Former Wolverine Warren Captures World Championship
9/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
GUANGZHOU, China -- Highlighting one of the greatest days in the history of American Greco-Roman wrestling, former University of Michigan standout Joe Warren captured the 60 kg/132-pound gold medal at the 2006 FILA World Championships on Monday (Sept. 25) at the Tianhe Sports Center. Warren became just the fifth American wrestler to win a Greco-Roman world championship and the first in four years to accomplish the feat.
Trailing early in the gold-medal match against Georgia's David Bedinadze, Warren claimed the final two frames to secure a 1-1, 4-1, 2-1 victory. With the score knotted at 1-1 late in the final period, Warren slipped behind Bedinadze to earn the winning takedown with just 19 seconds remaining.
"I never give up," said Warren. "I believed in myself, and I wouldn't quit. I pulled it off. I knew I could win. I stood up, took a deep breath and took one more chance. I am so happy. I feel like crying. I'm the happiest man in the world. I have been working on this my whole life. I had a great supporting cast with my coaches and family. I'm the baddest man on the planet and I wanted to say that for years."
Warren, a 2000 NCAA All-American and four-year letterwinner at Michigan (1996, '98-2000), cruised through perhaps the tournament's toughest draw to reach the championship match, knocking off previous world champion Dilshod Aripov in the first round and earning subsequent wins over former world silver medalist Ali Ashkani and bronze medalist Eusebui Diaconu. Warren posted a perfect 5-0 mark in just his second career World Championships appearance. He placed ninth at last year's world event.
Warren was one of three American Greco-Roman specialists to climb the medal stand on the first day of competition at the World Championships. Teammates Lindsey Durlacher and Harry Lester both claimed bronze at 55 kg/121 pounds and 66 kg/141.5 pounds, respectively. With four Greco-Roman weight classes yet to be contested, the American team -- coached by former Wolverine and 1984 Olympic champion Steve Fraser -- has already equaled its best-ever medal count at the world event.
"I am proud of Joe," said Fraser. "He wrestled great. He came into his own. He found peace. He wrestled with the same intensity that he always had but wrestled with a sense of calm. He wasn't making mistakes. He was so confident that he would win. All we did as coaches was stay out of his way. He was focused on winning. Joe has so much heart and so much emotion. It was just a matter of time before he could channel it and hed be a champion."
Wrestling fans will have the opportunity to view Warren's championship match. The World Championship Sports Network (WCSN) will provide same-day delayed online coverage of the World Championships at WCSN.com, beginning each day at 4 p.m. EDT.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
