa City with the Hawkeye WC. Thompson attended high school in Janesville, Iowa. 
  
 Two exhibition matches, featuring Greco-Roman and women¹s freestyle wrestling, were also held. In the women¹s bout, two-time World Champion Tricia Saunders (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) stopped Aimee McNab (Morris, Minn./UM-Morris), 8-1 at 112 pounds. In the Greco-Roman bout, two-time U.S. Nationals champion Matt Lindland (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) beat Mike Uker (Colorado Springs, Colo./Hawkeye WC) at 167.5 pounds. 
  
 DAN GABLE CLASSIC 
  
 USA 26, RUSSIA 6 
   
 119 - Eric Akin, Iowa City, Iowa, pin Maxim Molonov, Russia, 1:37 
   
 127.75. - Mike Mena, Iowa City, Iowa, dec. Belitko Jargalov, Russia, 7-1 
   
 138.75 - Bill Zadick, Iowa City, Iowa, dec. Jamso Lkhmajanov, Russia, 10-2 
   
 152 - Chris Bono, Ames, Iowa, dec. Artour Tavkaozakhov, Russia, 7-6 
   
 167.5 - Akmed Arsamakov, Russia, dec. Daryl Weber, Iowa City, Iowa, 6-4 
   
 187.5 - Jon McGovern, Burke, Va., pin Roustem Soupaev, Russia, 4:15 
   
 213.75 - Joel Sharratt, Bethlehem, Pa., dec, Nikolai Telegin, Russia, 5-0 
   
 286 - Tolly Thompson, Lincoln, Neb., dec. Artem Achigev, Russia, 3-0 
  
 Exhibition matches 
   
 Women¹s 112 - Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz., dec. Aimee McNab, Morris, Minn., 8-1 
   
 Greco-Roman 167.5 - Matt Lindland, Lincoln, Neb., won by tech. fall over Mike Uker, Colorado Springs, Colo., 11-0