Jenna Burkert wrestling Japan's Kobayashi Shinya at Northern Michigan as the USOEC took on Team Japan
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The U.S. Olympic Education Center Greco-Roman wrestling team defeated Team Japan in the Japan vs. USOEC Duals Friday in Vandament Arena at Northern Michigan University. By the end of the evening, the USOEC out-wrestled Japan nine matches to zero. 

Ono Mitsuhiko of Oura Maebashi, Japan, opened and closed the competition, wrestling in two different weight classes. He fell to Bo Beckman (Orem, Utah) two periods to zero in the 66-kilogram weight class. Later in the competition, he took on Thrasher Porcher of Chuluota, Fla., at 60 kg. The match went a full three periods, but, in the end, Porcher secured the win for the USOEC team two periods to one. 

The competition was primarily in the Greco-Roman style, but one freestyle match was wrestled at 60 kg. Kobayashi Shinya of Oura District, Japan, hit the mat against USOEC women’s freestyle team member Jenna Burkert of Rocky Point, N.Y., as the USOEC doesn’t have a men’s freestyle program. The match became one of the competition’s highlights as Burkert won by technical fall.

“It has been four years since I’ve wrestled a male. I was nervous to begin with, but I was able to settle down,” said Burkert. “I view this as extra help to get ready for the Olympic Trials. I am thankful to the coaches of both teams for letting me wrestle.”

At 55 kg, Max Nowry (Wheeling, Ill.) defeated Kanazawa Seiya (Maebashi, Japan) two periods to zero and Paul Tellgren (Anoka, Minn.) beat Ito Yu (Shimabara, Japan) two periods to zero. In the 60-kg weight class, Dmitry Ryabchinskiy (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was victorious over Masakane Kota (Maebashi, Japan) two periods to zero. At 74 kg, Josh Castellano (Wood Dale, Ill.) overtook Inada Takashi (Maebashi, Japan) two periods to zero and Aaron Briggs (Tucson, Ariz.) won against Fukuda Tsubasa (Kanra, Japan) two periods to zero. Toby Erickson (East Helena, Mont.) triumphed over Yoneyama Yoshitugu (Oura District, Japan), earning the victory by technical fall.  
 
The competition served as the conclusion of a week-long visit by the Japanese team. According to Japanese coach Yanagawa Yoshimaro, the team has visited the USOEC annually for the last several years. 

“We keep coming back because the training center has a good Greco team and it’s very good practice [for the team],” said Yoshimaro.

Team Japan was originally invited by the USOEC’s former coach Ivan Ivanov and current coach Rob Hermann continued the tradition. Japanese team members will spend a week at a wrestling club in Oshkosh, Wis., prior to returning home. 

USOEC v Japan Results
55 kg/121 lbs.
Max Nowry (Wheeling, Ill.) def Kanazawa Seiya, two periods to zero
Paul Tellgren (Anoka, Minn.) def Ito Tu, two periods to zero
60 kg/132 lbs.
Jenna Burkert (Rocky Point, N.Y) def Kobayashi Shinya
Dimitry Ryabchinskiy (Brookly, N.Y.) def Masakan Kota, two periods to zero
Thrasher Porcher (Chuluota, Fla.) def Ono Mitsuhiko, two periods to one
66 kg/145.5
Bo Beckman (Orem, Utah) def Ono Mitsuhiko, two periods to zero
74 kg/163 lbs.
Josh Casetllano (Wood Dale, Ill.) def Inada Takashi, two periods to zero
Aaron Briggs (Tucson, Ariz) def Fukuda Tsubasa, two periods to zero
Toby Erickson (Helena Mont.) def Yoneyama Yoshitugu