ST. JOHN WINS SPECIAL WRESTLE-OFF FOR U.S. WORLD TEAM POSITION BEATING KOLL IN TWO STRAIGHT BOUTS ON JULY 5 IN WATERLOO, IOWA 
   Dan St. John (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) won a Special Wrestle-off to determine the 167.5-pound member of the 1997 U.S. Freestyle World Team, July 5 in Waterloo, Iowa at the Young Arena. 
   He defeated Rob Koll (Dryden, N.Y.) in a best-of-three series. St. John  will represent the United States at 167.5 pounds at the 1997 Freestyle World Wrestling Championships in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Aug. 29-Sept. 1. 
   St. John won the first match with a 2-1 refereeÕs decision in overtime. The first score came with just  one second left in regulation, when St. John scored a takedown on the buzzer for a 1-0 lead. As neither wrestler had scored the mandatory three points, the bout went into a three-minute overtime. With 30 seconds left in overtime, St. John countered from the bottom and scored a one-point escape for a 2-0 lead. Koll scored a one-point takedown with 14 seconds to go to close the margin to 2-1. 
   In the second bout, St. John scored a takedown on the edge with just 37 seconds left in regulation for a 1-0 lead. No points were scored in the three-minute overtime, and St. John received the decision for a two-match sweep. 
   "This is the toughest thing I have ever done in my life," said St. John. "Rob Koll is the reason it was so tough. The difference was strength. I was a little stronger. He might have been a little bit better but I got lucky with my strength." 
   "I went after it. I felt it was necessary to be aggressive in the second match. He's a tough opponent. He knows how to catch you if you get into a bad position," he said."I feel real good now. I'm going to put myself in the hands of USA Wrestling's coaching staff, and do what they tell me to prepare for the World Championships." 
   The Special Wrestle-off was held alongside the USA Wrestling Kids National Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships, which were held July 2-5 at the Young Arena in Waterloo. 
   The Special Wrestle-off became necessary when St. John, the 1997 U.S. Nationals champion, was unable to compete in the Las Vegas USA Freestyle World Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev., May 30-31, due to an injury. According to USA Wrestling rules, only the U.S. Nationals champion has the right to delay a final series for the U.S. World Team due to injury. Koll claimed the title at the Las Vegas USA Freestyle World Team Trials at 167.5 pounds to earn the right to face St. John. 
   St. John has been a top U.S. freestyle wrestler for many years, but has not made a U.S. World Team to date. He was the 1997 U.S. Nationals champion, placed second in the 1996 U.S. Nationals, and third in the 1992 U.S. Nationals. He has competed in numerous international competitions, including a victory at the 1993 Cerro Pelado Tournament in Cuba. 
   St. John was a two-time NCAA champion for Arizona State Univ. (1989, 1990). He was second in the 1985 Ohio state championships for St. Joseph High School. 
  SPECIAL WRESTLE-OFF at Waterloo, Iowa, July 5 
  167.5 pounds 
  Dan St. John, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Rob Koll (Dryden, N.Y.), two matches to none. 
   Bout One - St. John won by ref dec. over Koll, 2-1, ot, 8:00; Bout Two - St. John won by ref dec. over Koll, 1-0, ot, 8:00