SESSION THREE, 1998 WORLD CUP OF FREESTYLE WRESTLINGWith the outcome not determined until the final match of the tournament, Russia edged the United States in the last dual meet, 16-15, to claim the team title at the 1998 Freestyle World Cup, held at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., April 5.
The U.S. led 15-13 going into the final match, where Andrei Shumilin defeated Tom Erikson (Stillwater, Okla./Sunkist Kids), by referee's decision, 1-0 in overtime at 286 pounds. The win gave Russia a 16-15 win in the dual meet.
Erikson, who had injured his head severely in his morning match against Japan, gave a gutsy performance against Shumilin, the 1993 World bronze medalist, but was unable to score during the bout.
Russia's win knotted up the team race, with three teams tied with 4-1 records: Russia, the United States and Iran. The first tie-breaking procedure is total team points scored in the tournament. Both Russia and the USA had 101 team points, and Iran had 92 points.
The next tiebreaker was most falls, and Russia was awarded the team title over the United States on the basis of more falls during the entire competition.
The final dual meet was exciting, with many lead changes. Russia won the first two matches, with victories from Leonid Chuchunov at 119 pounds and Chamil Umakhanov at 127.75 pounds.
Cary Kolat (Lock Haven, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) ignited the U.S. team with a dominant 11-0 technical fall over Andrei Yakovlev at 138.75 pounds.
Lincoln McIlravy (Iowa City, Iowa/Gateway 2000 WC) continued the comeback with a sudden pin over Teymuraz Oroussov at 3:50.
Dan St. John (Tulsa, Okla./Sunkist Kids) scored an impressive come-from-behind win over Alexei Kasiev, 3-2 in 6:34. Kasiev led 2-0 at the end of regulation, but had not scored the required three points. St. John scored three takedowns in the overtime for the win.
A key match for Russia came at 187.25 pounds, where Alexei Krupniakov upset 1997 World Champion Les Gutches (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids), 4-2. Gutches led 2-0, but with a minute left, Krupniakov hit a three-point hip toss to take an insurmountable lead.
1997 World Champion Kouramagomed Kouramagomedov of Russia followed with a clutch 6-3 win over J.J. McGrew (Stillwater, Okla./Sunkist Kids) to set up the deciding match at super heavyweight.
Russia came back strong after a dramatic 16-13 loss to Iran earlier in the session. Iran won five of the eight matches. However, since the USA had beaten Iran on Saturday evening, the team race would not be determined until the final USA vs. Russia match.
The U.S. won its first match of the day, thrashing Japan 29-1, and winning all eight bouts handily.
Based upon the other dual matches, Cuba placed fourth with a 2-4 record, Germany was fifth with a 1-4 record and Japan was sixth with a 0-5 record.
Two U.S. wrestlers claimed individual gold medals: Kolat and McIlravy. Kolat had a 4-1 record in the tournament, and earned the gold with his win over the Russian opponent in the last match. McIlravy won all five of his matches to claim the title.
Winning silver medals for the USA were Sam Henson (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 119 pounds, St. John and Erikson. Winning bronze medals for the USA were Tony Purler (Norman, Okla.) at 127.75 pounds and Gutches. McGrew placed fourth in his weight.
Iran had three individual champions: Bahman Tayebi at 119 pounds, Ali Reza Dabier at 127.75 pounds and Abbas Jadidi at 213.75 pounds. Other champions were Alexander Leipold of Germany at 167.5 pounds, Yoel Romero of Cuba at 187.25 pounds and Andrei Shumilin of Russia at 286 pounds.
WORLD CUP OF FREESTYLE WRESTLING
Sunday. April 5
Session Three
Round Six
Cuba 24, Germany 9
54 kg/119 lbs. - Wilfredo Garcia, Cuba, dec. Vasili Zeihe, Germany, 8-1
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Joendris Albear, Cuba, dec. Othmar Kuhner, Germany, 6-0
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Carlos Ortiz, Cuba, dec. Jurgen Scheibe, Germany, 5-1
69 kg/152 lbs. - Yosmany Sanchez, Cuba, won by inj. dft. over Fatih Ozbas, Germany
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Alexander Leipold, Germany, dec. Daniel Gonzales, Cuba, 3-1
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Yoel Romero, Cuba, dec. Andre Backhaus, Germany, 8-0
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Wilfredo Morales, Cuba, won by forfeit
130 kg/286 lbs. - Alexis Rodriguez, Cuba, dec. Sven Thiele, Germany, 5-0
Iran 16, Russia 13
54 kg/119 lbs. - Bahman Tayebi, Iran, dec. Leonid Chuchunov, Russia, 7-2
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Ali Reza Dabier, Iran, dec. Chamil Umakhanov, Russia, 13-6
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Abbas Haji Kenari, Iran, dec. Andrei Yakovlev, Russia, 5-0
69 kg/152 lbs. - Teymuraz Oroussov, Russia, pin Massoud Jamshidi, Iran, 4:37
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Adam Saitiev, Russia, dec. Majied Khodaee, Iran, 14-5
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Ali Reza Heidari, Iran, dec. Alexei Krupniakov, Russia, 4-3
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Abbas Jadidi, Iran, dec. Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov, Russia, 3-1, ot, 5:37
130 kg/286 lbs. - Andrei Shumilin, Russia, vs. Ali Reza Rezaei, Iran, 3-0, ot, 6:24
Round Seven
Iran 17, Cuba 10
54 kg/119 lbs. - Bahman Teyebi, Iran dec. Wilfredo Garcia, Cuba, 3-0
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Ali Reza Dabier, Iran, dec. Joendris Albear, Cuba, 10-4
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Abbas Haji Kenari, Iran, dec. Carlos Ortiz, Cuba, 6-0
69 kg/152 lbs. - Yosmany Sanchez, Cuba, dec. Massoud Jamshidi, Iran, 3-1
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Majied Khodaee, Iran, pin Daniel Gonzales, Cuba, 0:49
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Yoel Romero, Cuba, won by Ferydon Ghanbari, Iran, 1-0, ot, 8:00
97 kg/213.75 lbs. -Abbas Jadidi, Iran, won by ref. dec. over Wilfredo Morales, Cuba, 1-0, ot, 8:00
130 kg/286 lbs. - Alexis Rodriguez, Cuba, dec. Ali Reza Rezaei, Iran, 3-0
USA 29, Japan 1
54 kg/119 lbs. - Sam Henson, Norman, Okla., won by tech. fall over Takeshi Morita, Japan, 11-0, 2:19
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Tony Purler, Norman, Okla., dec. Yuji Ishajima, Japan, 12-7
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Cary Kolat, Lock Haven, Pa., won by tech. fall over Isami Tsuboi, Japan, 11-0, 4:13
69 kg/152 lbs. - Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa, won by tech. fall over Ryasburo Katsu, Japan, 10-0, 4:23
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Dan St. John, Tulsa, Okla., dec. Takayasu Tomoyose, Japan, 5-0
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore., won by ref. dec. over Tatsuo Kawai, Japan, 2-0, ot, 8;00
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - J.J. McGrew, Stillwater, Okla., won by tech. fall over Hiroshi Kosuge, Japan, 10-0, 3:59
130 kg/286 lbs. - Tom Erikson, W. Lafayette, Ind. pin Hiroyuki Obata, Japan, 0:43
Round Eight - Team Championship
Russia 16, USA 15
54 kg/119 lbs. - Leonid Chuchunov, Russia, dec. Sam Henson, Norman, Okla., 4-3
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Chamil Umakhanov, Russia, vs. Tony Purler, Norman, Okla., 5-2
63 kg/138.75 lbs. -Cary Kolat, Lock Haven, Pa., won by tech. fall over Andrei Yakovlev, Russia, 11-0, 4:52
69 kg/152 lbs. - Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa, pin Teymuraz Oroussov, Russia, 3:50
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Dan St. John, Tulsa, Okla., dec. Alexei Kasiev, Russia, 3-2, ot, 6:34
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Alexei Krupniakov, Russia, dec. Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore., 4-2
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov, Russia, dec. J.J. McGrew, Stillwater, Okla., 6-3
130 kg/286 lbs. - Andrei Shumilin, Russia, won by ref. dec. over Tom Erikson, W. Lafayette, Ind., 1-0, ot, 8:00
PLACE WINNERS
54 kg/119 lbs: Gold - Bahman Tayebi (Iran); Silver - Sam Henson (USA); Bronze - Leonid Chuchonov (Russia); 4th - Wilfredo Garcia (Cuba); 5th - Vasile Zeiher (Germany); 6th - Takeshi Morita (Japan)
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Gold - Ali Reza Dabier (Iran); Silver - Chamil Umakhanov (Russia); Bronze - Tony Purler (USA); 4th - Joendris Albear (Cuba); 5th - Sanshiro Abe (Japan); 6th - Othmar Kuhner (Germany)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Gold - Cary Kolat (USA); Silver - Jurgen Scheibe (Germany); Bronze - Abbas Haji Kenari (Iran); 4th - Andrei Yakovlev (Russia); 5th - Carlos Ortiz (Cuba); 6th - Isami Tsuboi (Japan)
69 kg/152 lbs. - Gold - Lincoln McI