Les Gutches (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) has been named the winner of the 1997 John Smith Award as the Freestyle Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling. It is the first time that Gutches has won this prestigious award. 
 Gutches was the 1997 World Champion in freestyle wrestling at 187.25 pounds, the top U.S. wrestling performance in 1997. His victory led the United States to a sixth-place finish in the tournament. 
 Gutches defeated Eldar Assanov of Ukraine in gold-medal finals, in a 1-1 overtime referee's decision. The key win for Gutches in the tournament came in the semifinals, where he beat 1996 Olympic Champion Khadzimurad Magomedov of Russia, 3-2 in overtime. 
 He won five matches on the way to the gold medal. For his outstanding achievement, Gutches was named the USOC's SportsMan of the Month in August. 
 Gutches won every competition that he entered in 1997, including the Freestyle World Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev., in May, and the U.S. National Championships in Orlando, Fla., in April. It was his second straight national title.  
 To qualify for the U.S. team, Gutches had to beat 1992 Olympic champion and two-time World Champion Kevin Jackson in the finals of the U.S. Nationals and World Team Trials. Jackson is considered to be one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. 
 Gutches accomplishments were more remarkable after recovering from back surgery early in season. He was a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, placing seventh at 180.5 pounds.  
 He competes for the Sunkist Kids wrestling club, and was a two-time NCAA Champion for Oregon State University. He is originally from Central Point, Ore., where he was a three-time state champion for South Medford High School. He works as an assistant wrestling coach for Oregon State. 
 Gutches has also been named the 1997 Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year, and the 1997 USOC Freestyle Wrestler of the Year. 
  PAST JOHN SMITH AWARD WINNERS AS FREESTYLE WRESTLER OF THE YEAR 
 1997 - Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore., Sunkist Kids 
 1996 - Kendall Cross, Raleigh, N.C., Sunkist Kids 
 1995 - Kevin Jackson, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids 
 1994 - Melvin Douglas, Mesa, Ariz., Sunkist Kids 
 1993 - Terry and Tom Brands, Iowa City, Iowa, Team Foxcatcher 
 1992 - John Smith, Stillwater, Okla., Sunkist Kids