Sept.
19, 2007:
Deseret Morning News
American Greco-Roman Wrestlers Win
First-Ever Worlds Team Title
BAKU, Azerbaijan — U.S. heavyweight
Dremiel Byers won his bronze medal bout Wednesday,
securing the American Greco-Roman team its first world
title.
Byers, who lost to Olympic and two-time
world champion Khasan Baroyev of Russia in the semifinals,
went into his match against Yannick Szczepaniak of France
with the Americans trailing the Russians 30-29.
Byers then rallied to beat Szczepaniak
1-1, 2-0, 2-1, putting the U.S. team up by one point on
Russia, 31-30.
In the 120-kilogram title match, the
favored Baroyev lost to Cuba's Mijail Lopez — leaving the
Russians without any additional points and handing the
world title to the Americans.
Uzbekistan had 28 points to take third.
"This is the greatest day in the history
of U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling," Rich Bender, USA
Wrestling's executive director, said in a statement. "This
wasn't going to be possible unless we, as an organization,
made a huge commitment to the sport."
The best previous finishes by a U.S.
Greco-Roman team at worlds were third-place showings in
2001 and 2006.
"This is a dream come true for me and our
squad," U.S. national coach Steve Fraser said. "We've been
working for this for 12 years. We've come a long way."
On Tuesday, American Brad Vering won his
first world silver medal in the 84-kilogram division.
Harry Lester took his second straight worlds bronze at 66
kilograms, and Lindsey Durlacher finished fifth at 55
kilograms Monday.
"It feels great to get it done this time.
Last year was bad, and I was glad I could shake some of
that off. We're walking away with something special, real
special," Byers said.
Lopez, 2005 champion, lost to Baroyev in
the final last season.
Later Wednesday, as the men's freestyle
matches got started, the Russian wrestlers dominated
opening events.
Besik Kudukhov, last season's silver
medalist, won his first championship gold, beating Bayaraa
Naranbaatar of Mongolia 3-0, 1-1 in the 55-kilogram class.
Athens Olympic champion Mavlet Batirov won
3-0 on technical points over European champion Anatolie
Guidea of Bulgaria in the 60-kilogram category.
The event continues Thursday with the
men's freestyle events in 66-, 74- and 84-kilogram
categories.
|