| Burton wins 2000 Senior Freestyle Championship Belt Series |
|
|
By Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
02/01/2001
Freestyle Olympian Charles Burton (Bloomington, Ind./New York AC) has won the 2000 Championship Belt Series on the Senior level in freestyle wrestling. The series is sponsored by USA Wrestling and honors the top point scorers among U.S. wrestlers, based upon actual success in competition during the year. The point system is based upon results from events on the regional, national and international levels and gives greater credit for success in the major competitions. The top point scorer in the series for each style receives a handsome plaque. On the Senior level, a separate award is presented in men's freestyle, men's Greco-Roman and women's freestyle wrestling. Freestyle champion - Charles Burton, Bloomington, Ind. (New York AC) Burton, who placed fifth in the 2000 Olympic Games at 187.25 pounds, scored 351 points, defeating runner-up Chris Bono (Gilbert, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) by 17 points. It was Burton's first Championship Belt Series title. Burton placed fifth at the Olympics, in his first U.S. world-level competition. He won gold medals at the Takhti Cup in Iran and the Olympic Trials process. He also won silver medals at the Pan American Championships, the Dan Kolov Tournament in Bulgaria and the U.S. Nationals. Bono was the most active athlete on the Senior freestyle circuit, competing at 152 pounds. Bono won gold medals at the Sunkist Kids International Open and the Western Olympic Regionals. He was second in the U.S. Nationals, the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, the Dave Schultz International and the Cerro Pelado Tournament in Cuba. He was sixth at the Pan American Championships and eighth at the Takhti Cup in Iran. 2000 Freestyle Championship Belt Series Top Ten 1. Charles Burton, Bloomington, Ind., New York AC, 187.25 pounds, 351 pts. 2. Chris Bono, Gilbert, Iowa, Sunkist Kids, 152 pounds, 334 pts. 3.(tie) Sammie Henson, Norman, Okla., Sunkist Kids, 119 pounds, 323 pts. 3.(tie) Cary Kolat, Morgantown, W.Va., Dave Schultz WC, 138.75 pounds, 323 pts. 5. Dominic Black, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army, 213.75 pounds, 307 pts. 6. Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa, Gateway WC, 152 pounds, 306 pts. 7. Eric Guererro, Stillwater, Okla., Sunkist Kids, 138.75 pounds, 303 pts. 8. Kerry McCoy, Bethlehem, Pa., New York AC, 286 pounds, 300 pts. 9. Chad Lamer, Iowa City, Iowa, Hawkeye WC, 213.75 pounds, 260 pts. 10. Brandon Slay, Amarillo, Texas, Dave Schultz WC, 167.5 pounds, 255 pts. CHAMPIONSHIP BELT SERIES HISTORY Freestyle 1990 - Kevin Jackson, Lansing, Mich., Team Foxcatcher, 180.5 pounds 1991 - John Smith, Stillwater, Okla., Sunkist Kids, 136.5 pounds 1992 - Townsend Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids, 149.5 pounds 1993 - Chris Bollin, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Sunkist Kids, 125.5 pounds 1994 - Melvin Douglas, Mesa, Ariz., Sunkist Kids, 198 pounds 1995 - Terry Brands, Iowa City, Iowa, Team Foxcatcher, 125.5 pounds 1996 - Tom Erikson, W. Lafayette, Ind., Sunkist Kids, 286 pounds 1997 - Tom Erikson, W. Lafayette, Ind., Sunkist Kids, 286 pounds 1998 - Sammie Henson, Norman, Okla., Sunkist Kids, 119 pounds 1999 - Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa, Gateway WC, 152 pounds 2000 - Charles Burton, Bloomington, Ind., New York AC, 187.25 pounds
|
|
|
HOME
