United States defeats Germany, 20-8, and Cuba, 21-10; Iran and Russia also win two dual meetsThe host United States, along with top challengers Iran and Russia, won their first two dual meets at the 1998 World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling, at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., April 4.
In the opening match, the United States defeated Germany, 20-8, winning six of eight matches. Sam Henson (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) opened the dual meet with an 11-0 technical fall over Vasili Zeiher of Germany at 119 pounds. Another key victory came at 152 pounds, where Lincoln McIlravy (Iowa City, Iowa/Gateway 2000 WC) pinned Fatih Osbas in 4:08.
1997 World Champion Les Gutches (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) started off with a 3-0 decision over Hans Gstottner, 3-0. Other U.S. winners were Tony Purler (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 127.75 pounds, J.J. McGrew (Stillwater, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 213.75 pounds and Tom Erikson (W. Lafayette, Ind./Sunkist Kids) at 286 pounds.
In their second match, the United States won the first five matches and defeated Cuba, 21-10.
Henson continued his torrid wrestling, shocking 1997 World Champion Wilfredo Garcia, 3-2 in overtime, at 5:50. Henson trailed 2-0, going into the overtime session, but scored a one-point takedown and a two-point exposure to score the mandatory three points for victory.
The dual meet ended dramatically, when Erikson, trailing 1997 World silver medalist Alexis Rodriguez of Cuba, scored a stunning pin at 4:00. Rodriguez beat Erikson in the 1997 World semifinals, and Erikson placed fourth.
Other U.S. winners against Cuba were Purler, Cary Kolat (Lock Haven, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) at 138.75 pounds, McIlravy and Dan St. John (Tulsa, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 167.5 pounds.
At 187.25 pounds, Yoel Romero of Cuba upset 1997 World Champion Les Gutches, 6-1.
"The first match we had the first-match blues, but the second match, we were much sharper," said U.S. head coach Mike McArthur. "Les got caught against a good athlete. That should wake him up, and Les could still win this thing. I think with two matches under our belt, the guys who made mistakes will realize that they must be more focused."
Iran also won its first two matches, stopping Japan, 25-5, and Germany, 22-6. Iran won seven of the eight bouts in both dual meets.
Against Japan, three Iranian athletes won by technical fall: Bayman Tayebi at 119 pounds, Abbas Jadidi at 213.75 pounds and Ali Reza Razaei at 286 pounds. Leading Iran in the Germany match was 1997 World Champion Abbas Haji Kenari, who beat Jurgen Scheibe, 4-3 at 138.75 pounds.
Russia won both matches in the first session, beating Cuba, 22-11, and Japan, 29-2. Against Cuba, Adam Saitiev of Russia scored a pin at 167.5 pounds. Chamil Umakhanov scored a technical fall at 127.25 pounds. In a match of international stars, 1993 World bronze medalist Andrei Shumilin of Russia beat 1997 World silver medalist Alexis Rodriguez, 2-1 in overtime.
Russia won all eight matches against Japan. Winning by pin were Andrei Kasiev at 167.5 pounds and Shumilin scored a pin at 286 pounds. Winning by technical fall were Leonid Chuchonov at 119 pounds, Andrei Yakovlev at 138.75 pounds and Teymuraz Oroussov at 152 pounds.
WORLD CUP OF FREESTYLE WRESTLING
Friday, April 4
Round One
USA 20, Germany 8
54 kg/119 lbs. - Sam Henson, Norman, Okla., won by tech. fall over Vasili Zeihe, Germany, 11-0, 1:41
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Tony Purler, Norman, Okla., dec. Othmar Kuhner, Germany, 4-2, ot, 6:30
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Jurgen Scheibe, Germany, pin Cary Kolat, Lock Haven, Pa., 2:31
69 kg/152 lbs. -Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa, pin Fatih Ozbas, Germany, 4:08
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Alexander Leipold, Germany, dec. Dan St. John, Tulsa, Okla., 4-0
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore., dec. Hans Gstottner, Germany, 3-0
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - J.J. McGrew, Stillwater, Okla. dec. Andre Backhaus, Germany, 6-0
130 kg/286 lbs. - Tom Erikson, W. Lafayette, Ind., won by ref. dec. over Sven Thiele, Germany, 0-0, ot, 8:00
Iran 25, Japan 5
54 kg/119 lbs. - Bahman Tayebi, Iran, won by tech. fall over Takeshi Morita, Japan, 10-0, 3:15
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Ali Reza Dabier, Iran, dec. Sanshiro Abe, Japan, 4-1
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Isami Tsuboi, Japan, won by injury default over Abbas Haji Kenari, Iran
69 kg/152 lbs. - Massoud Jamshidi, Iran, dec. Ryasburo Katsu, Japan, 5-0
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Majied Khodaee, Iran, dec. Takayasu Tomoyose, Japan, 5-0
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Ali Reza Heidari, Iran, won by inj. dft. over Tatsuo Kawai, Japan, ot, 5:40
97 kg/213.75 lbs. -Abbas Jadidi, Iran, won by tech. fall over Hiroshi Kosuge, Japan, 12-0, 4:31
130 kg/286 lbs. - Ali Reza Rezaei, Iran, won by tech. fall over Hiroyuki Obata, Japan, 11-0, 2:30
Round Two
Russia 22, Cuba 11
54 kg/119 lbs. - Wilfredo Garcia, Cuba, dec. Leonid Chuchunov, Russia, 4-1
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Chamil Umakhanov, Russia, won by tech. fall over Joendris Albear, Cuba, 13-2, 3:31
63 kg/138.75 lbs. -Andrei Yakovlev, Russia, dec. Carlos Ortiz, Cuba, 3-2, ot, 7:10
69 kg/152 lbs. - Teymuraz Oroussov, Russia, dec. Yosmany Sanchez, Cuba, 7-2
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Adam Saitiev, Russia, pin Daniel Gonzales, Cuba, 2:09
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Yoel Romero, Cuba, dec. Alexei Krupniakov, Russia, 6-2
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov, Russia, won by ref. dec. over Wilfredo Morales, Cuba, 2-1, ot, 8:00
130 kg/286 lbs. - Andrei Shumilin, Russia, won by ref. dec. over Alexis Rodriguez, Cuba, 2-1, ot, 8:00
Iran 22, Germany 6
54 kg/119 lbs. - Gholam Reza Mohamadi, Iran, dec. Vasili Zeihe, Germany, 5-3
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Ali Reza Dabier, Iran, dec. Othmar Kuhner, Germany, 7-0
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Abbas Haji Kenari, Iran, dec. Jurgen Scheibe, Germany, 4-3
69 kg/152 lbs. - Massoud Jamshidi, Iran, dec. Fatih Ozbas, Germany, 3-1
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Alexander Leipold, Germany. dec. Majied Khodaee, Iran, 3-0, ot, 5:45
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Ferydon Ghanbari, Iran, won by ref. dec. over Hans Gstottner, Germany, 0-0, 8:00
97 kg/213.75 lbs. -Abbas Jadidi, Iran won by forfeit
130 kg/286 lbs. - Ali Reza Rezaei, Iran, dec. Dirk Winterfeldt, Germany, 3-0
Round Three
USA 21, Cuba 10
54 kg/119 lbs. - Sam Henson, Norman, Okla., dec. Wilfredo Garcia, Cuba, 3-2, ot, 5:50
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Tony Purler, Norman, Okla., dec. Joendris Albear, Cuba, 12-8
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Cary Kolat, Lock Haven, Pa., dec. Carlos Ortiz, Cuba, 6-0
69 kg/152 lbs. -Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa, dec. Yosmany Sanchez, Cuba, 7-2
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Dan St. John, Tulsa, Okla., dec. Daniel Gonzales, Cuba, 4-1
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Yoel Romero, Cuba, dec. Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore., 6-1
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Wilfredo Morales, Cuba, dec. J.J. McGrew, Stillwater, Okla., 4-2, ot, 6:30
130 kg/286 lbs. - Tom Erikson, W. Lafayette, Ind., pin Alexis Rodriguez, Cuba, 4:00
Russia 29, Japan 2
54 kg/119 lbs. - Leonid Chuchunov, Russia, won by tech. fall over Takeshi Morita, Japan, 10-0, 3:33
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Chamil Umakhanov, Russia, dec. Sanshiro Abe, Japan, 8-6
63 kg/138.75 lbs. -Andrei Yakovlev, Russia, won by tech. fall over Isami Tsuboi, Japan, 10-0, 4:18
69 kg/152 lbs. - Teymuraz Oroussov, Russia, won by tech. fall over Ryasburo Katsu, Japan, 12-0, 2:33
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Alexei Kasiev, Russia, pin Takayasu Tomoyose, Japan, 11-0, 2:53
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Alexei Krupniakov, Russia, dec. Tatsuo Kawai, Japan, 7-1
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov, Russia, dec. Hiroshi Kosuge, Japan, 5-0
130 kg/286 lbs. - Andrei Shumilin, Russia, pin Hiroyuki Obata, Japan, 0:54