Three U.S. wrestlers win freestyle gold medals at New York AC Holiday International
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
11/18/2007

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Three U.S. wrestlers claimed gold medals in freestyle on the final day at the New York AC Holiday International in men’s freestyle on Sunday.

The only returning champion in the field, Vic Moreno (Stanford, Calif./Gator WC) won the NYAC Holiday International for the second straight year, edging Danny Felix (Morgantown, W.Va./Sunkist Kids) in three periods, 1-0, 0-3, 3-0 at 55 kg/121 lbs.

Moreno won the first period with a double leg takedown. In the second, the match was scoreless and went to the leg clinch, and Felix scored a three-point takedown to win. The final period also went to the clinch. Felix won the coin toss to get the leg hold and tried to drive Moreno out of bounds, but Moreno hit a sweet three-point hiptoss on the edge of the mat for the victory.

“I am honestly super pleased with how everything went,” said Moreno “I have been injured for the past three months. I came here on a whim. To win some of those close matches was very good. I was down and out for a few weeks. I was having bad practices. To do well means a lot.”

Moreno was pleased with his winning move from the defensive clinch position.

“You work on these things in practice your whole life. It’s not like I practice that all the time. When you need it, you got it. It was a natural instinct to use it,” he said.

Ben Askren (Columbia, Mo./Sunkist Kids) won his second international tournament of the season by defeating 2006 World bronze medalist Donny Pritzlaff (Madison, Wis./New York AC) in the finals at 74 kg/163 lbs, 3-0, 1-0. He was also a champion at the Hargobind International in Canada earlier this month.

Askren won the first period by scoring a takedown on the edge of the mat from the leg clinch. In the second period, he scored a leg attack takedown, and was able to defend against a deep shot by Pritzlaff as time ran out. Askren was named Outstanding Wrestler in the freestyle division for his performance.

“Last year, I had a poor Trials and a poor Open, and I knew things had to change. This summer and fall, I made a concentrated effort to change what I am doing. It is working. I not at the level in freestyle yet as I was in folkstyle. But I am working on my skills, and I think it will get better for me,” said Askren.

Steve Mocco (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) won the third title for the United States, winning a competitive battle with Les Sigman (Omaha, Neb./Sunkist Kids) at 264.5 lbs., 3-3, 1-0, 4-0.

Sigman won the first period, with a two-point move and a takedown. In the second period, Mocco scored when Sigman stepped out of bounds. In the deciding third period, Mocco scored a spin behind takedown, then a three-point takedown going out of bounds for the victory.

“I had to scrap a little bit out there,” said Mocco. “I was a little sloppy. But I felt great out there. I came back. My tactics and my feet motion was a little flat. He was a tough dude. I have to finish hard on him. I can’t just hang with him out there, because he has some stuff.”

Four of the individual champions were from other nations, with three gold medals going to Russian wrestlers and one to a Japanese competitor.

2005 World champion Alan Dudaev of Russia claimed the gold medal at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., defeating Joe Johnston (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC), 1-0, 4-0.

The other two Russian wrestlers to earn titles were Alexander Kusraev at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Soslan Gagloev at 211.5 pounds.

Kusraev beat Chris Pendleton (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC), 1-0, 3-0. Gagloev defeated Damion Hahn (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC) in the finals, 1-0, 1-0. It was the second time this week Gagloev beat Hahn, as they also wrestled in the dual meet in West Orange, N.J. on Thursday.

The other individual champion was Kazunori Tani of Japan, who beat Jason Kutz (Bethlehem, Pa./New York AC) in the finals at 60 kg/132 lbs. by a 1-0, 4-0 margin.

NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB HOLIDAY INTERNATIONAL
At New York, N.Y., Nov. 18

Men FS - 55 KG / 121 lbs
1st Place - Vic Moreno of Gator Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Danny Felix of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Adam Smith of NYAC
4th Place - Brad Pataky of NYAC

1st Place Match - Vic Moreno (Gator Wrestling Club) won by decision over Danny Felix (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) (Dec 1-0,0-3,3-0)
3rd Place Match - Adam Smith (NYAC) won by decision over Brad Pataky (NYAC) (Dec 3-1,5-0)

Men FS - 60 KG / 132.25 lbs
1st Place - Kazunori Tani of Japan
2nd Place - Jason Kutz of NYAC
3rd Place - James Mancini of Canada
4th Place - Ben Zwaschka of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club

1st Place Match - Kazunori Tani (Japan) won by decision over Jason Kutz (NYAC) (Dec 1-0,4-0)
3rd Place Match - James Mancini (Canada) won by decision over Ben Zwaschka (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) (Dec 4-0,0-4,2-0)
Men FS - 66 KG / 145.5 lbs
1st Place - Alan Dudaev of Russia
2nd Place - Joe Johnston of Hawkeye W C
3rd Place - Teyon Ware of NYAC
4th Place - Zach Roberson of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club

1st Place Match - Alan Dudaev (Russia) won by decision over Joe Johnston (Hawkeye WC) (Dec 1-0,4-0)
3rd Place Match - Teyon Ware (NYAC) won by decision over Zach Roberson (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) (Dec 1-0,6-0)
Men FS - 74 KG / 163 lbs
1st Place - Ben Askren of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Donny Pritzlaff of NYAC
3rd Place - Matt Gentry of Canada
4th Place - Kurbanov Rashid of Russia

1st Place Match - Ben Askren (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over Donny Pritzlaff (NYAC) (Dec 3-0,1-0)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match - Matt Gentry (Canada) won by decision over Kurbanov Rashid (Russia) (Dec 1-1,1-0)
Men FS - 84 KG / 185 lbs
1st Place - Alexander Kusraev of Russia
2nd Place - Chris Pendleton of Gator Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Bryce Hasseman of NYAC
4th Place - Clint Wattenberg of NYAC

1st Place Match - Alexander Kusraev (Russia) won by decision over Chris Pendleton (Gator Wrestling Club) (Dec 1-0,3-0)
3rd Place Match - Bryce Hasseman (NYAC) won by decision over Clint Wattenberg (NYAC) (Dec 1-0,1-0)

Men FS - 96 KG / 211.5 lbs
1st Place - Gagloev Soslan of Russia
2nd Place - Damion Hahn of NYAC
3rd Place - Kyle Cerminera of NYAC
4th Place - Israel Silva of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club

1st Place Match - Gagloev Soslan (Russia) won by decision over Damion Hahn (NYAC) (Dec 1-0,1-0)
3rd Place Match - Kyle Cerminera (NYAC) won by decision over Israel Silva (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) (Dec 1-0,1-0)
Men FS - 120 KG / 264.5 lbs
1st Place - Steve Mocco of NYAC
2nd Place - Les Sigman of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Gagloev Soslan of Russia
4th Place - Jamie Cox of Guelph

1st Place Match - Steve Mocco (NYAC) won by decision over Les Sigman (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) (Dec 3-3,1-0,4-0)
3rd Place Match - Soslan Gagloev (Russia) won by pin over Jamie Cox (Guelph) (Pin 1:20)