Andy Simmons' Greco-Roman Return Crucial For Michigan In Winning Junior National Dual Championship
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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
06/28/2002
Enid, Okla. - Andy Simmons of Williamston had not wrestled a Greco-Roman match in five years. There was no evidence of Simmons being rusty, though, as he earned a first-period pin to give Michigan their first lead over Minnesota in the Greco-Roman Junior National Dual championship. Michigan would not lose that lead in a 36-24 win over Minnesota to claim their first ever Greco-Roman Junior National Duals title. "The coaches needed me," Simmons said. "They asked me to wrestle Greco. It was weird at first, but I got kind of used to it after a while. The most important thing was that we won, though." The state of Minnesota had won the Greco-Roman Junior National Dual championship six times going into Thursday's meeting with Michigan in Enid, Okla. For a few moments, it appeared the Big Red Storm would make it seven. Minnesota raced out to a 14-2 lead after four bouts, but Michigan won 8 out of the next 10 matches to seal the win. Michigan becomes just the fourth state to win the Greco-Roman crown. After losses by Matt Herron (Davison) at 98 lbs., Paul Donahoe (Davison) at 105 lbs., Brandon Kinney (Lowell) at 112 lbs. and Eric Nartker (Shepherd) at 119 lbs., national title hopes looked bleak for Michigan. Both Kinney and Nartker were able to score team points for Michigan, though. In Greco-Roman wrestling, a style where only upper body holds and throws are allowed to be executed, a wrestler's team will earn a team point in a loss if that wrestler scored in the match. But throughout the tournament, Michigan had relied on the strength of the middle of their lineup, and that is exactly what happened in this dual. 125-pound Ryan Froese (Howard City) calmed the storm for Michigan, pulling out a 5-0 win over Josh Lindquist. The win cut the lead to 14-5 heading into the middle of the lineup for Michigan. Davison's Chase Metcalf got the Michigan contingent on their feet in his 130-pound match. Metcalf, who will attend the University of Michigan next fall, wasted no time in pinning Travis Pesta in 22 seconds. Metcalf's younger brother Brent cut the Minnesota lead to 14-13 after a first-period pin over Chris Anderson. At 140 pounds, Simmons gave Michigan the lead for good with a pin over Brandon Girtz in just under two minutes. Bob Gingerich (Lowell) gave Michigan their fifth consecutive win with a 13-3 technical superiority over Andy Quittschreiber. Michigan sealed the win with pins by John Cox (Grand Haven) at 160 lbs., Roger Kish (Lapeer) at 189 lbs. and Ryan Frost (Shepherd) at 215 lbs. Kish's pin gave Michigan an insurmountable 31-21 lead heading into the 215-pound bout, sparking a celebration on the Michigan bench. The dual heated up at 171 pounds between Casey Streeter (Davison) and Jeremy Pederson of Minnesota. With Minnesota trailing 26-18, desperation began to set in. While Streeter was warned for using his forearm against Pederson, the Minnesota opponent was warned for holding Streeter's singlet. Both wrestlers began to yell at each other and at one point and Streeter had to be briefly restrained from his opponent. Things cooled off after the official penalized Streeter two points in his 6-2 loss. Clint DeGain (Clarkston) and Tyler Lentovich (Shepherd) also competed for the Michigan squad, both losing decisions. The Freestyle Junior National Dual Championships will begin on Friday afternoon. Michigan will now look to become the first team to ever win both the Greco-Roman and freestyle titles in the same year. "Nothing is impossible," Simmons said. "We have a lot of talent on this team and a lot of guys who want to win. You would be surprised how far that can carry a squad." Michigan also captured the Raleigh Hoover Award, given to the team who exhibits the best sportsmanship.