Chris Bono
2004 Olympic 69kg Freestyle Wrestling Hopeful

Competition June-December 2001
 Prior Page, Photos Index, Next Page

2001 US World Team Trials
Cincinnati, OH, June 22-24

Quarter Finals
WIN vs. #4 Yoshi Nakamura, Elyria, OH (Dave Schultz WC), 4-1
Per Chris, "That’s the best I’ve felt in 10 years. My loss at Nationals is really inspiring me. I’ve put in a little extra effort. I hope it’s my time now. It’s the best I have wrestled during my career."

Semi-Finals
WIN vs. #3 Chris Ayers, Bethlehem, PA (NYAC), 6-2
First Period
At 1:20 Ayers scores a 1pt takedown.
At 1:55 Bono scores a 1pt takedown to tie the match at 1-1.
At 2:21 Bono turns Ayers for 2pts, taking a 3-1 lead into the second period.

Second Period
At 3:28 Ayers scores a 1pt takedown to narrow the gap, 3-2.
At 3:54 Bono scores a 1pt takedown on the edge of the mat. Bono leads 4-2.
At 5:03 Bono scores another 1pt takedown.
At 5:53 Bono scores another 1pt takedown.




Finals
WIN 2 matches to 0 vs. #1 Ramico Blackmon, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Excel)
First Match
First Period
At 1:08 Blackmon is called for passivity. No scoring.
At 2:45 Bono earns 1pt on a caution for Blackmon fleeing the mat.
Bono takes a 1-0 lead into the second period.

Second Period
At 4:20 Blackmon is called for passivity. Bono chooses neutral.
At 5:07 Bono earns 1pt on a caution
At 5:51 Bono earns 1pt on a caution for fleeing the mat and wins the match 3-0.

Second Match
Chris Bono dec. Ramico Blackmon, 4-3.

Bono represents the United States on the 2001 World Team.

"Making my first time feels good. I’ll put it behind me and go out and try to win a medal. That was my approach for the weekend. I was prepared for Ramico. I wasn’t scoring. I worked to get him tired and pull him down. I’ve taken second a lot. I have trained for McIlravy. I’m ready for anybody in the world."

WIN mag's write up....

Of the other four weight classes, the biggest turn-around came from Chris Bono at 152 pounds. Ramico Blackmon handled Bono 6-3 at the Open in Vegas. Bono responded by taking two straight matches from the former Eastern Michigan product, 3-0 and 4-3. Blackmon had the early 3-1 lead in the second match but Bono used three second-period takedowns to seal the win and World team berth.

Bono said the key to the dramatic turn-around against Blackmon was the time he and his coach Bobby Douglas had to prepare for Blackmon. "Whenever Coach Douglas and I prepare for somebody, I always do real well. Vegas - that's not the goal. The goal was here. We didn't prepare for Ramico. I made a lot of mistakes," Bono said. "Technically we used a different strategy. The strategy was to pull him down and get him tired, wear him out in the end. I'm in better shape than 99 percent of the guys I wrestle."

Bono said he is anxiously looking forward to the Worlds, feeling like his 5'3" frame will give some of the foreign competitors problems. "I've been using it (my height) as an advantage my whole life. These guys don't know what I do. At the Worlds, I am going to have some leg attacks."

2001 Worlds
New York City, NY September 26-29

coming!