Iran 17, United States 14

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Iran built a 13-6 lead then held off a rally Tuesday to defeat the U.S. free style wrestling team, 17-14. Heavyweight Tom Erickson's pin of Ali Reza Rezaei in 4:29 could not help

Wednesday, February 9th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Iran built a 13-6 lead then held off a rally Tuesday to defeat the U.S. free style wrestling team, 17-14. Heavyweight Tom Erickson's pin of Ali Reza Rezaei in 4:29 could not help the U.S. team, which featured only one top-ranked American wrestler, Eric Guerrero. Erickson and Reza Rezaei were locked up 2-2 when the Iranian shot in for a single leg attempt. "I led him there. I knew he was tired, and I didn't think he could hold the position," Erickson, of West Lafayette, Ind., said afterward.

He dropped low and stepped over Reza's upper body, suddenly taking control with 1:31 left. T.J. Jaworsky gave the United States its first victory with a 7-1 win over Akbar Behtari at 138.75 pounds. Jaworsky, former three-time NCAA champion from Chapel Hills, N.C., jumped ahead with a pair of quick takedowns then added three more, including a two-pointer, in the final period for an easy victory.'

Jaworsky was one of at least four wrestlers with Oklahoma ties on the team. Guerrero suffered his third loss to 1999 World Champion Ali Reza Dabier in the 127.75-pound category. The wrestlers swapped takedowns in the opening two minutes, but Dabier scored again twice. Guerrero closed to 3-2 with a single leg takedown early in the final period, but Dabier sewed up the 4-2 victory by countering Guerrero's leg shot with a front headlock and working for a cinching takedown.

Iran's Ramazanalio Oliaeinejad overcame an early three-point takedown by substitute Tyrone Lewis and rallied to a 7-4 victory in the 167.5-pound category. Lewis, a freshman at Oklahoma State, was subbing for injured four-time NCAA champion Pat Smith. Dan St. John rallied late against Ramazanali Oliaeinejad at 187.25 pounds. Trailing 3-2, the former Arizona State star tossed his foe with a headlock for three points 19 seconds ahead of the buzzer to earn a 5-3 victory.

Ahead 14-9, Iran got another victory when Reza Heidari defeated Melvin Douglas of Mesa, Ariz. Heidari hit a three-point takedown with 22 seconds left in the first period and eventually coasted to a 5-1 victory at 213.75 pounds. "Considering the team we brought in here -- just basically an Oklahoma team -- I thought we wrestled well," said U.S. coach Joe Seay. "Against this team (Iran), if you make a mistake, you pay for it. But I thought our team wrestled well, and the fans saw a good match."