Titan Games San Jose, CA, February 14-15

WIN vs. Garndris Garzon, Cuba, 5-2

1st Period: 0:35 - Garzon 1 pt takedown, 1-0 1:09 - Garzon 1 pt takedown, 2-0 1:39 - Bono 1 pt takedown, 2-1 2:23 - Bono 1 pt takedown, 2-2

2nd Period: 5:11 - Bono 1 pt takedown, 3-2 5:13 - Bono 2 pt gut wrench, 5-2

I just wrestled my game. I go hard the whole six minutes. That’s what I train for. Six minutes is not anything for me. I just have to start faster. I have a lot of work to do. This event is great. I love being here. We are treated like kings. Wrestlers don’t get treated like that often. This is a great event.”

WIN vs. Irbek Farniev, Russia, 3-1

1st Period: 1:02 - Farniev passivity 2:05 - Farniev fleeing mat, 1pt Bono, 1-0 2:40 - Bono single leg takedown, 2-0

2nd Period: 5:22 - Farniev 1pt single leg takedown, 2-1 5:46 - Bono 1pt takedown, 3-1

“I’ve been training. As you know, I have to pick it up a notch here in the USA for the next four or five months, just to achieve my dreams. My opponent just beat Russia’s No. 1 at this class. I’ve got some shots. I like to wear them down before attacking. I took a few more chances than I usually do. I wanted to win.”

World Cup Boise, ID, April 4-6

Match 1
WIN vs. Sergej Kowalenko (World-Germany), 7-0

First Period 1:10 Bono takedown, 1-0 1:58 Bono takedown, 2-0 2:47 Bono takedown, 3-0

2nd Period: 3:44 Bono takedown, 4-0 4:00 Kowalenko passive, no scoring 5:58 Bono takedown with exposure, 7-0

Chris Bono (Gilbert, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) kept the rout going with a 7-0 win over Sergei Kowalenko of Germany. Bono scored a three-point takedown on the buzzer to end the match.

“I felt good. It was good to get that one out of the way. I did everything I wanted to do. Now, I’ll get ready for the second match tonight.”

Match 2
WIN vs. Ergin Urun (Germany), 6-0

First Period 0:26 Bono single leg takedown, 1-0 1:20 Uran caution for fleeing, 2-0 2:34 Bono takedown, 3-0

2nd Period: 2:13 Bono takedown, 4-0 5:02 Bono single leg, 5-0 5:55 Bono single leg, 6-0

Continuing the American march was Chris Bono (Gilbert, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) who shut out Ergin Urun, 6-0, at 145.5 pounds. The next bout was also a shutout, as Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) poured on the takedown attack for a 7-0 win over Dominik Zeh.

“I still feel good. I am not giving up any points, which is big for me. I am trying to score as much as I can every match. It looks like I have only one match left in the morning. I will go hard there, then I will get ready for (the nationals in) Vegas.”

Match 3
WIN vs. Sergiy Latyshev (Ukraine), 9-0

First Period 1:16 Bono double leg, 2 point gut, 3-0 2:18 Bono single leg, 4-0 2:48 Bono hand-to-hand ankle lace, 5-0

2nd Period: 3:29 Bono takedown, 6-0 4:27 Bono takedown, 7-0 4:51 Latyshev caution for fleeing, 8-0 5:36 Bono takedown, 9-0

Match 3
Chris Bono (Gilbert, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) clinched an individual gold medal, after defeating Sergiy Latyshev, 9-0. Bono has won all three of his bouts, and since Team USA’s final opponent Russia does not have an athlete at this weight class, Bono secured his first career World Cup title. Bono outscored his three opponents, 22-0.

(on the strong season this year) “It is the new weight class. The change has made me train harder. My desire is at an all-time high. I really want this. I’m not getting younger. I am taking advantage of everything. The weight class has helped me. I wrestle better when I am lighter.”

(on shutting out all opponents to win the gold) “That is the goal. If you don’t give up any points, you won’t lose. I tried to wrestle hard and use this tournament to prepare for the nationals.”

US Nationals Las Vegas, NV, May 7-10

 

WIN vs Paul Gross, Dave Schultz WC, 10-0
WIN vs Jose Deanda, Panther WC, 7-2
WIN vs Doug Harwood, Team Excel WC, 11-0
WIN vs Jesse Jentsen, Dave Schultz WC, 13-1
WIN vs Tony Davis, Sunkist WC, 2-2 BT

WIN vs Bill Zadick, Hawkeye WC, 3-1 OT BT

 

(on being awarded two caution points) “You take a win any way you can get them at this level. I didn’t score the points, but I’ll take them. If the officials want to give me two points in any match, I’m not going to complain.”

(on Zadick beating McIlravy) “Anyone can come through this tournament. Bill can beat anyone in the world.”

US World Team Trials Indianapolis, IN, June 20-22

Match 1
LOSS vs. Jamill Kelly (Gator Wrestling Club), 4-2 OT 6:25

1st period:: Passivity, Kelly Passivity, Kelly Bono, 1 pt. single leg takedown, 0:55 left, 1-0 Bono

2nd period: Passivity Kelly, 1:57 Bono, caution and 1 pt against Kelly, 1:32, 2-0 Bono Kelly, 1 pt. takedown, 0:01, 2-1 Bono

Overtime Clinch position. Bono locks first Kelly, 3 pt. takedown to exposure on edge, 4-2 Kelly

Match 2
LOSS vs. Jamill Kelly (Gator Wrestling Club), 7-3

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2003 Sunkist Open Tempe, AZ, October 23-25

Pool
WIN vs Andrew Isensee (unattached), 10-0, 2:41 tech fall
WIN vs Angel Castro (Colombia), 10-0, 3:42 tech fall
WIN vs Damon Brooks (Navy SOPAC), 11-0, 3:36 tech fall

Quarter Finals
WIN vs Jamar Billman (New York AC), 10-0, 5:59 tech fall

Semi-Finals
WIN vs Rob Lang (Canada/Regina), 6-2

Finals
LOSS vs Doug Schwab (Minnesota Storm), 3-2

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2003 NY Athletic Club Christmas International New York, NY, December 20-21

Pool
WIN vs WR Groves (Team Excel), 13-2, 5:23 tech fall
WIN vs Tetsuro Arabi (New York AC), forfeit

Semifinals
WIN vs Jamar Billman (New York AC), 7-1

Finals
LOSS vs Jared Frayer (Dave Schultz WC), 7-4

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2003 Midlands Evanston, IL, December 29-30

Pigtails
WIN vs Clay French (E. Illinois), 24-5, 4:49 tech fall

First Round
WIN vs Kyle Bernholz (Penn), 21-10 major decision

Second Round
WIN vs Brian Duhrkoop (Oregon St.), 20-5, 3:31 tech fall

Quarter Finals
WIN vs Paul Siemon (Hofstra), 8-3

Semifinals
WIN vs Matt Gentry (Stanford), 8-7

Finals
LOSS vs. Alex Tirapelle (Illinois) 2-1 double overtime

First Period:
No scoring

Second Period:
Bono chose bottom. After over one minute, Bono earned an escape for a 1-0 lead. Tirapelle then made the first serious attempt at an offensive score with a single-leg, but Bono was able to sprawl away from it.

Third Period:
Tirapelle chose bottom and immediately earned an escape to tie the score at 1-1. Bono then got in on a low single-leg, but Tirapelle dove out of it.

Overtime:
No scoring

Tiebreakers:
In the first tiebreaker, Bono chose bottom and could not score an escape. In Tirapelle's 30 seconds, Bono released him but could not score a takedown.

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