Six wrestlers keep Triple Crown quests alive as Cadet Nationals Greco-Roman competition kicks off
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Craig Sesker (USA Wrestling)
07/17/2011
California’s Jon Jay Chavez launches an opponent during the Cadet Nationals Greco-Roman competition on Sunday. John Sachs photo.
FARGO, N.D. – Six wrestlers remain alive in their quests to win USA Wrestling Cadet Nationals Triple Crowns.
Illinois’ Jabari Moody (84 pounds), Minnesota’s Gannon Volk (91), Oregon’s Ronnie Bresser (98), Michigan’s Anthony Gonzales (125), Michigan’s Drew Garcia (152) and Wisconsin’s Aaron Rothwell (171) each went undefeated on the first day of the Cadet Nationals Greco-Roman competition on Sunday at the FargoDome.
Each of those wrestlers won Cadet Nationals Folkstyle titles earlier this year in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Those wrestlers would need to win Greco-Roman and freestyle titles this week in Fargo to capture a coveted Triple Crown.
Moody went 2-0 on Sunday, Volk 4-0, Bresser 5-0, Gonzales 6-0, Garcia 4-0, and Rothwell 4-0.
2010 Cadet Triple Crown winner Mitch Sliga of Indiana looked strong in winning his first four matches at 189. Sliga has a chance to repeat his Fargo double in Greco and freestyle from last year. He placed fourth in Cadet Folkstyle Nationals earlier this year.
Bresser won Cadet Nationals in freestyle last year.
Returning Cadet Greco champions Joseph McKenna of New Jersey (112) and Hayden Tuma of Idaho (130) also made it through the first day unbeaten.
McKenna, a champion at 98 pounds in 2010, went 6-0 on Sunday. Tuma, a champion at 119 last year, also went 6-0 as he pursues a second straight title.
Pennsylvania’s Chance Marsteller (152) won all five of his bouts on Sunday. Marsteller won Cadet Nationals in freestyle last year and placed fourth in Greco.
The Cadets will resume wrestling Monday at 9 a.m. with the finals set for 2 p.m.
The eight-day ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet Nationals are being held on 23 mats at the FargoDome on the campus of North Dakota State University. Cadets feature the nation’s top 15-16 year olds.
The Junior Greco-Roman competition kicks off on Monday morning in Fargo. Juniors feature the nation’s top 16-18 year olds. It will be Day 3 of 8 in Fargo.