July 23rd, 2008 by CBS College Sports: Wrestling / Arizona State / All
| Comments Off
With a national television audience and full house at the Pearl inside the Palms in Las Vegas, Nev., watching, a pair of former All-American wrestlers at Arizona State University put on impressive displays as both C.B. Dollaway and Cain Velasquez dispatched of their opponents in the first round on UFC Fight Night last Saturday.
July 23rd, 2008 by CBS College Sports: Wrestling / Arizona State / All
| Comments Off
With a national television audience and full house at the Pearl inside the Palms in Las Vegas, Nev., watching, a pair of former All-American wrestlers at Arizona State University put on impressive displays as both C.B. Dollaway and Cain Velasquez dispatched of their opponents in the first round on UFC Fight Night last Saturday.
July 23rd, 2008 by CBS College Sports: Wrestling / Arizona State / All
| Comments Off
With a national television audience and full house at the Pearl inside the Palms in Las Vegas, Nev., watching, a pair of former All-American wrestlers at Arizona State University put on impressive displays as both C.B. Dollaway and Cain Velasquez dispatched of their opponents in the first round on UFC Fight Night last Saturday.
July 23rd, 2008 by CBS College Sports: Wrestling / Arizona State / All
| Comments Off
With a national television audience and full house at the Pearl inside the Palms in Las Vegas, Nev., watching, a pair of former All-American wrestlers at Arizona State University put on impressive displays as both C.B. Dollaway and Cain Velasquez dispatched of their opponents in the first round on UFC Fight Night last Saturday.
FARGO, N.D. – Max Nowry of Illinois (105) and Kendrick Sanders of Florida (145) repeated as Junior National champions with victories at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior Greco-Roman Wrestling Nationals at the FargoDome on Tuesday afternoon.
Nowry, a Junior double champion last year, won his third career Junior Nationals title with a victory over Ryak Fitch of Arizona at 105 pounds, 6-5, 1-1. The first period was wide open, with Fitch jumping ahead 5-0, but Nowry turning him three times with gutwrenches to win 6-5. The second period went down to defense from the bottom position, with Nowry defending and scoring the final point of the match.
Sanders put on a display of explosive throws in a two-period victory over Zach Clemente of New York in the finals, 6-1, 6-0. In the first period, Sanders had a three-point throw. In the second period, a high amplitude five-point throw from the reverse lift position ended the match instantly.
Sanders was named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament for his impressive dominant performance.
Winning a second career Junior Nationals Greco-Roman title was Eric Grajales of Florida, who needed three periods to defeat Ellis Coleman of Illinois, 0-2, 3-3, 6-0. Grajales was also a Junior Nationals Greco-Roman champion in 2006, and has competed on two U.S. Junior World Teams.
In the final period, Grajales received two points when Coleman was cautioned for jumping the whistle. Grajales hit two more gut wrenches to win the final period by technical fall.
2007 Junior Nationals runner-up Tyrell Fortune of Oregon had his offense going strong when he defeated Orlando Scales of Ohio in two straight periods, 6-1, 6-0. Scales scored the first takedown of the match, but Fortune rebounded with a three-point throw to take the first period. In the second period, he quickly took down Scales and turned him a number of times for the technical fall. Fortune was a double Cadet Nationals champion in 2005 and 2006.
Talented twins Dylan and Andrew Alton of Pennsylvania both reached the finals, but only one came home with a title.
Dylan defeated fellow Pennsylvanian Josh Kindig in the finals in two straight periods, 4-0, 3-0 at 135 pounds. Alton scored exposure points in both periods and controlled the action. Dylan Alton was second in Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman last year and first in freestyle.
At 140 pounds, Cole Schmitt of Wisconsin defeated Andrew Alton of Pennsylvania in two straight periods, 4-1, 4-2. Schmitt scored a three-point throw in both periods. Schmitt was a FILA Cadet Nationals champion this year and was third at the Junior Nationals last year. Andrew Alton was a double Cadet Nationals champion in 2007.
Joining Schmitt as a Junior Nationals Greco-Roman champion was his high school teammate at Belleville-Monticello-New Glarus co-op program in Wisconsin was Kalvin York at 152 pounds. He defeated 2007 Cadet Nationals champion Kirk Cowburn of Pennsylvania in the finals, 3-2, 7-1. York hit a big three-point throw early in the second period to nail down the win.
In a battle of Missouri stars, Ryan Mango defeated Alan Waters in the finals at 112 pounds in a three-period battle, 4-1, 0-2, 6-0. After splitting the first two periods, Mango got his offense going in the deciding third period, using lift and throws to score a technical fall for the period.
Mango was a double Cadet Nationals champion in 2006, while Waters won a Cadet double title in 2007. Mango, younger brother of 2008 Olympian Spenser Mango, missed this event last year after breaking his wrist. Mango beat Waters 2-3, 6-1, 2-1 earlier this year in the FILA Cadet Nationals finals in Akron, Ohio.
Jake Bellis of Illinois opened the tournament with excitement, defeating Tyler Fraley of New Jersey in the finals, 5-4, 7-0 at 98 pounds. Bellis was able to use a powerful gut wrench a number of times during the match.
With Bellis and Nowry winning titles, and a total team effort, Illinois won the Wells Fargo Insurance Services Cup team title with 67 points, followed by Minnesota with 49 points and Pennsylvania with 45 points.
In an impressive performance at 119 pounds, Logan Stieber of Ohio pinned Sharky Slyter of Kansas in 1:27. Stieber turned Slyter early in the period, then ran a bar arm for the pin. He was a Cadet Nationals freestyle champion last year.
The 125-pound match went down to the final seconds, with Luke Goettl of Arizona defeating Justin LaValle of Minnesota, 2-1, 1-10, 3-2. With LaValle leading in the closing period, Goettl scored an exposure turn for two points to win the final period.
Travis Rutt of Minnesota won the gold medal at 160 pounds, defeating 2007 Junior Nationals runner-up Alec Ortiz of Oregon in the finals, 5-0, 7-0. Rutt scored a five-point throw from the reverse lift in the first period, then turned Ortiz twice in the second period for the technical fall. Rutt placed fifth at the Junior Nationals last year.
In a battle of Cadet National Greco-Roman champions from last year, Ethen Lofthouse of Utah defeated Joel Bauman of Minnesota at 171 pounds, 2-0, 5-1. Lofthouse scored a hip toss for three points in the second period to end the match. Last year, Lofthouse won the Cadet title at 160 pounds while Bauman was the champion at 171 pounds.
After losing the first period, Brent Haynes of Missouri came back strong to defeat Clayton Kendall of Illinois, 0-6, 1-1, 7-0. Haynes had two takedowns, a gut wrench, then a headlock to put Kendall away in the final period.
The heavyweight match ended quickly, as John Hiles of Ohio hit multiple gut wrench turns in both periods to score a technical fall over Kyle Kober of Iowa in the finals, 7-0, 6-0.
FARGO, N.D. – Max Nowry of Illinois (105) and Kendrick Sanders of Florida (145) repeated as Junior National champions with victories at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior Greco-Roman Wrestling Nationals at the FargoDome on Tuesday afternoon.
Nowry, a Junior double champion last year, won his third career Junior Nationals title with a victory over Ryak Fitch of Arizona at 105 pounds, 6-5, 1-1. The first period was wide open, with Fitch jumping ahead 5-0, but Nowry turning him three times with gutwrenches to win 6-5. The second period went down to defense from the bottom position, with Nowry defending and scoring the final point of the match.
Sanders put on a display of explosive throws in a two-period victory over Zach Clemente of New York in the finals, 6-1, 6-0. In the first period, Sanders had a three-point throw. In the second period, a high amplitude five-point throw from the reverse lift position ended the match instantly.
Sanders was named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament for his impressive dominant performance.
Winning a second career Junior Nationals Greco-Roman title was Eric Grajales of Florida, who needed three periods to defeat Ellis Coleman of Illinois, 0-2, 3-3, 6-0. Grajales was also a Junior Nationals Greco-Roman champion in 2006, and has competed on two U.S. Junior World Teams.
In the final period, Grajales received two points when Coleman was cautioned for jumping the whistle. Grajales hit two more gut wrenches to win the final period by technical fall.
2007 Junior Nationals runner-up Tyrell Fortune of Oregon had his offense going strong when he defeated Orlando Scales of Ohio in two straight periods, 6-1, 6-0. Scales scored the first takedown of the match, but Fortune rebounded with a three-point throw to take the first period. In the second period, he quickly took down Scales and turned him a number of times for the technical fall. Fortune was a double Cadet Nationals champion in 2005 and 2006.
Talented twins Dylan and Andrew Alton of Pennsylvania both reached the finals, but only one came home with a title.
Dylan defeated fellow Pennsylvanian Josh Kindig in the finals in two straight periods, 4-0, 3-0 at 135 pounds. Alton scored exposure points in both periods and controlled the action. Dylan Alton was second in Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman last year and first in freestyle.
At 140 pounds, Cole Schmitt of Wisconsin defeated Andrew Alton of Pennsylvania in two straight periods, 4-1, 4-2. Schmitt scored a three-point throw in both periods. Schmitt was a FILA Cadet Nationals champion this year and was third at the Junior Nationals last year. Andrew Alton was a double Cadet Nationals champion in 2007.
Joining Schmitt as a Junior Nationals Greco-Roman champion was his high school teammate at Belleville-Monticello-New Glarus co-op program in Wisconsin was Kalvin York at 152 pounds. He defeated 2007 Cadet Nationals champion Kirk Cowburn of Pennsylvania in the finals, 3-2, 7-1. York hit a big three-point throw early in the second period to nail down the win.
In a battle of Missouri stars, Ryan Mango defeated Alan Waters in the finals at 112 pounds in a three-period battle, 4-1, 0-2, 6-0. After splitting the first two periods, Mango got his offense going in the deciding third period, using lift and throws to score a technical fall for the period.
Mango was a double Cadet Nationals champion in 2006, while Waters won a Cadet double title in 2007. Mango, younger brother of 2008 Olympian Spenser Mango, missed this event last year after breaking his wrist. Mango beat Waters 2-3, 6-1, 2-1 earlier this year in the FILA Cadet Nationals finals in Akron, Ohio.
Jake Bellis of Illinois opened the tournament with excitement, defeating Tyler Fraley of New Jersey in the finals, 5-4, 7-0 at 98 pounds. Bellis was able to use a powerful gut wrench a number of times during the match.
With Bellis and Nowry winning titles, and a total team effort, Illinois won the Wells Fargo Insurance Services Cup team title with 67 points, followed by Minnesota with 49 points and Pennsylvania with 45 points.
In an impressive performance at 119 pounds, Logan Stieber of Ohio pinned Sharky Slyter of Kansas in 1:27. Stieber turned Slyter early in the period, then ran a bar arm for the pin. He was a Cadet Nationals freestyle champion last year.
The 125-pound match went down to the final seconds, with Luke Goettl of Arizona defeating Justin LaValle of Minnesota, 2-1, 1-10, 3-2. With LaValle leading in the closing period, Goettl scored an exposure turn for two points to win the final period.
Travis Rutt of Minnesota won the gold medal at 160 pounds, defeating 2007 Junior Nationals runner-up Alec Ortiz of Oregon in the finals, 5-0, 7-0. Rutt scored a five-point throw from the reverse lift in the first period, then turned Ortiz twice in the second period for the technical fall. Rutt placed fifth at the Junior Nationals last year.
In a battle of Cadet National Greco-Roman champions from last year, Ethen Lofthouse of Utah defeated Joel Bauman of Minnesota at 171 pounds, 2-0, 5-1. Lofthouse scored a hip toss for three points in the second period to end the match. Last year, Lofthouse won the Cadet title at 160 pounds while Bauman was the champion at 171 pounds.
After losing the first period, Brent Haynes of Missouri came back strong to defeat Clayton Kendall of Illinois, 0-6, 1-1, 7-0. Haynes had two takedowns, a gut wrench, then a headlock to put Kendall away in the final period.
The heavyweight match ended quickly, as John Hiles of Ohio hit multiple gut wrench turns in both periods to score a technical fall over Kyle Kober of Iowa in the finals, 7-0, 6-0.
July 21st, 2008 by NCAA Wrestling, College Wrestling | Rankings Tournament Videos News Results
| Comments Off
One of the great moments in recent history at Fargo Wrestling Junior Nationals was when Nebraska's Todd Meneely was crowned a double champion in Greco-Roman and freestyle.
Meneely knocked off Teyon Ware of Oklahoma, who went on to win a pair of NCAA titles for the Oklahoma Sooners, in the freestyle finals. Many wrestling fans still remember the picture that ran in WIN Magazine of Meneely flexing after his win.
Meneely headed to the University of Iowa, but was only there for a year and half. He overcame some off-the-mat problems and has ended up having a terrific college career for the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Meneely, who is in Fargo this week watching the Junior and Cadet Nationals, has won a pair of Division II national titles and will look for his third title as a senior during the 2008-09 season. He qualified for the 2007 U.S. World Team Trials and came up just short of placing.
Meneely plans to continue wrestling internationally. He won University Nationals in 2007 and wrestled well at the World University Trials this year before falling to Josh Churella in the finals of the Challenge Tournament.
I got to know Todd and his family when I worked as a sportswriter at the Omaha World-Herald. His father, Jay, is coaching the wrestlers from Nebraska. I had a chance to hook up with Todd and Jay last night at a local restaurant. It was fun to catch up with those guys.
I'm happy to report that Todd is doing great and he has turned his life around again.
July 21st, 2008 by NCAA Wrestling, College Wrestling | Rankings Tournament Videos News Results
| Comments Off
One of the great moments in recent history at Fargo Wrestling Junior Nationals was when Nebraska's Todd Meneely was crowned a double champion in Greco-Roman and freestyle.
Meneely knocked off Teyon Ware of Oklahoma, who went on to win a pair of NCAA titles for the Oklahoma Sooners, in the freestyle finals. Many wrestling fans still remember the picture that ran in WIN Magazine of Meneely flexing after his win.
Meneely headed to the University of Iowa, but was only there for a year and half. He overcame some off-the-mat problems and has ended up having a terrific college career for the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Meneely, who is in Fargo this week watching the Junior and Cadet Nationals, has won a pair of Division II national titles and will look for his third title as a senior during the 2008-09 season. He qualified for the 2007 U.S. World Team Trials and came up just short of placing.
Meneely plans to continue wrestling internationally. He won University Nationals in 2007 and wrestled well at the World University Trials this year before falling to Josh Churella in the finals of the Challenge Tournament.
I got to know Todd and his family when I worked as a sportswriter at the Omaha World-Herald. His father, Jay, is coaching the wrestlers from Nebraska. I had a chance to hook up with Todd and Jay last night at a local restaurant. It was fun to catch up with those guys.
I'm happy to report that Todd is doing great and he has turned his life around again.
July 20th, 2008 by NCAA Wrestling, College Wrestling | Rankings Tournament Videos News Results
| Comments Off
Two-time Olympian Jim Gruenwald on recruiting trail in Fargo
Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
07/20/2008
FARGO, N.D. – Two-time Olympian Jim Gruenwald has emerged as one of the top young Greco-Roman wrestling coaches in the country.
Head coach Ivan Ivanov and Gruenwald, his assistant, have combined forces to quickly transform the U.S. Olympic Education Center Greco-Roman program at Northern Michigan University into a powerhouse.
Gruenwald is in Fargo this week recruiting as he takes in both the Cadet Nationals and Junior Nationals for Greco-Roman.
Gruenwald came out of retirement to make a run at his third Olympic Team this year. Gruenwald won U.S. Nationals, but then injured his shoulder a few weeks later at an Olympic qualifier. That ended his comeback quest.
Two wrestlers who have wrestled in the USOEC program – Spenser Mango and Adam Wheeler – have qualified for next month’s Olympic Games in Greco-Roman wrestling. Harry Lester, another USOEC wrestler, won back-to-back bronze medals at the World Championships in 2006 and 2007.
Gruenwald sat down for an interview with USA Wrestling’s Craig Sesker on Sunday morning at the Fargo Dome.
How successful have you guys been in recruiting kids from this event?
Ivan was coming to this tournament to recruit before I did because he’s been with the USOEC program longer. Ivan came here and saw Spenser wrestle. He originally brought Spenser into the program as a training partner for Joe Betterman. Spenser was a diamond in the rough, and now he’s obviously the real deal. Betterman was brought in as a training partner for Nate Piasecki, and Betterman won the Olympic Trials this year. So we’ve definitely found some really good kids here in Fargo.
How important is this tournament for your recruiting efforts?
This is a recruiting paradise. The nice thing about us is we’re not restricted by the NCAA. So if I see a kid who has a special talent, or Ivan sees a kid who has a special talent, we can start recruiting them their freshman or sophomore year in high school. That’s why I’m here watching the Cadets. I want to see which kids establish themselves early on.
A number of young wrestlers from the USOEC, in addition to 18-year-old Olympian Jake Deitchler of the Minnesota Storm, are making a big splash on the international level now. How important has that been for Greco-Roman wrestling in the U.S.?
It’s necessary. It’s instrumental for our program to do something similar to what Russia has done. Russia has won 50-some World Team titles in Greco and the U.S. just won its first title last year. Russia has built up a lot of younger wrestlers and built a machine where they keep producing great wrestlers at a young age. We’re working toward building Greco in the U.S. to where we can dominate like Russia has.
The USOEC is widely regarded as a developmental program, but it obviously is much more than that right?
In 2004, we had one guy from the USOEC place in the top eight at the Olympic Trials. Harry Lester placed fifth. We had three Olympic Trials champions this year with Mango, Betterman and Wheeler. We had two other guys, Harry Lester and Cheney Haight, who were very close. We are no longer just a developmental program. I respect the program in Colorado Springs, and that’s what made me, but we want to be the best Greco-Roman program in the country. I want to see both programs thrive and get better to help USA Wrestling. I want the best guys coming out of our program.
How much did your comeback this year as a wrestler help the guys you coach at the USOEC program?
It obviously has helped them a lot. I know it helped Joe Betterman and pushed him because we were in the same weight class. Me being in the room training, the guys on our team got to see me in action and that helped the guys in our room. It improved the intensity in our room because that’s the way I trained.
What do you think will be the key for Spenser Mango in the Olympics?
The key for Spenser is to stay consistent, listen to the coaches and do the same things he did at the Olympic Trials but better. He’s always been very coachable, which has been a blessing. He has to make sure he doesn’t get caught up in all the Olympic hype. You can’t let it overwhelm you.
Do you think high school standout Ryan Mango of Missouri will follow his older brother, Spenser, to Northern Michigan?
We would love to see that. I think there’s a strong chance he will come there. I like Ryan’s genetics. Having Spenser as an older brother creates a precedent. He’s had that brother to learn from and that has created an ideal situation for him.
Any chance two-time World bronze medalist Harry Lester comes back after retiring following the Olympic Trials?
There’s always a chance Harry Lester could come back. He’s 24 years old. I know he has some concerns about his body and the weight cut he’s had to do. But he’s still young and he’s obviously still very competitive. He moved up a weight class at the Dave Schultz tournament this year and wrestled very well.
What do you think the difference was in Lester’s loss to Deitchler at the Olympic Trials?
It was part strategy and part preparation. Harry wasn’t competing a whole lot throughout the year. He had some different injuries and concerns that kept him out of some competitions. He really needed to get down to scratch weight for an event before the Olympic Trials. After he made weight at the Trials, his body didn’t do what he needed it to do. The Harry Lester that just crushed people wasn’t there. I’m taking nothing away from Jake Deitchler – he’s a very talented kid. But Harry Lester’s talent is off the charts. I still think Harry Lester has the potential to be the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler this country has ever seen. Now that’s potential. Time will tell what will happen and we’ll see if he comes back. That’s up to Harry.
Tags: adidas wrestling shoes, asics wrestling shoes, wrestling shoes
Loading...
Interviews from the National Champions are now available on The Wrestling Talk, check 'em out!
Freestyle Cadets & Juniors to Follow.
Nowry, Sanders, Grajales win second career Junior National Greco-Roman titles
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
07/22/2008
Interview videos are up
FARGO, N.D. – Max Nowry of Illinois (105) and Kendrick Sanders of Florida (145) repeated as Junior National champions with victories at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior Greco-Roman Wrestling Nationals at the FargoDome on Tuesday afternoon.
Nowry, a Junior double champion last year, won his third career Junior Nationals title with a victory over Ryak Fitch of Arizona at 105 pounds, 6-5, 1-1. The first period was wide open, with Fitch jumping ahead 5-0, but Nowry turning him three times with gutwrenches to win 6-5. The second period went down to defense from the bottom position, with Nowry defending and scoring the final point of the match.
Sanders put on a display of explosive throws in a two-period victory over Zach Clemente of New York in the finals, 6-1, 6-0. In the first period, Sanders had a three-point throw. In the second period, a high amplitude five-point throw from the reverse lift position ended the match instantly.
Sanders was named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament for his impressive dominant performance.
Winning a second career Junior Nationals Greco-Roman title was Eric Grajales of Florida, who needed three periods to defeat Ellis Coleman of Illinois, 0-2, 3-3, 6-0. Grajales was also a Junior Nationals Greco-Roman champion in 2006, and has competed on two U.S. Junior World Teams.
In the final period, Grajales received two points when Coleman was cautioned for jumping the whistle. Grajales hit two more gut wrenches to win the final period by technical fall.
2007 Junior Nationals runner-up Tyrell Fortune of Oregon had his offense going strong when he defeated Orlando Scales of Ohio in two straight periods, 6-1, 6-0. Scales scored the first takedown of the match, but Fortune rebounded with a three-point throw to take the first period. In the second period, he quickly took down Scales and turned him a number of times for the technical fall. Fortune was a double Cadet Nationals champion in 2005 and 2006.
Talented twins Dylan and Andrew Alton of Pennsylvania both reached the finals, but only one came home with a title.
Dylan defeated fellow Pennsylvanian Josh Kindig in the finals in two straight periods, 4-0, 3-0 at 135 pounds. Alton scored exposure points in both periods and controlled the action. Dylan Alton was second in Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman last year and first in freestyle.
At 140 pounds, Cole Schmitt of Wisconsin defeated Andrew Alton of Pennsylvania in two straight periods, 4-1, 4-2. Schmitt scored a three-point throw in both periods. Schmitt was a FILA Cadet Nationals champion this year and was third at the Junior Nationals last year. Andrew Alton was a double Cadet Nationals champion in 2007.
Joining Schmitt as a Junior Nationals Greco-Roman champion was his high school teammate at Belleville-Monticello-New Glarus co-op program in Wisconsin was Kalvin York at 152 pounds. He defeated 2007 Cadet Nationals champion Kirk Cowburn of Pennsylvania in the finals, 3-2, 7-1. York hit a big three-point throw early in the second period to nail down the win.
In a battle of Missouri stars, Ryan Mango defeated Alan Waters in the finals at 112 pounds in a three-period battle, 4-1, 0-2, 6-0. After splitting the first two periods, Mango got his offense going in the deciding third period, using lift and throws to score a technical fall for the period.
Mango was a double Cadet Nationals champion in 2006, while Waters won a Cadet double title in 2007. Mango, younger brother of 2008 Olympian Spenser Mango, missed this event last year after breaking his wrist. Mango beat Waters 2-3, 6-1, 2-1 earlier this year in the FILA Cadet Nationals finals in Akron, Ohio.
Jake Bellis of Illinois opened the tournament with excitement, defeating Tyler Fraley of New Jersey in the finals, 5-4, 7-0 at 98 pounds. Bellis was able to use a powerful gut wrench a number of times during the match.
With Bellis and Nowry winning titles, and a total team effort, Illinois won the Wells Fargo Insurance Services Cup team title with 67 points, followed by Minnesota with 49 points and Pennsylvania with 45 points.
In an impressive performance at 119 pounds, Logan Stieber of Ohio pinned Sharky Slyter of Kansas in 1:27. Stieber turned Slyter early in the period, then ran a bar arm for the pin. He was a Cadet Nationals freestyle champion last year.
The 125-pound match went down to the final seconds, with Luke Goettl of Arizona defeating Justin LaValle of Minnesota, 2-1, 1-10, 3-2. With LaValle leading in the closing period, Goettl scored an exposure turn for two points to win the final period.
Travis Rutt of Minnesota won the gold medal at 160 pounds, defeating 2007 Junior Nationals runner-up Alec Ortiz of Oregon in the finals, 5-0, 7-0. Rutt scored a five-point throw from the reverse lift in the first period, then turned Ortiz twice in the second period for the technical fall. Rutt placed fifth at the Junior Nationals last year.
In a battle of Cadet National Greco-Roman champions from last year, Ethen Lofthouse of Utah defeated Joel Bauman of Minnesota at 171 pounds, 2-0, 5-1. Lofthouse scored a hip toss for three points in the second period to end the match. Last year, Lofthouse won the Cadet title at 160 pounds while Bauman was the champion at 171 pounds.
After losing the first period, Brent Haynes of Missouri came back strong to defeat Clayton Kendall of Illinois, 0-6, 1-1, 7-0. Haynes had two takedowns, a gut wrench, then a headlock to put Kendall away in the final period.
The heavyweight match ended quickly, as John Hiles of Ohio hit multiple gut wrench turns in both periods to score a technical fall over Kyle Kober of Iowa in the finals, 7-0, 6-0.
Nowry, Sanders, Grajales win second career Junior National Greco-Roman titles
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
07/22/2008
Interview videos are up
FARGO, N.D. – Max Nowry of Illinois (105) and Kendrick Sanders of Florida (145) repeated as Junior National champions with victories at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior Greco-Roman Wrestling Nationals at the FargoDome on Tuesday afternoon.
Nowry, a Junior double champion last year, won his third career Junior Nationals title with a victory over Ryak Fitch of Arizona at 105 pounds, 6-5, 1-1. The first period was wide open, with Fitch jumping ahead 5-0, but Nowry turning him three times with gutwrenches to win 6-5. The second period went down to defense from the bottom position, with Nowry defending and scoring the final point of the match.
Sanders put on a display of explosive throws in a two-period victory over Zach Clemente of New York in the finals, 6-1, 6-0. In the first period, Sanders had a three-point throw. In the second period, a high amplitude five-point throw from the reverse lift position ended the match instantly.
Sanders was named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament for his impressive dominant performance.
Winning a second career Junior Nationals Greco-Roman title was Eric Grajales of Florida, who needed three periods to defeat Ellis Coleman of Illinois, 0-2, 3-3, 6-0. Grajales was also a Junior Nationals Greco-Roman champion in 2006, and has competed on two U.S. Junior World Teams.
In the final period, Grajales received two points when Coleman was cautioned for jumping the whistle. Grajales hit two more gut wrenches to win the final period by technical fall.
2007 Junior Nationals runner-up Tyrell Fortune of Oregon had his offense going strong when he defeated Orlando Scales of Ohio in two straight periods, 6-1, 6-0. Scales scored the first takedown of the match, but Fortune rebounded with a three-point throw to take the first period. In the second period, he quickly took down Scales and turned him a number of times for the technical fall. Fortune was a double Cadet Nationals champion in 2005 and 2006.
Talented twins Dylan and Andrew Alton of Pennsylvania both reached the finals, but only one came home with a title.
Dylan defeated fellow Pennsylvanian Josh Kindig in the finals in two straight periods, 4-0, 3-0 at 135 pounds. Alton scored exposure points in both periods and controlled the action. Dylan Alton was second in Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman last year and first in freestyle.
At 140 pounds, Cole Schmitt of Wisconsin defeated Andrew Alton of Pennsylvania in two straight periods, 4-1, 4-2. Schmitt scored a three-point throw in both periods. Schmitt was a FILA Cadet Nationals champion this year and was third at the Junior Nationals last year. Andrew Alton was a double Cadet Nationals champion in 2007.
Joining Schmitt as a Junior Nationals Greco-Roman champion was his high school teammate at Belleville-Monticello-New Glarus co-op program in Wisconsin was Kalvin York at 152 pounds. He defeated 2007 Cadet Nationals champion Kirk Cowburn of Pennsylvania in the finals, 3-2, 7-1. York hit a big three-point throw early in the second period to nail down the win.
In a battle of Missouri stars, Ryan Mango defeated Alan Waters in the finals at 112 pounds in a three-period battle, 4-1, 0-2, 6-0. After splitting the first two periods, Mango got his offense going in the deciding third period, using lift and throws to score a technical fall for the period.
Mango was a double Cadet Nationals champion in 2006, while Waters won a Cadet double title in 2007. Mango, younger brother of 2008 Olympian Spenser Mango, missed this event last year after breaking his wrist. Mango beat Waters 2-3, 6-1, 2-1 earlier this year in the FILA Cadet Nationals finals in Akron, Ohio.
Jake Bellis of Illinois opened the tournament with excitement, defeating Tyler Fraley of New Jersey in the finals, 5-4, 7-0 at 98 pounds. Bellis was able to use a powerful gut wrench a number of times during the match.
With Bellis and Nowry winning titles, and a total team effort, Illinois won the Wells Fargo Insurance Services Cup team title with 67 points, followed by Minnesota with 49 points and Pennsylvania with 45 points.
In an impressive performance at 119 pounds, Logan Stieber of Ohio pinned Sharky Slyter of Kansas in 1:27. Stieber turned Slyter early in the period, then ran a bar arm for the pin. He was a Cadet Nationals freestyle champion last year.
The 125-pound match went down to the final seconds, with Luke Goettl of Arizona defeating Justin LaValle of Minnesota, 2-1, 1-10, 3-2. With LaValle leading in the closing period, Goettl scored an exposure turn for two points to win the final period.
Travis Rutt of Minnesota won the gold medal at 160 pounds, defeating 2007 Junior Nationals runner-up Alec Ortiz of Oregon in the finals, 5-0, 7-0. Rutt scored a five-point throw from the reverse lift in the first period, then turned Ortiz twice in the second period for the technical fall. Rutt placed fifth at the Junior Nationals last year.
In a battle of Cadet National Greco-Roman champions from last year, Ethen Lofthouse of Utah defeated Joel Bauman of Minnesota at 171 pounds, 2-0, 5-1. Lofthouse scored a hip toss for three points in the second period to end the match. Last year, Lofthouse won the Cadet title at 160 pounds while Bauman was the champion at 171 pounds.
After losing the first period, Brent Haynes of Missouri came back strong to defeat Clayton Kendall of Illinois, 0-6, 1-1, 7-0. Haynes had two takedowns, a gut wrench, then a headlock to put Kendall away in the final period.
The heavyweight match ended quickly, as John Hiles of Ohio hit multiple gut wrench turns in both periods to score a technical fall over Kyle Kober of Iowa in the finals, 7-0, 6-0.
One of the great moments in recent history at Fargo Wrestling Junior Nationals was when Nebraska's Todd Meneely was crowned a double champion in Greco-Roman and freestyle.
Meneely knocked off Teyon Ware of Oklahoma, who went on to win a pair of NCAA titles for the Oklahoma Sooners, in the freestyle finals. Many wrestling fans still remember the picture that ran in WIN Magazine of Meneely flexing after his win.
Meneely headed to the University of Iowa, but was only there for a year and half. He overcame some off-the-mat problems and has ended up having a terrific college career for the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Meneely, who is in Fargo this week watching the Junior and Cadet Nationals, has won a pair of Division II national titles and will look for his third title as a senior during the 2008-09 season. He qualified for the 2007 U.S. World Team Trials and came up just short of placing.
Meneely plans to continue wrestling internationally. He won University Nationals in 2007 and wrestled well at the World University Trials this year before falling to Josh Churella in the finals of the Challenge Tournament.
I got to know Todd and his family when I worked as a sportswriter at the Omaha World-Herald. His father, Jay, is coaching the wrestlers from Nebraska. I had a chance to hook up with Todd and Jay last night at a local restaurant. It was fun to catch up with those guys.
I'm happy to report that Todd is doing great and he has turned his life around again.
One of the great moments in recent history at Fargo Wrestling Junior Nationals was when Nebraska's Todd Meneely was crowned a double champion in Greco-Roman and freestyle.
Meneely knocked off Teyon Ware of Oklahoma, who went on to win a pair of NCAA titles for the Oklahoma Sooners, in the freestyle finals. Many wrestling fans still remember the picture that ran in WIN Magazine of Meneely flexing after his win.
Meneely headed to the University of Iowa, but was only there for a year and half. He overcame some off-the-mat problems and has ended up having a terrific college career for the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Meneely, who is in Fargo this week watching the Junior and Cadet Nationals, has won a pair of Division II national titles and will look for his third title as a senior during the 2008-09 season. He qualified for the 2007 U.S. World Team Trials and came up just short of placing.
Meneely plans to continue wrestling internationally. He won University Nationals in 2007 and wrestled well at the World University Trials this year before falling to Josh Churella in the finals of the Challenge Tournament.
I got to know Todd and his family when I worked as a sportswriter at the Omaha World-Herald. His father, Jay, is coaching the wrestlers from Nebraska. I had a chance to hook up with Todd and Jay last night at a local restaurant. It was fun to catch up with those guys.
I'm happy to report that Todd is doing great and he has turned his life around again.
Two-time Olympian Jim Gruenwald on recruiting trail in Fargo
Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
07/20/2008
FARGO, N.D. – Two-time Olympian Jim Gruenwald has emerged as one of the top young Greco-Roman wrestling coaches in the country.
Head coach Ivan Ivanov and Gruenwald, his assistant, have combined forces to quickly transform the U.S. Olympic Education Center Greco-Roman program at Northern Michigan University into a powerhouse.
Gruenwald is in Fargo this week recruiting as he takes in both the Cadet Nationals and Junior Nationals for Greco-Roman.
Gruenwald came out of retirement to make a run at his third Olympic Team this year. Gruenwald won U.S. Nationals, but then injured his shoulder a few weeks later at an Olympic qualifier. That ended his comeback quest.
Two wrestlers who have wrestled in the USOEC program – Spenser Mango and Adam Wheeler – have qualified for next month’s Olympic Games in Greco-Roman wrestling. Harry Lester, another USOEC wrestler, won back-to-back bronze medals at the World Championships in 2006 and 2007.
Gruenwald sat down for an interview with USA Wrestling’s Craig Sesker on Sunday morning at the Fargo Dome.
How successful have you guys been in recruiting kids from this event?
Ivan was coming to this tournament to recruit before I did because he’s been with the USOEC program longer. Ivan came here and saw Spenser wrestle. He originally brought Spenser into the program as a training partner for Joe Betterman. Spenser was a diamond in the rough, and now he’s obviously the real deal. Betterman was brought in as a training partner for Nate Piasecki, and Betterman won the Olympic Trials this year. So we’ve definitely found some really good kids here in Fargo.
How important is this tournament for your recruiting efforts?
This is a recruiting paradise. The nice thing about us is we’re not restricted by the NCAA. So if I see a kid who has a special talent, or Ivan sees a kid who has a special talent, we can start recruiting them their freshman or sophomore year in high school. That’s why I’m here watching the Cadets. I want to see which kids establish themselves early on.
A number of young wrestlers from the USOEC, in addition to 18-year-old Olympian Jake Deitchler of the Minnesota Storm, are making a big splash on the international level now. How important has that been for Greco-Roman wrestling in the U.S.?
It’s necessary. It’s instrumental for our program to do something similar to what Russia has done. Russia has won 50-some World Team titles in Greco and the U.S. just won its first title last year. Russia has built up a lot of younger wrestlers and built a machine where they keep producing great wrestlers at a young age. We’re working toward building Greco in the U.S. to where we can dominate like Russia has.
The USOEC is widely regarded as a developmental program, but it obviously is much more than that right?
In 2004, we had one guy from the USOEC place in the top eight at the Olympic Trials. Harry Lester placed fifth. We had three Olympic Trials champions this year with Mango, Betterman and Wheeler. We had two other guys, Harry Lester and Cheney Haight, who were very close. We are no longer just a developmental program. I respect the program in Colorado Springs, and that’s what made me, but we want to be the best Greco-Roman program in the country. I want to see both programs thrive and get better to help USA Wrestling. I want the best guys coming out of our program.
How much did your comeback this year as a wrestler help the guys you coach at the USOEC program?
It obviously has helped them a lot. I know it helped Joe Betterman and pushed him because we were in the same weight class. Me being in the room training, the guys on our team got to see me in action and that helped the guys in our room. It improved the intensity in our room because that’s the way I trained.
What do you think will be the key for Spenser Mango in the Olympics?
The key for Spenser is to stay consistent, listen to the coaches and do the same things he did at the Olympic Trials but better. He’s always been very coachable, which has been a blessing. He has to make sure he doesn’t get caught up in all the Olympic hype. You can’t let it overwhelm you.
Do you think high school standout Ryan Mango of Missouri will follow his older brother, Spenser, to Northern Michigan?
We would love to see that. I think there’s a strong chance he will come there. I like Ryan’s genetics. Having Spenser as an older brother creates a precedent. He’s had that brother to learn from and that has created an ideal situation for him.
Any chance two-time World bronze medalist Harry Lester comes back after retiring following the Olympic Trials?
There’s always a chance Harry Lester could come back. He’s 24 years old. I know he has some concerns about his body and the weight cut he’s had to do. But he’s still young and he’s obviously still very competitive. He moved up a weight class at the Dave Schultz tournament this year and wrestled very well.
What do you think the difference was in Lester’s loss to Deitchler at the Olympic Trials?
It was part strategy and part preparation. Harry wasn’t competing a whole lot throughout the year. He had some different injuries and concerns that kept him out of some competitions. He really needed to get down to scratch weight for an event before the Olympic Trials. After he made weight at the Trials, his body didn’t do what he needed it to do. The Harry Lester that just crushed people wasn’t there. I’m taking nothing away from Jake Deitchler – he’s a very talented kid. But Harry Lester’s talent is off the charts. I still think Harry Lester has the potential to be the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler this country has ever seen. Now that’s potential. Time will tell what will happen and we’ll see if he comes back. That’s up to Harry.
Tags: adidas wrestling shoes, asics wrestling shoes, wrestling shoes