By: Dick Kelly, Staff Writer
Jared Lawrence, Hilton Coliseum, family and friends were all the motivation Chris Bono needed Sunday afternoon.
The assistant head coach for the Iowa State wrestling team used that motivation to defeat Lawrence in back-to-back matches and clinch a berth on the U.S. World Team that will compete in the World Team Trials Sept. 23 to Oct. 2 in Budapest, Hungary.
“It doesn’t get any better than this for me, “said Bono, a U.S. World Team member in 2001 and ’02. “I put a lot of work into this, and to do it (at Hilton Coliseum), it’s just amazing.
“This school, this university have given so much to me and to do it here in front of these guys, my fans and my boosters, it’s undescribable.”
Lawrence had been something of a thorn in Bono’s side since winning a semifinal match in the Olympic Trials last year. Bono avenged that loss with a victory in the U.S. Senior Nationals in April and solidified his grip on the 145.5-pound freestyle class Sunday.
“I just wanted to have one more point than him, “Bono said. “I wanted to go out there and win convincingly, but as long as I had one more point than him, I got my hand raised, and I’m on that plane to Budapest ready to win a world title. That’s all I wanted to do.”
Bono admitted he had an advantage not having to wrestle in Saturday’s challenge tournament. His victory in the Senior Nationals earned him that right.
“I wrestled a tough, tough kid, “Bono said. “He’s real banged up, sore and bruised, but I look forward to competing against him. He motivates me.”
Family helped, too. Bono’s wife and daughters and his brother and family were among those witnessing Sunday’s win.
“There’s nothing like wrestling in Hilton Coliseum in front of my fans and my family, “Bono said. “I’ve got a bunch of family here, and for the last 26 years all they’ve done is support me, win lose or draw. To do this on Father’s Day, it’s really special.
“Waking up and seeing my (daughters) in the morning, that motivates me. I wanted to win for them. Dad’s not home a lot when he’s training, and I want my girls to be proud of me.”
“I’m excited for Chris, “said ISU coach Bobby Douglas. “He’s put himself in a position to realize his dreams. He wants to be a world champion, and he’s got his chance.”
Bono was the most successful of past and present ISU wrestlers in the U.S. World Team Trials. Former Cyclone Eric Akin and current Cyclone Nate Gallick reached the finals in their respective weight classes, but both lost.
Former Cyclones Zach Roberson and Nick Passolano placed third in their respective weight classes; current Cyclone David Bertolino did not place in the competition, and neither did former Cyclone Mark Knauer.
“I think the alumni did an outstanding job of coming back home and representing themselves and the university and their clubs, “Douglas said.
“It was a good weekend for wrestling, it’s been a great weekend for the state of Iowa and it’s been a super weekend for Iowa State and the city of Ames.”
Gallick beat Ben VomBauer (2-0, 0-2, 4-0) and Mike Zadick (1-0, 0-2, 2-1) in winning Saturday’s challenge tournament at 132, but Sunday Michael Lightner beat the ISU senior to be, 1-0, 1-0 in the first match and 1-0, 2-2, 2-2 in the second match.
“I don’t feel excellent, but it could be worse, “Gallick said. “It’s not what I came here to do, but I’m 22 years old and I’m slowly working my way up.”
Douglas said he’s certain Gallick learned from the experience and will use what he learned the next time he wrestles a freestyle event.
“He didn’t have a great performance, but he had a good performance, “Douglas said.
Akin, a No. 5 seed at 121, upset Luke Eustice (7-0, 4-0) and top-seeded Matt Azevedo (7-3, 2-0) to win the challenge tournament, then was beaten by Sammy Henson, 1-0, 6-0 and 4-0, 4-1, in Sunday’s finals.
Azevedo, who also competed for ISU, beat Jesse Zobeck and Jason Powell to finish third at 121.
The projected matchup between Gallick and Roberson at 132 never materialized because Roberson lost to Zadick (1-0, 1-0) in the semifinals, but rebounded with victories over Danny Felix (3-1, 1-0) and Celso DeAnda (1-0, 1-3, 1-0) to finish third.
“I feel like I could have been in the finals, but this is my first times wrestling Zadik, “Roberson said. “I’m not happy with (finishing third), but I’m happy with how I ended up wrestling after I lost.”
Bertolino, competing at 163, lost to Nate Patrick (2-1, 8-0) in his first match Saturday, then dropped a 2-0, 2-0 decision to Tyler Nixt and was eliminated from the competition.
Knauer competed in the Greco-Roman 211.5-pound class and was eliminated after a loss, a win and another loss. J.D. Bergman pinned Knauer in 47 seconds in Saturday’s opening round, but Knauer answered with a 1-5, 9-5, 2-1 win over David Walker in a consolation match. R.C. Johnson then sent Knauer to the sidelines with a 3-3, 7-1, 5-2 win in the consolation semifinals.
Dick Kelly can be reached at 232-2161, Ext. 355, or [email protected].
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