After an exciting day of wrestling at the ASICS University and FILA Cadet National Championships, the spots for the University and Cadet Greco Roman World Teams have been decided.

Starting with the University bracket, Kendrick Sanders (NYAC/USOEC) made quick work of the competition at 70kg with his powerful lifts and throws.  Sanders won by pin (2:14) over Will Keeter (MN Storm) in the championship bout to secure the title and a spot on the World Team.

“I feel like I did everything I wanted to today.  I accomplished all the goals I had,” Sanders said.  “My goals were to work on my positioning and to score a lot on my feet and that went well for me.”

Sanders admits that the reverse lift that many people know him for is a product of his hard work.

“All that is from Fargo and going to a lot of Greco competitions, that was one of our moves,” Sanders said.  “I’ve kept up with it and it’s been working great for me so far.”

At 60kg, Nicco Triggas (NYAC) wrestled up a weight class from his usual 55kg and still dominated the field.  Triggas made quick work of William Simpson (US Army) in the first match of the championship, winning by fall in 26 seconds.  In what turned out to be the decisive match, Triggas won by technical fall over Simpson by a score of 17-8 to win the championship.

Max Nowry (NYAC/USOEC), the U.S. Open and 2012 Olympic Trials runner up, decisively won the title at 55kg after defeating Trey Andrews (Bear Cave) by technical fall (8-0) in the finals.

Orry Elor (USOEC) provided an upset at 120kg by defeating Parker Betts (USOEC) by rule in the final bout.  Elor came into the tournament after taking nearly two years off from wrestling Greco Roman and defeated Betts who is a U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier.

Caylor Williams (YES Wrestling) won by pin at 96kg over Romero Cotton (Titan Mercury) in the finals.  Williams won by technical fall in each of his first three matches on the way to the finals before sweeping the first two bouts against Cotton.

The new rule changes implemented by FILA were regulated throughout the tournament including two three minute periods and wrestlers being awarded two points for takedowns.  These changes encourage wrestlers to be more aggressive during matches and make wrestling more viewer-friendly.

“I don’t think the changes have affected my wrestling all that much,” Sanders said.  “We’re used to wrestling 10 minute matches in practice all the time so the two three minute periods aren’t that big of an adjustment.”

The rule changes are in place in the ongoing attempt to save Olympic Wrestling and get the sport back on the program for the 2020 Olympic Games.

“I’m absolutely a huge fan of the changes; whatever it takes to save our sport,” said Lucas Sheridan, 84kg champion.  “The idea of dropping wrestling from the Olympics is just heartbreaking to me.  This sport has saved my life and completely turned me around.  I had a 1.9 [GPA] student and thanks to starting wrestling and getting some positive role models and friends and now I have a 3.0 at a Division I college.”

In the FILA Cadet Tournament, Jon Jay Chavez (Idaho) did not allow a point all tournament at 69kg, winning every match leading up to the championship bout by technical fall.  Chavez quickly defeated Brooks Robinson (Utah) by technical fall (7-0) in the title match.

“It was a good tournament.  I didn’t have a ton of competition and just walked through the competition all day but it was good,” Chavez said.  “In the championship I went out there and threw him for three and turned him and it was over in thirty seconds.”

For his efforts Chavez was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.

“I’m really looking forward to the higher levels of wrestling, like the Junior FILA’s, and really excelling at those,” Chavez said.  “This gives me the good chance to wrestle at the World Championships this summer and I’m really looking forward to that.  There’s going to be some good competition and good wrestlers.”

The 39-42kg weight class is the lightest of the tournament but it was not short on talent.  Cade Olivas (California) defeated Louie Hayes (Illinois) by technical fall (7-0) in the finals to secure his spot on the Cadet World Team.

At 76kg Kimball Bastian (Utah) came away with the title after a hard fought championship bout against Washington’s Chandler Rogers.  Despite a strong effort by Rogers, Bastian walked away with a 6-5 win.

The ASICS University and FILA Cadet Freestyle Championships get underway tomorrow with the action starting at 9:00 am.  Catch all the action streaming live on Flo Pro by clicking here.

For complete results of the Greco-Roman University National Championships click here.

For complete results of the Greco-Roman FILA Cadet National Championships click here.

University Nationals Finals Results
55 KG
Round 1 - Max Nowry (NYAC/USOEC) won by tech fall over Trey Andrews (Bear Cave) (TF 9-0)
Round 2 - Max Nowry (NYAC/USOEC) won by tech fall over Trey Andrews (Bear Cave) (TF 8-0)

60 KG
Round 1 - Nikko Triggas (NYAC) won by tech fall over William Simpson (U.S. Army) (TF 8-0)
Round 2 - Nikko Triggas (NYAC) won by tech fall over William Simpson (U.S. Army) (TF 17-8)

63 KG
Round 1 - Jamel Johnson (UNC Greensboro Unattached) won by pin over Joey DeNova (NYAC/USOEC) (Pin 1:30)
Round 2 - Jamel Johnson (UNC Greensboro Unattached) won by injury default over Joey DeNova (NYAC/USOEC) (Inj. 0:00)

66 KG
Round 1 - Joseph Locksmith (Navy Mat Club) won by decision over Nick Alvarez (USOEC) (Dec 3-2)
Round 2 - Nick Alvarez (USOEC) won by decision over Joseph Locksmith (Navy Mat Club) (Dec 2-0)
Round 3 - Joseph Locksmith (Navy Mat Club) won by decision over Nick Alvarez (USOEC) (Dec 4-0)

70 KG
Round 1 - Kendrick Sanders (NYAC/USOEC) won by tech fall over Will Keeter (MN Storm) (TF 8-0)
Round 2 - Kendrick Sanders (NYAC/USOEC) won by pin over Will Keeter (MN Storm) (Pin 2:14)

74 KG
Round 1 - Geordan Speiller (Florida Jets) won by tech fall over Kory De Berry (Tucson Badger Wrestling Club) (TF 8-0)
Round 2 - Geordan Speiller (Florida Jets) won by tech fall over Kory De Berry (Tucson Badger Wrestling Club) (TF 7-0)

79 KG
Round 1 - Hayden Zillmer (Bison WC) won by decision over Patrick Martinez (unattached) (Dec 6-1)
Round 2 - Patrick Martinez (unattached) won by decision over Hayden Zillmer (Bison WC) (Dec 7-4)
Round 3 - Hayden Zillmer (Bison WC) won by 3 caution rule over Patrick Martinez (unattached) (3 Cau.)

84 KG
Round 1 - Lucas Sheridan (Community Youth Center - Conco) won by tech fall over Dan Olsen (Team Thunder) (TF 9-2)
Round 2 - Dan Olsen (Team Thunder) won by decision over Lucas Sheridan (Community Youth Center - Conco) (Dec 4-3)
Round 3 - Lucas Sheridan (Community Youth Center - Conco) won by decision over Dan Olsen (Team Thunder) (Dec 8-2)

96 KG
Round 1 - Caylor Williams (YES Wrestling) won by tech fall over Romero Cotton (Titan Mercury) (TF 8-0)
Round 2 - Caylor Williams (YES Wrestling) won by pin over Romero Cotton (Titan Mercury) (Pin 1:26)

120 KG
Round 1 - Orry Elor (USOEC) won by decision over Parker Betts (USOEC) (Dec 4-3)
Round 2 - Orry Elor (USOEC) won by rule over Parker Betts (USOEC) (RULE)

FILA Cadet Finals Results
39-42 KG: Cade Olivas (California) over Louie Hayes (Illinois) TF 7-0
46 KG: Tanner Cox (Utah) over Paul Bianchi (Wisconsin) Dec 6-5
50 KG: Kyle Norstrem (Florida) over Isaac Jimenez (Texas) TF 10-0
54 KG: Taylor LaMont (Utah) over Blane Tschida (Minnesota) Dec 4-3
58 KG: Devin Bahr (Wisconsin) over Christopher Moreno (Florida) TF 8-0
63 KG: Anthony Giraldo (New Jersey) over Larry Early Iii (Illinois) Dec 5-2
69 KG: Jon Jay Chavez (Idaho) over Brooks Robinson (Utah) TF 7-0
76 KG: Kimball Bastian (Utah) over Chandler Rogers (Washington) Dec 6-5
85 KG: Angus Arthur (Michigan) over Hunter Ritter (Maryland) Dec 5-3
100 KG: Roy Nash (Utah) over Lance Benick (Minnesota) 3C
125 KG: Gavan Jolley-little (Indiana) over Zachary Wood (Michigan) Dec 8-5