SESSION TWO, 1998 WORLD CUP OF FREESTYLE WRESTLINGUnited States defeats Iran, 16-12, to remain unbeaten at the World Cup; Russia also remains unbeaten with victory over Germany, 21-7
The United States edged Iran,16-12, to claim its third dual meet victory of the day at the 1998 Freestyle World Cup, held at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., April 4. The match was not determined until the heavyweight bout.
Iran opened the dual meet with victories from Bahman Tayebi at 119 pounds and Ali Reza Dabier at 127.75 pounds, opening up a 6-2 lead in the team score.
In a dramatic comeback, 1997 World silver medalist Cary Kolat (Lock Haven, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) scored a 1-1 referee's decision over 1997 World Champion Abbas Haji Kenari. Going into overtime, Haji Kenari led 1-0, but had not scored the mandatory three points. With less than 30 seconds remaining in the three-minute overtime period, Kolat scored a takedown to tie the bout at 1-1. Kolat was awarded the referee's decision for having the least passivity calls against him, with three on Haji Kenari and one on Kolat.
Lincoln McIlravy (Iowa City, Iowa/Gateway 2000 WC) followed with a solid 4-2 win over Massoud Jamshidi. Iran led in the team score, 8-7, after McIlravy's win.
The U.S. took its first lead in the match at 10-8, when Dan St. John (Tulsa, Okla./Sunkist Kids) scored a clutch 1-0 overtime referee's decision over Majied Khodaee.
1997 World Champion Les Gutches (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) made it four straight wins for the USA, with 4-1 decision over 1997 World bronze medalist Ali Reza Heydari. Gutches had beaten Heydari on the way to his World title last September.
When 1996 Olympic silver medalist Abbas Jadidi of Iran scored a 3-0 victory at 213.75 pounds, the United led 13-12 going into the final match.
Tom Erikson (W. Lafayette, Ind./Sunkist Kids) clinched the U.S. victory with a 3-0 overtime win at 7:08 over Ali Reza Rezae. Erikson scored a two-point gutwrench 1:15 into the bout. The match went into overtime with Erikson leading 2-0. Erikson ended the meet with a one-point takedown with just 52 seconds left in the three-minute overtime.
"There are always key matches, but Kolat and St. John came through for us," said U.S. head coach Mike McArthur. "Erikson also had a great win, and Gutches wrestled very well. We learned a lot from the first two losses. We didn't take any good shots in those matches. I think our team will come back and wrestle even better tomorrow against Russia.If we are as ready tomorrow as we were today, I don't see us having much trouble."
Russia remained undefeated, winning its third dual meet of the tournament with a 21-7 victory over Germany. Teymuraz Oroussov of Russia pinned Fatih Ozbas in 4:44 at 152 pounds. Russia won six of the eight matches in the dual meet.
Cuba won its first dual meet of the World Cup, sweeping all eight matches in a 29-1 win over Japan. To open the meet, 1997 World Champion Wilfredo Garcia of Cuba scored a technical fall over Takeshi Morita, 10-0 at 119 pounds. 1997 World silver medalist Alexis Rodriguez ended the meet with a 12-0 technical fall over Hiroyuki Obata.
Germany also claimed its first dual meet victory, stopping Japan , 27-5. Germany won seven of the eight matches in the event.
After the first day of competition, the United States and Russia have 3-0 records. Iran has a 2-1 record. Cuba has a 1-2 record and Germany has a 1-3 record. Japan remained winless with an 0-4 record.
The final day of the World Cup will be Sunday, April 5, with wrestling beginning at 1:00 p.m.
WORLD CUP OF FREESTYLE WRESTLING
Friday, April 4
Second Session
Round Four
Russia 21, Germany 7
54 kg/119 lbs. - Leonid Chuchunov, Russia dec. Vasili Zeihe, Germany, 8-0
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Chamil Umakhanov, Russia dec. Othmar Kuhner, Germany, 6-0
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Jurgen Scheibe, Germany, dec. Andrei Yakovlev, Russia, 3-2
69 kg/152 lbs. - Teymuraz Oroussov, Russia, pin Fatih Ozbas, Germany, 4:44
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Alexander Leipold, Germany, dec. Adam Saitiev, Russia, 6-0
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Alexei Krupniakov, Russia dec. Hans Gstottner, Germany, 5-4, ot, 5:36
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov, Russia, won by forfeit
130 kg/286 lbs. - Andrei Shumilin, Russia, won by ref. dec. over Sven Thiele, Germany, 1-0, ot, 8:00
Cuba 29, Japan 1
54 kg/119 lbs. - Wilfredo Garcia, Cuba, won by tech. fall over Takeshi Morita, Japan, 10-0, 2:54
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Joendris Albear, Cuba, dec. Sanshiro Abe, Japan, 6-5
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Carlos Ortiz, Cuba, won by tech. fall over Isami Tsuboi, Japan, 11-0, 4:02
69 kg/152 lbs. - Yosmany Sanchez, Cuba won by inj. dft. over Ryasburo Katsu, Japan
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Daniel Gonzales, Cuba, dec. Takayasu Tomoyose, Japan, 3-0
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Yoel Romero, Cuba, dec. Tatsuo Kawai, Japan, 4-0
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Wilfredo Morales, Cuba, won by tech. fall over Hiroshi Kosuge, Japan, 10-0, 4:24
130 kg/286 lbs. - Alexis Rodriguez, Cuba, won by tech. fall over Hiroyuki Obata, Japan, 12-0, 2:03
USA 16, Iran 12
54 kg/119 lbs. - Bahman Tayebi, Iran, dec. Sam Henson, Norman, Okla., 4-2
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Ali Reza Dabier, Iran, dec. Tony Purler, Norman, Okla., 4-0
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Cary Kolat, Lock Haven, Pa., won by ref. dec. over Abbas Haji Kenari, Iran, 1-1, ot, 8:00
69 kg/152 lbs. - Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa, dec. Massoud Jamshidi, Iran, 4-2
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Dan St. John, Tulsa, Okla., won by ref. dec. over Majied Khodaee, Iran, 1-0, ot, 8:00
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore. dec. Ali Reza Heydari, Iran, 4-1
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Abbas Jadidi, Iran, dec. J.J. McGrew, Stillwater, Okla., 3-0
130 kg/286 lbs. - Tom Erikson, W. Lafayette, Ind., dec. Ali Reza Rezaei, Iran, 3-0, ot, 7:08
Germany 27, Japan 5
54 kg/119 lbs. - Vasili Zeihe, Germany, pin Takeshi Morita, Japan, 1:07
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Othmar Kuhner, Germany, dec. Yuji Ishijima, Japan, 7-5
63 kg/138.75 lbs. -. Jurgen Scheibe, Germany dec. Isami Tsuboi, Japan, 7-4
69 kg/152 lbs. - Fatih Ozbas, Germany, won by inj. dft. over Ryasburo Katsu, Japan
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Alexander Leipold, Germany, pin Takayasu Tomoyose, Japan, 1:43
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Andre Backhaus, Germany won by tech. fall over Tatsuo Kawai, Japan, 10-0, 3:54
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Hiroshi Kosuge, Japan, dec. Hans Gstottner, Germany, 5-2
130 kg/286 lbs. - Sven Thiele, Germany, dec. Hiroyuki Obata, Japan, 11-0, 4:59