Hill,Vering and Plienis claim double titles at 1997 Espoir Nationals and Junior World Team Trials held at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- T.J. Hill (Farmington, Mo./MAWA), Brad Vering (Howells, Neb./Husker WC) and J.R. Plienis (Edgemere, Md./Husker WC) claimed double titles at the 1997 Espoir National Championships, held at Purdue University.
Hill, Vering and Plienis won the freestyle competition, Saturday, May 17, and won three Greco-Roman competition on Sunday and now qualify to represent the United States in one of the international styles at the 1997 Junior World Wrestling Championships in August.
By winning both styles, the three wrestlers must choose what style they want to compete in. The runner-up in the style they don't choose will be named the world team member at that weight.
The Espoir Nationals feature many of the best wrestlers in the United States between 17-20 years old. This year the winner of the Espoir National Championships will qualify to represent the U.S. at the World Junior Wrestling Championships to be held in Turku, Finland, August 9-19.
FILA, the international federation has changed its age levels for international wrestling. The Espoir level has been eliminated, and the FILA Junior level has been adjusted to include wrestlers aged 17-20.
Hill increased his national age group championship total to seven and has now claimed double titles on the Cadet, Junior and Espoir levels. Hill scored a 10-0 technical fall decision over Eddie Shutty of Parma, Ohio to win the 108 pound title.
Univ. of Nebraska teammates Vering and Plienis continued their championship count by winning the Greco-Roman competition, and have now claimed double championships at the Junior and Espoir levels.
Vering scored a 4-1 decison over Eric Swick of Delafield, Wis. at 182.5 pounds. Vering was named the Outstanding Wrestler at the tournament.
Plienis claimed the 253 pound title with a 12-1 technical fall win over Dave Clymer of Hastings, Minn.
Corey Posey (Columbia, Tenn./NYAC) claimed victory at the Espoir Nationals for the second straight year. Posey, a runner-up at the 1996 Junior Nationals, qualified for his first world team with a 9-0 decision over Ruben Saldana of Ft. Benning, Ga. at 154 pounds.
Other winners in the Greco-Roman competition on Sunday include Darnell Lollis (Harvey, Ill./Twisters) at 123.25 pounds, Lance Weber (Des Plaines, Ill./Wildcat WC) at 132 pounds, Luis Blanco (San Bernadino, Calif./Cyclone) at 143 pounds, Tom Ciezki (Evergreen Park, Ill./Wildcat) at 167.25 pounds and Justin Ruiz (Salt Lake City, Utah/Elite) at 198 pounds.
The Wildact wrestling club claimed the team title, scoring 50 points Minnesota Storm placed second with 42 points and the Cyclone wrestling club took third place with 33 points.
1997 Espoir Greco-Roman Nationals and Junior World Team Trials
West Lafayette, Ind., May 18, 1997
Final Results
49 kg./108 lbs. - 1st - T.J. Hill, Farmington, Mo. (MAWA) won by tech. fall over Eddie Shutty, Parma, Ohio (unattached), 10-0; 3rd - Ryan Lewis, Vernal, Utah (unattached) pin Davey Starks, Stoughton, Wis. (Wisconsin), 1:32; 5th - John Hammer, Suisun, Calif. (California) dec. Todd Thompson, Milan, Ill. (Moline Tigers), 13-4; 7th - Michael Bravo, Tucson, Ariz. won by tech. fall over Lawrence Levinstone, Cedar Knolls, N.J. (NFJ), 13-2
52 kg./114.5 lbs. - 1st - Brady Jones, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sundance) dec. Aaron Holker, Orem, Utah (Wasatch), 7-2; 3rd - Chris Williams, Perry, Mich. (unattached) dec. Nathan Martinez, Aurora, Ill. (unattached), 13-7; 5th - Leroy Vega, Valparaiso, Ind. (Portage) dec. Josh Buchanan, Farmington, Mo. (MAWA), 6-4; 7th - Evan Larkin, Vail, Ariz. (unattached) dec. Mark Siwek, Pompton Plains, N.J. (NFJ), 10-8
56 kg./123.25 lbs. - 1st - Darnell Lollis, Harvey, Ill. (Twisters) won by tech. fall over Antonio Banvelos, Fresno, Calif. (Golden Eagles), 13-3; 3rd - Brett Lawrence, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Ben Peake, Shoreview, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 6-1; 5th - William Gustafson, Ft. Benning, Ga. (Army) dec. James Hamfeldt, Morristown, N.J. (Lehigh), 5-1; 7th - Shad Olivera, Modesto, Calif. (unattached) won by inj. def.
60 kg./132 lbs. - 1st - Lance Weber, Des Plaines, Ill. (Wildcat WC) won by tech. fall over Scott Munsey, Rockville, Md. (Huskey), 10-0; 3rd - Dave Stoltz, Mt. Prospect, Ill. (Wildcats) dec. Matt Goldstein, Riverwoods, Ill. (Wisconsin), 4-3 ot; 5th - Jared Lawrence, Sandpoint, Idaho (Minnesota Storm) dec. Luke Bailey, Richland Center, Wis. (unattached), 7-6; 7th - Mike Mier, Salem, Ore. (Univ. of Oregon) won by inj. def. over Brian Strain, (Minnesota Storm)
65 kg./143 lbs. - 1st - Luis Blanco, San Bernadino, Calif. (Cyclone) won by tech. fall over Patrick Cadwallader, Anaheim, Calif. (So. California), 11-0; 3rd - Josh Krebs, Minot, N.D. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Brandon McNab, Malone, Wis. (Dave Schultz WC), 10-1; 5th - Mitch Marr, Wyoming, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) won by inj. def. over Tommy Lee, Oak Forest, Ill. (Univ. of Ill.); 7th - Don Pool, Glendale Heights, Ill. (E. Illinois) pin Mark Rial, Ft. Dodge, Iowa (Iowa), 0:13
70 kg./154 lbs. - 1st - Cory Posey, Columbia, Tenn. (NYAC) dec. Ruben Saldana, Ft. Benning, Ga. (Army), 9-0; 3rd - Cole Sanderson, Heber City, Utah (Cyclone) won by tech. fall over Matthew Lackey, Moline, Ill. (Moline Tigers), 12-0; 5th - Ethan Harris, West alley City, Utah won by inj. def. over John Alexander, Minnesota City, Minn. (Minnesota Storm); 7th - Wayne Mooney, Greenbush, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) won by tech. fall over Hank Weiss, Tigard, Ore. (unattached), 11-1
76 kg./167.25 lbs. - 1st - Tom Ciezki, Evergreen Park, Ill. (Wildcat) pin Otto Olson, Everett, Wash. (Cliff Keen), 0:47; 3rd - Patrick Owens, Quantico, Va. (Marines) dec. Ben Schwab, Belle Plaine, Ill. (Cyclone), 7-0; 5th - Vance Kirar, Oak Lawn, Ill. (Ringers) dec. Joe Manzello, Leominster, Mass. (Northeast Storm), 5-0; 7th - Brenton Gabbert, Vernon, Texas (Texas) pin Ian Nelms, Woodlake, Calif. (California), 0:23
83 kg./182.5 lbs. - 1st - Brad Vering, Howells, Neb. (Husker WC) dec. Eric Swick, Delafield, Wis. (Ringers), 4-0; 3rd - Nate Patrick, Naperville, Ill. (unattached) dec. Joel Goeden, (Wildcat WC), 3-1; 5th - Jessman Smith, Des Moines, Iowa (RAM) dec. Joe Alessio, Joliet, Ill. (unattached), 11-3; 7th - Brady Wegesin, Galion, Ohio (Eagle) pin Brian Dean, Clio, Mich. (Michigan State), 2:37
90 kg./198 lbs. - 1st - Justin Ruiz, Salt Lake City, Utah (Elite) dec. Shane Zajac, Mokena, Ill. (Oregon State), 6-3; 3rd - Chael Sonnen, (Penninsula) pin Joe DeGain, (Cliff Keen), 0:22; 5th - Brandon Ruiz, Salt Lake City, Utah (Elite) dec. Doug Lee, Central Point, Ore. (Oregon), 10-5; 7th - Ryan Rettke, Birchwood, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Mike Schnieder, Elk Grove Village, Ill. (Ringer), 9-0
115 kg./253 lbs. - 1st - J.R. Plienis, Edgemere, Md. (Husker WC) won by tech. fall over Dave Clymer, Hastings, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 12-1; 3rd - Trent Hynek, Suisher, Iowa (Cyclone) pin Bronson Lingamfelter, Boxborough, Mass. (Massachussets), 1:39; 5th - Benjamin Bertelsman, Belleville, Ill. (Belleville) won by inj. def. over Billy Blunt, Modesto, Calif. (unattached); 7th - Mike Mondt, Eugene, Ore. (Oregon) dec. Chris Dougherty, (UNI), 4-1
Team Scores: 1st - Wildcat WC, 50; 2nd - Minnesota Storm, 42; 3rd - Cyclone, 33; 4th - Husker, 29
Outstanding Wrestler: Brad Vering, Howells, Nebraska (Husker WC)
Most Falls Award: Chael Sonnen, Tulautin, Ore. (Penninsula), 4 falls in 3:41