Championship Series finals set for FILA Junior/University World Team Trials for Friday night

<< Back to Articles
Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
05/23/2008


COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. - The Championship Series have been determined for the FILA Junior World Team Trials and the University World Team Trials for Friday night, which is being held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. 

There will 11 weight classes completed on Friday night in four different tournaments: University freestyle, University Greco-Roman, FILA Junior freestyle and FILA Junior Greco-Roman.

The Challenge Tournament was held on Friday morning, with the winner advancing to Friday night's best-of-three series against the top seed in their weight class. The top seed was the University Nationals champion or FILA Junior Nationals champion in each weight, or the next ranked wrestler if the national champion did not enter.

Highlights of Friday's Challenge Tournament action included:

- 2008 U.S. Nationals Greco-Roman champion Brad Ahearn of the U.S. Army stopped Jeremy Pederson of the U.S. Marines, 2-1, 2-1 in the Challenge Tournament finals at 84 kg/185 lbs. in University Greco-Roman action. Ahearn will face top seed Chas Betts of the Minnesota Storm. Betts placed third at the U.S. Nationals on the Senior level this year. Ahearn defeated Betts in the U.S. Nationals semifinals in Las Vegas, 5-0, 3-0.

- 2008 University Nationals champion Reese Humphrey of Ohio State defeated Franklin Gomez of the Michigan WC in the Challenge Tournament finals, 1-0, 1-1-0 at 60 kg/132 lbs. in University freestyle action. Humphrey won his University Nationals title at 63 kg, a weight class that is not contested at the World Championships, and dropped in weight this week. He will face top seed Daniel Dennis of Iowa in the finals.

- 2008 FILA Cadet Nationals champion Ryan Mango of Team St. Louis hit a five-point throw and pinned 2007 Junior Nationals champion Max Nowry of the Overtime School of Wrestling in 1:17 of the first period in their FILA Junior Greco-Roman Challenge Tournament finals at 50 kg/110 lbs . In the championship series, Mango will face top seed Tyler Cox of the Camel Kids, who was fifth in the Junior Worlds in 2007.

- 2007 Junior World Team member Eric Grajales of the Sunkist Kids defeated Brian Owen of Central Valley, 3-3, 5-0 at 60 kg/132 lbs. in the FILA Junior Greco-Roman Challenge Tournament finals. Grajales will face top seed Kyle Dake of Shamrock WC in the championship series.

- Three-time FILA Junior World Team member Robbie Smith of the New York AC defeated Moises Hernandez of the U.S. Marine Corps, 3-0, 2-0, at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in the University Greco-Roman Challenge Tournament finals. Smith will face top seed Peter Gounaridis of the USOEC in the finals.

BEST OF THREE FINALS SERIES ON FRIDAY NIGHT

University Freestyle

55 kg/121 lbs. - Top seed Brad Pataky (Penn State) vs. Challenge Tournament winner Michael Martinez (Cowboy WC)

60 kg/132.25 lbs. - Top seed Daniel Dennis (Iowa) vs. Challenge Tournament winner Reece Humphrey (Ohio State)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Top seed Nathaniel Holt (Chippewa WC) vs. Challenge Tournament winner Josh Churella (New York AC)

University Greco-Roman

74 kg/163 lbs. - Top seed Andrew Bisek (Minnesota Storm) vs. Challenge Tournament winner Cheney Haight (New York AC)

84 kg/185 lbs. - Top seed Chas Betts (Minnesota Storm) vs. Challenge Tournament winner Brad Ahearn (U.S. Army)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Top seed Peter Gounaridis (USOEC) vs. Challenge Tournament winner Robbie Smith (New York AC)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Top seed Erik Nye (Sunkist Kids) vs. Challenge Tournament winner David Arendt Jr (U.S. Marines)

FILA Junior Freestyle

74 kg/163 lbs. - Top seed Quentin Wright (Team Wright) vs. Challenge Tournament winner Andrew Howe (Overtime)

84 kg/185 lbs. - Top seed Dustin Kilgore (Golden Pride WC) vs. Challenge Tournament winner Kirk Smith (Bronco)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Top seed Chad Hanke (Orange Crush) vs. Challenge Tournament winner Clayton Foster (Gator WC)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Clayton Jack (Orange Crush) vs. Challenge Tournament winner Ben Berhow (Minnesota Storm)

FILA Junior Greco-Roman

50 kg/110 lbs. - Top seed Tyler Cox (Camel Kids) vs. Challenge Tournament winner Ryan Mango (Team St. Louis)

55 kg/121 lbs. - Top seed Jimmy Chase (Pinnacle) vs. Challenge Tournament winner Nikko Triggas (Ohio State)

60 kg/132 lbs. - Top seed Kyle Dake (Shamrock WC) vs. Challenge Tournament winner Eric Grajales (Sunkist Kids)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Top seed Jake Deitchler (Minnesota Storm) vs. Challenge Tournament winner Esai Dominguez (MWC)

CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT FINALS ON FRIDAY MORNING

University Freestyle Challenge Tournament finals

55 kg/121 lbs. - Michael Martinez (Cowboy WC) dec. Matthew Steintrager (MJST), 1-1, 3-1, 4-0

60 kg/132 lbs. - Reece Humphrey (Ohio State) dec. Franklin Gomez (Michigan WC) (Dec 1-0,1-0)

66 kg/i45.5 lbs. - Josh Churella (New York AC) dec. Todd Meneely (Columbus WC), 1-0, 5-2

University Greco-Roman Challenge Tournament finals

74 kg/163 lbs. - Cheney Haight (New York AC) dec. Phillip Padilla (USOTC), 6-0, 2-1

84 kg/185 lbs. - Brad Ahearn (U.S. Army) dec. Jeremy Pederson (U.S. Marines), 2-1, 2-1

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Robbie Smith (New York AC) dec. Moises Hernandez (U.S. Marines), 3-0, 2-0

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - David Arendt Jr (U.S. Marines) dec. James Hollis (U.S. Army), 3-0, 3-0

FILA Junior Freestyle Challenge Tournament finals

74 kg/163 lbs. - Andrew Howe (Overtime) dec. Jon Brascetta (Orange Crush), 1-0, 1-0

84 kg/ 185 lbs. - Kirk Smith (Bronco) dec. Mike Letts (College Park WC), 0-3, 3-0, 3-1

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Clayton Foster (Gator WC) pin DJ Bruce (Overtime), 3-0, 0:38

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Ben Berhow (Minnesota Storm) dec. Cameron Wade (Penn State), 2-1, 3-0

FILA Junior Greco-Roman Challenge Tournament finals

50 kg/110 lbs. - Ryan Mango (Team St. Louis) pin  Max Nowry (Overtime School Of Wrestling), 1:17

55 kg/121 lbs. - Nikko Triggas (Ohio State) dec. Paul Tellgren (Minnesota Storm), 3-5, 4-1, 3-2

60 kg/132 lbs. - Eric Grajales (Sunkist Kids) dec. Brian Owen (Central Valley), 3-3, 5-0

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Esai Dominguez (MWC) dec. Bo Beckman (USOEC), 1-1, 0-2, 7-0