ESCOBEDO, FLEEGER, KECK HONORED AS THEMAT.COM WRESTLERS OF THE WEEK OF MARCH 27-APRIL 2TheMat.com has named its National Wrestlers of the Week for March 27-April 2, 2000.
The winner of TheMat.com Youth Wrestler of the Week is Angel Escobedo, Gary, Ind.
The winner of TheMat.com Junior Wrestler of the Week is Chris Fleeger of Trout Run, Pa.
The winner of TheMat.com International Wrestler of the Week is Brian Keck, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
TheMat.com will announce Wrestlers of the Week in a number of age group levels, which will be posted on the web page and promoted to the national media.
Youth Wrestler of the Week: Angel Escobedo, Gary, Ind.
Escobedo won the gold medal at 95 pounds in the Schoolboy division (13-14 years old) at the USA Wrestling National Kids Folkstyle Championships in Topeka, Kansas, April 1-2. He won four matches on the way to the title. In the preliminary rounds, he scored 17-5 and 14-8 victories. In the semifinals, he scored a 2-0 shutout over Geoffrey Tucker of Kansas. In the gold-medal finals, Escobedo earned a 3-0 shutout over Jon Koranda of Minnesota. Escobedo was a winner of the 1999 Kids Triple Crown, claiming USA Wrestling national titles in folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman in the Novice 80 pound division. He has moved up in age group this year, and is competing against older competitors.
Junior Wrestler of the Week: Chris Fleeger, Trout Run, Pa.
Fleeger was named Outstanding Wrestler in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the Northeast Junior Regional Championships, held in Brockport, N.Y., March 31-April 2. Fleeger competed at the 132-pound weight class. In the freestyle finals, he defeated Ronny Tarquino of Pennsylvania, 7-4, and, in the Greco-Roman finals, he scored an 11-0 technical fall over Andy Case of New York. Fleeger is a two-time state champion for Loyalsock High School, and competes for the Benton Tiger Wrestling Club. He was a four-time Cadet National champion, and has competed on U.S. Cadet and Junior World Teams.
International Wrestler of the Week: Brian Keck, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Keck claimed the 286-pound weight class at the East Greco-Roman Regional Olympic Trials, held in Brockport, N.Y., April 2. In the first round, Keck upset 1996 Olympic silver medalist Matt Ghaffari of the Sunkist Kids, by a 1-0 overtime referee's decision. Keck won three matches, including a 5-4, overtime decision over J.R. Plienis of the New York AC at 7:47 in the gold-medal finals. In addition, Keck won a silver medal in freestyle at the East Regional Olympic Trials on April 1, losing only to Airron Richardson of Team Excel in the gold-medal finals.
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