U.S. wrestlers at 55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg and 120 kg receive pool draw for Yarygin Tournament in Russia
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
02/26/2004
U.S. wrestlers at four weight classes have weighed in and received their pool pairings for the men's division at the Ivan Yarygin Tournament in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Feb. 26. The other three weight divisions will weigh in tomorrow and receive their draws then. At 55 kg/121 lbs., Stephen Abas (Fresno, Calif./Sunkist Kids) will face a pair of Russians in his pool, Khiziev and Mukktabekvly. At 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Jamill Kelly (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) has drawn a pair of Russian wrestlers in his pool, Muratazaleed and Nozadze. Also at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Bill Zadick, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC) will face veteran star Zaur Botiev of Russia, followed by Modeslibze of Tajikistan. The U.S. has two entries at 84 kg/185 lbs., Cael Sanderson (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) and Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC). Sanderson will face Koziev of Russia and Momutor of Tajikistan. If Sanderson emerges from his pool, he is in line to possibly wrestle World and Olympic champion Adam Saitiev of Russia in the quarterfinals. Hrovat has drawn 2003 World Champion Sajid Sajidov of Russia, as well as Dumkin of China. The U.S. also has two wrestlers in the 120 kg/264.5 lbs., Kerry McCoy (Bethlehem, Pa./New York AC) and Steven Mocco (N. Bergen, N.J./New York AC) McCoy opens with a challenging bout, facing past World champion Kouramagomed Kouramagomedov of Russia. Kouramagomedov edged McCoy 3-1 at the World Cup in Boise, Idaho last year. Also in McCoy's pool are Mirzaed of Uzbekistan and Zikov of Russia. Mocco will face veteran Russian Oleg Khorpiakov of Russia in his pool. His other pool opponents are Svatkovcki of Kazakhstan and Muhalmor of Kazakhstan. If McCoy and Mocco are able to capture their pools, they are in line to meet each other in the semifinals of this competition. It would be a first-time match between the two talented super heavyweights. Of the U.S. wrestlers weighing in today, four were members of the 2003 U.S. World Team and are top-ranked in the nation: Abas, Kelly, Sanderson and McCoy. Both Sanderson and McCoy won World silver medals last year at Madison Square Garden in New York City. More information will be provided when available. IVAN YARYGIN MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL at Krasnoyarsk, Russia Feb. 26-28 U.S. pool pairings 55 kg/121 lbs. - Stephen Abas, Fresno, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) vs. Khiziev (Russia), Mukktabekvly (Russia) 66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Bill Zadick, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC) vs. Botiev (Russia), Modeslibze (Tajikistan) 66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jamill Kelly (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) vs. Muratazaleed (Russia) and Nozadze (Russia) 84 kg/185 lbs. - Cael Sanderson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) vs. Koziev (Russia), vs. Momutor (Tajikistan) 84 kg/185 lbs. - Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC) vs. Dumkin (China), Sajidov (Russia) 120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Kerry McCoy, Bethlehem, Pa. (New York AC) vs. Kouramagomedov (Russia), Mirzaed (Uzbekistan), Zikov (Russia) 120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Steven Mocco, N. Bergen, N.J. (New York AC) vs. Khorpiakov (Russia), Svatkovcki (Kazakhstan), Muhalmor (Kazakhstan)