GUTCHES QUALIFIES FOR FINALS AT WORLD FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN KRASNOYARSK, RUSSIALes Gutches of Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) qualified for the gold-medal finals at 187.25 pounds at the World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Saturday morning.
Gutches won his first match of the day, with a solid 8-0 decision over Plamen Paskalev of Bulgaria in his opening bout of the day.
In the semifinals, Gutches scored an impressive 3-2 win over 1996 Olympic champion Magomed Magomedov of Russia in overtime, at 6:42. Gutches scored a low single leg takedown on Magomedov in overtime and was awarded the match.
A key exchange occured with less than one minute left. Gutches was leading, 2-0, when Magomedov hit an ankle pick on Gutches, and ultimately came out on top after a struggle. The official on the mat gave Magomedov two points, then another two points, but the scoreboard indicated only two points for Magomedov. A conference was held on matside, and officials reviewed the video, and awarded just two points to Magomedov. That tied the bout at 2-2, and put it into overtime. Russia protested the match, but the protest was denied.
Gutches will face Eldar Asanov of Ukraine in the gold-medal finals. They have never met before.
Tom Erikson (W. Lafayette, Ind./Sunkist Kids) was defeated in the semifinals at 275.5 pounds, but still is in the hunt for a bronze medal.
Erikson had a bye in the third round, which placed him into the semifinals against Junior World silver medalist Alexis Rodriguez of Cuba. Rodriguez, who is 20 years old, had a victory over four-time Olympic medalist Bruce Baumgartner in April at the World Cup. Rodriguez scored a 4-1 overtime decision over Erikson at 7:27 here in Russia.
Rodriguez scored a two-point takedown at the 1:30 mark of the match. Erikson pressed the action but was unable to score in the regulation period. The bout was 2-0 at the end of regulation, but went into overtime because neither wrestler scored the mandatory three points. In overtime, Erikson scored a takedown to close the match to 2-1. In an attempt to score from the top, Erikson was reversed to his back by Rodriguez for two points to end the match.
Lincoln McIlravy (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye) lost two matches and was eliminated from the tournament at 152 pounds.
In his first match of the tournament at 152 pounds, when he was pinned by 1996 Olympic bronze medalist Zaza Zazirov of Ukraine. Zazirov was leading 9-0 when he scored the fall. He countered a number of McIlravy attacks, putting McIlravy directly to his back.
In the wrestle-backs, McIlravy lost a competitive 4-3 match to Davoud Ghanbari of Iran. Ghanbari was able to get an early 4-1 lead, and held off McIlravy's constant attacks for a one-point win.
Tony Purler (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) won his second consolation match in a row, with an 11-1 technical fall over Corey O'Brien of Australia. Purler scored a number of tilts and throws in the match, which he dominated from the opening whistle.
In the next bout, however, Purler was eliminated from medal contention with a 10-4 loss to Arif Abdullaev of Azerbaijan. Purler opened the scoring with a 3-0 lead, but the experienced Abdullaev rebounded with seven points in a row, and never surrendered the lead.
The finals and medal matches for the first four weight classes will be held Saturday evening. The only U.S. wrestler from the first group who is in the finals is Cary Kolat (Lock Haven, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) who qualified for the gold-medal finals at 138.75 pounds. Kolat will battle Abbas Haji-Kenari of Iran for the title..
The other three gold-medal finals for Saturday evening have also been determined. At 119 pounds, Ju Dong Jin of North Korea will battle Quintana Garcia of Cuba. At 167.5 pounds, Buvaisar Saitiev of Russia will wrestle Alexander Leipold of Germany. At 213.75 pounds, the gold-medal match will feature Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov of Russia against Ahmet Dogu of Turkey.
U.S. results - Morning Session, Saturday
Group Two
127.75 lbs. - Tony Purler, Norman, Okla. - won by tech. fall over Corey O'Brien, Australia, 11-1, 4:23; lost dec. to Arif Abdullayev, Azerbaijan, 10-4
152 lbs. - Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa - lost by pin to Zaza Zozirov, Ukraine, 2:25; lost dec. to Davoud Ghanbari, Iran, 4-3
187.25 lbs. - Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore.- dec. Plamen Paskalev, Bulgaria, 8-0; dec. Magomed Magomedov, Russia, 3-2, ot, 6:42
275.5 lbs. - Tom Erikson, W. Lafayette, Ind. - lost dec. to Alexis Rodriguez, Cuba, 4-1, ot, 2:27
U.S. Play by plays - Evening Session, Friday
127.75 lbs.
Tony Purler, Norman, Okla., won by tech. fall over Corey O'Brien, Australia, 11-1, 4:23
Purler, two-point takedown at 0:15, 2-0; Purler, one-point ankle lace at 0:20, 3-0; O'Brien, one-point takedown at 1:23, 3-1; Purler, one-point takedown at 2:40, 4-1; Purler, two-point tilt at 3:30, 6-1; Purler, three-point takedown from single leg, at 4:00, 9-1; Purler, two-point gut wrench at 4:23, 11-1
Arif Abdullaev, Azerbaijan, dec. Tony Purler, Norman, Okla., 10-4
Purler, two-point takedown at 0:32, 0-2; Purler, one-point gut wrench, at 0:57,0-3; Abdullaev, one-point takedown at 1:10, 1-3; Abdullaev, two-point exposure at 1:12, 3-3; Abdullaev, one additional backpoint at 1:17, 4-3; Abdullaev, two-point gutwrench at 1:50, 6-3; Abdullaev, one additional backpoint, at 1:55, 7-3; Abdullaev, two-point takedown at 2:50, 9-3; Purler, one-point reversal at 2:58, 9-4; Abdullaev
152 lbs. -
Zaza Zazirov, Ukraine, pin Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa, 2:25
Zazirov, two-point takedown at 0:26, 2-0; Zazirov, two-point leg tilt at 1:07, 4-0; Zazirov, two-point counter takedown, at 1:31, 6-0; Zazirov, one additional back point at 1:36, 7-0; Zozirov, two counter takedown, 2:15, 9-0; Zazirov scores pin at 2:25
Davoud Ghanbari, Iran, dec. Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa, 4-3
Ghanbari, one-point takedown at 0:30, 1-0; McIlravy, duck under takedown at 1:05, 1-1; Ghanbari, one-point takedown at 1:30, 2-1; Ghanbari, two-point gutwrench at 1:32, 4-1; McIlravy, one-point takedown at 2:03, 4-2; Passivity against Ghanbari, 3:00; McIlravy, one-point single leg takedown at 3:19, 4-3; Passivity against Ghanbari, 4:48
187.25 lbs.
Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore. dec. Plamen Paskalev, Bulgaria, 8-0
Passivity against Paskalev, 1:36; Gutches, one-point duck under takedown at 2:34, 2:34; Gutches, two-point gut wrench at 2:39, 3-0; Gutches, counter takedown at 3:34, 4-0; Gutches, one-point ankle lace at 4:00, 5-0; Gutches, three-point high crotch takedown at 4:42, 8-0
Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore., dec. Magomed Magomedov, Russia, 3-2, ot, 6:42
Gutches, one-point bodylock takedown at 1:08, 1-0; Gutches, one-point far side duckunder takedown at 2:20, 2-0; Passivity against Gutches, 3:35; Magomedov, two-point ankle pick takedown at 4:40, 2-2; Regulation ends with score 2-2, and bout goes into overtime; Gutches, low single takedown at 6:42, 3-2
275.5 lbs.
Alexis Rodriguez, Cuba, dec. Tom Erikson, W. Lafayette, Ind., 4-1, ot, 7:27
Rodriguez, two-point takedown at 1:30, 2-0; Passivity against Rodriguez, 2:58; Passivity against Rodriguez, 4:36; Regulation ends with score at 2-0. neither wrestler scored the mandatory three-points, so the event went into overtime. Erikson, one-point takedown, 7:13, 2-1; Rodriguez, two-point reversal at 7:27, 4-1
Quotes -
Coach Lee Roy Smith - "Gutches followed his plan. We were more concerned about the distractions, but Les did very well. They originally had him wrestling very much later, then changed the schedule and surprised him. He had to go much earlier. Les quickly focused and didn't get distracted. He knew he needed to win the match on the scoreboard and not leave it in the hands of the referees. He went and got the winning takedown in overtime. Les is wrestling like a champion; he has one more match now."
"Erikson's match was a big disappointment. The Cuban is an impressive young wrestler and is going to be a force