USOEC squad goes 1-1-1 in Sofia, Bulgaria to kick off its winter tour

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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
03/06/2003


The United States Olympic Education Center (USOEC) in Marquette, Mich. sent a team of Greco-Roman wrestlers overseas for a winter tour. In the first two days of competition, the team went 1-1-1 against a Bulgarian Junior national team in Sofia, Bulgaria.    The squad defeated Bulgaria 7-5 in the first dual on March 3. On March 4, the squad then lost to a different Bulgarian team 7-4 and tied a third squad 4-4 later that day. Points were accumulated based on the number of wins in the duals, not classification points.    Joe Espinoza (Marquette, Mich./USOEC) was the only American wrestler to win all three of his matches. Espinoza defeated Georgi Andreev by a 10-0 technical fall in his first match while pinning his next two opponents.    Recording two wins for the USOEC were Joe Betterman (Marquette, Mich./USOEC) and Harry Lester (Marquette, Mich./USOEC).    The team is coached by Ivan Ivanov of Marquette, Mich.    The USOEC will continue its travels through Europe this week. Results will be provided by TheMat.com when they become available.    USOEC 7, Bulgaria 5  52.5 kg - Joe Betterman (USOEC) by fall over Miroslav Mihailov (Bulgaria), 3:50  58.5 kg - Daryl Spackman (USOEC) dec. Pavel Stoenchev (Bulgaria), 7-0  59.5 kg - Joe Espinoza (USOEC) by tech. fall over Georgi Andreev (Bulgaria), 10-0, 4:20  65 kg - Kaldan Mihailov (Bulgaria) dec. Willie Madison (USOEC), 3-1  68.5 kg - Emilian Todorov (Bulgaria) dec. Harry Lester (USOEC), 8-5  65.5 kg - Zack Lamano (USOEC) dec. Stanislav Stanoev (Bulgaria), 9-0  73.5 kg - Matt Stenglein (USOEC) dec. Ulian Vasilev (Bulgaria), 5-3  68.5 kg - Jake Curby (USOEC) dec. Ivan Petrov (Bulgaria), 3-0  78 kg - Krasimir Mangorov (Bulgaria) dec. Kevin Lazano (USOEC), 8-7  74 kg - Ivailo Stoichev (Bulgaria) tech. fall Joe Uccellini (USOEC), 12-2  97 kg - Nikola Stoianov (Bulgaria) dec. R.C. Johnson (USOEC), 3-0  84 kg - Justin Millard (USOEC) dec. Borislav Bogoslovov (Bulgaria), 12-5    Bulgaria 7, USOEC 4  50 kg - Joe Betterman (USOEC) by fall over Pavel Stoenchev (Bulgaria)  55 kg - Joe Espinoza (USOEC) by fall over Emil Milev (Bulgaria)  60 kg - Willie Madison (USOEC) by tech. fall over Aleksandr Mihailov (Bulgaria)  66 kg - Emilian Todorov (Bulgaria) dec. Zack Lamano (USOEC), 6-4  66 kg - Ivan Ivanov (Bulgaria) dec. Jake Curby (USOEC), 6-3  66 kg - Harry Lester (USOEC) dec. Ivan Petrov (Bulgaria)  74 kg - Lazar Lazarov (Bulgaria) dec. Kevin Lozano (USOEC)  74 kg - Krasimier Manchoyov (Bulgaria) by tech. fall over Joe Uccellini (USOEC)  84 kg - Nikola Stoianov (Bulgaria) by inj. default over Justin Millard (USOEC)  97 kg - Peter Bandarov (Bulgaria) by fall over R.C. Johnson (USOEC)  74 kg - Thavdaz (Bulgaria) dec. Matt Stenglein (USOEC), 5-2    USOEC 4, Bulgaria 4  50 kg - Emil Milev (Bulgaria) by fall over Joe Betterman (USOEC)  55 kg - Joe Espinoza (USOEC) by tech. fall over Tzetzo Balov (Bulgaria), 10-0  66 kg - Harry Lester (USOEC) by fall over Emil Todozov (Bulgaria)  66 kg - Ivan Petiov (Bulgaria) dec. Zack Lamano (USOEC), 4-0  66 kg - Ivan Ivanov (Bulgaria) dec. Jake Curby (USOEC), 6-0  74 kg - Lazar Lazarov (Bulgaria) dec. Kevin Lozano (USOEC), 7-5  74 kg - Joe Uccellini (USOEC) dec. Thavdaz (Bulgaria), 3-2  97 kg - R.C. Johnson (USOEC) by fall over Nikode Stoianov (Bulgaria)