FARGO, N.D. - Six of the seven past Junior National Greco-Roman champions remain alive after the first day of action at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior National Greco-Roman Championships at the FargoDome.

The returning champion who is now out of the tournament is Justin Forrest of Missouri at 119 pounds. Forrest, who was the champion last year at 105 pounds, won his first three bouts of the day. However, losses to Paul Garza of Arizona (0-3, 2-1, 1-1) and to Zach Sanders of Minnesota (4-0, 3-0) took Forrest out of the meet.

Another returning champion Robert Kellogg of Iowa, suffered one loss at 152 pounds. Kellogg lost to Dan Olson of Illinois in the fifth round, 3-1, 0-3, 1-1.  He remains in the tournament in this double elimination format.

The five returning champions with unblemished records through the first day are Nathan Furches of Kansas (105), Nikko Triggas of California (119), Boris Novachkov of California (125), Esai Dominguez of Iowa (140) and Pat Mahan of Minnesota (215). 

Triggas had a tremendous start, pinning his first three opponents. He put away Jarrid Hartman of Pennsylvania in 34 seconds, Mike Mallioux of Arizona 35 seconds in the second period and Cameron Szymanski of Delaware in 1:29. He then won his next two bouts by technical fall for a 5-0 record on the day.

There are six returning runners-up in the field, all who have won their preliminary matches in the tournament: Ryan Reisenauer of North Dakota (105), Donte Butler of Missouri (112), Kelly Kubec of Washington (130), Jonathan Drendel of Illinois (152), Kevin LeValley of Colorado (152) and Kyle Deberry of Arizona (160).

There is a large field of past Junior Greco-Roman All-Americans in the field, all battling to return to the awards podium this year. In fact, there are as many as 45 returning Junior Greco-Roman All-Americans in the field today.

The top placing All-Americans from last year to lose two bouts and be eliminated was T.J Moen of Iowa at 145, who placed third last year at the Junior Nationals in Greco-Roman. Moen was defeated in the third round by Luke Mellmer of North Dakota, 1-1, 4-1, 1-1, then was knocked out by Alan Dickey of Oregon, 4-4, 3-1.

The 112-pound weight class is considered one of the most loaded here, with six returning All-Americans in the field. After the first day, two of the All-Americans were eliminated with two losses.

Mitchell Lofstedt of Oregon, who placed fourth last year, dropped a second round match to Pat Levasseur of Minnesota, 1-2, 4-0, 2-2, then was eliminated by Ryan Jauch of Illinois in the next round, 9-2, 3-0. 

Kellen Aura of California, who placed eighth here last year, lost twice and was eliminated. Aura fell to Jacob Green of Florida, 6-6, 3-9, 7-7, then was taken out by Danny Lutrell of Texas, 1-1, 2-1.

Another past All-American at 125 pounds with one loss is Carl Deluca of Wisconsin, who fell to Matt Snyder of Pennsylvania, 6-0, 3-0. He is still alive in the double elimination format.

The three past All-Americans without a loss at 125 pounds are Cody Lensing of Minnesota (112), Andrew Long of Iowa (112) and Donte Butler of Missouri (112).