Returning double-champion Metcalf one of five wrestlers in Junior freestyle national finals
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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
07/30/2004
Fargo, N.D. - 2003 double Junior Nationals champion Brent Metcalf of Michigan, already with another Junior Greco-Roman title earlier this week, has earned a return trip to the freestyle finals at 145 lbs. Metcalf won all eight of his pool matches to qualify for the finals. His opponent is not yet determined. Two other returning champions are still undefeated, and alive for another title. Coleman Scott of Pennsylvania has won all seven of his matches at 125 lbs., but he is still in pool competition. Matt Fields of Iowa has gone 8-0 in the tournament while outscoring his opponents 55-0. He is one win away from reaching the finals for the second straight year at 275 lbs. Also earning spots in the finals already are Pat McCaffrey of Illinois and Matt McNaughton of Illinois at 98 lbs. McNaughton was a Junior Greco-Roman champion earlier this week. At 189 lbs., Patrick Bond of Virginia and Max Askren of Wisconsin will meet for the gold medal in a highly-anticipated matchup of two of this year's top college recruits. Defending champions T.J. Sebolt of Iowa was knocked out of competition on Friday with his second loss at 119 lbs. Also with a loss is defending champion Tony Mustari of Colorado, who was pinned in pool competition at 112 lbs. Mustari must one win more match to be able to compete for the bronze medal. Rocco Caponi of Ohio, another 2003 champion, will wrestle for seventh place after losing to Nick Davis 7-2 in his final pool match. There are six wrestlers that still have an opportunity for double Junior titles this year. Joining McNaughton and Metcalf on that list are Henry Cejudo of Arizona at 112 lbs., Troy Nickerson of New York at 119 lbs., Brandon Halsey of California at 215 lbs. and Nick Smith of Idaho at 275 lbs. Cejduo, Nickerson, Halsey and Smith are one win away from reaching the finals. Ness is 7-0 but still in pool competition. Still undefeated as well are 2003 Cadet freestyle champions Rollie Peterkin of Massachusetts at 105 lbs. and David Craig of Florida at 171 lbs. There are four other 2003 Cadet freestyle champions still alive in the title hunt, but with one loss: Connor McDonald of Delaware at 98 lbs., Michael Rowe of Maryland at 125 lbs., Joe Cornejo of Kansas at 140 lbs. and Matt Dragon of Pennsylvania at 140 lbs. 2003 Cadet freestyle champions that were knocked out of competition on Friday were Brad L'Amoreaux of Michigan, Nick Marable of Tennessee, Neil Erisoman of Kansas, Hudson Taylor of New Jersey, Taylor Moore of Missouri and Robbie Smith of California. Junior freestyle competition will resume at 9 a.m. (Central Time) on Saturday morning. Medal matches and finals will take place at 4 p.m. TheMat.com will provide complete results of this year's ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet National Championships.