SANTORO, MCCOY AND BORMET LEAD THE MEN¹S FIELD AND STENGLEIN, ZUMMO AMONG TOP WOMEN AT NYAC CHRISTMAS OPENA number of nationally ranked U.S. wrestlers claimed individual titles at the annual New York Athletic Club Christmas Freestyle Open, held in New York, N.Y., Dec. 21, 1997.
The men¹s division was headlined by 1996 Olympic Trials runnerup Pat Santoro (Bethlehem, Pa./New York AC), who claimed the 156.5-pound title. Santoro dominated Troy Sunderland (Annapolis, Md./New York AC) in a 10-0 technical fall in the finals. Santoro returned to the mat after sitting out last season.
Kerry McCoy (State College, Pa./New York AC) easily captured the super heavyweight title, beating unattached Brad Strubel by technical fall in the finals, 10-0. McCoy, a 1997 U.S. Nationals runner-up, grew up in nearby Long Island, N.Y.
Claiming the 172-pound title was Sean Bormet (Madison Wis./Team Excel) who defeated Steve Marianetti (Champaign, Ill./New York AC), 8-1. Bormet was third in the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials but missed the 1997 season with injury. Marianetti currently holds a No. 3 national ranking.
Other U.S. champions in the men¹s division were John Bove (State College, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) at 123 pounds and Matt Ryan (Albany, N.Y./New York AC) at 217 pounds.
The women¹s competition featured two-time World silver medalist Kristie Stenglein (Albany, N.Y./ATWA), who claimed the 169-pound title by pinning Ellen Wong (Knights) in the finals at 2:17.
1996 World bronze medalist Vickie Zummo (Hamburg, N.J./New York AC) defeated Helen Herrick of Brunswick, Canada, 4-1 to win the title at 127.5 pounds.
Other U.S. women¹s champions were Danielle Hobelka (Brookline, Mass./Brookline Club) at 116.5 pounds and Fanny Rodriguez (New York, N.Y./NYU) at 140.5 pounds.
NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB CHRISTMAS FREESTYLE OPEN at New York, N.Y., Dec. 21, 1997
Men¹s Results
123 -1st - John Bove, State College, Pa. (Dave Schultz WC) dec. Terry Pomeroy (Brunswick, Canada), 7-1; 3rd - Huzefa Nakhooda (Canada) won by tech. fall over Arnel Kerizan (Puerto Rico), 10-0
132 - 1st - Adrian Wooley (Canada) dec. Tom Koch (New York AC), 7-0; 3rd - Chuck Mitchell (Brunswick, Canada)
143 - 1st - Giuvi Sissaouri (Canada) dec. Florian Ghinea, New York, N.Y. (unattached), 8-2; 3rd - Saeed Azarbayjoni (Canada)
156.5 - 1st - Pat Santoro, Bethlehem, Pa. (New York AC) won by tech. fall over Troy Sunderland, Annapolis, Md. (New York AC), 10-0; 3rd - John Hughes, Stillwater, Pa. (Dave Schultz WC) dec. Charlie Branch, Charlottesville, Va. (Cavalier), 3-1, ot
172 - 1st - Sean Bormet, Madison Wis. (Team Excel) dec. Steve Marianetti, Champaign, Ill. (New York AC), 8-1; 3rd - Tony Robie, Edinboro, Pa. (New York AC) won by tech. fall over Jason Kraft, Holtsville, N.Y. (Team Excel), 10-0
191 - 1st - Gary Holmes (Canada) dec. Dean Morrison, Morgantown, W.Va. (New York AC), 3-2, ot; 3rd - Brent Beauparlant (Montreal, Canada) dec. Nik Fekete, Cranford, N.J. (unattached), 7-0
217 - 1st - Matt Ryan, Albany, N.Y. (New York AC) dec. Harjit (India), 4-3; 3rd - Alex Kappel (Milford Indians)
290 - 1st - Kerry McCoy, State College, Pa. (New York AC) won by tech. fall over Brad Strubel (unattached), 10-0; 3rd - Pete Porcelli, Bayshore, N.Y. (ATWA)
Women¹s results
116.5 - 1st - Danielle Hobelka, Brookline, Mass. (Brookline Club) pin Lisa Kozlowski, New York, N.Y. (NYU), 3:00; 3rd - Sara Yaseen, Brookline, Mass. (Brookline Club)
127.5 - 1st - Vickie Zummo, Hamburg, N.J. (New York AC) dec. Helen Herrick (Brunswick, Canada), 4-1; 3rd - Ammi Keller, New York, N.Y. (New York AC)
140.5 - 1st - Fanny Rodriguez, New York, N.Y. (NYU) pin Glykekia Manis, New York, N.Y. (NYU), 3:28; 3rd - Joann Klimkiewk, New York, N.Y. (NYU)
154 - 1st - Tamara Medwidky (Canada) pin Ann Carter, Brookline, Mass. (Brookline Club), 0:22; 3rd - Tarimutimi Awipi, New York, N.Y. (NYU)
169 - 1st - Kristie Stenglein, Albany, N.Y. (ATWA) pin Ellen Wong (Knights), 2:17