Four wrestlers win double titles, adding freestyle golds at the Western Junior Regional Championship

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Heather Van Peursem (USA Wrestling)
04/13/2001


Freestyle Photos    Four wrestlers claimed double titles, winning both the freestyle and Greco-Roman gold medals at the Western Junior Regional Championships at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. These young stars won freestyle gold medals on Friday, April 13, after claiming Greco-Roman titles on Wednesday, April 11.    The double champions included Gabe Mooney of Greenbush, Minn., Kevin Hunter of Orem, Utah, Quincey Osborn of Grand Rapids, Minn. and Cain Velazquez of Yuma, Ariz.    Mooney defeated Mat Gardner of Springfield, Ore., with an 11-0 technical fall in 4:22 at 98 pounds.    Hunter stopped Brock Zollinger of Rexburg, Idaho, by pin in 2:36 in the finals at 105.5 pounds. It was a rematch of the Greco-Roman finals on Wednesday night, won by Hunter, 14-4.    Osborn stopped Colter Brown of Jackson, Wyo. in the 123-pound finals in a tight 11-8 shootout.    Velasquez defeated Saia Kotulenei of Paia, Hawaii in the championship finals at 275 pounds, 10-1. It was a rematch of the Greco-Roman finals, won by Valasquez by fall.    The Outstanding Wrestler Award was presented to Shane Wurster of Central Point, Ore., the 178-pound champion. Werster scored a 10-0 technical fall over Cassidy Gates of Pleasant Grove, Utah in the finals.    Austin Devoe of Columbus, Kansas, dominated 2000 Western Greco-Roman champion Eric Stevenson of Newburg, Ore. in an 11-1 technical fall in 2:36 in the finals at 114 pounds.    Ty Eustice of Blue Earth, Minn. edged 2000 Western Greco-Roman champion Patrick Pitsch of Tacoma, Wash. in the 154-pound finals, 5-4.    Other champions were Tom Clum of Arvada, Colo. (132), Ron Tarquinio of McDonald, Pa. (143), Troy Letters of Pittsburgh, Pa. (165), Jake Rosholt of Sandpoint, Idaho (191.5) and Jamie Rakevich of Elma, Wash. (220).    The Most Falls Award went to Sven Hafemeister of Leemore, Calif. at 165 pounds.