Stevenson, Pitsch among top stars at Western Junior Regional Greco-Roman Championships
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
04/24/2002
A pair of top high school stars were able to repeat as champions at the Western Junior Regional Greco-Roman Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., April 24. The two athletes who won Western Junior Greco-Roman titles last year and were able to return as champions were Eric Stevenson of Newburg, Ore. at 119 pounds and Patrick Pitsch of Tacoma, Wash. at 152 pounds. In a battle of nationally respected stars, Stevenson stopped Dustin Schlatter of Urbana, Ohio, 8-5 in the gold-medal finals. Pitsch was dominant in the finals with an 11-0 technical fall over Jacob Curby of LaGrange Ill., in 5:18. He was named Outstanding Wrestler for his achievements. Six wrestlers scored technical falls in the finals. Along with Pitsch were Nick Gallick of Tucson, Ariz. at 98 pounds, Casey Haight of Orem, Utah at 140 pounds, Alexander Pavlenko of Mesa, Ariz. at 160 pounds, Luke Hogle of Walterville, Ore. at 171 pounds and Bridger Sacher of Silverton, Ore. at 215 pounds. Scoring the only fall of the finals was Joshua Wagner of Milton, Wis., who pinned Rafael Chavez of Rock Springs, Wyo. in 1:05 at 125 pounds. The champion at 275 pounds, Arturo Basulto of California, won the Most Falls Award with five falls in 5:26. However, in the gold-medal round, he won with a tight 3-0 decision over Jon May of Hutchinson, Minn. In a competitive battle between top New York athletes at 130 pounds, Joey Whitaker of Queensbury, N.Y. edged Matthew Stuart of Niskayuna, N.Y., 9-8. Other individual champions were Bradley Pataky of Clearfield, Pa. at 105 pounds, Ben Kjar of Centerville, Utah at 112 pounds, Sean Santana of Keiser, Ore. at 135 pounds, Scott Loescher of Portland, Ore. at 145 pounds and Adam Haake of Winona, Minn. at 189 pounds A total of 357 entries from 28 states entered this year, an increase from last year's tournament of 46 participants.