Mission Accomplished: Bono and Williams qualify the U.S. for the 2004 Olympic Games at their weight
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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
02/01/2004
Bratislava, Slovakia - The United States sent two wrestlers to Slovakia hoping to qualify the final two men's freestyle weight classes for the 2004 Olympic Games. Early Sunday morning, Chris Bono (Gilbert, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) and Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) were able to accomplish that goal with thrilling quarterfinal wins at the first Olympic qualifier. "We are pleased with this performance," stated USA Wrestling National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson. "We came here to get a job done - qualify our final two weight classes for the Olympics. We did that. Now we can go home and begin preparations for Nationals, Trials and the Olympics." "We had a lot of help from your support staff, Dr. Robert Heinz, Jamill Kelly and Ramico Blackmon. We want to thank them for their help," Jackson added. Bono went on to place third and Williams won a gold medal at the event, which wrapped up on Sunday morning. Bono defeated 2000 Olympic gold medalist and four-time World medalist Ali Reza Dabir of Iran, 2-2 in overtime in a 66 kg/145.5 lbs quarterfinal match. Dabir shot out to a 2-0 lead after scoring a point in the clinch to start the second period and then another point on a takedown. In overtime, Bono battled back, scoring a point in the clinch after Dabir refused to lock. Jackson argued for a caution and two points for Bono, but only one point was awarded. Bono then scored a takedown to tie the score at 2-2. Bono was awarded the win based on having the least amount of cautions in the match. "He got the last takedown with 10 seconds left in regulation. I knew I had to win the clinch going into the overtime," Bono said. Bono then lost to Leonid Spiridonov of Kazakhstan in the semifinals, 6-2. Spiridonov won a University World gold medal in 2000. Bono won by injury default over Jin-Kuk Baek of Korea in the bronze-medal match. "I wrestled awful for two minutes in the semifinal match and it cost me," Bono said. "It was the second match up after the Dabir match, and it was one of those things where I wasn't mentally prepared going in. That was my fault. I feel like I could have won this tournament." At 74 kg/163 lbs., Williams won the gold medal with a 3-0 win over 2003 Pan American Championships gold medalist Ivan Fundora of Cuba. Williams, a 2001 World bronze medalist, posted a thrilling 4-3 quarterfinal win over Krystian Brzozowski of Poland before defeating Armenia's Arayik Gevorgyan 9-4 in the semifinals. Against Brzozowski, Williams fell behind 3-0 on points scored off of Williams' throw attempt. Williams fired back with four second-period points to earn the win and qualify the United States for the 2004 Olympic Games at his weight class. "I am glad I qualified the weight class. Now I can focus on making the Olympic team and realizing my lifelong dream," Williams said. In order to qualify the weight class for the 2004 Olympic Games, wrestlers must place in the top five at their respective weight class. Wrestlers qualifying for the Olympic Games only qualify their weight class for their nation. Olympic Team athlete selection varies by country. Positions on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Teams will be determined at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Wrestling in Indianapolis, Ind., May 21-23. The Slovakian Wrestling Federation has set up a web page that has information on these championships. To follow the action, visit: http://www.zapasenie.sk/olympic/main.htm Men's Freestyle Olympic Qualification Tournament at Bratislava, Slovakia Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2004 U.S. Results 66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Chris Bono, Gilbert, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) WIN Sergei Demtchenko (Belarus), 4-1 WIN Ahto Raska (Estonia), 5-3 WIN Ali Reza Dabir (Iran), 2-2, ot, 9:00 LOSS Leonid Spiridonov (Kazakhstan), 6-2 WIN Jin-Kuk Baek (Korea), by inj. default 74 kg/163 lbs. - Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) WIN Habib Mohmed (Qatar), 3-2 WIN Eugen Preda (Romania), 5-0 WIN Krystian Brzozowski (Poland), 4-3 WIN Arayik Gevorgyan (Armenia), 9-4 WIN Ivan Fundora (Cuba), 3-0