Abas takes silver, Rowlands bronze as U.S. wins five medals total at Cerro Pelado Tournament in Cuba
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
2004 Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas (Fresno, Calif./Sunkist Kids) was defeated in the finals at 60 kg/132 lbs. and won a silver medal during the final day of competition at the Cerro Pelado Tournament held in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, on Feb. 25.
Also winning a medal on Friday was Tommy Rowlands (Columbus, Ohio/Dave Schultz WC), who captured a bronze medal at 96 kg/211.5 pounds.
Exact match scores from the final session of wrestling are not available and will be reported when possible.
Youly Bonne Rodriguez of Cuba defeated Abas in the finals in two straight periods. In the opening period, Rodriguez threw Abas for five points to claim that period, then defeated him in the second period also.
Abas defeated 2004 Olympic champion Yandro Quintana of Cuba in the semifinals earlier in the day.
Abas won his silver medal in the 2004 Olympics at 55 kg/121 lbs. and was competing up a weight class at this tournament.
Tommy Rowlands (Columbus, Ohio/Dave Schultz WC) won two matches in the repechage to claim his bronze medal at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.. His only loss came in the semifinals to Haadzi-Murad Gozapov of Russia.
Placing fifth in their weight class after losing bronze medal matches were Michael Lightner (Norman, Okla./Dave Schultz WC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Donny Pritzlaff (Oyster Bay, N.Y./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs.
Lightner lost to Saeed Azerbaijani of Canada in the bronze-medal round. Pritzlaff was beaten by Ruslam Kokaev of Russia in his bronze medal match.
With the two medals won on Feb. 25, the U.S. claimed five medals total for the two-day event.
On the first day of competition on Feb. 24, the U.S. won three medals: Sammie Henson (St. Louis, Mo./Sunkist Kids) won a gold medal at 55 kg/121 lbs. Tolly Thompson (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) won a silver medal at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. and Jared Lawrence (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) won a bronze medal at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Exact results and placements will be posted when received.
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