for immediate release: April 13, 1998A national team from Germany defeated a team of U.S. athletes 17-13 in a World Dual freestyle meet in Denver, Colo., April 11. The competition was presented by USA Wrestling and the Denver Public Schools.
Kerry Boumans (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) scored the first win of the night for the U.S. with a 6-1 decision over Othmar Kuhner at 127.75 pounds. Boumans, ranked fifth in the U.S., is a U.S. Olympic Training Center freestyle resident athlete.
Tolly Thompson (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) scored a big win at 286 pounds with a 3-0 decision over 1995 World silver medalist Sven Thiele. Thompson is ranked No. 2 in the nation at super heavyweight. He attended the Univ. of Nebraska, where he was an NCAA champion. Thiele, a 1996 Olympian, is a 1996 European Championships silver medalist and has competed in three World Championships.
Joel Sharratt (Bethlehem, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) claimed the final U.S. victory by disqualification over Dirk Winterfeld at 213.75 pounds. Winterfeld was disqualified for fleeing the mat after receiving two warnings. Sharratt holds a No. 3 national ranking in freestyle. He was an NCAA champion for the Univ. of Iowa.
Leading the German team was 1994 World Champion Alexander Leipold with a 10-0 technical fall victory over Sean Bormet (Madison, Wis./Dave Schultz WC) at 167.5 pounds. Leipold competed in the 1992 & 1996 Olympic Games and is a three-time World medalist. He has won two straight World Cup titles.
An important win for Germany also came at 167.5 pounds with Andre Backhaus scoring a 3-1 overtime decision over Dan St. John (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids). St. John is the top ranked U.S. westler at 167.5 pounds. He was the 1997 U.S. Nationals freestyle champion and was a two-time NCAA champion for Arizona State Univ.
Germany's remaining wins included Vasili Zeiher scoring a 6-2 decision over Eric Albarracin (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 119 pounds, Jurgen Scheibe winning an 8-6 overtime decision over Alan Fried (Iowa City, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 138.75 pounds and Hans Gstottner winning a 4-0 decision over Barry Weldon (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 187.25 pounds.
Germany has been training with U.S. wrestlers at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Germany was fifth at the 1998 World Cup in Stillwater, Okla. April 4-5.
Germany, 17 - USA, 13
at Denver, Colo., April 11
Results
54 kg/119 lbs. - Vasili Zeiher, Germany dec. Eric Albarracin, Colorado Springs, Colo., 6-2
58 kg/127.75 lbs. -Kerry Boumans, Colorado Springs, Colo. dec. Othmar Kuhner, Germany, 6-1
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Jurgen Scheibe, Germany dec. Alan Fried, Iowa City, Iowa, 8-6, ot, 5:15
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Alexander Leipold, Germany won by tech. fall over Sean Bormet, Madison, Wis., 10-0
76 kg/167.5 lbs. -Andre Backhaus, Germany dec. Dan St. John, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3-1, ot
85 kg/187.25 lbs. -Hans Gstottner, Germany dec. Barry Weldon, Ames, Iowa, 4-0
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Joel Sharratt, Bethlehem, Pa. won by disqualification over Dirk Winterfeld, Germany
130 kg/286 lbs. - Tolly Thompson, Lincoln, Neb. dec. Sven Thiele, Germany, 3-0
Exhibition Matches
85 kg/187.25 lbs. -Hans Gstottner, Germany dec. Kenny Ramsey, Columbus, Ohio, 4-0
130 kg/286 lbs. -Dominic Black, Colorado Springs, Colo. dec. Dirk Winterfeld, Germany, 3-0