ASICS/Vaughan Junior National Greco-Roman Championships start with all five returning champions win

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
07/24/2005


The ASICS/Vaughan Junior National Greco-Roman Championships started with the morning session on Sunday, July 24 at the Fargodome in Fargo, N.D.     The Junior Nationals include the nation's best athletes in grades 9-12 competing in both international styles. There were 887 competitors in the tournament, representing 45 states plus Puerto Rico and Okinawa.    One of last year's Junior double champions, Brent Metcalf of Michigan, opened his competition at 145 pounds with a 10-0 technical fall over Mitchell Gangloish of Washington.    Four other returning Junior National Greco-Roman champions also opened with dominant wins.    At 112 pounds, national champion Matt McNaughton of Illinois, opened with a 12-2 technical fall over Jordan Alfaro of North Carolina.    A returning champion t 130 pounds, Jayson Ness of Minnesota, started off with a 13-0 technical fall over Jeremy Bryant of Indiana and a  10-0 technical fall over Jeff Kline of Pennsylvania.    At 140 pounds, Brett Robbins of Illinois kicked off his title defense with a 11-0 technical fall over Elard Coello of Connecticut and a 10-0 technical fall over Ryan Smith of Ohio.    Returning champion Kyle Bounds of Washington scored an 11-0 technical fall over Sandy Scott of California.    Two of the nation's top high school women wrestlers entered the Greco-Roman division this year, Nicole Woody of Maryland at 98 pounds and Deanna Rix of Maine at 130 pounds. They won all three of their bouts this morning.    Rix opened the tournament with a 10-0 technical fall victory over Cody Blackford of Tennessee, with a variety of headlocks and throws. In her second match, she hit a headlock and pinned Daniel Navarro of California. Both of her wins were greeted by cheers from the fans, who have never seen such a strong start for a girl at the Junior Nationals event.    Woody opened her tournament with a 16-9 decision over Kory Stassi of Illinois.    Steve Courtney was the first athlete to represent Okinawa at the Junior Nationals. He is being coached by Senior-level Greco-Roman star Jake Clark, who is stationed in Okinawa with the U.S. Marines. Courtney lost a 4-2 decision to Dustin Harvey of Georgia.    The second session of wrestling will feature the Cadet Greco-Roman competition, which is in its second day.