New Jersey's Dubuque scores big win in semifinals at high school nationals

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Pat Tocci (NWCA)
04/08/2001


 In what can be described as an excellent round wrestling, New Jersey's Joe Dubuque stole the show with his major win at 119lbs.  The New Jersey state champion scored a thrilling 8-6s.v. win over Michigan's Nick Simmons.  Simmons entered the match never losing in his high school career and capturing three junior national titles.  Dubque used the strength of four takedowns including the match winner in overtime to pull off the upset.  Dubuque will face Ricky LaForge of New Jersey in the finals.  California has continued their dominance of the tournament and will push nine wrestlers into tonight's championship round.  New Jersey with five finalist, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kansas round out the top five states.  The championship round will begin tonight at 6pm.    Weight by weight report:  103lbs:  It will be an all California final between Orlando Galvan and Tran Nguyen.  Gaylan used the strength of two four-point moves to win 17-6 over Vermont's Sam Gray.  Nguyen needed a late third period takedown to pull out a 7-6 win over Brandon Harcum.    112lbs:  Ohio's Kyle Ott has continued to show why he is rated number one at this weight class. Ott dominated on his feet in defeating Austin Devoe of Kansas 16-5.  He will meet Ryan McClester of South Carolina this evening.  McClester survived two late stall calls to win 6-5 over Mike Morimile of New York.    119lbs:  Dubuque will face fellow New Jersey state champion Ricky LaForge.  LaForge advanced after winning his second straight match in the tiebreaker 5-5 over Kansas's Shawn Bunch.    125lbs:  It will be California versus Delaware at 125lbs.  Steve Esparza was controlled the match from his feet in beating Skyler Woods of Nevada.  Mike Welch gave Delaware a finalist when he used two late tilts to rally from a 3-0 deficit in the third to win 5-3 over Dave Johnson of North Carolina.    130lbs:  Washington's Tom Owen became a finalist when he scored a late takedown on North Dakota's Mathias Bitz to win 3-1.  His opponent tonight will be New Jersey's Edward Gutnik.  Gutnik used three takedowns on his way to defeating Andy Kim of California.    135lbs:  Alex Tirapelle of California advanced to the finals with a 4-2 sudden victory win over Beau DeArmon of Oklahoma.  Tirapelle trailed 2-1 with seven seconds to go when DeArmon was penalized a point for locking hands.  Tirapelle then scored the winning takedown in the extra period.  He will meet Tennessee's Phillip Simpson.  Simpson continued his impressive tournament with a 15-5 win in the semis over Robby Jimenez of New Jersey.    140lbs:  Ryan Churella held off a late takedown attempt by R.J. Paternitti to win 5-4.  He will meet Pennsylvania's Dustin Manotti.  Manotti built a 10-4 lead over Indiana's J.T. Young and then held on to win 11-9.    145lbs:  Utah's Rob Maxwell with his win over Joe Johnston will meet New York's Michael Patrovich tonight.  Patrovich won an exciting match over Miguel Guiterez of California in the semis.    152lbs:  Ohio's Keith Cupp was awarded an escape at the buzzer to send his match in overtime against Maryland's Kevin Gabrielson.  Cupp immediately took Gabrielson down to win 3-1s.v.  He will meet Illinoins Nathan McMillian who was an 8-5 victor over Jacob Klein of Kansas.    160lbs:  In one of the more interesting stories of the tournament, the 160lbs final will be a rematch of the California High School state finals.  Kenneth Cook with an 8-2 win over Pennsylvania's Matt Lebe will look to avenge his state final loss to Greg Smith.  Smith advanced by pinning Anthony Magistrelli in the second period.    171lbs:  California's Ryan Hasley has looked very impressive in his 8-5 win over Daniel Pitsch of Washington.  New Jersey's Michael Massenzio advanced by way of a 5-3 win over Jonathan Carlise of Utah.    189lbs:  Idaho's Jake Rosholt advanced to finals when he scored a takedown in sudden victory over Chris Skertkowicz  to win 6-4s.v.  The Match went to overtime when Rosholt was penalized twice for stalling in the final period.  He will meet Pennsylvania's Phil Hard.  Hard rode out Kyle Cerminara the third period to win 1-0.    215lbs:  Allen Kennett of California advanced with an 8-6 win over Willie Bryer of Michigan.  Pennsylvania's Matt Feast used several different turns from top to win 12-2 over Ohio's Tomas Rodriquez.    275lbs:  New Jersey's Steve Mocco will advance to finals after a tough battle from Indiana's Greg Wagner.  Mocco won 8-1 to meet up with California's Lionel Apineru.  Apineru advanced with a 3-1 sudden victory win over Josh Ingrim of Colorado.