Junior Freestyle Wrap-Up Article

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
07/29/2000


McLAY, FAUST WIN DOUBLE TITLES WITH VICTORIES AT ASICS/VAUGHAN JUNIOR FREESTYLE NATIONALS IN FARGO, N.D., JULY 29    Two wrestlers claimed double title, winning both the freestyle and Greco-Roman gold medals, with victories in the finals at the Asics/Vaughan Junior National in Fargo, N.D. July 29.    Winning gold medals in both styles at the 2000 Junior Nationals were Josh McLay of Hastings, Minn. at 165 pounds and Mike Faust of Baltimore, Md. at 220 pounds.    McLay defeated Mitch Hancock of Royal Oak, Mich., 7-0 in the finals match. It was his third career Junior National gold medal. McLay was also a 1999 and 2000 Junior National Greco-Roman champion. Hancock was a Junior National Greco-Roman All-American in 1999 and 2000.    Faust controlled the action, on the way to an 8-2 win over  Mike Little of El Reno, Okla., 8-2. Little was eighth in the 1999 Junior Nationals in freestyle.    Two other wrestlers repeated their 1999 Asics/Vaughan Junior National freestyle titles: Nick Simmons of Williamston, Mich. at 114.5 pounds and Steve Mocco of North Bergen, N.J. at 275 pounds.    Simmons claimed an Asics/Vaughan Junior title for the third straight year, and is eligible to return next summer to attempt to win his fourth title. He edged Darrell Vasquez of Bakersfield, Calif., 14-12 in a wild shootout.    Mocco went unscored upon for the second straight year at the Junior Nationals. He beat  Matt Hasbrook of Indianapols, Ind., 8-0 in the finals. Mocco was also a 1997 Cadet National champion. Hasbrook was fourth in the 1999 Junior Nationals in freestyle and is a two-time Junior National Greco-Roman All-American. Mocco is eligible to return next year to attempt to win his third straight.    The Outstanding Wrestler was Jake Rosholt of Sandpoint, Idaho at 178 pounds, who scored an impressive 14-3 technical fall  over Ryan Halsey of Oceanside, Calif., in 2:22. Halsey was sixth in the 2000 Junior Nationals in Greco-Roman.    At 98 pounds, Sammy Vigil of Thornton, Colo. won by technical fall over Brock Zollinger of Rexburg, Idaho, 11-0, 5:01    Nathan Kendjorsky of Yorkville, Ohio defeated Anthony Rodriguez of Norwalk, Calif., 5-1 in the finals at 105.5 pounds.    At 123 pounds, Chris Fleeger of Trout Run, Pa. edged Cory Cooperman of Springfield, N.J., 3-1. Fleeger was eighth in 2000 U.S. Senior Nationals and a four-time Cadet National champion.    In a battle between a pair of sophomore stars, Teyon Ware of Edmond, Okla. defeated Andy Simmons of Williamston, Mich., 3-2 at 132 pounds. Simmons, the brother of three-time champion Nick, was fourth in the 1999 Junior Nationals in freestyle.    After trailing 4-0, Jesse Jantzen of Shoreham, N.Y. battled back to edge David Bolyard of Akron, Ohio, 6-5 at 143 pounds. Jantzen was third in the 1999 Junior Nationals in freestyle. Bolyard placed fifth in the 1999 Junior Nationals in freestyle. Prior to the finals, Jantzen was awarded the 2000 Asics Tiger High School Wrestler of the Year award.    At 154 pounds, Nate Baker of Lakefield, Minn. stopped Troy Letters of Pittsburgh, Pa., 7-5. Baker placed third in the 1999 Junior Nationals. Letters was fourth in the 1999 Junior Nationals.    At 191.5 pounds, Trey Clark of LaPorte City, Iowa dominated on his feet and defeated Alex Lammers of Huber Heights, Ohio, 8-4. Lammers was a 1999 Junior National Greco-Roman runner-up and placed eighth in Greco-Roman this year.    The Most Falls award went to Zachariah Doll of Pennsylvania, with six falls in 16:33.