for immediate release: May 16, 1998Hill, Abas and Plienis defend titles at 1998 Freestyle FILA Junior World Team Trials; Pritzlaff named Outstanding Wrestler
T. J. Hill (Farmington, Mo./PSWC), Stephen Abas (Fresno, Calif./Sunkist Kids) and J.R. Plienis (Baltimore, Md./Husker WC) successfully defended their titles at the 1998 Freestyle FILA Junior National Wrestling Championships/World Team Trials, at Lambert Fieldhouse on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., May 16.
The FILA Junior age-group was formerly known as the Espoir Division. FILA, the International Governing Body, changed the name of the age-group last year. These athletes are between 17 and 20 years old.
The champions of the FILA Junior National Championships/World Team Trials in freestyle have qualified to represent the U.S. at the 1998 FILA Junior World Championships in freestyle, which will be held in Primm, Nev., Aug. 7-10.
Hill claimed the 108 pound title with a 6-5 decision over Jason Powell (Choctaw, Okla./Cowboy WC). Hill, who never trailed in the match was forced to wrestle right to the end with Powell coming back after a quick 4-0 deficit.
With his win, Hill has now claimed a total of ten USA Wrestling age-group titles, having won double titles at three of the four levels. Hill now needs just one more title to tie the record for most age-group national titles, which is shared by 1996 Olympic silver medalist Brandon Paulson of Anoka, Minn. and Billy Pierce of Minneapolis, Minn.
Plienis, a double champion at the 1997 Espoir Nationals, claimed the 253.5 pound title with a 12-1 technical fall over Jason Cooley (Corvallis, Ore./OSU) in 2:18.
Plienis, who has claimed double titles at both the Junior and Espoir levels, placed second at the 1998 University Nationals in April.
Abas, a 1997 NCAA All-American for Fresno State, claimed the 123.25 pound title with a convincing 10-3 decision over Francisco Bermudez (Romeoville, Ill./Central Michigan). Abas, who claimed the 1997 Espoir freestyle title, claimed the 1998 University Nationals title at 119 pounds earlier this year.
The Outstanding Wrestler Award was given to 154.25 pound champion Don Pritzlaff of Madison, Wis. (Team Wisconsin). Pritzlaff, ranked eighth in the U.S., scored a 6-3 decision over Brian Burrows (Jenannette, Pa./Cowboy WC) to win his first FILA Junior title.
Other champions included Chris Fleeger (Trout Run, Pa./Team Pennsylvania) at 114.5 pounds, Todd Beckerman (Crofton, Md./Husker WC) at 132.25 pounds, Reggie Wright (Susanville, Calif./Cougar WC) at 143.25 pounds, Ty Wilcox (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy WC) at 167.5 pounds, Mark Munoz (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy WC) at 182.75 pounds and Zachary Thompson (Ames, Iowa/Cyclone WC) at 198.25 pounds.
The Most Falls Award went to Rick Springman (Norristown, Pa./Dave Schultz WC) who scored three falls in 3:59. Springman placed third at 167.5 pounds.
The Husker Wrestling Club claimed the team title with 40 points, led by champions Todd Beckerman and J.R. Plienis. The Dave Schultz Wrestling Club and Boise State University tied for second in the team standings with eight points each.
The FILA Junior Greco-Roman competition will take place Sunday, May 17, with the champions qualifying to represent the U.S. at the 1998 World Championships in LeCaire, Egypt, Aug. 18-21.
1998 Freestyle FILA Junior World Team Trials
West Lafayette, Ind., May, 15-16
Final Results
108 lbs.
1st - T.J. Hill, Farmington, Mo. (PSWC) dec. Jason Powell, Choctaw, Okla. (Cowboy WC), 6-5
3rd - Jason Moreno, Firebaugh, Calif. (unattached) dec. Davey Starks, Stoughton, Wis. (unattached), 9-6
5th - Willie Bravo, Tucson, Ariz. (Sunnyside) won by tech. fall over William McKinney, St. Leonard, Md. (SMWC), 11-0, 3:20
7th - William Filbert, Catonsville, Md. (McDonogh) dec. Marc Cline, Broken Arrow, Okla. (Broken Arrow), 10-1
114.5 lbs.
1st - Chris Fleeger, Trout Run, Pa. (Team Pennsylvania) dec. Rich Cordova Ogden, Utah (unattached), 3-1,ot
3rd - Evan Larkin, Vail, Ariz. (unattached) dec. Matt Birner, Peru, Ind. (unattached), 14-5
5th - David Aranda, Streamwood, Ill. (unattached) dec. Gary Oxford, St. Charles, Mo. (St. Charles West), 9-4
7th - Scott Snyder, Warsaw, Ind. (Tiger) won by inj. def. over Adam Kulikowski, Boulder, Colo. (Team Excel)
123.25 lbs.
1st - Stephen Abas, Fresno, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Francisco Bermudez, Romeoville, Ill. (Central Michigan), 10-3
3rd - Leroy Vega, Valparaiso, Ind. (Minn. Storm) dec. Jason Silverstein, Ramsey, N.J. (Purdue), 5-4
5th - Steve Cordova, Ogden, Utah (unattached) dec. Joshua Moore, Frankiln, Pa. (Team Pennsylania), 8-3
7th - Nathan Navarro, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Ahmad Sanders, Mt. Morris, Mich. (Chin), 5-2
132.25 lbs.
1st - Todd Beckerman, Crofton, Md. (Husker WC) won by tech. fall over Brett Lawrence, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minn. Storm), 11-0, 1:57
3rd - Steven Bradley, Beech Grove, Ind. (Beech Grove WC) dec. David Stoltz, Mt. Prospect, Ill. (U. of Illinois), 3-2
5th - Evan Robinson, Lafayette, Ind. (Purdue WC) dec. Jody Strittmatter, Ebensburg, Pa. (Pitt/Johnstown), 5-2
7th - Paris Ruiz, Fresno, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) pin Justin Wilcox, Cincinnati, Ohio (Ohio), 4:59
143.25 lbs.
1st - Reggie Wright, Susanville, Calif. (Cougar WC) dec. Jared Frayer, Clar, Okla. (Oklahoma Univ.), 6-4
3rd - David Esposito, Matawan, N.J. (Lehigh Univ.) dec. Sonny Marchette, Susanville, Calif. (Cougar WC), 4-2
5th - Chad Erikson, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minn. Storm) won by tech. fall over Grant Hoerr, Madison, Wis. (Team Wisconsin), 12-0, 1:40
7th - Scott Owen, Carlsbad, N.M. (Northern Illinois) dec. Mike Castillo, Western Springs, Ill. (U. of Illinois), 11-2
154.25 lbs.
1st - Don Pritzlaff, Madison, Wis. (Team Wisconsin) dec. Brian Burrows, Jenannette, Pa. (Cowboy WC), 6-3
3rd - Bryan Snyder, Lincoln, Neb. (Husker WC) pin Jamarr Billman, Easton, Pa. (Penn State), 1:35
5th - Malick Elliott, Evanston, Ill. (Bobcats) dec. William Maldonado, Hammond, Ind. (unattached), 4-2, ot
7th - Griff Powell, Champaign, Ill. (U. of Illinois) won by ref. dec. Joseph Carr, Lexington, Ky. (West Va. WC), 1-1, ot, 8:00
167.5 lbs.
1st - Ty Wilcox, Stillwater, Okla. (Cowboy WC) dec Joe Killar, Hellertown, Pa. (Harvard), 6-5, ot
3rd - Rick Sprngman, Norristown, Pa. (Dave Schultz WC) dec. Scott Owen, Carlsbad, N.M. (Carlsbad), 7-2
5th - Chris Martin, Blackburg, Va. (Va. Tech) dec. Nathan Coy, Oregon City, Ore. (USA Oregon), 5-3
7th - Josh Henson, Hanover, Pa. (Husker WC) won by inj. def. over Tom Ciezki, Evanston, Ill. (Bobcats)
182.75 lbs.
1st - Mark Munoz, Stillwater, Okla. (Cowboy WC) won by tech. fall over Mark Dufresne, (Lehigh), 17-6, 4:55
3rd - Damion Hahn, Lakewood, N.J. (CJWC) dec. Victor Sveda, Peninsula, Okla. (unattached), 4-3
5th - Mike Cuperus, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minn. Storm) won by inj. def. over Andy Hrovat, Cleveland, Ohio (Eagle WC)
7th - Cael Saderson, Heber City, Utah, (Cycone WC) dec. Jim Stanec, St. Louis, Mo. (Cornell), 9-0
198.25 lbs.
1st - Zachary Thompson, Ames, Iowa, (Cyclone WC) dec. Jeff Knupp, Akron, Ohio (Penn State), 3-0
3rd - Josh Cruzan, Stillwater, Okla. (Cowboy WC) dec. Ryan LaGrange, Madison, Wis. (Team Wisconsin), 6-2
5th - Pat Quirk, Clarendhills, Ill. (Univ. of Illinois) dec. Owen Elzen, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minn. Storm), 9-2
7th - Josh Didion, Bellevue, Ohio (unatached) won by inj. def. over Jason Payen, Cedar Falls, Iowa (CAT)
253.5 lbs.
1st - J.R. Plienis, Baltimore, Md. (Husker WC) won by tech. fall over Jason Cooley, Corvallis, Ore. (OSU), 12-1, 2:18
3rd - Rusty Cook, Silver City, N.M. (Boise St.) pin Joshua Etu, Queensbury, N.Y. (ATWA), 3:58
5th - John Lockhart, Mahomet, Ill. (Univ. of Illinois) won by ref. dec. over Josh Pearce, Greenville, Pa. (EUP), 2-2, ot
7th - John Devine, San Francisco, Calif. (Tiger) won by inj. def. over Billy Blunt, Modesto, Calif. (NCSU)
Team Standings: 1st - Husker WC, 40 pts.; 2nd (tie) - Dave Schultz WC & Boise State Univ., 8 pts.