Junior Greco-Roman Championships provide intense action across the board
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Jason Owens (USA Wrestling)
07/24/2001
Sam Hazewinkel (114.5) of Pensacola Fla. stood tallest Tuesday night at the Asics Junior National Greco-Roman Championships in Fargo, N.D. as he took first place and the Outstanding Wrestler award after defeating Corey Kalina (114.5) of Belle Plaine Iowa in the finals by a 10-0 technical fall in one minute and six seconds. Hazewinkel wasn't the only star of the night, though, as Cam Jones (132) of Sandy, Utah won his third straight Junior National Greco-Roman championship in a thrilling victory over defending champion and 2000 Outstanding Wrestler Harry Lester (132) of Akron, Ohio, 10-9. The match came down to the final seconds as Lester attempted a takedown at the buzzer that didn't score in time, leaving Jones with the gold medal. Travis Lee (123) of Honolulu, Hawaii became the Aloha State's first Greco-Roman Junior National Champion in grand style, defeating A.J. Lavender of Moline, Ill. by a 10-0 technical fall in 5:37. Minnesota claimed two champions in Gabriel Mooney (98 pounds) and Matt Nagel (154 pounds), both of whom won without allowing a point. Mooney, who is from Greenbush and was a 2000 National Greco-Roman Cadet champion and freestyle runner-up, blanked Luke Seger (98) of Martinsville, Ind. 10-0 in a four-minute technical fall victory. Nagel shut out Robb Maxwell (154) of Sandy, Utah 4-0 to claim his third consecutive Greco-Roman National championship. Two California wrestlers went head to head in one of the most closely contested bouts of the night as Ryan Halsey (178) of Oceanside squeaked by Kenny Cook(178) of Freemont 3-2 to claim gold. K.C. Walsh (191.5) of Tacoma, Wash. won the only overtime bout of the night over Jeff Clemmons of Bellbrook, Ohio 2-1 to earn his first Junior National Greco-Roman title. Other winners on the night were Brock Zollinger (105.5) of Boise, Idaho with a 14-4 technical fall victory over Alex Contreras of Phoenix, Ariz.; Trent Paulson (143) of Council Bluffs, Iowa pinning Zach Lamano (143) of Layton, Utah in 1:08; Matt Herrington (165) of Cambridge, N.Y. with a 9-4 decision over Darin Harris of West Valley, Utah (165); Matt Feast (220) of Schuylkill Haven, Pa. defeating Chris Skretkowicz (220) of Hamburg, N.J., 3-1; and Devin Kraege (275) of Ringle, Wis., who took the heavyweight title over teammate Cole Konrad of New London. Akil Patterson of Maryland claimed the Gorrarian Trophy for most falls with six in four minutes and 20 seconds en route to his fourth place heavyweight finish, and the wrestlers of team Michigan won the spirit award with their support and energy for their teammates. Action continues Wednesday in Fargo as the Cadet freestyle wrestlers take the mat for wall to wall action in the FargoDome.