Minnesota native Zac Nielsen topped Mark Simmonds at 84 kg. USOEC Photo.

The U.S. Olympic Education Center Greco-Roman wrestling team defeated the All Marine team 8-4 in a dual meet held at the Northern Michigan University Superior Dome. 

“It was a good test for the wrestlers in preparation for nationals,” said head coach Rob Hermann. “All the matches were close. It put the wrestlers in challenging, different situations and scenarios.  We wrestled very well against a good team.”

At the 55 kilogram weight class, NMU senior Paul Tellgren (Anoka, Minn.) faced Bobby Phelps.  Both periods ended in 1-1, earning Tellgren the win according to Greco-Roman rules. 
Sophomore Jason Chudzinski (Colonie, N.Y.) fell to Ian Moser, also at 55 kg. Moser scored a point in the first period with Chudzinski unable to turn him.  In the second bout, Moser earned two takedowns, winning the match 1-0, 3-0. 

The final match at 55 kg went to freshman Mike Fuenffinger (Hibbing, Minn.) against “Mouse” Knowlton.  Knowlton was unable to turn Fuenffiger in the last 30 seconds of the first period, giving the win to Fuenffiger. In the second period, Fuenffiger had two pushouts, winning 5-0.

At 60 kg, Donovan Depatto won 1-0, 2-0 against sophomore Joseph DeNova (Fortson, Ga.) with a gut-wrench, four seconds to go in the second period.

Senior Corey Hope (Carol Stream, Ill.) faced Joel Ahern at 66 kg. Hope won the first period 1-0 and received two points for a gut-wrench and one for back exposure winning the second period 3-0.
Also at 66 kg, senior Alex Fleming (Sterling, Va.) threw Bryce Saddoris but was then reversed on in the first period giving Fleming the first period 2-1. Saddoris was unable to turn Fleming giving the win to Fleming 1-0.

Junior Josh Castellano (Wood Dale, Ill.) defeated John Cox at 66 kg in the first period 1-0.  In the second period Castellano put Cox in a headlock bringing him down to the mat with full back exposure.  Both Cox and Castellano had reversals with Castellano winning the period 6-2.
Wrestling all three periods, junior Mark Stenburg (Lockport, Ill.) faced J.C. Myers.  Myers took the first bout with a throw, 3-0.  Stenburg put up a fight winning the second and third periods 4-0, 1-0.

At 84 kg, senior Zac Nielsen (Zimmerman, Minn.) faced Mark Simmonds.  Nielsen threw Myers in the first and second periods winning 3-0, 8-2.

Sophomore Marcus Finau (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) fell to Mosses Hernandez at 96 kg.  Hernandez had a pushout and a gut-wrench in the first period winning 3-1 and 1-0 in the second.

Wrestling up a weight class, sophomore Ethan Dondlinger (Slinger, Wis.) faced Charles Fish at 120 kg.  All three periods came down to the last 30seconds with Fish coming up on top, 1-0, 0-1, 1-0.

The last match of the night was between sophomore Toby Erickson (East Helena, Mont.) and Joseph Sheffield at 120 kg.  Erickson started off strong with a takedown to the back and a gut-wrench in the first period, winning the match 5-0, 0-1, 1-0.

The Greco-Roman wrestling team competes at the Sunkist Kids International in Mesa, Ariz. Oct. 29-30.