Vering defeated in quarterfinals; Gruenwald, Ruiz still alive from second group
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Meredith Wilson (TheMat.com)
10/03/2003
CRETEIL, FRANCE - In tough overtime quarterfinal, Brad Vering fell in the quarterfinal round to Fritz Aanes of Norway. Vering took a two-point deficit into the second period, scoring on a hand-to-hand gut wrench following a passivity call against Aanes. In overtime Vering scoring a takedown to tie the match, but then gave up the final point as Aanes countered an attack by Vering. Jim Gruenwald, who sat this morning's session with a bye, came from behind to win a 6-3 overtime decision against Karen Mnatjakanyan of Armenia . Trailing 3-0 heading into the second period, Gruenwald hit a 3pt lift and throw in the final minute to take the match into overtime. "I felt I as long as I could keep the intensity up I could tie it up because the European's style is to become laxed when they are ahead," said Gruenwald. Shortly into the overtime Gruenwald hit another 3pt lift throwing Mnatjakanyan to his back for the winning points. "I asked God to help me and I knew if I kept the attack up there would be an opening in order to win. I knew my training and hard work had prepared me for such a situation." Gruenwald will wrestle his final pool match against Laszio Bona of Hungary Saturday morning. Bona was defeated in the first pool match by Mnatjakanyan. In morning pool matches, Justin Ruiz came from behind with a 3-point lift and throw in the final minute to secure a 4-2 win over Huacheng Jiang of China. He will wrestle his second pool match against Marek Sitnik of Poland Saturday morning. At 74 Kg, TC Dantzler fell 4-1 to Konstantin Schneider of Germany in his first pool match and had a second round bye. He faces Mark Madsen of Denmark in his second pool match Saturday morning, however Schneider won his second pool match against Madsen to secure a first place pool finish. Friday Morning Session Results 60 KG: Jim Gruenwald, bye 74 KG: Konstantin Schneider (GER) dec. TC Dantzler (USA), 4-1 84 KG: Brad Vering (USA) dec. Tuomo Mantyla (FIN), 3-0 OT 96 KG: Justin Ruiz (USA) dec. Huacheng Jiang (CHN), 4-2 120 KG: Khassan Baroev (RUS) dec. Rulon Gardner (USA), 3-0 Friday Evening Session Results 60 KG: Jim Gruenwald (USA) dec. Karen Mnatjakanyan (ARM), 6-3 74 KG: TC Dantzler (USA), bye 84 KG: Quarter Final: Fritz Aanes (NOR) dec. Brad Vering (USA), 3-2 OT 96 KG: Justin Ruiz (USA), bye Saturday Morning Session Matchups 60 KG: Jim Gruenwald v. Laszio Bona (HUN) 74 KG: TC Dantzler (USA) v. Mark Madsen (DEN) 96 KG: Justin Ruiz (USA) v. Marek Sitnik (POL)