Chiapparelli vs. Jabrailov is the new “Bout of the Week” on USA Wrestling Members-Only website

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
02/02/2004


USA Wrestling has updated its new "Bout of the Week" on USA Wrestling's Members-Only website.    The featured match this week will be Rico Chiapparelli vs. Lukman Jabrailov men's freestyle match from the Fiesta Bowl Takedown One dual meet, held in Tempe, Ariz. in December 1998.    The event was held over the New Year's weekend alongside the Fiesta Bowl football game (which ultimately determined the national title when Notre Dame defeated West Virginia). The event featured the United States against the Soviet Union in a dual meet, and had one of the largest crowds to witness a freestyle dual meet in history.    There were 11 Olympic medalists, including seven Olympic champions, in the lineup that day. On the U.S. side were Olympic champions Randy Lewis, Kenny Monday and Bruce Baumgartner. On the Soviet team were Olympic champions Sergei Beloglazov, Arsen Fadzaev, Makharbek Khadartsev and David Gobedjishvili.    History was made that day, as the U.S. beat the Soviet Union, 7-3, the first win by a U.S. team in this kind of exhibition dual meet against the Soviets in history. In addition, it was the first time that these teams participated in a five-minute match (the new rules for the sport at the time).    Chiapparelli faced Jabrailov at the 82 kg/180.5 lbs. division (with a weight allowance). The U.S. lead four matches to two going into the bout. A victory by Jabrailov could swing the momentum back to the Soviets, at a time that the Americans could see a team victory in sight.    The match went to the final seconds, with the score tied and the bout on the line. Action featured one of the most intense and wild scrambles in recent memory, something that wrestling fans in attendance still speak about. Chiapparelli's victory was key to the American win that day.    Chiapparelli will be long remembered as one of the most entertaining wrestlers in recent years. Orginally from Maryland, he went on to star at the Univ. of Iowa, where he won the NCAA title for coach Dan Gable. His long flowing hair, wide-open wrestling style and flamboyant manner made him a crowd favorite.    His freestyle wrestling career included a U.S. Nationals title and a World Cup gold medal in 1989. Chiapparelli never made a U.S. World team, competing in one of the most talented-laden divisions in U.S. history. Among those who battled Rico during the next few years were World and Olympic champion Kevin Jackson, World champion Melvin Douglas and World finalist Royce Alger.    Jabrailov continued wrestling for another eight years on the international circuit, first for the Soviet Union and then for the independent nation Moldova. He was the 1994 World Champion at this weight class competing for Moldova. He placed ninth in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga. In the tournament, he wrestled his brother Elmadi Jabrailov of Kazakhstan, and after Elmadi won the match, the brothers went outside the World Congress Center to share a smoke.    This popular feature will be changed on a regular basis, allowing members to enjoy many of the greatest matches in wrestling history.     Moving into the archived section of Bouts of the Week was last week's 2003 Kristie Marano vs. Ewelina Pruszko women's freestyle match. The previous week was the 1999 Stephen Neal vs. Andrei Shumilin men's freestyle match. Also in the archives is the first posting since the redesign of the Members-Only page was the 2003 Cael Sanderson vs. Sajid Sajidov men's freestyle match. Each Bout of the Week will be placed in this archive, allowing members access to numerous other outstanding bouts.    USA Wrestling has done a complete redesign and expansion of its Members-Only website, providing all USA Wrestling members with an impressive new resource stocked with interactive learning tools and entertaining features.     This on-line resource is available free of charge only to current members of USA Wrestling, one of the most exciting benefits of joining the organization.    USA Wrestling members will only need to enter the number from their 2003-04 membership card into an entry form, and the exciting new Members-Only page will become available to them.    RECENT BOUTS OF THE WEEK PLACED IN ARCHIVE  2003 Kristie Marano vs. Ewelina Pruszko women's freestyle match.  1999 Stephen Neal vs. Andrei Shumilin men's freestyle match  2003 Cael Sanderson vs. Sajid Sajidov men's freestyle match.