Seven Greco-Roman wrestlers qualify for 2005 U.S. World Team Trials at Northern Plains Regional

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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
05/13/2005


Waterloo, Iowa - Seven Greco-Roman wrestlers won their weight classes at the Northern Plains Regional Championships at Young Arena to qualify for the final slots in the 2005 U.S. World Team Trials.    The U.S. Army saw two of its athletes qualify for the World Team Trials in Josh Habeck at 60 kg/132 lbs. and James Johnson at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.    Habeck won three matches on his way to the gold medal, only losing one period in those matches.    Johnson lost the first period of his gold-medal bout with Mervin Ford of the USOEC, but came back to win the final two periods, 3-0, 7-0.    At 74 kg/163 lbs., Jake Fisher of the USOEC won by a forfeit in the finals, as his USOEC teammate Kevin Lozano, who has already qualified for the World Team Trials, decided not to wrestle.    Zac Dominguez of the Sunkist Kids came out on top of the largest weight class - 84 kg/185 lbs. Dominguez, who moved up in weight for this competition, won three matches rather easily, defeating Randy Pugh of the Panther WC in the finals, 6-0, 0-1, 4-2.    Unattached Dustin Swanson wasted no time in picking up a gold medal at 96 kg/211.5 lbs., pinning Steve Wonderlin of the Univ. of Dubuque in just 26 seconds.    U.S. Marine Corps head coach Dan Hicks stepped back onto the mat, winning a gold medal at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Hicks defeated unattached Jared Campbell in the finals, 1-0, 3-0.    Wesley Hartman of the U.S. Marine Corps qualified at 55 kg/121 lbs. in an uncontested weight class.    All winners are eligible to compete at the 2005 U.S. World Team Trials in Ames, Iowa, June 18-19.    Men's and women's freestyle competition will begin on Saturday, May 14.