Cormier, Hrovat win gold medals at Boutiatyr Grand Prix in Russia
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
03/08/2004
Two U.S. freestyle wrestlers claimed gold medals at the Boutiatyr Grand Prix in Ulan, Ude, Russia, March 6-7. The U.S. champions were Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Daniel Cormier (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. In the championship finals, Hrovat defeated Bator Tsirenov from Buratia, by a commanding 8-1 margin. Hrovat won his pool with a 12-0 technical fall over Tsbik Maksarov of Buratia, and a first period pin of Soslan Gattsiev of Belarus. In the semifinals, he stopped Pavel Alexseyev of Krasnoyarsk, 10-5. In the gold-medal finals, Cormier defeated Roman Kudravtsev of Krasnoyarsk, 9-1. "Kudravtsev kept shooting double lega attacks, and Daniel blocked and spun behind for the defensive takedown several times," said U.S. coach John Peterson. "Daniel had defeated Roman's twin brother Vitaly in the semifinal match." Cormier won two bouts to advance to the finals, defeating Roman Enoyar of Finland by technical fall, then edging Vitaly Kudryavtsev of Krasnoyarsk, 5-3. Capturing a silver medal for Team USA was Teague Moore (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. Moore won his first three bouts of the tournament. In his pool, he stopped Nima Nimayev of Buratia, 8-3, then defeated Dugar Zamsuyev of Buratia, 9-2. In the semifinals, he beat Konstantin Khangalov of Buratia, 4-3 in overtime. In the gold-medal finals, Moore was edged by Dodupov Zhargal of Buratia, 3-2. The tournament was run from heavyweight down to 55 kg, in order for this bout to the final match of the evening, featuring the popular local athlete. The match was controversial, according to U.S. coach Peterson. After defeating Moore, tournament officials named Zhargal the Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament. Capturing a bronze medal was Eric Guerrero (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. Guerrero split his matches in the pool, defeating Arsen Semenov of Yakutia, 5-4, then losing by fall to Sodnom Budazhapov of Buratia. Guerrero wrestled back to qualify for the third-place match. He beat Madyar Kuramisor of Kazakhstan, 5-3, Khajimurat Abdulayev of Dagestan, 8-6, then Beligto Zhapgalov of Russia, 9-0. In the bronze-medal match, Guerrero again wrestled Sodnom Budazhapov of Buratia, wining by a 4-2 margin. He was able to avenge his only loss in the tournament. Jamill Kelly (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) fell short of winning a medal at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Kelly won his first match, a 10-0 technical fall over Vecheslav Bertakov of Buratia, then lost a 4-0 bout to Abdulhakhakim Sharpiev of Dagestan. He wrestled back with a 3-0 win over Aleksi Mtveyev of St. Petersburg, and a decision over Bata Bazarov of Buratia. Kelly was eliminated in a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to Zhanmso Lkhamazhapov of Buratia, 5-4 in overtime. Olympic champion John Peterson accompanied the team to Ulan Ude, which is in Siberia.