COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Chris Bono earned a bronze medal in Pan-Am Games freestyle wrestling Sunday evening.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga coach rebounded from an opening loss to Cuba’s Geandry Garzon to defeat Peru’s Pool Ambrocio 5-0, 7-0. He lost to Garzon 4-1, 2-2, 2-1.
While he went with the idea of a gold medal, Bono also wanted to see where he stood in relation to world competition. Garzon, Bono said, would be the favorite in the Olympic Games in Bejing.
“He’s the best kid in the world. He finished second last year and he’s been third twice, and I should have won,” the Mocs coach said. “I was behind him with five seconds left, and all I had to do was get his knee to the mat. I didn’t get it done, but I’m right there with the best in the world. It was good to get out here and wrestle him before the Olympics.”
He believes he is a few minor adjustments away.
“Nobody likes to lose, but every time you train you wonder where you are. I did the right things training. I felt good. A few minor adjustments and I’ll be right there,” he said.
This was Bono’s fourth Pan-Am games trip and he earned his second bronze medal.
“I had to go get a medal. I promised my girls,” he said.
Bono will be back in UTC’s practice room this afternoon. He is scheduled to arrive back in Chattanooga at 2 and will start practice at 3:30.
“We’ll have a couple of tough practices and then start tapering off,” he said.
The Mocs will host the Southern Conference wrestling tournament Saturday at McKenzie Arena.
