Spenser Mango made a change a few months back. 

He decided to join the Army and represent the U.S. under the banner of the Army’s World Class Athlete Program. 

After finishing up with basic training, Mango has returned to the mat after missing much of the 2010-2011 fall and spring competition.

Mango, a two-time World Team member and 2008 Olympian at 55kg/121 pounds, bested Donovan DePatto of the Marines in three periods 0-1, 6-0, 7-0 to win the championship at the Northeast Senior Greco-Roman Regionals at the College of Brockport in Brockport, N.Y. on Sunday at 60kg/132 pounds.

It’s expected Mango will be down at his normal weight come the U.S. Nationals in Cleveland in two weeks. 

Overall, the All-Marine wrestling team had a strong showing, picking up three champions and putting two more in the finals. John Cox topped Matt Holt in two periods for the championships at 66kg/145 pounds, while Don Simmons won a championship at 84kg/185 pounds, beating Cameron Duckworth in two periods. 

Moises Hernandez was the final Marine to clinch a berth into the 2011 World Team Trials with a regional qualifier championship. Hernandez bested Joseph Serio 7-0, 7-0.

Other champions were Tyler Erdman of Modern Day Gladiators at 55kg, Anton Gottfredson of Sunkist Kids at 74kg/163 pounds and Akil Patterson of the New York Athletic Club at 120kg/264.5 pounds.

Northeast Senior Greco-Roman Regionals
The College at Brockport, Brockport, N.Y.
Finals

55kg: Tyler Erdman (Modern Day Gladiators) DEC Brandon Escobar (NYACLI) 9-5, 1-0.
60kg: Spenser Mango (Army WCAP) TF Donovan DePatto (Marines) 0-1, 6-0, 7-0.
66kg: John Cox (Marines) DEC Matt Holt (Unattached) 7-1, 1-0.
74kg: Anton Gottfredson (Sunkist Kids) DEC Jordan Dewald (Marines) 1-0, 2-0.
84kg: Don Simmons (Marines) DEC Cameron Duckworth (Unattached) 2-0, 5-0.
96kg: Moises Hernandez (Marines) TF Joseph Serio (Green Eggs & Ham) 7-0, 7-0.
120kg: Akil Patterson (NYAC) DEC Steven Bayne (Marines) 1-0, 4-0.

Third Place
55kg: Bobby Phelps (Marines) FALL Zachary Knowlton (Marines) 4-5, 2-0, 1:17.
60kg: Justin LaValle (Minnesota Storm) DEC Jake Calhoun (Modern Day Gladiators) 3-0, 6-0.
66kg: Jason Chudzinski (Brockport) BYE
74kg: Marco Toledo (USOEC) DEC Joseph Manzello (The Factory) 1-0, 4-0.
84kg: Oleksandr Levtushenko (NYAC) BYE
96kg: No bout
120kg: Matt Mahon (Green Eggs & Ham) INJ DEF Christopher Pierce (NYAC)