Hrovat, Tannenbaum Earn Most Outstanding At 2002 Freestyle University Nationals and FILA Cadet Frees

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
05/05/2002


Evanston, Ill. - The 2002 University Freestyle Nationals and FILA Cadet Freestyle Nationals came to a close on Sunday morning. All four returning University champions won individual titles again, and while four wrestlers, combined from both age groups, became double-champions on the weekend.    Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./Cliff Keen WC), a 2001 champion, won Most Outstanding Wrestler honors after capturing the 74 kg title. He defeated Scott Owen (DeKalb, Ill./N. Illinois) 9-4.    Hrovat took early control of his match, taking a 3-0 lead after locking up a bear hug and driving Owen to the mat. Later in the first period, Owen was called for fleeing the mat. Hrovat was then able to score three more exposure points to take a 7-2 lead.    Sal Gonzalez (Fresno, Calif./Fresno State) became the first repeat champion, and wasted no time in doing it. He won by technical fall over Tim Morris (Pittsfield, Mass./Down East Stormers) in just 1:12 at 50 kg.    Also repeating as a champion was 60 kg Chris Fleeger (Trout Run, Penn./OSWC), who escaped through a tough match with Urijah Faber (Dave Schultz WC), 5-2. Fleeger took a 2-1 lead into the second period, but opened his lead up by scoring two exposure points on a leg lace and another point after Faber was called for fleeing the mat later in the period.    At 120 kg, Andy Bowlby (Newburg, Ore./Orange Crush) pinned Kellan Fluckiger (Preston, Id./Sunkist Kids WC) in the first minute of the second period. The pin gave Bowlby his second consecutive Freestyle championship, and his second individual title of the weekend. He captured the 120 kg Greco-Roman division on Friday morning.    In one of the most exciting matches of the session, Damion Hahn (Lakewood, NJ/Minnesota Storm) defeated Chris Pendleton (Lemoore, Calif./Gator WC), 13-5. Pendleton raced out to an early 5-0 lead after scoring takedowns on two inside-trips, the second of which resulted in exposure points as well.    Hahn battled back, though, taking Pendleton to his back off a takedown, and then scoring on a gut wrench to take a 7-5 lead. It was all Hahn in the second period, though, as he was able to get deep on Pendleton's legs throughout the entire period, scoring takedown after takedown in the win.    At 66 kg, John Giacche (Evanston, Ill./Wildcat WC) held on for a 10-6 win over Jeremy Spates (Norman, Okla./Missouri).    Giacche took an 8-0 lead midway through the first period with a takedown and three different tilts. A Spates reversal seemed to give him life, though, as he would follow that up with two more takedowns to cut the lead to 8-3 heading into the next period.    In the second period, Spates scored again on a takedown, but as was the case in the first period, he was unable to score exposure points from par terre, and the lead remained. Giacche closed out the match with two more takedowns to seal the win.    The powerful Jon Trenge (Bethlehem, Penn./Lehigh WC) defeated David Sandberg (Spokane, Wash./Pittsburgh WC) by technical fall in only 1:07 at 96 kg.    At 55 kg, Kyle Ott (Huber Heights, Ohio/Unatt.) won by forfeit over Nick Simmons (Williamston, Mich./Michigan WC) after Simmons did not show up for his match.    In Cadet Freestyle action, Nick Gallick (Tucson, Ariz.), Angel Cejudo (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Nick Hayes (Council Bluffs, Ia.) were all double-champions on the weekend.    Gallick defeated Mike Bizzle (Tulsa, Okla.) at 46 kg by a 4-1 score. Bizzle was the same opponent Gallick beat to win the Greco-Roman division.    Cejudo, competing at 58 kg, won with ease by defeating Joe Gomez (Carol Stream, Ill.), 8-1.    Hayes held on late for a 7-5 win over David Craig (Brandon, Fl.) at 69 kg.    Arizona and Iowa were the only two states with two Cadet Freestyle champions. Matt Fields (Lowden, Ia.), who won by technical fall at 100 kg, joined Hayes as the other champion from Iowa.    In the feature Cadet match, Eric Tannenbaum (Naperville, Ill.) and Alex Tsirtsis (Griffith, Ind.) had a barn burner of a match. The two went into overtime tied at 3-3. Midway through the extra session, Tannenbaum was able to spin behind Tsirtsis after a Tsirtsis shot to win the match 4-3.    Tannenbaum was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler.