Pennsylvania Looney Russian Bears claim Cadet Greco-Roman Title

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Jennifer Vassil (USA Wrestling)
06/25/2005


In a thrilling victory, the Pennsylvania Looney Russian Bears edged Team Missouri Bulls in the finals of the 2005 Cadet Greco-Roman National Dual Championships Saturday afternoon.  The meeting between the two teams served as a rematch of an earlier pairing.  Team Missouri Bulls came into the finals with a perfect 8-0 record while the Pennsylvania Looney Russian Bears checked in at 6-2 overall.    Leading the entire match, the Pennsylvania Looney Russian Bears found themselves being challenged late in the contest.  With the score 31-30 in the Pennsylvania Looney Russian Bears' favor, the match came down to the final bout between Myles Caragein (PA) and Dom Bradley (MO) at 275 lbs.  In dramatic fashion, Caragein was able to hold off Bradley for a 3-2 individual win and a 34-31 team victory.    The Pennsylvania Looney Russian Bears dominated the first five bouts of the championship match, including a pin by Zack Zummo at 91 lbs. and two technical falls by Richy Reinoehl at 84 lbs. and Shane Leister at 98 lbs.  Team Missouri Bulls took five of the next seven bouts to pull within two points of the Pennsylvania Looney Russian Bears, 24-22.  In hopes of pulling out the win, Team Missouri Bulls strategically bumped up 189-pound National Champion Deron Winn to 215 lbs. and Dom Bradley to 275 lbs.    The Pennsylvania Looney Russian Bears (#10) landed a spot in the championship match after coming out on top of a three-way tie with Team Washington Bad Apples and the Minnesota Sith in the Red Pool.  With 78 points, the Pennsylvania Looney Russian Bears tallied the most classification points in head-to-head matches against the other two teams.  Team Washington Bad Apples followed with 64 points and the Minnesota Sith with 52 points.    Team Missouri Bulls (#2) defeated all three of its opponents in the Blue Pool for a chance at the championship title.      In the 3rd place match, Team Washington Bad Apples (#4) came out on top of Team Michigan (#6) by score of 38-30.  Team Washington Bad Apples won 10 of 17 bouts, including the first seven of the match.    The Kansa Warriors (#9) clinched 5th place by defeating the Minnesota Sith (#1) 41-26 in another rematch between two teams that met earlier in the tournament.  Tyler Caldwell at 112 lbs., Kevin Callahan at 130 lbs., and Aldon Isenberg at 135 lbs. each pinned their opponents to lead the Kansa Warriors.    Unseeded New York battled the Texas Desperados (#13) in the 7th place match.  New York won 38-32.  A victory by Jeff Beljaques (NY) over Evan Epstein (TX) at 275 lbs. sealed the deal for New York.    Illinois Nuts on Clark (#7) emerged from the 16-team Consolation Bracket victorious over Iowa (#5), 38-25.  Illinois knocked out Idaho Elk Thunder, Team "Cali", and Ohio on its way to winning the Consolation Bracket.      Tomorrow, 28 teams will compete in the 2005 Cadet Freestyle National Dual Championships.  Sunday is the first of two days of freestyle competition.