Saturday, July 18th, 2009
By Willie Saylor, Editor - willie@theopenmat.com
The 2009 USA Wrestling Cadet and junior national tournament kicks off Saturday in fargo, north Dakota, with the cadets taking the mats for the first of two sessions beginning at 9:30 am. In the first of The Open Mat’s fargo previews, we look at Greco-roman competitors in the junior division.
Junior Greco-roman
Schedule: Sessions I & II 9:30 and 3:30 Sunday July 19th. Session III 9 AM Monday. Session IV 9 AM Tuesday. Finals and Medal matches: Session V, Tuesday, July 21st at 3 PM.
By the numbers:
Total Number of competitors: 833
Avg # of competitors per weight: 55.5
Largest weight class: 145lbs/82 entrants
Smallest weight class: 105/17 entrants
Weight class capsules
98 lbs
This weight features 3 strong contenders for the title. Ruben Navejas (WA) and Jacoby Bergeron (MN) were past double AAs. Mike Dauterive (TX) was a Greco AA last year.
Number of Entrants: 26
Returning AAs:
Jacoby Bergeron (3rd, MN)
Mike Dauterive (6th, TX)
Cadet AAs Moving Up:
Ruben Navejas (5th, WA)
Other Contenders:
Devon Graville (IL)
Mike Soria (NY)
TOM’s Pick: Bergeron (MN) over Navejas (WA). Dauterive (TX), 3rd.
105 lbs
The smallest weight class at Junior’s this year is nonetheless competitive. Zach Bellis (IL) returns in attempt to match the title he won last year at 98lbs. Jade Rauser (MT) appears to be the most likely to prevent it.
Number of Entrants: 17
Returning AAs:
Zach Bellis (National Champ, IL)
Jake Schramm (4th, IL)
Chris Bostic (6th, AZ)
Cadet AAs Moving Up:
Jade Rauser (2nd, MT)
TOM’s Pick: Bellis (IL) over Rauser (MT). Schramm (IL), 3rd.
112 lbs
Things start to get really interesting here at 112. There is a load of talented wrestlers capable of taking home AA honors. The list of past Greco AAs is a staggering 10, the most of any weight class, and doesn’t include Fila Champ, and nationally ranked, Tyler Cox(WY).
Number of Entrants: 39
Returning AAs:
Robert Dyar (3rd, AL)
Jeff Vesta (5th, KS)
Matt Rabinowitz (6th, LA)
Cadet AAs Moving Up:
Tanner Moon (2nd @98, AL)
Ryak Finch (2nd @105, AZ)
Val Rauser (3rd @98, MT)
Caleb Richardson (3rd @91, VA)
Bricker Dixon (4th, MO)
Matt Correa (6th, CA)
Mike Fuenffinger (7th, MN)
Other Contenders:
Tyler Cox (Fila Champ, WY)
Max Mejia (Fila 3rd, AZ)
Matt Gerule (FS AA, CO)
TOM’s Pick: Cox (WY) over Finch (AZ). Rauser (MT), 3rd.
119 lbs
Ryan Mango puts his 2 consecutive Fargo titles on the line versus a field of accomplished wrestlers. Last year he defeated fellow Missouri team member Alan Waters for the 112lb title. Kansan, Sharky Slyter and Rossi Bruno of Florida were runners-up in Cadets.
Number of Entrants: 69
Returning AAs:
Ryan Mango (2x National Champ, MO)
Alan Waters (2nd @112, MO)
Sharky Slyter (2nd @119, KS)
Drake Medeiros (7th, HI)
Mike Nakagawa (7th @105, HI)
Cadet AAs Moving Up:
Rossi Bruno (2nd, FL)
Other Contenders:
Drew Van Anrooy (Fila Cadet 2nd, OR)
Brock Banta (Fila JR 3rd, ID)
Mike Rhone (Fila Cadet 3rd , PA)
Chris Ornelas (Fila Cadet 3rd @ 110, AZ)
Pat Prada (MD)
Colby Christiensen (UT)
Richy Reinoel (PA)
Brian St. James (GA)
TOM’s Pick: Mango (MO) over Waters (MO). Slyter 3rd.
125 lbs
In an odd year for the usually strong 125lb weight class, the bracket is rather thin. Still, the talent at the top is solid. Expect the top guys to get to the medal rounds rather easily.
Number of Entrants: 60
Returning AAs:
Nick Wilcox (8th, NY)
Cadet AAs Moving Up:
Aaron Runzo (Cadet National Champion, VA)
Nick Soto (6th, FL)
Other Contenders:
David Klingsheim (Fila 2nd, CA)
Frank Goodwin (MD)
Sammy Orozco (CA)
Tommy Siciliano (OR)
Dalton Dennis (FL)
Drew Fleming (MN)
Patrick Myers (PA)
TOM’s Pick: Klingsheim (CA) over Runzo (VA). Wilcox (NY), 3rd.
130 lbs
This weight features several guys who are, for lack of better terms, Greco specialists. Several have placed in the top 3 of major national tournaments previously.
Number of Entrants: 60
Returning AAs:
Justin Lavalle (2nd, MN)
Jake Walters (3rd, MI)
Alex Kostenborder (8th, OR)
Cadet AAs Moving Up:
Drew Lexvold (Cadet National Champ, MN)
Ryan Cokeley (3rd, KS)
Other Contenders:
Tyler Libertore (Fila Champ, FL)
Kade Moss (Past GR AA, UT)
Josh Keszler (FS AA, SD)
Travis Himmelman (CO)
Jake Eitzen (CO)
TOM’s Pick: Lexvold (MN) over Lavalle (MN). Walters (MI), 3rd.
135 lbs
Another traditionally strong weight that doesn’t have its normal depth. But there’s certainly talent at the top. We could be in for a dandy if the pools play out like most anticipate.
Number of Entrants: 63
Returning AAs:
Josh Kindig (2nd, PA)
Stephen Swiggett (2nd, DE)
Robbie Fisher (3rd, MN)
Cadet AAs Moving Up:
None
Other Contenders:
Skyler Galloway (FS AA)
Gabe Miranda (AZ)
Dan Osterman (MI)
Nick Schenk (DE)
Joe Locksmith (FL)
TOM’s Pick: Kindig (PA) over Fisher (MN). Locksmith (FL), 3rd.
140 lbs
A nice, deep weight class with plenty of intrigue. The headliner is Dylan Ness who is coming of 2 Cadet Greco titles. But there are several legitimate roadblocks in his quest for a Junior title.
Number of Entrants: 68
Returning AAs:
Bo Schlosser (2nd, IL)
Kevin Timothy (8th, FL)
Cadet AAs Moving Up:
Dylan Ness (2x Cadet National Champion, MN)
Matt Neirem (3rd, FL)
Raider Lofthouse (8th @130, UT)
Jason Chudzinski (8th @125, NY)
Other Contenders:
Zach Reeb (Fila 6th, KS)
Josh Warner (Fila 7th, ID)
Shawn Lau (Fila 8th, MT)
Luke Vaith (FS AA, MN)
TOM’s Pick: Ness (MN) over Neirem (FL). Schlosser (IL) 3rd.
145 lbs
The largest field in Junior Greco this year, this weight features several past AAs and one of the best folkstylers in the country (Steve Hernandez, NV) trying his hand at Greco.
Number of Entrants: 82
Returning AAs:
Paul Liguori (6th, NY)
Cadet AAs Moving Up:
Brady Lee (3rd, OR)
Pat Smith (4th @140, MN)
Blake Roulo (4th @145 , VA)
Kory DeBerry (7th, AZ)
Other Contenders:
Tyler Juby (Fila 7th, WY)
Gabriel Bird (FS AA, FL)
Steve Monk (FS AA, WI)
Steve Hernandez (NV)
Dillon Dennis (FL)
TOM’s Pick: Roulo (VA) over Smith (MN). Liguori (NY), 3rd.
152 lbs
Last year’s Greco-Roman National champion, Kendrick Sanders of Florida, will have to go through a talented field to repeat. The traditionally loaded weight has the second most entrants including many of the major players from last year’s 145 and 152lb brackets.
Number of Entrants: 79
Returning AAs:
Kendrick Sanders (National Champion, FL)
Tyler Sheridan (3rd @145, CA)
Brock Gutches (3rd @152, OR)
Joey Cozart (4th, FL)
Taylor Smith (6th, OH)
Tyler Davis (8th, KS)
Cadet AAs Moving Up:
Seth Thomas (3rd, OR)
Other Contenders:
Joe Castenello (Fila Champ, IL)
Eric Hess (PA)
Nick Milano (PA)
Nestor Taffur (NJ)
TOM’s Pick: Gutches (OR) over Sanders (FL). Sheridan (CA) 3rd.
160 lbs
No real stars. No household names. This weight class is comprised of a lot of solid kids who have been in the 5-8 range of AA status. That will change this year. Someone’s gonna make a name for themselves.
Number of Entrants: 62
Returning AAs:
Mike Curby (6th, MI)
Kyle Detmer (8th, KS)
Cadet AAs Moving Up:
Joey Moorehouse (2nd, IL)
Cam Vlahos (4th, IN)
Frank Cousins (6th, FL)
Other Contenders:
Corey Lear (FS AA, PA)
Ronnie Balfour (FS AA, OK)
Stephen West (FS AA, CA)
Robert Kokesh (FS AA, SD)
TOM’s Pick: Curby (MI) over West (CA). Detmer (KS) 3rd.
171 lbs
A talented class of upper-weights return to Fargo this year. Each of the last four weights features multiple entries that have won a national title. At 171 Ethan Lofthouse (UT) will have to tangle with a host of Fargo medalists to retain his Junior title, including last year’s Cadet National champion, Levi Clemons (FL).
Number of Entrants: 55
Returning AAs:
Ethan Lofthouse (National Champion, UT)
Mike Evans (3rd, PA)
Mark Stenberg (3rd @160, IL)
Patrick Martinez (5th @160, CA)
Cadet AAs Moving Up:
Levi Clemons, (Cadet National Champion, FL)
Ethan Blackstock (3rd, GA)
Lee Wildes (3rd @152, FL)
Luis Alba (7th, FL)
Other Contenders:
Tyler Beckwith (Fila Champ, NY)
TOM’s Pick: Evans (PA) over Lofthouse (UT). Clemons (FL) 3rd.
189 lbs
As a fan, 189 makes the flight, the hotels, the room service, etc, all worth it. There’s quality and quantity. A bevy of guys could make this interesting. Round after round should see competitive bouts as they battle to bring home a national title.
Number of Entrants: 63
Returning AAs:
Joel Bauman (2nd, MN)
Jon Fausey (3rd, PA)
Kurt Swartz (4th @189, WA)
Tyler Lehman (4th @171, MN)
Cadet AAs Moving Up:
Andrew Campolattano (Cadet National Champion, NJ)
Scott Schiller (3rd, ND)
Ben Brooks (4th, IL)
Harrison Honeycutt (6th, NC)
Mike McGrath (7th, NY)
Other Contenders:
Matt Loew (Fila 3rd, NY)
Jay Taylor (Fila 6th, FL)
Craig Kelliher (MN)
Andre Petroski (PA)
TOM’s Pick: Fausey(PA) over Campolattano (NJ). Bauman(MN) 3rd.
215 lbs
Another upper-weight, another laundry list of studs. All returning Junior placers have moved on, making room for this batch of last year’s Cadets to compete for the title immediately. There are 7 guys who made it to the finals of either Fargo or Fila’s.
Number of Entrants: 53
Returning AAs:
None
Cadet AAs Moving Up:
Mike Sojka (Cadet National Champion, IL)
Conner Medbery (2nd, CO)
Zane Peterson (3rd, MN)
Cody Davis (5th, TX)
Jon Acors (8th, NY)
Other Contenders:
Alex Polizzi (Fila Champ, WI)
Aaron Pavlenko (Fila 2nd, AZ)
Grant Haschak (WA)
TOM’s Pick: Sojka (IL) over Polizzi (WI). Medbery (NY) 3rd.
285 lbs
There’s some quality in the biggest of the big men. Four of last year’s Junior Greco AAs are back, including runner-up Kyle Kober (IA). Last years cadet champ and third place finisher are moving up, making it a solid scrap for placing during the medal rounds. Depth here is a little suspect, though.
Number of Entrants: 36
Returning AAs:
Kyle Kober (2nd, IA)
Niko Bogojevic (6th, IL)
Jake Kettler (7th, MN)
Jacob Mitchell (8th, OR)
Cadet AAs Moving Up:
Evan Craig (Cadet National Champion, PA)
Karl Green (3rd, MD)
Other Contenders:
Spencer Myers (PA)
TOM’s Pick: Kober (IA) over Craig (PA). Kettler (MN) 3rd.
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