USA WRESTLING NAMES 1998 CHAMPIONSHIP BELT SERIES WINNERS 
 USA Wrestling has named the winners of the 1998 Championship Belt Series on the age-group levels. This exciting system honors America's best wrestlers in each of the USA Wrestling's four age-groups for their accomplishments during the year. 
 The top point scorer in the series on the Cadet, Junior, FILA Junior World, University and Senior levels receives a handsome plaque. The top 10 point scorers in each age level receive a certificate. 
 Athletes only receive points on the specific age level where they compete. Points can not transfer from one age level to another age level. The 1998 age-group Championship Belt Series winners are: 
 Cadet champion - Matt Hasbrook, Indianapolis, Ind. 
 Matt Hasbrook of Indianapolis, Ind. won the Cadet level Championship Belt Series with 237 points, defeating runner-up Nick Zajac of Hastings, Minn, by 16 points. Cadets are 15- and 16-year-old athletes. 
 Hasbrook, who is now a junior at Cathedral High School, won a silver medal at the Cadet World Greco-Roman Championships at 209.25 pounds. He was a Cadet National Greco-Roman champion and placed sixth in freestyle. Hasbrook also placed second in both styles at the Cadet World Team Trials. 
 Zajac, who is now a junior at Hastings High School, placed ninth in the Cadet World Greco-Roman Championships, and was also a Cadet Nationals Greco-Roman champion. He won the Cadet World Team Trials in Greco-Roman and placed second in freestyle. He was also a Northern Plains Regional double champion. 
 Junior champion - Jacob Clark, St. Paul, Minn. 
 Jacob Clark of St. Paul, Minn. won the Junior level Championship Belt Series with 214 points, defeating runner-up Clark Forward of Archbold, Ohio by an impressive 52 points. Junior wrestlers are athletes in grades 9-12. 
 Clark won a gold medal at the Asics Tiger Junior Nationals in Greco-Roman and placed second in the Junion National in freestyle. He won the Most Falls Trophy in the Greco-Roman event. He was also a Southeast Regionals double champion, and a Northern Plains Regional freestyle champion. Clark is currently a freshman at the Univ. of Minnesota. 
 Forward placed in both styles at the Asics Tiger Junior Nationals, finishing fourth in Greco-Roman and sixth in freestyle. He was a double champion at the Southeast Regionals, and won a bronze medal in freestyle at the Northern Plains Regionals. Forward is now a senior at Archbold High School. 
 FILA Junior World champion - Don Pritzlaff, Lyndhurst, N.J. 
 Don Pritzlaff of Lyndhurst, N.J. claimed the FILA Junior World Championship Belt Series with 140 points, edging runner-up Stephen Abas of Fresno, Calif. by 10 points. FILA Junior World athletes are between the ages of 17-20. 
 Pritzlaff won a gold medal at the FILA Junior World Freestyle Championships at 154.25 pounds. He was also a FILA Junior Nationals/World Team Trials champion, and was named Outstanding Wrestler in freestyle. Pritzlaff is currently a sophomore at the Univ. of Wisconsin. 
 Abas also won a gold medal at the FILA Junior World Freestyle Championships, competing at 123.25 pounds. He was a FILA Junior Nationals/World Team Trials champion at his weight class. Abas is currently a sophomore at Fresno State University. 
 University champion - Anthony Esposito, Roselle, Ill. 
 Anthony Esposito of Roselle, Ill. claimed the University level Championship Belt Series with 100 points, defeating runner-ups Tom Ciezki of Evanston, Ill. and Billy Blunt of Modesto, Calif. by 15 points. University athletes are 18-24 years old and their class has graduated high school. 
 Esposito was a double champion at the University Nationals in 213.75 pounds, winning both the freestyle and Greco-Roman titles. A former U.S. Marine, he competed for the Armed Forces in the meet. 
 Ciezki, a student at Northwestern Univ. who competes for the Wildcat WC, placed third in both styles at the University Nationals at 167.5 pounds. He also won the Most Falls award in freestyle. Blunt, who attends North Carolina State Univ., was second in the University Nationals in Greco-Roman and third in freestyle at super heavyweight. 
 The Belt Series is based upon a point system, rewarding athletes for actual success in competition. Athletes who place in the major USA Wrestling events on the regional, national and international levels scored points in the series. 
 Each event is weighed according to importance and difficulty, in order to determine the most successful wrestler during the season. A wrestler also receives points for receiving the Most Outstanding Wrestler award and Most Falls award at the events. On the age group levels, points scored in both freestyle and Greco-Roman are combined for the final standings. 
 1998 Championship Belt Series Standings 
 Cadet Belt Series Top Ten: 1. Matt Hasbrook, Indianapolis, Ind., 237 pts.; 2. Nick Zajac, Hastings, Minn., 221 pts.; 3. Jason Moreno, Firebaugh, Calif., 211 pts.; 4. Pat DeGain, White Lake, Mich., 197 pts.; 5. James Woodall, Du Pont, Pa., 193 pts.; 6. Jason Vincens, Wheaton, Ill., 187 pts.; 7. Mike Kratz, Oconto Falls, Wis., 185 pts.; 8. Eli Ross, Owatonna, Minn., 167 pts.; 9. Steve Garcia, Cypress, Calif., 166 pts.; 10. Marcus Levesseur, Minneapolis, Minn., 160 pts. 
 Junior Belt Series Top Ten: 1. Jacob Clark, St. Paul, Minn., 214 pts.; 2. Clark Forward, Archbold, Ohio, 162 pts.; 3. Jason Powell, Choctaw, Okla., 160 pts.; 4. Quint Swanberg, Tucson, Ariz., 159 pts.; 5. Pat Cadwallader, Anaheim, Calif., 155 pts.; 6. Eric Hopkins, Broken Arrow, Okla., 150 pts.; 7. Marcus Streicher, Las Vegas, Nev., 145 pts.; 8. Brad Metzler, Omaha, Neb., 142 pts.; 9. Coyte Cooper, Anacortes, Wash., 130 pts.; 10. Steve Cordova, Ogden, Utah, 120 pts. 
 FILA Junior World Belt Series Top Ten: 1. Don Pritzlaff, Lyndhurst, N.J., 140 pts.; 2. Stephen Abas, Fresno, Calif., 130 pts.; 3. (tie) Zachary Thompson, Cleveland, Ohio, and Mark Munoz, Vallejo, Calif. and T.J. Hill, Farmington, Mo., 122 pts.; 6. Reggie Wright, Maywood, Ill., 106 pts.; 7. Jason Powell, Choctaw, Okla., 95 pts.; 8. J.R. Plienis, Edgemere, Md., 90 pts.; 9. Jason Moreno, Firebaugh, Calif., 85 pts.; 10. (tie) David Stoltz, Mt. Prospect, Ill. and Mike Cuperus, Reading, Minn., 75 pts. 
 University Belt Series Top Ten: 1. Anthony Esposito, Rosselle, Ill., 100 pts.; 2. (tie) Tom Ciezki, Evanston, Ill. and Billy Blunt, Modesto, Calif., 85 pts.; 4. J.R. Plienis, Edgemere, Md., 80 pts.; 5. Chael Sonnen, Springfield, Ore., 75 pts.; 6. Dwight Hayles, Garner, N.C., 65 pts.; 7. (tie) Herb House, Colorado Springs, Colo. and Chris Bono, Ames, Iowa, 60 pts.; 9. Bart Golyer, Minneapolis, Minn., 55 pts.; 10. (tie) 14 athletes tied with 50 pts. 
 Belt Series History 
 Cadet Level Champions: 1998 - Matt Hasbrook (IN); 1997 - Joshua Etu (NY); 1996: Pat Cadwallader (CA); 1995: Cael Sanderson (UT) and David Stoltz (IL); 1994 - J.R. Plienis (MD); 1993 - Kasey Gilliss (ND); 1992 - Sean Hage (GA); 1991 - Brandon Slay (TX); 1990 - Troy Spencer (WI) 
 Junior Level Champions: 1998 - Jacob Clark (MN); 1997 - Justin Ruiz (UT); 1996: Brad Vering (NE); 1995: Sean Hage (GA); 1994 - Sean Hage (GA); 1993 - Cody Sanderson (UT); 1992 - Jason Reitmeier (MN); 1991 - Reese Andy (MT); 1990 - Brandon Paulson (MN) 
 FILA Junior World/Espoir Level Champions: 1998 - Don Pritzlaff (NJ); 1997 - Shane Zajac (IL); 1996 - Leroy Vega (IN); Stephen Neal (CA); Casey Cunningham (MI) and Scott Schatzman (MO); 1995: Jason Gleasman (NY); 1994 - Gordon Mobley (NC) and Nick Nutter (OH); 1993: Jason Gleasman (NY); 1992 - Jason Klohs (MN); 1991 - Brandon Paulson (MN); 1990 - Sam Henson (MO) 
 University Level Champions: 1998 - Anthony Esposito (IL); 1997 - Billy Pierce (MN); 1996 - Dan Hicks (VA) and Biff Walizer (PA); 1995 - Lindsay Durlacher (IL); 1994 - Matt Lindland (OR); 1993 - Tolly Thompson (IA); 1992 - Mike Fusilli (NY); 1991 - Steve King (MN); 1990 - Sam Henson (MO)