U.S. Pins Sweep On Russians For First Time In World Cup Freestyle Wrestling

The United States made wrestling history by winning all eight matches in a 25-7 victory Saturday over Russia at the Freestyle World Cup.

It marked the first time a U.S. team had swept the Russians in a World Cup dual meet. The United States also won the team competition in the round-robin event and claimed six individual gold medals.

U.S. gold-medal winners in the two-day competition were: Lou Rosselli, Edinboro, Pa., 119 pounds; Kendall Cross, Raleigh, N.C., 127-3/4; John Fisher, Ypsilanti, Mich., 138-3/4; Kevin Jackson, Gilbert, Ariz., 187-1/4; Mike Van Arsdale, Phoenix, 213-3/4; and Bruce Baumgartner, Cambridge Springs, Pa., 275-1/2.

It was Baumgartner’s record eighth World Cup gold. Jackson won a third; Cross, Rosselli, Fisher and Van Arsdale their first.

The U.S. and Russia entered the final dual meet with 3-0 records. Rosselli opened the match with a 4-3 overtime victory over Leonid Chuchonov after tying the score with 34 seconds left in regulation.

Cross, an Olympic gold medalist in Atlanta, came from behind to beat Murad Umakhanov 7-5 in the final match of his career.

Fisher won a 10-0 technical fall over Chamil Umachanov. Jackson, a 1992 Olympic champion, beat Mamed Agaev 3-1.

Van Arsdale made a three-point move in the final 20 seconds to defeat Sergei Kovalevski, 7-6. Baumgartner, a four-time Olympic medalist, scored a two-point gut wrench turn to beat David Musolbes 2-1 in overtime.

Cuba finished third in the team competition. Other individual champions were Yosmany Sanchez of Cuba at 152 pounds and Alexander Leipold of Germany at 167-1/2.