NCAA CHAMPIONS SMITH, STEINER, WELDON WIN BOUTS AT TEAM EXCEL SUPER CHALLENGE IN ARVADA, COLO., FEB. 15Three former NCAA champions claimed victories in a six-match freestyle wrestling exhibition, the Team Excel Super Challenge, at Arvada High School in Colorado, Feb. 15. The friendly dual meet was sponsored by Team Excel, a successful national-level wrestling club based in Colorado.
The former NCAA champions who claimed wins were Pat Smith (Stillwater, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 167.5 pounds, Troy Steiner (Madison, Wis./Team Excel) at 138.75 pounds and Barry Weldon (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 187.25 pounds.
Smith defeated Jason Kraft (Holtsville, N.Y.), 8-2. Smith was a four-time NCAA champion for Oklahoma State and was second in the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Kraft was a standout for the Univ. of Nebraska.
Steiner scored a 10-0 technical fall over Univ. of Wyoming wrestler Zac Stratton (Laramie, Wyo./Cowboy WC) in 4:40. Steiner was an NCAA champion for the Univ. of Iowa, and won a World Cup gold medal in 1992.
Weldon, a 1997 NCAA champion for Iowa State, defeated two-time NCAA runner-up Reese Andy (Laramie, Wyo./Cowboy WC), 3-0 in overtime. Weldon was a high school state champion from Englewood, Colo.
One of the bouts featured an international matchup, as Kerry Boumans (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) scored a 10-0 technical fall over Ricky Hafner of Switzerland at 127.75 pounds.
Other winners included Ramico Blackmon (Colorado Springs, Colo./Michigan WC) at 152 pounds and Matt Johnson (Laramie, Wyo./Cowboy WC) at 187.25 pounds.
Over 700 fans attended the Team Excel Super Challenge, which was taped by TCI Cable for broadcast in the Rocky Mountain area.
TEAM EXCEL SUPER CHALLENGE at Arvada, Colo., Feb. 15
152 - Ramico Blackmon, Colorado Springs, Colo., dec. Tony DeAnda, Sioux City, Iowa, 10-0, 2:49
187.25 - Matt Johnson, Laramie, Wyo., dec. Roy Dillow, Golden, Colo., 8-3
127.75 - Kerry Boumans, Colorado Springs, Colo., won by tech. fall over Ricky Hafner, Switzerland, 10-0, 3:49
167.5 - Pat Smith, Stillwater, Okla., dec. Jason Kraft, Holtsville, N.Y., 8-2
138.75 - Troy Steiner, Madison, Wis., won by tech. fall over Zac Stratton, Laramie, Wyo., 10-0, 4:40
187.25 - Barry Weldon, Ames, Iowa, dec. Reese Andy, Laramie, Wyo., 3-0, ot
Kids Exhibition match, 10 and under, 70 lbs. - David Marone, Broomfield, Colo., dec. Jake Anderson, Lakewood, Colo., 5-3, ot