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Lindsey Durlacher won his first match but lost his second at the 2005 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
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Sept. 30, 2005
Budapest, Hungary - The men's Greco-Roman tournament began today with one weight class, 55 kg/121 lbs. The U.S. athlete, Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) opened with a victory, but was defeated in the second round by the reigning Olympic champion.
Durlacher stopped Roberto Pira of Italy, 3-2, 5-1 in the first round. In the opening period, Durlacher fell behind 2-0 when he was down in the clinch position and was hit for a leg foul for a two-point penalty. Duracher scored a takedown later in that 30 second frame to cut the lead to 2-1. When Durlacher was in the top position from the clinch, Pira was penalized two points on a leg foul, and Durlacher won the period 3-2.
In the second period, Durlacher opened up the action, with a two-point bear hug throw and a one point for the hold from the standing position. He added a two-point exposure from the top position in the clinch to make it 5-0. Pira's reversal from the second clinch was worth one point, but was too little, too late.
In the second round, Durlacher drew the hometown hero, 2004 Olympic champion Istvan Majoros of Hungary. A large crowd has come out to support their Olympic champion, who was pictured on all the posters and promotions for the tournament. Majoros scored a 5-0, 1-1 win over Durlacher.
In the first period, no points were scored on the feet. Durlacher was in the top position, and Majoros scored a reversal with just one second left in the 30-second period for two points, and a one-point hold. Trailing 3-0, Durlacher was on bottom, and Majoros scored two more points on a gutwrench.
In the second period, no takedowns were scored in the standing position. Durlacher was on top in the first clinch and could not score, and was penalized one point and a caution. When Majoros was on top in the second clinch, he also could not score and was hit for a caution and a point. Majoros won the period, because he scored the last point in the period.
Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) turned in monumental performance in winning her first World Championship gold medal at the World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 30.
She defeated five-time World Champion Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan, 3-1, 1-1, 1-0 in the finals at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Smith's performance, along with a bronze medal by Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs., led the United States to a third-place finish in the team race. Japan won the team title, and China finished second.
Downing defeated Ashlea McManus of Great Britain for a 6-0, 7-0 victory in her bronze-medal match. The bronze was Downing's first World Championship medal, as she was competing in her first World meet.
In the evening session, Durlacher was eliminated from the competition when his second round opponent, Istvan Majoros of Hungary failed to reach the gold medal finals. Durlacher won his first match of the morning session, but then lost to Majoros in the second round.
QUOTES:
Lindsey Durlacher
"I felt good in my first match. Things were working for me. I created the right angles. I got my confidence real high, going against the Olympic champion in his own country. I knew it would be a dogfight. I would make it go my way. I didn't get that done. I'm upset about that. I tried to force a few things against the Olympic champion. This is my first World Championships. I got overzealous a bit and it cost me."
Steve Fraser, USA Wrestling National Greco-Roman Coach
"His first match against the Italian, he wrestled smart and he stayed focused. We were happy with that first match. The second match, he made one mistake. He tried to gutwrench the guy with two seconds on the clock and gives up points. You take that away and Lindsey wins the period. The guy is the Olympic champion. He is tough. Lindsey wrestled tough in the second period, and had a good defense. You can't make mistakes against the Olympic champion. He was ready. He prepared like we wanted him to. He worked hard, and was focused, ready and confident. Lindsey was well prepared today."
