Junior World Champion Hill defends his title at the 2000 FILA Junior Freestyle National Championships and World Team Trials at the University of Nebraska Bob Devaney Sports Center Arena in Lincoln, Neb., May 14.T.J. Hill of Farmington, Mo. pinned Travis Harrison of Eugene, Ore. in 1:50 to defend his title at the 2000 FILA Junior Freestyle National Championships and World Team Trials at the University of Nebraska Bob Devaney Sports Center Arena in Lincoln, Neb., May 14.
With his win, Hill has claimed a total of 13 USA Wrestling age-group titles, having won double titles at three of four levels.
Other returning champions include: Jared Lawrence of Minneapolis, Minn. at 152 pounds, Damion Hahn of Caldewood, N.J. at 187.25 pounds and Tommy Rowlands of Columbus, Ohio at 213.75 pounds.
Lawrence decisioned Jesse Jantzen of Shorham, N.Y., 6-1 to win his second straight title.
Hahn decisioned Andy Hrovat of Ann Arbor, Mich., 6-3. He placed fourth at the 1999 FILA Junior World Freestyle Championships.
Rowlands decisioned Matt Greenberg of Upper Saddle River, N.J., 8-0.
Other champions who will represent the United States are: Jason Powell of Lincoln, Neb. at 119 pounds, Zach Roberson of Overland Park, Kan. at 127.75 pounds, Clark Forward of Ann Arbor, Mich. at 138.75 pounds, Matthew Lackey of Moline, Ill. at 167.5 pounds and Hector Torres of Tempe, Ariz. at 286 pounds.
The FILA Junior age-group was formerly known as the Espoir Division. FILA, the International Governing Body, changed the name of the age-group three years ago. These athletes are between 17 and 20 years old, and include college underclassmen, military athletes and high school wrestling stars who will be competing in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, the Olympic styles of the sport.
The winner at each weight class of the FILA Junior National Championships/World Team Trials in freestyle and Greco-Roman will qualify to compete on the 2000 U.S. FILA Junior World Team. If an athlete claims titles in both styles, he will be allowed to choose the style in which he wishes to compete in at the World Championships.
The 2000 FILA Junior freestyle and Greco-Roman World Championships will be held in Nantes, France, July 3-9.
The outstanding wrestler of the tournament was Tommy Rowlands. The award for most falls in the least amount of time went to Jake Clark with three falls in 7:52. The Minnesota Storm won the team competition with 28 points and the Dave Schultz WC was second with 22 points.
2000 FILA JUNIOR FREESTYLE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND WORLD TEAM TRIALS
at Lincoln, Neb., May 13
50 kg/110 lbs. - 1st - T.J. Hill, Farmington, Mo. pinned Travis Harrison, Eugene, Ore., 1:50; 3rd - Mike Silengo of Colorado Springs, Colo. dec. Shaun Alexander of Ankeny, Iowa, 8-3
54 kg/119 lbs. - 1st - Jason Powell of Lincoln, Neb. pinned Tom Clum of Arvada, Colo., 2:07; 3rd - Dustin Brewer of Kansas City, Mo. dec. Tony Black of Madison, Wis., 9-8; 5th - Chris Knox of Tempe, Ariz. pinned Desmond Radunz, W. St. Paul, Minn., 1:49; 7th - Shaun Miller of Nskayuna, N.Y. won by inj. dft. over Levi Evans of Brighton, Colo.
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - 1st - Zach Roberson of Overland Park, Kan. pinned Jeff Ratliff, Marion, Ohio, 4:23; 3rd - Michael Messina of Smithtown, N.Y. dec. Luke Eustice of Coralville, Iowa, 3-2; 5th - Jesse Brock of Wasilla, Alaska dec. Dylan Long of Cedar Falls, Iowa, 9-8; 7th - Josh Moore of Franklin, Pa. pinned Mike Simpson of Anaheim, Calif., 5:00
63 kg/138.7 lbs. - 1st - Clark Forward of Ann Arbor, Mich. pinned Zhon Kunasprdiani of Bakersfield, Calif., 5:50; 3rd - Ricky Palomino of Stillwater, Okla. dec. Cliff Moore of Iowa City, Iowa, 8-4; 5th - Ben Martinez of Fresno, Calif. won by inj. dft. over Gabe Vigil of Boise, Idaho; 7th - Kelly Madden of Pekin, Ill. pinned Evan Larkin of Tempe, Ariz., 2:35
69 kg/152 lbs. -1st - Jared Lawrence of Minneapolis, Minn. dec. Jesse Jantzen of Shorham, N.Y., 6-1; 3rd - Ryan Berger of Mahomet, Ill. dec. Max Odom of Tehachapi, Calif., 7-6; 5th - Drew Kelly of Cedar Falls, Iowa pinned Anthony Holified of Ann Arbor, Mich., 2:43; 7th - Billy Smith of New Alexandria, Pa. dec. Brad Harper of Mishawaka, Ind., 5-4
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - 1st - Matthew Lackey of Moline, Ill. dec. Tyler Nixt of Iowa City, Iowa, 3-1; 3rd - Luke Becker of Minneapolis, Minn. dec. Ryan Lange of Northfield, Ohio, 8-4; 5th - Luke Crockett, Boise, Idaho won by tech. fall over Jacob Volkmann of Hennning, Minn., 13-3; 7th - Jason Ward of Hungington, W. Va. won by inj. dft. over Nick Passolano of New Lenox, Ill.
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - 1st - Damion Hahn of Caldewood, N.J. dec. Andy Hrovat of Ann Arbor, Mich., 6-3; 3rd - Jake Clark of Quantico, Va. pinned Carl Fronhofer of Pittsburgh, Pa., 5:45; 5th - Ralph DeNisco of Madison, Wis. pinned Justin Millard of Laceyville, Pa., 2:54; 7th - Craig Melcher of Chester, N.J. won by inj. dft. over Jake Rosholt of Sandpoint, Idaho
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - 1st - Tommy Rowlands of Columbus, Ohio dec. Matt Greenberg of Upper Saddle River, N.J., 8-0; 3rd - Jon Trenge of Orefield, Pa. pinned Brian Kraemer of Cold Spring, Minn., 0:27; 5th - Ty Matthews of Bloomington, Ind. won by inj. dft. over Jareck Horton of Madison, Wis.; 7th - Greg Sawyer of Monroeville, N.J. dec. Wesley Balensifer of Corvallis, Ore., 10-7
130 kg/286.5 lbs. - 1st - Hector Torres of Tempe, Ariz. dec. Russ Davie of Perrysburg, Ohio, 10-4; 3rd - Steve Mocco, Blairstown, N.J. dec. Andy Bowlby, Corvallis, Ore., 3-2; 5th - Paul Hynek of Cedar Falls, Iowa won by inj. dft. over Kellan Fluckiger of Tempe, Ariz.; 7th - James Huml of Reyburg, Idaho dec. Eric Webb of Eugene, Ore., 11-6
Outstanding Wrestler - Tommy Rowlands
Most Falls - Jake Clark with 3 falls in 7:52
Team Standings: 1. Minnesota Storm - 28 pts.; 2. Dave Schultz WC - 22 pts.