Broncos take part in World Cup Championship

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href=”">World Cup Wrestling Championships 4/6/03

Last weekend at the Bank of America Centre, the freestyle

wrestling world was on display, which included several former Boise

State wrestlers as well as two current Broncos.

Along with teams from the United States, Russia, Ukraine and

Germany, the World Cup Wrestling Championships were also to include

Cuba, but last Thursday they informed USA Wrestling that it would

not be able to make the trip due to a delay in the application

process of their visas.

With the Cuban wrestling federation unable to attend this

year’s event, officials decided to create a World Select team

to take its place. The World select team was to be made up of

alternates from the rest of the countries in attendance, but in the

end looked more like a Boise State All-Star team.

Former Broncos on the roster includes Charles Burton, Kirk White

and Rusty Cook as well as two current Boise State seniors –

Ben VomBaur and Boe Rushton. Both VomBaur and Rushton earned

All-American honors last month at nationals in Kansas City, Mo.

“I’m glad they gave me the opportunity,” said

VomBaur.

VomBaur lost his only match on Saturday afternoon against

USA’s top 121-pounder Stephan Abas

“It’s a completely different sport [than college]

you need time to make the transition,” said VomBaur, who

hasn’t wrestled freestyle since high school.

Boise State was also represented in the coaching ranks as Bronco

head coach Greg Randall was asked to assist Team USA over the

weekend.

“He’s a young and upcoming coach, He’s

doing a good job,” Team USA head coach Dan Gable said.

Boise State heavyweight Boe Rushton got his chance for the World

Select Team against the Ukraine’s Serhii Priadun – a

match Rushton lost 5-1. However, Rushton’s match from one

hour earlier was still on his mind.

Rulon Gardner, a Gold Medal winner in the 2000 Olympic games,

was in Boise to light the Olympic cauldron, but more importantly to

Rushton, agreed to wrestle an exibition match as well.

“I tried to go hard, that was pretty much all I could do,

said Rushton after his 6-0 loss against Gardner.

“It was a once in a lifetime experience.”

As for Gardner, he was impressed with Rushton’s

appearance.

“I never seen him wrestle before, I didn’t know what

he had. He’s a lot more of a physical specimen than I think I

am,” said Gardner.

Since returning to the mat in November, which includes a 9-2

record, Gardner has his sights on returning to the Olympics to

defend his championship.

“I feel good, everything feels good, said Gardner, who

will next be in action at Nationals in Las Vegas, Nev., in May.

Overall, the American team looked as though they were where they

wanted to be after beating the competition easily on Saturday, but

more importantly, they were excited to have the opportunity to

compete.

“I’m amazed that we were able to put it together

really, with everything that is going on in the world,” said

Gable

“It’s good to separate sports and what’s going

on in the world.”

Phil Dailey, The Arbiter

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