Gruenwald wins silver, Espinoza takes bronze at Demokritia Tournament in Greece

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
02/24/2002


Two U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers claimed medals at the 1st annual Demokritia Tournament in Komotini, Greece,  Feb. 23-24.    Winning a silver medal was 2000 Olympian Jim Gruenwald (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 lbs. Capturing a bronze medal was Joe Espinoza (Marquette, Mich./USOEC) at 55 kg/121 lbs.    Gruenwald won three matches to qualify for the gold-medal finals, including a tight 6-5 decision over Lasha Lomadze of Georgia in the semifinals. In the championship match, Makoto Sasamoto of Japan defeated Gruenwald, 7-0.    Espinoza placed second in his pool competition, losing his first match by pin but rebounding with two straight wins. In the bronze-medal match, Espinoza pinned Tariel Kektsekidis of Cyprus.    Two U.S. wrestlers placed fourth, Mike Ellsworth (Colorado Springs, Colo./Michigan WC) at  66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Ethan Bosch (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs.    Ellsworth won his pool with two straight victories. In the semifinals, he lost a 2-2 overtime referee's decision to Imuro Masaki of Japan. In the bronze-medal bout, he was beaten by Feodor Gaivan of Moldova, 4-3.    Bosch won his first three matches of the tournament, with two pins and a decision. In the semifinals, he dropped a tight 9-7 decision to hingo Matsumoto of Japan. In the bronze medal match, he lost to Denys Veprensov of Ukraine, 7-3.