SOFIA, BULGARIA - Three U.S wrestlers suffered first round losses at the 2001 World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria., but came back strong to finish the day on an overall good note. Wrestling in the first session were Stephan Abas (54kg), Bill Zadick (63kg),  Dominic Black (97),  Erin Tomeo (56kg), Tocarra Montgomery (68kg). While Joe Williams (76kg) and Tricia Saunders (46kg) both had first-round byes.    First Session   Abas lost a close match to Herman Kontoyev of Belarus, falling 7-6 after three late match points by Kontoyev. Abas was down 3-0 going into the second period. All Kontoyev's points were scored from the top position after Abas was called for passivity less than one minute into the match.    Abas came out strong in the second period turning Kontoyev for 3 points 10 seconds into the period to tie the match, then turning Kontoyev for another 3pts to lead 6-3 with less than two minutes to go. After giving up a takedown at 4:48, Abas was turned two more times to give up the 7-6 decision to Kontoyev.     Also giving up first rounds losses were Dominic Black (97kg) and Erin Tomeo (56kg).     Tomeo, who stepped up to fill in for World Team qualifier Tina George, was welcomed to International competition by two-time World Champion Seiko Yammuto of Japan. A short 21 seconds into the match Tomeo was thrown to her back for a quick 4-0 deficit. After fighting off her back, Yammuto turned Tomeo again to get the fall at 1:54.     At 97kg. Dominic Black lost a 6-2 decision to 2000 Olympian Vadim Tasoev of Ukraine. After taking a 3-0 deficit into the second period, Black was taken down and turned for another 3 points and trailed 6-0 with two minutes left in the match. Black fought back and scored two single leg takedowns, losing the match 6-2.    Both Bill Zadick and Tocarra Montgomery came on strong in the first round; Montgomery earning a fall over her Polish competitor, while Zadick earned a technical fall.    Montgomery took down Monika Kowalska (POL) three times in the first period to take a 3-0 into the second period. Montgomery came off the break ready for action throwing Kowalska for another 3pts just five seconds into the second period. Kowalska did manage to score a takedown on Montgomery before giving up the fall at 5:29.    Zadick handled Youssef Nasiri-Sadiqiu of the Netherlands easily, amassing 11 points for the tech fall shortly into the second period. Zadick jumped out to an early 5-0 lead with a 3-point throw followed by a 2-point turn. He also scored a singleleg takedown on the edge of the mat, taking a 6-0 lead into the second period. After hitting another singleleg takedown, Zadick turned Nasiri-Sadiqiu twice more to capture the 11-0 tech fall.       Second Session   After sitting out the first round with a bye, Joe Williams came on strong to beat proven Canadian Nick Ugolaha in a 4-3 OT battle. Ugolaha was called for passivity twice in the first period, as well as in overtime. With the score at 0-0, the second period began in the clinch, with Ugolaha earning the right to lock first by the flip of the coin. From the clinch position Ugolaha threw Williams for 3 points, but Williams countered turning Ugolaha for 2 points before going out of bounds. With just under a minute and a half remaining, Ugolaha is cautioned for fleeing the mat and Williams is awarded 1 point to send the match into overtime. Ugolaha was called once more for passivity, before Williams shot in to score the winning takedown securing the 4-3 OT decision.    Williams will face Rinella Salvatore of Italy in the third pool round. Salvatore lost his first round match to Ugolaha by a 5-2 decision.     Four-time World Champion Tricia Saunders, who also sat out first round with a bye, dropped a 3-2 dec. to veteran wrestler Misato Shimizu from Japan. Saunders scored the first 2 points of the match by turning her opponent after Shimuzi was called for passivity. However, with 15 seconds remaining in the first period, Saunders was caught in a headlock, but managed to fight the fall until time ran out in the period. There was no scoring in the second period, giving the 3-2 decision to Shimuzi. Saunders will face Ayse Guneri of Turkey in third pool round.    In his second session match, Abas easily handled Kripa Shankar Patel of India earning an 8-1 decision. Abas came on strong scoring two takedowns in the first period taking a 4-0 lead in to the second period. Abas scores two more take downs in the second period amassing 8 points, giving up only one takedown late in the match.    Abas has completed his pool rounds and will wait to see the results of match between Shankar Patel and Kontoyev to determine if he will advance to the next round.     Zadick sat out the second round with a bye, and will face Arshak Hayrapetyan or Armenia in third pool round.    In second round action Tomeo jumped out to an early lead over Tsibana Kouk of Greece scoring a takedown from a front headlock 20 seconds into the match. Tomeo would collect three more takedowns and a 2pt arm spin to secure a solid 6-2 decision over Kouk. Tomeo will face 2001 Asian Championship gold medallist Sun Dongmei of China in her third pool round match.    Black defeated GankHuyag Ganzorig of Mongolia in the second round, capturing an 11-6 decision over the 2001 Asian Championships silver medallist. Black finishes 1-1 in pool competition and now awaits the results of the final pool match to see if he will advance.    Montgomery claimed her second fall of the day with a second period pin of Yang Yanli of China. Although it was a rather high scoring match, Montgomery clearly dominated her opponent putting her down at 3:54. Montgomery is set to face Finish challenger Heidi Martti in the third pool round.       NOTE: Due to technical difficulties by the Bulgarian media officials, complete results of all matches have not yet been made available. Those results also will be posted as soon as they become available.      Second Day Weigh-ins  The second group of wrestlers completed weigh-ins and medical checks today. They are set to begin competition on Friday, Nov. 23.    While name of participants have not yet been released, the following are the men's pool draws by country. The participant names, as well as complete women's draws will be posted as soon as they become available.      58 kg - Men  (CAN)  Eric Guererro (USA)  (EGY)    69kg - Men  Chris Bono (USA)  (ESP)  (ROM)  (TKM)    85kg - Men  Brandon Eggum (USA)  (GRE)  (IND)    130kg - Men  (HUN)  Kerry McCoy (USA)  (MGL)