HENDERSON WINS GOLD MEDAL AT TROPHEO MILONE IN ITALY; ZUNIGA TAKES SECOND; BRINZER, GARDNER, COUTURE ARE THIRDDan Henderson (Huntington Beach, Calif./Dave Schultz WC) claimed a gold medal at 85 kg/187.25 lbs. at the Tropheo Milone Tournament of Greco-Roman wrestling in Faenza, Italy, March 14-15.
Henderson defeated Filip Sourup of the Czech Republic, 7-4, in the gold-medal match. He won four matches on the way to the title, including a key semifinal win over veteran Martin Lidberg of Sweden.
Henderson competed on the 1992 and 1996 U.S. Olympic Team, and placed seventh in the 1997 World Championships.
David Zuniga (New Brighton, Minn./Minnesota Storm) captured a silver medal at 69 kg/152 lbs., losing in the finals to Cuban star Liubal Colas, 3-0. Zuniga was competing up one weight class from his normal 137.75 pounds.
Zuniga won four straight matches to qualify for the finals, including a semifinal victory over G. Caniglia of Italy. Zuniga was a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, and placed fourth in the 1994 World Championships.
Three U.S. wrestlers claimed bronze medals: Ray Brinzer (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) at 85 kg/187.25 lbs., Randy Couture (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) at 97 kg/213.75 lbs. and Rulon Gardner (Mesa, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) at 130 kg/286 lbs.
The U.S. Greco-Roman team was led by Bill Martell of Walnut Creek, Calif., Dan Russell of Colorado Springs, Colo. and National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser of Colorado Springs, Colo.
1998 TROPHEO MILONE TOURNAMENT at Faenza, Italy, March 14-15
Gold medal finals
54 kg/119 lbs. - Francesco Constantino (Italy) dec. Lazaro Rivas (Cuba), 6-2
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Roberto Monzon (Cuba) won by ref. dec. over Ergruder Bekistdamat (Turkey), 1-0, ot, 8:00
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Juan Maren (Cuba) dec. Seref Eroglu (Turkey), 6-1
69 kg/152 lbs. - Liubal Colas (Cuba) dec. David Zuniga (USA), 3-0
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Filiberto Azcuy (Cuba) dec. K. Schneider (Germany), 4-2
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Dan Henderson (USA) dec. Filip Sourup (Czech Rep.), 7-4
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Reynaldo Pena (Cuba) won by inj. dft. over Josip Pavisic (Croatia)
130 kg/286 lbs. - Hector Millian (Cuba) dec. Alexander Neumiller (Austria), 4-1
U.S. Performances
54 kg/119 lbs. - Mark Yanagihara, Colorado Springs, Colo., dnp - lost dec. to Francesco Constantino (Italy); dec. A. Vladi (Albania); lost dec. to A. Heib (Austria)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Brandon McNab, Colorado Springs, Colo., dnp - lost dec. to T. Kovac (Croatia)
69 kg/152 lbs. - Mike Ellsworth, Colorado Springs, Colo., dnp - dec. A Jmtjefni (Albania); lost dec. to David Zuniga (USA); lost dec. to M. Schoberg (Sweden)
69 kg/152 lbs. - David Zuniga, New Brighton, Minn., 2nd - dec. M. Schoberg (Sweden), dec. Y Makrman (Israel); dec. Mike Ellsworth (USA); dec. G. Caniglia (Italy); lost dec. to Liubal Colas (Cuba), 3-0
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Jeff Funicello, Gilbert, Ariz., dnp - lost dec. to T.C. Dantzler (USA); lost dec. to Sabbatini (Italy)
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - T.C. Dantzler, Colorado Springs, Colo., 4th - dec. Jeff Funicello (USA); dec. Sabbatini (Italy); lost dec. to K. Schneider (Germany); lost dec. to G. Tedeschi (Italy)
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Kevin Vogel, Colorado Springs, Colo., 4th - dec. K. Dittrich (Germany); lost dec. to Dan Henderson (USA); dec. C. Scarci (Italy); lost dec. to Ray Brinzer (USA)
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Ray Brinzer, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3rd - lost dec. to Martin Lidberg (Sweden); dec. A Gorianov (Russia); dec. Kevin Vogel (USA)
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Dan Henderson, Huntington Beach, Calif., 1st - dec. C. Scarci (Italy); dec. Kevin Vogel (USA); dec. Martin Lidberg (Sweden); dec. Filip Sourup (Czech Rep.), 7-4
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Randy Couture, Corvallis, Ore., 3rd - lost dec. to Urs Bergles (Switzerland); dec. Marcolin (Italy); dec. Englich (Germany), 9-0
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Jason Klohs, Minneapolis, Minn., dnp - dec. Mario Boccola (Italy); lost dec. to Reynaldo Pena (Cuba); lost dec. to P. Grents (Germany)
130 kg/286 lbs. - Brian Keck, Colorado Springs, Colo., dnp - lost dec. to Hector Millian (Cuba); lost dec. to Rulon Gardner (USA)
130 kg/286 lbs. - Rulon Gardner, Mesa, Ariz., 3rd - lost dec. to Hector Millian (Cuba); dec. Brian Keck (USA); dec. David Vala (Czech Rep.); dec. Eddy Bengsston (Sweden), 4-0
Bout scores not available at this time.