Rogers, Team USA turn in dominant performance in Dream Team Classic

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Craig Sesker (USA Wrestling)
04/20/2012


Washington's Jordan Rogers (right) tries to gain the upper hand at the Dream Team Classic. Jeff Beshey photo.

IOWA CITY – Washington's Jordan Rogers has wrestled in his share of big events.

The past Youth Olympic Games silver medalist, who has thrived in numerous USA Wrestling national events, continued to excel on Friday night at the Dream Team Classic.

Rogers, ranked No. 1 nationally, took control early and rolled to a 12-4 win over No. 11 Jared Bartel of Team Iowa at 182 pounds before a packed house of 1,500 fans at Iowa City West High School.

Rogers helped lead Team USA to a 40-7 win over Team Iowa in the dual meet that featured many of the nation’s top prep wrestlers.

Rogers, from Spokane, Wash., is an Oklahoma State recruit.

Northwestern recruit Jason Tsirtsis, ranked No. 1 nationally, put on a dazzling display on his feet in rolling to a 22-8 win over Iowa State recruit and second-ranked Gabriel Moreno. Tsirtsis is the brother of past Iowa All-American Alex Tsirtsis.

Wisconsin recruit Phillip Laux of Iowa City West kicked off the dual by scoring six takedowns in scoring a 13-4 major decision over No. 6 Gunnar Woodburn of Oklahoma at 113 pounds. Laux is ranked No. 3 nationally.

Top-ranked Devin Peterson, another Wisconsin recruit, scored a reversal with 10 seconds left to escape with a 7-6 win over Tarin Phillips at 195.

Cornell recruits Mark Grey (132) and Brian Realbuto (152) each earned wins for Team USA. The top-ranked Realbuto downed No. 6 Zach Witte 15-4. The third-ranked Grey, fifth in the 2011 Junior World Championships, topped Kyle Larson 3-1.

Iowa Hawkeye recruit Nate Skonieczny looked impressive in downing Logan Mulnix at 138. Skonieczny, ranked second, is from wrestling powerhouse Walsh Jesuit in Ohio.

Stanford recruit Zach Nevills locked up a cradle late in the match to rally for a 7-6 win over Iowa recruit Alex Meyer at 170. Nevills is ranked No. 7 nationally and Meyer No. 6.

Team Iowa’s unranked Collin Bevins outlasted No. 4 Austin Georgen 12-9 at 285. Bevins is an Iowa State football recruit.

Top-ranked George DiCamillo of Ohio edged No. 5 Dylan Peters 5-4 at 120. Top-ranked Jimmy Gulibon, a Penn State recruit, used a pair of takedowns to down No. 3 Cory Clark 5-2 at 126. Clark is an Iowa recruit.

The meet was held as a prelude to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, set for Saturday and Sunday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.

TEAM USA 40, TEAM IOWA 7
113 pounds – No. 3 Phillip Laux (Team Iowa) dec. No. 6 Gunner Woodburn (Team USA), 13-4
138 – No. 2 Nate Skonieczny (Team USA) dec. Logan Mulnix (Team Iowa), 23-10
182 – No. 1 Jordan Rogers (Team USA) dec. No. 11 Jared Bartel (Team Iowa), 12-4
170 – No. 7 Zach Nevills (Team USA) dec. No. 6 Alex Meyer (Team Iowa), 7-6
152 – No. 1 Brian Realbuto (Team USA) dec. No. 6 Zach Witte (Team Iowa), 15-4
132 – No. 3 Mark Grey (Team USA) dec. Kyle Larson (Team Iowa), 3-1
160 – No. 2 Zac Brunson (Team USA) dec. No. 12 Justin Koethe (Team Iowa), 3-1 OT
195 – No. 1 Devin Peterson (Team USA) dec. Tarin Phillips (Team Iowa), 7-6
145 – No. 1 Jason Tsirtsis (Team USA) dec. No. 2 Gabriel Moreno (Team Iowa), 22-8
285 – Collin Bevins (Team Iowa) dec. No. 4 Austin Georgen (Team USA), 12-9
120 – No. 1 George DiCamillo (Team USA) dec. No. 5 Dylan Peters (Team Iowa), 5-4
220 – No. 2 Michael Kroells (Team USA) won by injury default over No. 1 Willie Miklus (Team Iowa)
126 – No. 1 Jimmy Gulibon (Team USA) dec. No. 3 Cory Clark (Team Iowa), 5-2