Wattenberg, Trenge win gold medals at Canada Cup - UPDATED RESULTS
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
07/15/2003
U.S. wrestlers Clint Wattenberg (Ithaca, N.Y./Cornell) and Jon Trenge (Bethlehem, Pa./New York AC) claimed individual gold medals at the 2003 Canada Cup, held in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, July 12. Wattenberg claimed the 84 kg/185 lbs. weight division, defeating American Pat Popolizio (West Point, N.Y./New York AC) in the championship finals, 7-2. Wattenberg was an All-American for Cornell Univ., who placed seventh in the 2003 U.S. Nationals. Popolizio, who was a collegiate star at Oklahoma State, is now an assistant coach for the U.S. Military Academy. Trenge, a two-time NCAA runner-up for Lehigh Univ., defeated Canadian David Zimmerman in the championship finals at 96 kg/211.5 lbs, by a 6-3 margin. Trenge was fifth in the 2003 U.S. Nationals. Winning bronze medals for the USA were Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./Michigan WC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Joe Sahl (Bethlehem, Pa./New York AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. in the men's division, plus Toccara Montgomery (Cleveland, Ohio/Cumberland College) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. in the women's division. Montgomery is a three-time U.S. Nationals champion, and placed second at the 2001 World Championships. Montgomery lost a 4-2 overtime decision to eventual champion Ohenawa Akuffo of Canada. U.S. wrestlers placing fifth were Sean Harrington (Dracut, Mass./New York AC) at 163 pounds and Mykhail Abdul-Latif at 211.5 pounds. Julietta Okot of New York City, who competes for the New York AC and represents Bulgaria at the World Championships, placed sixth at 121 pounds. Hofstra wrestler John Massa, representing Puerto Rico, placed fourth at 145.5 pounds. U.S. athletes competed for their clubs at this event. Their combined effort gave the USA third place in the men's division and fifth place in the women's division.