Olympian Steve Mocco wins Ivan Yarygin Memorial title in Russia
Gary Abbott January 26, 2009
Photo: Getty Images
Steve Mocco
KRASNOYARSK, Russia - 2008 U.S. Olympian Steve Mocco (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC) claimed a gold medal on the final day of the highly respected Ivan Yarygin Memorial Grand Prix on Sunday.
Mocco becomes only the 10th U.S. wrestler to claim a gold medal in this tournament in 20 years that the United States has been attending. The last U.S. victories at the Ivan Yarygin Memorial came in 2005, when Joe Williams (163) and Daniel Cormier (211.5) claimed titles.
Many believe that the Ivan Yarygin Memorial has become the toughest freestyle tournament in the world. All 10 U.S. champions in the history of the event became Olympic Team members at some time during their career.
“Steve exemplified what it means to compete at a tournament of this competition,” said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones. “He is able to execute technique and perform strategies and tactics at this level under the current rules. We’re proud of him.”
Mocco won four matches on the way to the gold medal. In the gold-medal finals, Mocco defeated Soslan Gagloev of Russia in the gold-medal finals by injury default, when Gagloev could not compete.
Mocco opened the tournament with victories over Russians Tsibick Maksarov, 2-0, 4-0 and Alan Dzampaev, 3-2, 4-0. In the semifinals, Mocco defeated Ali Isaev of Azerbaijan, 4-0, 5-0. Isaev had upset 2008 Olympic silver medalist Bakhtiar Akhmedov in the quarterfinals.
The U.S. entries at 74 kg/163 lbs., Travis Paulson (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) and Keith Gavin (Pittsburgh, Pa./New York AC), did not earn a medal.
Gavin had a 2-2 record in the tournament. His victories were over Bikek Oyun of China, 3-3, 4-2, 4-0 and Ilgiv Dzakipebeckov of Kyrgyzstan, 1-0, 3-0. His losses were to Irbek Farniev of Russia, who placed second, and Khadzimuread Murtazaliev of Russia, who won a bronze medal.
Paulson lost in the first round to 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Murad Gaidarov of Belarus, 0-1, 3-1, 0-1. When Gaidarov failed to make the finals, Paulson was eliminated.
The United States placed in a tie for fifth place in the final team standings. Russia captured the team title, followed by Mongolia, China and Tadjikistan.
“As a team, to be honest, we’re not close. We have a lot of work to do,” said Jones. “The good thing is our men are willing to work hard and do anything to be successful. We’ll challenge them to work smarter as they get ready for the rest of the winter and the upcoming spring competition. In order to catch the rest of the world, we must make sweeping changes in our total system even down to our smallest details including our technique, strategy, and tactics. In this tournament, Steve was the only one showing proficiency to challenge for a gold medal although he’ll need to stay focused as the rest of the world chases him.”
Jones is looking ahead and believes that progress is being made.
“As we implement our four year strategic plan we know it’ll take time and we must keep our focus. If we do, we’ll arrive,” said Jones. “After watching our team in competition for the first time as the national coach I believe more than ever in our American wrestlers. I caution, we must be patient. How patient? Only our wrestlers can answer that.”
The finals at 74 kg/163 lbs. was a battle of past Russian World champions, as 2007 World champion Makhach Murtazaliev defeated 2003 World champion Irbek Farniev.
Russia won all of the gold medals in the men’s freestyle tournament, except the title claimed by Mocco.
IVAN YARYGIN MEMORIAL GRAND PRIX
At Krasnoyarsk, Russia, January 25
Men’s freestyle medalists
74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Makhach Murtazaliev (Dagestan, Russia)
Silver - Irbek Farniev (RNO-Alania, Russia)
Bronze - Hadzhimurad Murtazaliev (Dagestan, Russia)
Bronze - Chamsulvara Chamsulvaraev (Azerbaijan)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Gold - Steve Mocco (USA)
Silver - Soslan Gagloev (both - RNO-Alania, Russia)
Bronze - Alan Dzampaev (both - RNO-Alania, Russia)
Bronze – Cyril Gotovtsev (Krasnoyarsk, Russia)
Final Team Standings
1. Russia
2. Mongolia
3. China
3 Tadjikistan
5. USA
5. Azerbaijan
5. Uzbekistan
U.S. performances
74 kg/163 lbs., Travis Paulson, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids), dnp
LOSS Murad Gaidarov (Belarus), 0-1, 3-1, 0-1
74 kg/163 lbs. - Keith Gavin, Pittsburgh, Pa. (New York AC)
WIN Bikeck Oyun (China), 3-3, 4-2, 4-0
LOSS Irbek Farniev (Russia), 5-0, 3-0
WIN Ilgiv Dzakipebeckov (Kyrgyzstan), 1-0, 3-0
LOSS Khadzimuread Murtazaliev (Russia), 0-3, 9-2, 0-1
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Steve Mocco, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC), 1st
WIN Tsibick Maksarov (Russia), 2-0, 4-0
WIN Alan Dzampaev (Russia), 3-2, 4-0
WIN Ali Isaev (Azerbaijan), 4-0, 5-0
WIN Soslan Gagloev (Russia), inj. default
U.S. wrestlers who were Yarygin International champions
1990 – Jim Scherr; 1991 – Dave Schultz (163), Chris Campbell (198); 1992 – Kendall Cross (125.5); 1993 – Tom Brands (136.5) and Kurt Angle (220); 1998 – Lincoln McIlravy (152); 2005 – Joe Williams (163), Daniel Cormier (211.5) ; 2009 – Steve Mocco (264.5)
Mocco becomes only the 10th U.S. wrestler to claim a gold medal in this tournament in 20 years that the United States has been attending. The last U.S. victories at the Ivan Yarygin Memorial came in 2005, when Joe Williams (163) and Daniel Cormier (211.5) claimed titles.
Many believe that the Ivan Yarygin Memorial has become the toughest freestyle tournament in the world. All 10 U.S. champions in the history of the event became Olympic Team members at some time during their career.
“Steve exemplified what it means to compete at a tournament of this competition,” said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones. “He is able to execute technique and perform strategies and tactics at this level under the current rules. We’re proud of him.”
Mocco won four matches on the way to the gold medal. In the gold-medal finals, Mocco defeated Soslan Gagloev of Russia in the gold-medal finals by injury default, when Gagloev could not compete.
Mocco opened the tournament with victories over Russians Tsibick Maksarov, 2-0, 4-0 and Alan Dzampaev, 3-2, 4-0. In the semifinals, Mocco defeated Ali Isaev of Azerbaijan, 4-0, 5-0. Isaev had upset 2008 Olympic silver medalist Bakhtiar Akhmedov in the quarterfinals.
The U.S. entries at 74 kg/163 lbs., Travis Paulson (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) and Keith Gavin (Pittsburgh, Pa./New York AC), did not earn a medal.
Gavin had a 2-2 record in the tournament. His victories were over Bikek Oyun of China, 3-3, 4-2, 4-0 and Ilgiv Dzakipebeckov of Kyrgyzstan, 1-0, 3-0. His losses were to Irbek Farniev of Russia, who placed second, and Khadzimuread Murtazaliev of Russia, who won a bronze medal.
Paulson lost in the first round to 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Murad Gaidarov of Belarus, 0-1, 3-1, 0-1. When Gaidarov failed to make the finals, Paulson was eliminated.
The United States placed in a tie for fifth place in the final team standings. Russia captured the team title, followed by Mongolia, China and Tadjikistan.
“As a team, to be honest, we’re not close. We have a lot of work to do,” said Jones. “The good thing is our men are willing to work hard and do anything to be successful. We’ll challenge them to work smarter as they get ready for the rest of the winter and the upcoming spring competition. In order to catch the rest of the world, we must make sweeping changes in our total system even down to our smallest details including our technique, strategy, and tactics. In this tournament, Steve was the only one showing proficiency to challenge for a gold medal although he’ll need to stay focused as the rest of the world chases him.”
Jones is looking ahead and believes that progress is being made.
“As we implement our four year strategic plan we know it’ll take time and we must keep our focus. If we do, we’ll arrive,” said Jones. “After watching our team in competition for the first time as the national coach I believe more than ever in our American wrestlers. I caution, we must be patient. How patient? Only our wrestlers can answer that.”
The finals at 74 kg/163 lbs. was a battle of past Russian World champions, as 2007 World champion Makhach Murtazaliev defeated 2003 World champion Irbek Farniev.
Russia won all of the gold medals in the men’s freestyle tournament, except the title claimed by Mocco.
IVAN YARYGIN MEMORIAL GRAND PRIX
At Krasnoyarsk, Russia, January 25
Men’s freestyle medalists
74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Makhach Murtazaliev (Dagestan, Russia)
Silver - Irbek Farniev (RNO-Alania, Russia)
Bronze - Hadzhimurad Murtazaliev (Dagestan, Russia)
Bronze - Chamsulvara Chamsulvaraev (Azerbaijan)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Gold - Steve Mocco (USA)
Silver - Soslan Gagloev (both - RNO-Alania, Russia)
Bronze - Alan Dzampaev (both - RNO-Alania, Russia)
Bronze – Cyril Gotovtsev (Krasnoyarsk, Russia)
Final Team Standings
1. Russia
2. Mongolia
3. China
3 Tadjikistan
5. USA
5. Azerbaijan
5. Uzbekistan
U.S. performances
74 kg/163 lbs., Travis Paulson, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids), dnp
LOSS Murad Gaidarov (Belarus), 0-1, 3-1, 0-1
74 kg/163 lbs. - Keith Gavin, Pittsburgh, Pa. (New York AC)
WIN Bikeck Oyun (China), 3-3, 4-2, 4-0
LOSS Irbek Farniev (Russia), 5-0, 3-0
WIN Ilgiv Dzakipebeckov (Kyrgyzstan), 1-0, 3-0
LOSS Khadzimuread Murtazaliev (Russia), 0-3, 9-2, 0-1
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Steve Mocco, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC), 1st
WIN Tsibick Maksarov (Russia), 2-0, 4-0
WIN Alan Dzampaev (Russia), 3-2, 4-0
WIN Ali Isaev (Azerbaijan), 4-0, 5-0
WIN Soslan Gagloev (Russia), inj. default
U.S. wrestlers who were Yarygin International champions
1990 – Jim Scherr; 1991 – Dave Schultz (163), Chris Campbell (198); 1992 – Kendall Cross (125.5); 1993 – Tom Brands (136.5) and Kurt Angle (220); 1998 – Lincoln McIlravy (152); 2005 – Joe Williams (163), Daniel Cormier (211.5) ; 2009 – Steve Mocco (264.5)