LAS VEGAS — Henry Cejudo, a former Coronado High School star, has been called the future of U.S. wrestling. Now he will be competing in the Beijing Olympics.
The 21-year-old Cejudo, who pulled off a stunning national championship win as a high school senior two years ago, wrestled his way into the 121-pound freestyle finals against 2004 Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas at the U.S. Olympic trials on Saturday.
Cejudo then withstood three full matches in the finals to outlast Abas, who dropped his arms and walked away with only a few seconds remaining, conceding Cejudo’s title.
Abas took off his shoes and left them in the middle of the mat, the symbolic sign of a wrestler’s retirement.
“To represent the U.S. is great,” said Cejudo, tears streaming down his cheek as his brother, Angel, who had lost earlier in the day at 132 pounds, hugged him.
Jake Deitchler, an 18-year-old from Minnesota unfazed by any deficit or opponent, pulled off two major upsets to win the 145 1/2-pound Greco-Roman trials and become the first high schooler on the Olympic wrestling team in 32 years.
Federer races past Kiefer
HALLE, Germany — Roger Federer reached the Gerry Weber Open final and pushed his record winning streak on grass to 58 matches with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Germany’s Nicolas Kiefer.
In today’s final, Federer will face Philipp Kohlschreiber, who beat James Blake 6-3, 7-5.
• French Open champion Rafael Nadal beat Andy Roddick 7-5, 6-4 to reach the final at the Queen’s Club in London.
Nadal will face Novak Djokovic in today’s final. The Serb routed David Nalbandian 6-1, 6-0.
• Yanina Wickmayer reached her first WTA Tour final, defeating Bethanie Mattek 7-5, 7-6 (2) at the DFS Classic in Birmingham, Eng- land.
Wickmayer will play 12th-seeded Kateryna Bondarenko, who beat Marina Ekatovic 6-3, 6-2.
Russia eliminates Greece
SALZBURG, Austria — Greece’s four-year reign as European champion officially ended after a 1-0 loss to Russia in the European soccer championships.
The Greeks needed at least a draw to stay in contention in Group D, but Konstantin Zyryanov’s 33rd-minute goal, combined with Spain’s 2-1 win over Sweden, left the champions with nothing.
Footnotes.
Walter Dix won his third consecutive 200-meter title and led Florida State to its third straight men’s team crown at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in Des Moines, Iowa.
LSU edged Arizona State for the women’s title.
• Tasha Humphrey scored 28 points to lead the visiting Detroit Shock to an 89-79 win over the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.
In other WNBA games, Tina Thompson scored 21 points to lead the host Houston Comets to a 68-60 win over the Seattle Storm. And the New York Liberty held off the visiting Minnesota Lynx 77-76.
The Associated Press
