St. Paul, Minn. – The 2002 United States Men’s Freestyle World Team Trials

concluded today with U.S. Nationals champion Cael Sanderson surviving a

scare and ISU assistant wrestling coach Chris Bono only two matches away

from becoming a national champion.

Sanderson (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) suffered the most dramatic loss of the

tournament as he was defeated by Lee Fullhart (Iowa City, Iowa/Gator WC) 3-2

in the first match of their best of three series at 185 pounds.

By the current format, the 2002 U.S. Nationals champion faces the Challenge

Tournament Champion from Saturday, with the series winner claiming a spot on

the 2002 U.S. World Team.

Sanderson rebounded to claim the last two matches 7-1 and 6-1 to secure his

spot on the U.S. team.

The undefeated four-time NCAA champion looked rusty in his first match as he

could not finish six or seven single leg takedowns and finally let Fullhart

tilt him for two points with only nine seconds left in the match. Sanderson

was more aggressive in the second and third matches though, dominating

Fullhart in every aspect of each match.

Fullhart beat Sanderson in the 2000 National Open, but had lost their last

two previous meetings.

Another former Cyclone, Chris Bono (Sunkist Kids WC), took one step closer

to becoming a national team member as he defeated Jamill Kelly (Stillwater,

Okla./Gator WC) two matches to none in their best-of-three series at the 145

« pound weight class.

He will now meet reigning national champion Bill Zadick of Iowa City in a

best-of-three series at a date and time to be determined. Zadick suffered a

freak accident on Thursday before weigh-ins as he slipped and hit his head

in the shower.

Zadick’s national champion status allows him the option to delay the trials

process at his weight because of the injury.

Two wins over Zadick would give Bono his second consecutive spot on the U.S.

National team.

Other ex-Cyclones competing in this weekends event included Eric Akin, Joe

Heskett, and Zach Tompson. Although none of the wrestlers qualified for the

U.S. World Team, both Akin (Dave Schultz WC) and Heskett (Sunkist Kids) won

third place at 132 pounds and 163 pounds, respectively. Thompson (Sunkist

Kids) settled for fourth at 211.5 pounds after coming all the way back from

the first round of the losers’ bracket to make the third place match.