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Memorable Weekend at Wrestling Tournament
By Gene Dermody This year’s Golden Gate Wrestling Memorial Day tournament was by far the most competitive in its 17-year history, and was a foreshadowing of the caliber of wrestlers who will be competing in the upcoming Sydney Gay Games this November. Some 30 wrestlers from Seattle, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco participated in three days of open mat, technique clinic, and officiating clinic, which culminated in a full blown Olympic Freestyle tournament. The matches were held at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center. The participating clubs and their team points were awarded as follows: Gold=4 Silver=3 Bronze=2 Copper=1 Index=( Total Points /#Wrestlers )=Average Points per Team Wrestler
Tournament Notes: The tournament used the USAW recommended three rotating officials mechanics, and featured three high ranking USAW officials (two M2s and an M1e). Because of the limitations of time and the high number of matches (41), the bouts were shortened to 2-1-2 periods from the normal 3-1-3. All pools were FILA ‘Nordique’ Round Robin. No double elimination. All wrestlers had at least three matches, sometimes four. Wrestlers were pooled by weight, age, and experience into six ‘reasonably competitive’ brackets, as the very competitiveness of the bout scores will attest to. The tournament originally had three female wrestlers, Erika Hom (GGWC-SF), Malia Ambiotta (SKWC-SEA), and Larie Smoyer (SKWC-SEA). However, early practice injuries forced Erika and Larie out, leaving Malia alone to fend for herself in the Men’s Veteran Elite. The tournament also had its first hearing -impaired wrestler, who showed a lot of spunk in a very competitive division. Kevin Bernadt (SKWC-SEA) is a very determined wrestler, a man with a mission, headed to Sydney with a clear goal in mind. Some of the more interesting notes from the event: The Battle of Philippi (a flashback to 42 BC, and the battle that started the careers of another famous triumvirate, Marc Antony, Pompeii, and Octavius): Philip#1 Philippe Kahn (SCWC-LA) was selected the most outstanding wrestler of the tournament. His technique and strength dominated the Veteran Elite under 170 pounds Division. However it should be noted that this division was a pooling of two very competitive divisions. Philip#2 Phillip Whaley (SKWC-SEA) who lost a tough match to Philip#1 Philippe Kahn in the finals, would have won the lighter division if the two divisions had not been collapsed. Philip#2 Phillip Whaley was also the runner up to Philip#1 Philippe Kahn for most outstanding wrestler. Philip#3 Philippe Tapon (GGWC-SF) was just happy to have won his first tournament as a novice. Bombing Rights to Vieques: The Veteran Elite < 140# Division sported three Puerto Rican Americans, Rafael Cruz Rivera, Francisco Jose Rivera, and Jose Caratini. Proof of a competitive tournament: Officials disagreeing on calls. The battle for the Silver in the Veteran Elite less than 160 pounds saw Matt Carey and Johnny Almony go into Overtime 3-3. The three officials could not agree on points awarded to both Matt and Johnny, and thankfully they could have erred in awarding a point to both. Hence the ‘Sudden-Death’ OT was the welcome solution. Johnny scored the first takedown. While closer in weight this year, both wrestlers were winners of their respective divisions last year (which were collapsed this year), and both suffered from an inability to convert their takedown attacks. It is a rematch made for ‘Pay-for-View’. The Rocky Raccoon Award: Erich Richter (GGWC-SF), the 1998 Gay Games Gold medalist, suffered an elbow to his right eye last week at practice. The shiner was glorious. In his last match of the tournament, fellow GGWC wrestler Francisco Jose Rivera elbowed him in his left eye, giving him a matched set. Erich still won the Gold, and was the LoneStar Saloon’s most popular patron that evening. Delayed Reaction to Knockout: David Dodson and Matt Carey battled a back and forth pin and bridge head lock for the Bronze. Some how during the tussle, David was hit hard in the chin, and pinned. About a minute later, after the raising of hands, David walked over to the table, blinked three times, reacted to the KO, and passed out. David is just fine now. Division Results: Less than 140 pounds Veteran Elite:
Less than 160 pounds Veteran Elite:
Less than 170 pounds Veteran Elite:
Less than 180 pounds Open Novice:
Less than 180 pounds Veteran Elite:
Less than 220 pounds
Bout Results: WBF=Won By Fall (PIN) WBD=Won By Default (Injury, Disqualification, NoShow) DEC=Decisioned TECH=Decisioned by >= 10 points OT=OverTime Sudden Death Less than 140# Veteran Elite: E.Richter WBF R.Rivera 3:40 J.Caratini WBF F.Rivera 2:45 E.Richter WBF J.Caratini 2:00 R.Rivera WBF F.Rivera 1:15 F.Rivera WBD E.Richter Malia Ambiotta WBF F.Rivera 3:05
Less than 160# Veteran Elite: J.Almony DEC E.Lindsey 6-3 D.Dodson WBF S.Russo 0:25 E.Lindsey WBF M.Carey 2:10 S.Russo DEC J.Almony 7-5 E.Lindsey WBF D.Dodson 0:38 J.Almony DEC OT M.Carey 5-4 E.Lindsey WBF S.Russo 2:14 M.Carey WBF D.Dodson 0:30 J.Almony WBD D.Dodson M.Carey WBD S.Russo 1:55
Less than 170# Veteran Elite: P.Whaley DEC S.Durney 5-4 P.Kahn WBF C.Menotti 0:50 P.Kahn WBF P.Whaley 1:25 C.Menotti TECH S.Durney 10-0 P.Whaley WBF C.Menotti 1:15 P.Kahn TECH S.Durney 12-2
Less than 180# Open Novice: M.Engel DEC C.Baker 5-4 B.Eastey WBF K.Bernadt 1:35 M.Engel WBF K.Bernadt 0:30 C.Baker WBF B.Eastey 3:35 M.Engel DEC B.Eastey 3-2 C.Baker TECH K.Bernadt 10-0
Less than 180# Veteran Elite: P.Tapon WBF C.Seymour 3:05 T.Dwyer WBF A.Dvlogcz 1:55 P.Tapon TECH T.Dwyer 14-4 A.Dvlogcz WBF C.Seymour 1:00 P.Tapon WBF A.Dvlogcz 2:12 T.Dwyer WBF C.Seymour 1:45
Less than 220# C.Malone TECH K.Mason 11-0 K.Schauer WBF R.Schmidt 0:50 C.Malone TECH R.Schmidt 11-0 K.Schauer DEC K.Mason 11-4 C.Malone TECH K.Schauer 10-0 K.Mason DEC R.Schmidt 3-2
Other Awards:
The next events on the wrestling circuit leading up to Sydney Gay Games will be Montreal, Berlin, Hillside (Pennsylvania), and Oklahoma City (in that order). Check with the Wrestlers WithOut Borders web site: for more details about these events and clubs in your area. Golden Gate Wrestling practices three times per week at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center in the Castro of San Francisco. |
