The Northern Plains Regional Greco-Roman Tournament was held Thursday in LaCrosse, Wisc. The Regional Tournament, hosted by USA Wrestling, had a surge in participation, reflecting America's growing interest in Greco-Roman wrestling. Tournament organizer Dave Rudrud was pleased with the strong showing in Greco-Roman participation. "We really are happy with the increase in participation this year in both the Junior and Senior Greco Tournaments," said Rudrud The Senior Division, comprised of athletes past the high school age, had 39 registered participants, up from 24 a year ago. This year, USA Wrestling widened qualification for June's World Team Trials in Saint Paul, Minn. by allowing the champion of the Senior weight classes the opportunity to compete. In the Junior Division, 175 athletes wrestled in the Greco competition for older high school wrestlers. In 2001, 114 athletes wrestled in the Greco portion of the Northern Plains competition. The Northern Plains featured athletes from states such as North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. Two athletes from Florida also registered and wrestled in this annual USA Wrestling event. Top three place winners in each weight class receive an automatic bid to wrestle on their state team in Fargo at USA Wrestling's elite Junior National Championships held each July. Qualifying through the Regional Tournament allows each USA Wrestling state associations to field larger teams in Fargo, since Regional placers do not count against state association limits. The Outstanding Wrestler for the Senior Division was USOEC wrestler Jason Nunn from the USOEC in Marquette, Mich. who won the 74 kg/163 lbs. weight class with a 3-0 victory over Joe Manzello, also from the USOEC program. Both compete for NCEP Gold Certified Coach Ivan Ivanov at the USOEC. Independent wrestler Chris Steele in the 84 kg/184 lbs. class won the Gorriaran award for most falls in the least amount of time with three falls in 3:18. The Junior Division Outstanding Wrestler award went to Luke Smith of Wisconsin. Smith won the gold-medal match with a 10-0 technical fall of Corey Kaliva of Iowa in the 119-pound weight class. The Gorriaran Award went to Jason Lulloff of Wisconsin at 171 pounds with five falls in 2:24. NORTHERN PLAINS GRECO-ROMAN REGIONALS At LaCrosse, Wis., March 28 Junior Division 98 - 1st - Seth Flodeen (MN) pin Dennis Malone III (WI), 2:20; 3rd - Colby Roberts (WI) pin Shawn Paulsen (IA), 0:24; 5th - Brandon Schad (WI) pin Adam Ladinig (WI), 0:15 105 - 1st - Paul Donahoe (MI) pin Jay Ness (MN), 5:59; 3rd - Josh Hansen (WI); 4th - Michael Pearson (IL); 5th - Cody Collins (MN) 112 - 1st - Josh Crass (WI) dec. Adam Gottschauk (IA), 6-5; 3rd - Eric Metzler (WI) dec. Grant Johnson (MN), 9-4; 5th - Zach Bigboy (MN) pin Matt Redepenning (WI), 5:50 119 - 1st - Luke Smith (WI) won by tech. fall over Corey Kalina (IA), 10-0; 3rd - Jordan Crass (WI) pin Nathan Browning (OH), 2:49; 5th - Gabe Rostermundt (IA) dec. Josh Lindquist (MN), 6-5 125 - 1st - Josh Wagner (WI) won by tech. fall over Khalid Andwele (FL), 12-0; 3rd - Tyler McCormick (KS) dec. Cody Goessl (WI), 10-2; 5th - C.J. Ettelson (IA) won by tech. fall over Jake Lewis (WI), 22-10 130 - 1st - Joe Gomez (IL) dec. Aaron Scott (IA), 7-0; 3rd - T.J. Parlin (MN) won by tech. fall over Jackson Vantrece (KS), 11-1; 5th - Charlie Ettelson (IA) won by tech. fall over John Fradette (MN), 10-0 135 - 1st - Brent Metcalf (MI) won by tech. fall over Andrew Quittshreiber (MN), 11-0; 3rd - Brad Stockton (IA) won by tech. fall over Chris Gries (WI), 11-1; 5th - Matthew Jones (WI) won by tech. fall over Andy Moore (WI), 10-0 140 - 1st - Eric Tannenbaum (IL) won by tech. fall over Andrew Lukanich (IL), 10-0; 3rd - Adam Aho (MN) dec. Craig Henning, (WI), 3-3, ot; 5th - Dan Gerow (WI) won by tech. fall over Shawn Hemminger (MN), 10-0 145 - 1st - Rocky Cozart (FL) won by tech. fall over Matt Lapinski (WI), 10-0; 3rd - Jacob Naig (IA) won by tech. fall over Kevin Prindle (WI), 20-9; 5th - Justin Trveg (IA) pin Levi Price (MN), 0:22 152 - 1st - Jacob Curby (IL) won by inj. dft. over Jason Barber (WI); 3rd - Nick Hayes (IA) won by tech. fall over Greg Metzler (WI), 11-0; 5th - J.T. Getzke (MN) pin Brandon Kessenich (WI), 4:26 160 - 1st - J.D. Naig (IA) won by tech. fall over Michael Felling (MN), 10-0; 3rd - Brandon Ziegler (IA) pin Daniel Stenger (MN), 1:32; 5th - Omer Maktobi (IA); 6th - Jeremiah Nowak (WI) 171 - 1st - Jason Lulloff (WI) pin Lee Sparks (MI), 0:29' 3rd - Nick Ortman (IA) pin Nate Kocer (MN), 1:24; 5th - Jeremy Chavis (MN) pin Dave Early (IL), 1:50 189 - 1st - Adam Haake (MN) won by tech. fall over Brian Kienbaum (WI), 12-2; 3rd - Lars Neske (WI) pin Ben Kelto (MI), 2:32; 5th - Tyler Herring (WI) dec. Kelly Anderson (WI), 11-6 215 - 1st - Josh Reindl (IA) won by tech. fall over Justin Bronson (MN), 10-0; 3rd - Ben Janike (MN) pin James Petsinger (MN), 2:50; 5th - Harrison Hundt (WI) pin Zachary Ison (WI), 2:01 275 - 1st - Jon May (MN) dec. Chase Wetenkamp (WI), 9-0; 3rd - Josh Bresnahan (MN) dec. Logan Kling (ND), 2:12; 5th - Derik Liggett (WI) pin Brian Schoenherr (OH), 0:20 Outstanding Wrestler - Luke Smith (WI), 119 lbs. Most Falls - Jason Lulloff (WI), 5 falls in 2:24 at 171 pounds Senior Greco-Roman 55 kg - 1st - Joe Espinoza (USOEC) won by tech. fall over Jasper Hubbert (Wesac City), 11-1; 3rd - Corey Taylor (USOEC) 60 kg - 1st - Nate Piasecki (USOEC) pin Mervin Ford (USOEC), 5:36; 3rd - Willie Madison (Gator) won by tech. fall over Jose Martinez, 11-0 66 kg - 1st - Darnell Lollis (USOEC) won by tech. fall over Bobby Fisher (USOEC), 11-0; 3rd - Mark Rial (Cat WC) dec. Shane Skelson (Grizzly), 10-4 74 kg - 1st - Jason Nunn (USOEC) dec. Joe Manzello (USOEC), 3-0; 3rd - John Alexander (Minnesota Storm) dec. Mike Fiedler (BOD), 4-1 84 kg - 1st - Mike Mathews (Gator) dec. Justin Millard (New York AC), 7-1; 3rd - Chris Steele (Independent) pin Steve Kimpel, 2:36 96 kg - 1st - Brian Kraemer (Minnesota Storm) won by ref. dec. over Djoumessi Alain (Knight club), 3-3, ot; 3rd - RC Johnson (USOEC) dec. Sean Barnes (CLP), 12-10 120 kg - 1st - LeRoy Gardner (Knights WC) pin Mark Koler, 2:46