ERIKSON QUALIFIES FOR BRONZE-MEDAL MATCH AT FREESTYLE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 
   Tom Erikson (W. Lafayette, Ind./Sunkist Kids) qualified for the bronze-medal match at 286 pounds at the World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Sunday morning. 
   Erikson defeated 1996 Olympic silver medalist Alexei Medvedev of Belarus in the consolation semifinals, 4-3.  
   Erikson jumped to a quick 4-0 lead, scoring a two-point gut wrench and a two-point crotch lift in the first half of the bout. He was bothered by a shoulder injury which has hampered him throughout the tournament. Medvedev came back with a two-point gut wrench and a one-point takedown, but was unable to catch Erikson before time ran out. 
   Erikson will face David Musulbes of Russia in the bronze-medal match Sunday night. It is a rematch of an earlier bout in the tournament, which Erikson won by a 2-0 overtime referee's decision. 
   Special Note: In earlier reports, it was listed that Erikson competed at 275.5 pounds. FILA, the international wrestling federation, changed the weight class back to 130 kg (286 pounds), which was the previous weight division for super heavyweights prior to the start of the 1997 season. 
   Also competing tonight will be Les Gutches (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids), who will attempt to win a gold medal at 187.25 pounds. 
  U.S. results, Sunday morning session 
  Group Two 
   286 llbs. - Tom Erikson, W. Lafayette, Ind. - dec. Alexei Medvedev, Belarus, 4-3 
  U.S. Play by plays - Morning Session, Sunday 
  286 lbs. 
  Tom Erikson, W. Lafayette, Ind., dec. Alexei Medvedev, Belarus, 4-3 
   Passivity against Medvedev, 1:16; Erikson, two-point gut wrench at 1:18, 2-0; Erikson, two-point crotch lift at 1:41, 4-0; Passivity against Erikson, 2:51; Medvedev, two-point gut wrench at 2:03, 4-2; Medvedev, one-point takedown at 4:50, 4-3 
  Quotes -  
  U.S. Head Coach Lee Roy Smith - "The key was the turns. The second turn is what did it for Tom. He scored all of his points in one sequence. Tom came into the tournament with a bad shoulder and we have been treating it the entire tournament. We are hoping he can get ready for the medal match." 
  Tom Erikson - "I wish I was more aggressive on my feet. I was thinking a little bit about my shoulder rather than just wrestling. I've wrestled him so many times. You try to put in a new twist. On the whistle, I quick started him. I had been practicing that and it worked. The crotch lift was just a bonus." 
   Tonight will be fun. This is for a medal and pride. He has a lot more to gain. He is going to try to come back and beat me."