LEE, ZUNIGA AND OOSTENDORP WIN GOLD MEDALS AT 1997 CONCORD CUP INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT OF GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLINGCONCORD, Calif. -- Broderick Lee (Portland, Ore./Peninsula WC), David Zuniga (New Brighton, Minn./Minn. Storm) and John Oostendorp (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) all claimed individual titles for the United States at the 1997 Concord Cup International, held at Mt. Diablo Valley High School, May 31-June 1.
The Concord Cup, in its 16th year, is an international Greco-Roman wrestling tournament that annually attracts many of the best wrestlers in the world.
This year 98 athletes from 11 countries participated including Argentina, Armenia, Canada, Cuba, Germany, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. The field of athletes also included two 1996 Olympic champions Filiberto Ascuy of Cuba and Yuriy Melnitchenko of Kazakhstan.
Lee, the 1997 U.S. Nationals champion, defeated two-time Olympian Shawn Sheldon (Colorado Springs, Colo./NYAC) 1-0 in overtime to claim his second career Concord Cup. This was a re-match of the 1997 U.S. Nationals finals at 54 kg./119 lbs. where Lee defeated Sheldon, 2-0.
Zuniga, a 1996 U.S. Olympic Team member, defeated Mkkhitar Manukyan of Kazakhstan 2-0 in overtime to win the 63 kg./138.75 lb. title. Zuniga, who finished 10th at the Olympics looked strong against Manukyan who placed seventh at the 1996 Olympics competing for Armenia.
Oostendorp, who placed second at the 1997 U.S. Nationals, won a hard fought 8-4 decision over Yevgeny Volnych of Russia at 97 kg./213.75 lbs. Oostendorp, a 1996 U.S. Nationals champion and U.S. Olympic Team alternate rallied for a four point combination with under one minute in regulation to win the title.
Earning silver medals for the United States was James Gruenwald (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 58 kg./127.75 lbs., Chris Saba (Colorado Springs, Colo./NYAC) at 69 kg./152 lbs., T.C. Dantzler (Colorado Springs, Colo./unattached) at 76 kg./167.5 lbs., Dan Henderson (Huntington Beach, Calif./S. Calif. Future Champs) at 85 kg./187.25 lbs. and Rulon Gardner (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) at 125 kg./275.5 lbs.
The United States also claimed five bronze medals in the competition including Duaine Martin (Quantico, Va./Marines) at 58 kg./127.75 lbs., Marcel Cooper (Quantico, Va./Marines) at 69 kg./152 lbs., Keith Wilson (Quantico, Va./Marines) at 76 kg./167.5 lbs., Kenny Owens (Ft. Benning, Ga./Army) at 85 kg./187.5 lbs. and Billy Pierce (Minneapolis, Minn./Minn. Storm) at 125 kg./275.5 lbs.
The Armed Forces captured the U.S. team title with 58 points, followed by the New York Athletic Club with 29 points and the Sunkist Kids with 26 1/2 points.
The United States edged Cuba 75-74 in the team total among the nations represented.
1997 CONCORD CUP INTERNATIONAL at Concord, Calif., May 31-June 1
Final Results
54 kg./119 lbs. - Broderick Lee, Portland, Ore. (Peninsula WC) won by ref. dec. Shawn Sheldon, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC), 1-0, ot, 8:00; 3rd - Lazaro Rivas, Cuba dec. Cody Sanderson, Heber City, Utah (Cyclone WC), 8-0; 5th - Anthony Wilkes, Ft. Benning, Ga. (Army) won by forfeit over Dustin Waugh, Pensacola, Fla. (Navy)
58 kg./127.75 lbs. - Luis Sarmiento, Cuba dec. James Gruenwald, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 7-5 ot, 6:01; 3rd - Duaine Martin, Quantico, Va. (Marines) dec. Keith Idleburg, Ft. Benning, Ga. (Army), 7-5; 5th - Jason Tolbert Ft. Benning, Ga. (Army) won by forfeit over Youry Melnichenko, Kazakhstan
63 kg./138.75 lbs. - David Zuniga, New Brighton, Minn. (Minn. Storm) won by ref. dec. Mkkhitar Manukjan, Kazakhstan, 2-0 ot, 8:00; 3rd - Juan Maren, Cuba won by tech fall over Herbert House, Ft. Benning, Ga. (Army), 10-0; 5th - Jeremy McVige, Waterport, N.Y. (NYAC) dec. Curt Onstad, Quantico, Va. (Marines), 7-2
69 kg./152 lbs. - Liubal Colas, Cuba dec. Chris Saba, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC), 7-0; 3rd - Marcel Cooper, Quantico, Va. (Marines) won by referees dec. Derek Mountsier, Newton, Iowa (Cyclone), 0-0 ot, 8:00; 5th - Felipe Perez, Quantico, Va. (Marines) won by inj. def. over Glenn Nieradka, Ft. Benning, Ga. (Army)
76 kg./167.5 lbs. - Filiberto Ascuy, Cuba won by tech. fall over T.C. Dantzler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (unattached), 14-1; 3rd - Keith Wilson, Quantico, Va. (Marines) won by ref. dec. Jochen Jahn, Germany, 0-0, ot, 8:00; 5th - William Carr, Quantico, Va. (Marines) won by inj. def. over Dennis Thorn, Sweden
85 kg./187.25 lbs. - Luis Mendez, Cuba dec. Dan Henderson, Huntington Beach, Calif. (S. Calif. Future Champs), 6-2; 3rd - Kenny Owens, Ft. Benning, Ga. (Army) dec. Brad Vering, Howells, Neb. (Huskers), 3-0; 5th - Tsolak Yegishiyan, Armenia won by inj. def. over Dan Niebuhr, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
97 kg./213.75 lbs. - John Oostendorp, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Hawkeye WC) dec. Yevgeny Volnych, Russia, 8-4; 3rd - Reynaldo Pena, Cuba dec. Chad Flack, Corvallis, Ore. (Oregon State), 10-2; 5th - Dan Hicks, Quantico, Va. (Marines) won by inj. def. over Dave Surofchek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Michigan WC)
125 kg./275.5 lbs. - Hector Milian, Cuba dec. Rulon Gardner, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids), 3-0; 3rd - Billy Pierce, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minn. Storm) dec. Greg Gibson, Quantico, Va. (Marines), 3-0; 5th - Dremiel Byers won by inj. forfeit over Brian Keck, Colorado Springs, Colo. (unattached)
Outstanding Wrestler Award: Luis Sarmiento of Cuba at 58 kg./127.75 lbs. and Luis Mendez of Cuba at 85 kg./187.25 lbs.
Team Scores: 1st - Armed Forces, 58 pts; 2nd - New York Athletic Club, 29; 3rd - Sunkist Kids, 26 1/2
Country Scores: United States, 75 points, Cuba, 74, Kazakhstan, 18