SUNKIST KIDS WIN TEAM EXCEL CLUBS CUP IN FT. COLLINS, COLO.; NEW YORK AC PLACES SECOND AND U.S. ARMY TAKES THIRDLed by an all-star lineup, the Sunkist Kids won all four dual meets to claim the title at the first Team Excel Clubs Cup, held in Fort Collins, Colo., March 29.
The competition featured dual meets between some of the best U.S. club programs in freestyle wrestling.
The Sunkist Kids beat the U.S. Army 25-9, the New York AC 22-5, Team Excel 20-8 and the U.S. Olympic Training Center, 21-9.
The Sunkist Kids featured three wrestlers who are ranked No. 1 in the United States: Dan St. John (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at 167.5 pounds, Melvin Douglas (Mesa, Ariz.) at 213.75 pounds and Tom Erikson (W. Lafayette, Ind.) at 286 pounds.
Other Team USA members on the Sunkist Kids roster included Sam Henson (Norman, Okla.) at 119 pounds and Tony Purler (Norman, Okla.) at 127.75 pounds.
The New York Athletic Club claimed second place with a 2-2 record, followed by the U.S. Army in third place with a 2-2 record. Placing fourth was the host Team Excel, with a 1-3 record, and the U.S. Olympic Training Center was fifth with a 1-3 record.
The New York AC team was led by Troy Sunderland (Annapolis, Md.) at 152 pounds and Tony Robie (Edinboro, Pa.) at 167.5 pounds.
A major upset occured in the Sunkist Kids vs. U.S. Army dual meet, when Dominic Black (Colorado Springs, Colo.) of the Army pinned top-ranked Melvin Douglas in 4:07 at 213.75 pounds.
TEAM EXCEL CLUBS CUP at Fort Collins, Colo., March 29
Team Standings
1. Sunkist Kids, 4-0 record; 2. New York AC, 2-2 record; 3. U.S. Army, 2-2 record; 4. Team Excel, 1-3 record; 5. U.S. Olympic Training Center, 1-3 record
Dual Meets
Sunkist Kids 25, U.S. Army 9
119 - Sam Henson (Sunkist) won by tech. fall over Donald Anderson (Army), 12-2, 1:56; 127.75 - Tony Purler (Sunkist) won by tech. fall over Joel Stearns (Army), 13-3, 3:34; 138.75 - Alan Fried (Sunkist) won by tech. fall over Johnny Torres (Army), 10-0, 2:50; 152 - John Morello (Army) dec. Brian Van Hoven (Sunkist), 3-2; 167.5 - Dan St. John (Sunkist) won by tech. fall over Ishmal Williams (Army), 10-0, 1:20; 187.25 - Barry Weldon (Sunkist) won by tech. fall over Mike Mathers (Army), 10-0, 2:10; 213.75 - Dominic Black (Army) pin Melvin Douglas (Sunkist), 4:07; 286 - Tom Erikson (Sunkist) won by tech. fall over Dremiel Byers (Army), 10-0, 2:16
U.S. Olympic Training Center 17, New York AC 12
119 - Kanamti Solomon (NYAC) won by tech. fall over Toby Lopez (USOTC), 11-1, 1:20; 127.75 - Kerry Boumans (USOTC) pin Tom Koch (NYAC), 2:20; 138.75 - Florian Ghinea (NYAC) won by forfeit; 152 - Troy Sunderland (NYAC) dec. Shannyn Gillespie (USOTC), 7-2; 167.5 - Sean Harrington (USOTC) dec. Tony Robie (NYAC), 6-5, ot, 6:30; 187.25 - Brandon Alderman (USOTC) won by forfeit; 213.75 - Josh Hall (USOTC) won by forfeit
Sunkist Kids 22, New York AC 5
119 - Sam Henson (Sunkist) pin Kanamti Solomon (NYAC), 2:56; 127.75 - Tony Purler (Sunkist) won by tech. fall over Tom Koch (NYAC), 11-0, 2:52; 138.75 - Alan Fried (Sunkist) dec. Florian Ghinea (NYAC), 11-3; 152 - Troy Sunderland (NYAC) pin Brian Van Hoven (Sunkist), 1:32; 167.5 - Dan St. John (Sunkist) dec. Tony Robie (NYAC), 5-0; 187.25 - Barry Weldon (Sunkist) won by forfeit; 213.75 - Melvin Douglas (Sunkist) won by forfeit
Team Excel 16, U.S. Olympic Training Center 8
119 - Chris Walker (Excel) pin Toby Lopez (USOTC), 2:30; 127.75 - Kerry Boumans (USOTC) won by tech. fall over Chuck Sheldon (Excel), 1:54; 138.75 - Reid Dellman (Excel) dec. Simon Hoepfner (USOTC), 11-5; 152 - Ramico Blackmon (Excel) and Shannyn Gillespie (USOTC), no match held; 167.5 - Sean Harrington (USOTC) dec. Cameron Paterson (Excel), 6-4; 187.25 - John McGovern (Excel) won by tech. fall over Brandon Alderman (USOTC), 10-0, 4:25; 213.75 - Reese Andy (Excel) won by tech. fall over Josh Hall (USOTC), 11-0, 2:11
New York AC 19, U.S. Army 9
119 - Kanamti Solomon (NYAC) pin Donald Anderson (Army), 1:32; 127.75 - Tom Koch (NYAC) dec. Joel Stearns (Army), 8-4; 138.75 - Florian Ghinea (NYAC) pin Johnny Torres (Army), 2:19; 152 - Troy Sunderland (NYAC) pin John Morello (Army), 1:55; 167.5 - Tony Robie (NYAC) pin Ishmal Williams (Army), 0:45; 187.25 - Mike Mathers (Army) won by forfeit; 213.75 - Dominic Black (Army) won by forfeit
Sunkist Kids 20, Team Excel 8
119 - Sam Henson (Sunkist) won by tech. fall over Chris Walker (Excel), 10-0, 1:48; 127.75 - Tony Purler (Sunkist) won by tech. fall over Chuck Sheldon (Excel), 11-0, 3:02; 138.75 - Alan Fried (Sunkist) won by tech. fall over Reid Dellman (Excel), 11-0, 1:10; 152 - Ramico Blackmon (Excel) pin Brian Van Hoven (Sunkist), 1:04; 167.5 - Dan St. John (Sunkist) pin Cameron Paterson (Excel), 0:45; 187.25 - John McGovern (Excel) dec. Barry Weldon (Sunkist), 4-2, ot, 6:26; 213.75 - Melvin Douglas (Sunkist) won by ref. dec. over Reese Andy (Excel), 1-0, ot, 8:00
U.S. Army 15, Team Excel 12
119 - Donald Anderson (Army) dec. Chris Walker (Excel), 8-0; 127.75 - Joel Stearns (Army) dec. Chuck Sheldon (Excel), 4-1; 138.75 - Johnny Torres (Army) dec. Reid Dellman (Excel), 8-3; 152 - Ramico Blackmon (Excel) dec. John Morrello (Army), 9-6; 167.5 - Cameron Paterson (Excel) dec. Ishmal Williams (Army), 9-2; 187.25 - John McGovern (Excel) dec. Mike Mathers (Army), 10-2; 213.75 - Dominic Black (Army) dec. Reese Andy (Excel), 4-3
Sunkist Kids 21, U.S. Olympic Training Center 9
119 - Sam Henson (Sunkist) pin Toby Lopez (USOTC), 1:57; 127.75 - Tony Purler (Sunkist) won by inj. dft. over Kerry Boumans (USOTC); 138.75 - Alan Fried (Sunkist) won by tech. fall over Simon Hoepfner (USOTC), 10-0, 2:16; 152 - Shannyn Gillespie (USOTC) won by tech. fall over Brian Van Hoven (Sunkist), 13-1, 1:41; 167.5 - Dan St. John (Sunkist) pin Sean Harrington (USOTC), 1:37; 187.25 - Barry Weldon (Sunkist) won by tech. fall over Brandon Alderman (USOTC), 10-0, 2:13; 213.75 - Melvin Douglas (Sunkist) won by tech. fall over Josh Hall (USOTC), 11-1, 4:26
U.S. Army 17, U.S. Olympic Training Center 10
119 - Donald Anderson (Army) pin Toby Lopez (USOTC), 4:09; 127.75 - Joel Stearns (Army) won by forfeit; 138.75 - Johnny Torres (Army) pin Simon Hoepfner (USOTC), 2:04; 152 - Kenny Johnson (USOTC) dec. John Morrello (Army), 3-0; 167.5 - Sean Harrington (USOTC) pin Ishmael Williams (Army); 187.25 - Brandon Alderman (USOTC) dec. Mike Mathers (Army), 11-2; 213.75 - Dominic Black (Army) pin Josh Hall (USOTC), 0:48
New York AC 18, Team Excel 8
119 - Kanamti Solomon (NYAC) won by tech. fall over Bryson Vasquez (Excel), 12-0; 127.75 - Tom Koch (NYAC) dec. Chuck Sheldon (Excel), 4-0; 138.75 - Florian Ghinea (NYAC) pin Reid Dellman (Excel), 1:40; 152 - Troy Sunderland (NYAC) won by inj. dft. over Ramico Blackmon (Excel); 167.5 - Tony Robie (NYAC) won by tech. fall over Cameron Paterson (Excel), 10-0, 2:42; 187.25 - John McGovern (Excel) won by inj. dft. over Craig Ramsey (NYAC); 213 - Reese Andy (Excel) won by forfeit