Aaron Pico going for gold on Saturday against Joey Ward, Dec. 7-0, 5-0. Photo by Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com. The final day of wrestling and grappling competition on Saturday in Las Vegas, Nev. saw fantastic matches at the Junior and Senior levels. The men’s freestyle competition at the ASICS Junior Nationals was no exception, with more than 300 17-20 year olds battling for titles. Aaron Pico of Titan Mercury WC at 63 kg was crowned as a double champion, having won in the Greco-Roman division on Friday and the men’s freestyle division on Saturday. “This was a great tournament and I felt good throughout the tournament,†Pico said after his win Saturday. “I felt I wrestled good. I had some tough matches and it’s a step up in competition.†Earning the title of Outstanding Wrestler was Ben Whitford of Massa's Maniacs at 60 kg, who went 5-0 and had two pins and one technical fall in three of his matches. Whitford won double titles in Greco-Roman and men’s freestyle at the 2011 ASICS/Vaughan Junior National Championships and at the 2010 ASICS/Vaughan Cadet National Championships. “It’s a great feeling. This is the first FILA Junior title that I’ve had,†Whitford said. “It’s great to win it for the first time and I get a chance to make that World Team, so I’m excited.†Returning to defend his title this year was 2012 Junior World Team member Adrian Cordova (unattached) at 50 kg, who only gave up a single point in his three matches. Other champions included Thomas Gillman of Hawkeye Wrestling Club at 55 kg, Jason Tsirtsis of Northwestern at 66 kg, Christopher Castillo of Bronco Wrestling Club at 70 kg, Dylan Palacio of Finger Lakes at 74 kg, Lelund Weatherspoon of Iowa State at 79 kg, Victor Avery of Edinboro at 84 kg, Kyle Snyder (unattached) at 96 kg and Amarveer Dhesi of NWRTC at 120 kg. The field saw a number of newcomers to the scene, including Avery, who defeated Lucas Sheridan of Hoosier Wrestling at 84 kg, a tough matchup considering Sheridan was a champion in the Greco-Roman competition on Friday and a former Greco-Roman Junior World Team member. Also fairly new to men’s freestyle was Palacio. Training out of Ithaca, N.Y., Palacio had the chance to get some words of wisdom from recent four-time NCAA champion at Cornell University, Kyle Dake. “I asked Kyle Dake, what should I do? And he said, freestyle is like chess. One point at a time, and you find yourself at the top of the podium,†Palacio said. “And I just scored one point at a time and here I am.†With competition in Las Vegas over, FILA Junior wrestlers may now begin their journeys toward the U.S. Junior World Team Trials taking place June 20-23 in Stillwater, Okla. Champions from today’s competition earned the right to the No. 1 spot in men’s freestyle in their bracket at the Trials. 2013 ASICS JUNIOR MEN’S FREESTYLE NATIONALS At Las Vegas, Nev., April 20, 2013 Men’s Freestyle Results 50 KG/110.25 lbs 1st Place - Adrian Cordova of unattached 2nd Place - Doyle Trout of Ironhawk 3rd Place - Tirso Lara of Green Machine 4th Place - Brock George of Syracuse 5th Place - Tanner Rohweder of unattached 6th Place - Michael Beck of TEAM Penguin 7th Place - Clayton Stillwagon of Butte Wrestling Club 8th Place - Nicholas O`Donnell of Husky Wrestling Club 1st - Adrian Cordova (unattached) won by decision over Doyle Trout (Ironhawk) (Dec 3-1,3-0) 3rd - Tirso Lara (Green Machine) won by decision over Brock George (Syracuse) (Dec 3-2,7-0) 5th - Tanner Rohweder (unattached) won by injury default over Michael Beck (TEAM Penguin) (Inj. 0:00) 7th - Clayton Stillwagon (Butte Wrestling Club) won by decision over Nicholas O`Donnell (Husky Wrestling Club) (Dec 4-4,2-1) 55 KG/121.25 lbs 1st Place - Thomas Gilman of hawkeye wrestling club 2nd Place - Nathan Tomasello of Ohio RTC 3rd Place - Dylan Peters of Panther Wrestling Club 4th Place - Coltin Fought of N/A 5th Place - Stevan Micic of Region Wrestling 6th Place - Jarred Oftedahl of PINNacle 7th Place - Drake Swarm of Iowa State 8th Place - Gunnar Woodburn of Cowboy WC 1st - Thomas Gilman (hawkeye wrestling club) won by decision over Nathan Tomasello (Ohio RTC) (Dec 2-0,2-1) 3rd - Dylan Peters (Panther Wrestling Club) won by decision over Coltin Fought (N/A) (Dec 1-0,1-1) 5th - Stevan Micic (Region Wrestling) won by tech fall over Jarred Oftedahl (PINNacle) (TF 7-0,7-0) 7th - Drake Swarm (Iowa State) won by pin over Gunnar Woodburn (Cowboy WC) (Pin 1:43) 60 KG/132.25 lbs 1st Place - Ben Whitford of Massas Maniacs 2nd Place - James Gulibon of Nittany Lion Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Zane Richards of Illini Wrestling Club 4th Place - Mark Grey of Finger lakes wrestling Club 5th Place - Hayden Tuma of Suples Wrestling Club 6th Place - Brian Crutchmer of Cowboy WC 7th Place - Cory Clark of hawkeye wrestling club 8th Place - Anthony Ashnault of SKWC 1st - Ben Whitford (Massas Maniacs) won by decision over James Gulibon (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) (Dec 3-1,0-3,4-2) 3rd - Zane Richards (Illini Wrestling Club) won by decision over Mark Grey (Finger lakes wrestling Club) (Dec 2-0,5-1) 5th - Hayden Tuma (Suples Wrestling Club) won by decision over Brian Crutchmer (Cowboy WC) (Dec 7-3,6-0) 7th - Cory Clark (hawkeye wrestling club) won by decision over Anthony Ashnault (SKWC) (Dec 5-0,0-6,5-1) 63 KG/138.75 lbs 1st Place - Aaron Pico of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Joey Ward of North Carolina (RTC) 3rd Place - Logan Massa of Massa`s Maniacs 4th Place - Joseph McKenna of Blair Academy 5th Place - Christopher Carton of hawkeye wrestling club 6th Place - Matthew Garelli of unattached 7th Place - Cole Mendenhall of Cowboy WC 8th Place - John Fahy of Illini Wrestling Club 1st - Aaron Pico (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won by decision over Joey Ward (North Carolina (RTC)) (Dec 7-0,5-0) 3rd - Logan Massa (Massa`s Maniacs) won by decision over Joseph McKenna (Blair Academy) (Dec 4-4,3-0) 5th - Christopher Carton (hawkeye wrestling club) won by injury default over Matthew Garelli (unattached) (Inj. 1-2,0:00) 7th - Cole Mendenhall (Cowboy WC) won by decision over John Fahy (Illini Wrestling Club) (Dec 2-1,4-1) 66 KG/145.5 lbs 1st Place - Jason Tsirtsis of Northwestern UNATT 2nd Place - Connor Ryan of hawkeye wrestling club 3rd Place - Joey Delgado of NWRTC 4th Place - Jared Reis of NWRTC 5th Place - Timmy Box of Dave Schultz Elite 6th Place - Jamel Hudson of Blue & Gold Wrestling Club 7th Place - Zack Beitz of Nittany Lion Wrestling Club 8th Place - Cohl Fulk of Wolfpack Wrestling Club 1st - Jason Tsirtsis (Northwestern UNATT) won by tech fall over Connor Ryan (hawkeye wrestling club) (TF 6-0,6-0) 3rd - Joey Delgado (NWRTC) won by decision over Jared Reis (NWRTC) (Dec 4-0,3-3,1-0) 5th - Timmy Box (Dave Schultz Elite) won by tech fall over Jamel Hudson (Blue & Gold Wrestling Club) (TF 7-1,7-1) 7th - Zack Beitz (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by decision over Cohl Fulk (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) (Dec 3-3,1-0) 70 KG/154.25 lbs 1st Place - Christopher Castillo of Bronco Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Thomas Gantt of Wolfpack Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Blaise Butler of Cavalier Wrestling Club 4th Place - Jon Jay Chavez of Suples Wrestling Club 5th Place - Dylan Cottrell of AppState RTC 6th Place - Jordan Henrickson of NWRTC 7th Place - Tanner Miller of Cowboy WC 8th Place - Eric Hoffman of BCWC 1st - Christopher Castillo (Bronco Wrestling Club) won by decision over Thomas Gantt (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) (Dec 5-0,4-0) 3rd - Blaise Butler (Cavalier Wrestling Club) won by decision over Jon Jay Chavez (Suples Wrestling Club) (Dec 2-2,1-1) 5th - Dylan Cottrell (AppState RTC) won by decision over Jordan Henrickson (NWRTC) (Dec 1-0,1-4,1-0) 7th - Tanner Miller (Cowboy WC) won by decision over Eric Hoffman (BCWC) (Dec 3-0,1-0) 74 KG/163 lbs 1st Place - Dylan Palacio of Finger lakes wrestling Club 2nd Place - Matthew Gray of Bison WC 3rd Place - Logan Molina of Iowa State 4th Place - Zachary Brunson of Illini Wrestling Club 5th Place - Patrick Rhoads of hawkeye wrestling club 6th Place - Brian Realbuto of Finger lakes wrestling Club 7th Place - Micah Barnes of NWTC 8th Place - Adam Fierro of Dave Schultz Elite 1st - Dylan Palacio (Finger lakes wrestling Club) won by decision over Matthew Gray (Bison WC) (Dec 0-3,1-1,4-2) 3rd - Logan Molina (Iowa State) won by decision over Zachary Brunson (Illini Wrestling Club) (Dec 1-0,1-0) 5th - Patrick Rhoads (hawkeye wrestling club) won by decision over Brian Realbuto (Finger lakes wrestling Club) (Dec 5-0,3-0) 7th - Micah Barnes (NWTC) won by injury default over Adam Fierro (Dave Schultz Elite) (Inj. 0:00) 79 KG/174 lbs 1st Place - Lelund Weatherspoon of Iowa State 2nd Place - Jordan Wohlfert of Michigan Wrestling Club 3rd Place - James Frascella of Nittany Lion Wrestling Club 4th Place - William Baker of Rocky Mountain Regional Traini 5th Place - McCoy Newberg of NWTC 6th Place - Brent Havlik of Cowboy WC 7th Place - Easton Hargrave of Tumwater Freestyle (WA) 8th Place - Austin Coburn of HRWA/VBRTC 1st - Lelund Weatherspoon (Iowa State) won by decision over Jordan Wohlfert (Michigan Wrestling Club) (Dec 3-0,1-0) 3rd - James Frascella (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by decision over William Baker (Rocky Mountain Regional Traini) (Dec 3-1,0-4,3-2) 5th - McCoy Newberg (NWTC) won by pin over Brent Havlik (Cowboy WC) (Pin 3-3,0:41) 7th - Easton Hargrave (Tumwater Freestyle (WA)) won by tech fall over Austin Coburn (HRWA/VBRTC) (TF 7-0,1-4,6-0) 84 KG/185 lbs 1st Place - Victor Avery of Edinboro 2nd Place - Lucas Sheridan of Hoosier Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Kyle Crutchmer of Cowboy WC 4th Place - Samuel Brooks of hawkeye wrestling club 5th Place - Alex Meyer of hawkeye wrestling club 6th Place - Brandon Griffin of Lehigh Valley Athletic Club 7th Place - Mitch Sliga of CIA 8th Place - Gabe Dean of Finger lakes wrestling Club 1st - Victor Avery (Edinboro) won by pin over Lucas Sheridan (Hoosier Wrestling Club) (Pin 3-0,2-2,1:40) 3rd - Kyle Crutchmer (Cowboy WC) won by pin over Samuel Brooks (hawkeye wrestling club) (Pin 1:10) 5th - Alex Meyer (hawkeye wrestling club) won by tech fall over Brandon Griffin (Lehigh Valley Athletic Club) (TF 1-3,6-0,6-0) 7th - Mitch Sliga (CIA) won by decision over Gabe Dean (Finger lakes wrestling Club) (Dec 4-1,1-0) 96 KG/211.5 lbs 1st Place - Kyle Snyder of unattached 2nd Place - Willie Miklus of OTC 3rd Place - Austin Schafer of Cowboy Wresltling Club 4th Place - Kevin Beazley of HRAW/VBRTC 5th Place - Danny Chaid of OTC 6th Place - John Bolich of Lehigh Valley Athletic Club 7th Place - Patrick Gillen of Cavalier Wrestling Club 8th Place - Brandon Tribble of Mountaineer Wrestling Club 1st - Kyle Snyder (unattached) won by decision over Willie Miklus (OTC) (Dec 2-0,3-0) 3rd - Austin Schafer (Cowboy Wresltling Club) won by decision over Kevin Beazley (HRAW/VBRTC) (Dec 4-0,5-0) 5th - Danny Chaid (OTC) won by pin over John Bolich (Lehigh Valley Athletic Club) (Pin 1-3,1:49) 7th - Patrick Gillen (Cavalier Wrestling Club) won by decision over Brandon Tribble (Mountaineer Wrestling Club) (Dec 7-1,7-3) 120 KG/264.5 lbs 1st Place - Amarveer Dhesi of NWRTC 2nd Place - Adam Coon of Fowlerville 3rd Place - Ross Larson of Oklahoma Elite 4th Place - Marcus Malecek of Rocky Mountain Regional Traini 5th Place - Garrett Ryan of sunkist kids wrestling academy 6th Place - Caleb White of North Country Outlaws 7th Place - Denzel Dejournette of AppState RTC 8th Place - Mick Dougharity of NWRTC 1st - Amarveer Dhesi (NWRTC) won by decision over Adam Coon (Fowlerville) (Dec 4-1,4-0) 3rd - Ross Larson (Oklahoma Elite) won by decision over Marcus Malecek (Rocky Mountain Regional Traini) (Dec 6-0,4-0) 5th - Garrett Ryan (sunkist kids wrestling academy) won by decision over Caleb White (North Country Outlaws) (Dec 0-1,4-2,6-0) 7th - Denzel Dejournette (AppState RTC) won by pin over Mick Dougharity (NWRTC) (Pin 5-1,0:17)