BEAT THE STREETS - USA VS. CUBA U.S. puts on show
By Gary Abbott NEW YORK – With fans packed
around the mat, and live video on the big screens in Times Square, the United States defeated Cuba 9-4 at the Beat the Streets “Salsa in the Square” on May 21. The fans came for a show, and the
U.S. delivered, highlighted by an explo- sive win from the Magic Man. 2015 U.S. Open champion David Taylor, who beat Olympic bronze medalist and three-time World medalist Livan Lopez in an 18-7 technical fall. The first period was tied 6-6, with
Taylor scoring the first six points, then Lopez powering back with a two-point turn and a four-point crotch lift throw. The second period was all Taylor. A four-point throw was followed by a series of take- downs and turns which ended with a cra- dle turn then a bar arm tilt for the techni- cal fall. “He is a tough guy. He was wrestling a
great competition. Sometimes I hold myself back. In that match, I just contin- ued to wrestle. Since I was a little kid, I do my best when I wrestle the entire time,” said Taylor. 2012 Olympic champion and two-time
World champion Jordan Burroughs also added to the show, competing in the final match of the night against young Luis Esteban Quintana. Burroughs led 6-0 at the break, and
added four more points in the second period for a 10-1 lead. Then he exploded for a takedown, taking Quintana to his back and securing the pin at 4:50. “That dude was extremely athletic. He
wanted to keep the score close and I did- n’t. I had to be the opposite of the per- spective he brought to the match. I like to score points and thrive on the crowd’s energy,” said Burroughs. Another highlight win for the American freestylers came at 97 kg/213 lbs., when 2013 Junior World champion Kyle Snyder, just 19 years old, beat 2014 World bronze medalist Javier Cortina, 4- 0. Snyder scored on a single leg take- down and two pushouts. Snyder, an NCAA runner-up as a freshman for Ohio State, won the U.S. Open in May. “I love wrestling on the stage. I am so grateful Mike Novogratz picked me to compete here, That guy was strong. It is
Junior World champion Kyle Snyder takes control during his big win over World bronze medalist Javier Cortina of Cuba in New York City. Justin Hoch photo.
great to wrestle a World bronze medalist and compete well against him,” said Snyder. Other men’s freestyle winners for the
United States were veteran stars Brent Metcalf at 65 kg/145.5 lbs. and Tervel Dlagnev at 125 kg/275 lbs. Metcalf defeated Franklin Maren 8-5.
Metcalf beat Maren 7-2 at the Freestyle World Cup in Los Angeles in April. Dlagnev, a two-time World bronze medalist, opened up his offense for a 10- 0 technical fall over young Andres Ramos Dinza, with a combination of takedowns and gutwrenches. World medalist Yowlys Bonne of Cuba
beat Tony Ramos 14-1 at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. Three-time World medalist Reineris Salas stopped 2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert 8-4 at 86 kg/189 lbs. 2008 Olympic women’s bronze medal-
ist Randi Miller of Team USA opened the night with an 11-0 technical fall over 17- year old Yudari Sanchez of Cuba at 69 kg/152 lbs. 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and
2008 World champion Clarissa Chun came back at 48 kg with an 8-2 win over Yusneylis Guzman. 2012 World silver medalist Helen Maroulis kept up the momentum with a 10-0 technical fall over Yamilka del Valle. Cuba’s Yekelin Stornell defeated New
York City native Rosemary Flores 11-0 at 60 kg/132 lbs. In Greco-Roman, 2014 World bronze medalist Andy Bisek scored a key gut- wrench turn to defeat Yurisandi Hernandez 4-1 at 75 kg/165 lbs. Cuban Maykel Anache defeated two-
time Olympian Spenser Mango, 6-4. In a special challenge match, reigning
NCAA Div. I national champion Alex Dieringer of Oklahoma State defeated reigning NCAA Div. II national champion Joey Davis of Notre Dame College, 9-0. This is the fourth time this event has
been held in Times Square in its six-year history. It is a fundraiser for the Beat the Streets program, which provides wrestling opportunities for more than 3,000 young people in New York City each year.
USA Wrestler 39
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