Six wrestlers keep Triple Crown hopes alive by reaching Cadet Nationals Greco-Roman finals

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Craig Sesker (USA Wrestling)
07/16/2012


Joey Gunther of Illinois (right) knocked off returning champion Jonjay Chavez of California to reach the Cadet Greco-Roman finals. John Sachs photo.

FARGO, N.D. – Six wrestlers remain in contention to capture a prestigious USA Wrestling Triple Crown in the Cadet division.

Cadet Nationals Folkstyle champions Hunter Marko of Wisconsin, Mitchell McKee of Minnesota, Aaron Pico of California, Bo Nickal of Texas, Michael Pixley of Missouri and Lance Benick of Minnesota have advanced to the finals of the Cadet Nationals Greco-Roman tournament.

The Cadet Greco finals are set for 2 p.m. Monday at the Fargo Dome. The third leg of the Triple Crown, the Cadet Nationals freestyle tournament, will be held later this week.

Pico is looking to repeat as Cadet Greco champion. He also won Cadets in freestyle last year.

Returning Cadet Greco champion Chandler Rogers of Washington also advanced to Monday afternoon’s finals. Rogers made the U.S. Cadet World Team in Greco earlier this year.

Joey Gunther of Illinois knocked off returning champion Jonjay Chavez of California to reach the finals at 138 pounds. Gunther beat Chavez 2-0, 1-1, 2-0 to land a spot in the finals against Wisconsin’s Joseph Nelson.

Day 4 of the Cadet and Junior Nationals is set for Tuesday in Fargo. The Junior Nationals Greco-Roman finals are scheduled for 2:15 p.m. with the Junior women’s finals scheduled for 5:45.

FINALS MATCHUPS

88 Pounds
Devin Schnupp (Pennsylvania) vs. Breandan Coughlin (Maryland)

94 Pounds
Hunter Marko (Wisconsin) vs. Jon Gabriel (Pennsylvania)

100 Pounds
Mitchell McKee (Minnesota) vs. Kyle Bierdumpfel (New Jersey)

106 Pounds
Vincenzo Joseph (Pennsylvania) vs. Kyle Norstrem (Florida)

113 Pounds
Drake Foster (Idaho) vs. Coy Ozias (Virginia)

120 Pounds
Jonathan Marmolejo (Illinois) vs. Vincent Turk (Illinois)

126 Pounds
Cole Weaver (Michigan) vs. Seth Gross (Minnesota)

132 Pounds
Aaron Pico (California) vs. Brady O’Keefe (Nevada)

138 Pounds
Joseph Nelson (Wisconsin) vs. Joey Gunther (Illinois)

145 Pounds
Mason Manville (Minnesota) vs. Dustin Williams (Kansas)

152 Pounds
Bo Nickal (Texas) vs. Keiffer Taylor (Utah)

160 Pounds
Nick Fiegner (California) vs. Kimball Bastain (Utah)

170 Pounds
Chandler Rogers (Washington) vs. Ryan Christensen (Washington)

182 Pounds
Michael Pixley (Missouri) vs. Samuel Colbray (Oregon)

195 Pounds
Lance Benick (Minnesota) vs. Landon Pellham (Michigan)

220 Pounds
Roy Nash (Utah) vs. Connor Tolley (Indiana)

285 Pounds
Tanner Farmer (Illinois) vs. Wyatt Spears (Oregon)