U.S. WINS FOUR OF SIX MATCHES IN FIRST SESSION AT WORLD FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN KRASNOYARSK, RUSSIAThe United States won four of six matches during the Thursday morning session at the World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
In the first match for the United States, Zeke Jones (Chandler, Ariz. /Sunkist Kids) lost at 119 pounds, falling to 1997 Asian champion Ju Dong Jin of North Korea, 5-2. The key move in the match was a two-point turn by Ju with 45 seconds left, that gave him an insurmountable 4-1 lead.
Jones was a silver medalist in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain and a bronze medalist at the 1995 World Championships. Ju was expected to be one of the top contenders in the weight class.
Cary Kolat (Lock Haven, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) won the first bout for the United States at 138.75 pounds. He defeated 1995 World silver medalist Takahiro Wada of Japan, 4-1. Kolat, competing in his first World Championships, scored three takedowns and a gut wrench turn on Wada, who is considered one of the best wrestlers in the world.
Dan St. John (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) came out strong in his first match ever at a World Championships, when he pinned Valeri Vehushin of Macedonia in 3:20.
The U.S. dropped the next match, when 1993 World Champion Melvin Douglas (Mesa, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) lost at 213.75 pounds. He was beaten in a 2-1 overtime bout by Aftandil Kasandopulos of Greece. Kasandopulos scored first with a two-point gut wrench turn, and Douglas could only score one point against a very defensive opponent.
Douglas has won four career World medals - a gold in 1993, a silver in 1989 and bronze medals in 1994 and 1995. Douglas also placed seventh in the 1996 Olympic Games.
In his first consolation bout, Jones dominated Jose Restrepo of Colombia, before pinning him at 2:07. Jones turned Restrepo three times for points and was leading 8-0 when he registered the pin.
Kolat won his second match in a row, scoring an impressive 10-0 technical fall over Edy Azuaje of Venezuela, in just 1:53. Kolat scored a takedown, then a series of tilts, for the win.
Kolat and St. John are still in the championship bracket, and have a shot at the gold medal. The best that Jones and Douglas can place, if they do not lose another match, is third.
The United States team has been successful in recent years, winning the team titles at the 1993 and 1995 World Championships. Host Russia had a strong start, and is considered a top contender to take the team title.
There are eight weight classes in international wrestling. Four of the weight divisions began competition on Thursday and four will begin competition on Friday.
U.S. results - First Session, Thursday
119 lbs. - Zeke Jones, Chandler, Ariz. - lost dec. to Ju Dong Jin, North Korea, 5-2; pin Jose , Colombia, 2:07
138.75 lbs. - Cary Kolat, Lock Haven, Pa. - dec. Takahiro Wada, Japan, 4-1; won by tech. fall over Edy Azuaje, Venezuela, 1:53
167.5 lbs. - Dan St. John, Norman, Okla. - pin Valeri Verhushin, Macedonia, 3:20
213.75 lbs. - Melvin Douglas, Mesa, Ariz. - lost by ref. dec. to Aftandil Kasandopulos, Greece, 2-1, ot, 8:00
U.S. Play by plays - First Session, Thursday
119 pounds
Ju Dong Jin, North Korea, dec. Zeke Jones, Chandler, Ariz., 5-2
Ju, one-point low single takedown, at 0:47, 1-0; Jones, one-point takedown, at 2:15, 1-1; Passivity call against Ju, at 3:03; Ju, one-point reversal, at 3:41, 2-1; Jin, two-point crotch lift, at 4:15; 4-1; Jin, one-point spin takedown, at 4:36, 5-1; Jones, one-point takedown, at 4:59, 5-2
Zeke Jones, Chandler, Ariz., pin Jose Restrepo, Colombia, 2:07
Passivity against Restrepo, at 1:11; Jones, two-point gut wrench turn at 1:34, 2-0; Jones, one additional backpoint at 1:39, 3-0; Jones, two-point tilt at 1:40, 5-0; Jones, two-point gut wrench at 1:50, 7-0; Jones, one additional backpoint at 1:55, 8-0; Jones scores fall at 2:07
138.75 pounds
Cary Kolat, Lock Haven, Pa., dec. Takahiro Wada, Japan, 4-1
Passivity call against Kolat, at 1:43; Kolat, one-point takedown, at 3:15, 1-0; Kolat, one-point takedown, at 3:15, 2-0; Kolat, one-point gut wrench turn, at 3:19, 3-0; Wada, one-point takedown, at 4:01, 4-1; Kolat, one point takedown, at 4:58, 4-1
Cary Kolat, Lock Haven, Pa. won by tech. fall over Edy Azuaje, Venezuela, 10-0, 1:53
Kolat, shrug takedown at 0:54, 1-0; Kolat, two-point gut wrench at 0:56, 3-0; Kolat, two-point leg tilt at 1:22, 5-0; Kolat, two-point tilt at 1:34, 7-0; Kolat, two-point tilt at 1:47, 9-0; Kolat, one additional back point, at 1:53, 10-0, match terminated.
167.5 pounds
Dan St. John, Norman, Okla., pin Valeri Verhushin, Macedonia, 3:50
Passivity against Verhushin, at 2:07; St. John, two-point gut wrench, at 2:14; St. John, two-point counter to throw, at 2:17; St. John, one-point additional backpoint, 2:23; St. John wins by fall at 3:20
213.75 pounds
Aftandil Kasandopulos, Greece, won by ref. dec. over Melvin Douglas, Mesa, Ariz., 2-1, ot, 8:00
Passivity against Douglas, 1:14; Kasandopoulos, two-point gut wrench, at 1:25, 2-0; Passivity against Kasandopulos, 2:57; Douglas, one-point spin behind takedown, at 3:52, 2-1; Regulation ended with no wrestler reaching mandatory three points, and bout goes into overtime; Passivity against Kasandopulos, at 5:58; Passivity against Kasandopulos, at 7:40.
Quote from head coach Lee Roy Smith
"Zeke Jones drew one of the toughest opponent in the weight class in the first round. Zeke was at a disadvantage, as he didn't have the benefit of scouting him, while the opponent knew Zeke very well. It was still a good effort on Zeke's account. He was in a winning scramble situation for him, but the Korean came out on top and scored a turn. Zeke didn't have enough time to come back."
"Cary Kolat had a big win in the first round against a seasoned World medalist. He showed a lot of poise. he came back with a good draw against the Venezuelan. His confidence is picking up, and he will be tough to beat."
"Dan St. John has looked strong. I think he deserves to have a good tournament. If he continues to wrestle well, he will have a good finish. He has had good training from start to finish, and has been consistent. He challenged his opponent, and was able to get into his best position to score."
"Melvin Douglas has to get turned around to where he outscores his opponent. He pushed his guy around the mat quite a bit; he was using that strategy trying to get a point, rather than using his skills to score more points. It all caught up with him. He will have to drop that strategy in a hurry or it will be a quick tournament for him."