Live Coverage of Midlands Championship Finals

<< Back to Articles
John Fuller (TheMat.com)
12/29/2002


125: Travis Lee (Cornell) dec. Luke Eustice (Iowa), 9-3  Lee scored midway through the first period on an inside trip at the edge of the mat. While trying to arch for an escape, Lee sucked Eustice back to the mat and scored two nearfall points in the process, extending his lead to 4-0. In the second period, Eustice chose bottom and earned his second escape of the match to cut the lead to 4-2. Eustice was able to get in deep on a double-leg, but Lee wrapped his legs around Eustice to force a stalemate. Later in the period, Eustice got in deep on a single-leg, but was unable to gain control as Lee fought off the takedown attempt for the final 30 seconds of the period. In the third, Lee chose bottom and scored an escape to extend his lead to 5-2. 30 seconds into the period, Lee finished a low double-leg at the edge of the mat for a 7-2 lead. Lee added another takedown at the end of the period.    133: Foley Dowd (Michigan) dec. Zach Roberson (Iowa St.), 6-4  With 15 seconds remaining in the first period, Dowd finished a single-leg with a trip to take a 2-0 lead over Roberson heading into the second period. In the second, Roberson chose bottom and quickly earned an escape to cut the lead to 2-1. Midway through the period, Roberson finished a single-leg to take his first lead of the match, 3-2. Dowd added an escape of his own to tie the match at 3-3. In the third, Dowd chose bottom and earned another escape to take a 4-3 lead. Roberson then overshot a double-leg and Dowd was able to sprawl away and lock up a cradle, but the official called a stalemate before he could turn him.    141: Dylan Long (N. Iowa) dec. Dana Holland (Ariz. St.), 3-1  Long got deep on a single-leg in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. In the third, Holland chose bottom and earned an escape to cut the lead to 2-1. Neither wrestler was able to score the rest of the period despite a couple of good flurries. In the third, Long chose bottom and scored an escape to extend his lead to 3-1. He was able to hold off Holland's attack the rest of the match.    149: Dustin Manotti (Cornell) dec. John Fisher (Sunkist Kids), 5-3  After holding off a couple of deep shots by Manotti, Fisher finally got in deep on a single-leg, but the two went off the mat before he could score. In the second period, Fisher chose bottom and quickly earned an escape for a 1-0 lead. Manotti continue to be the aggressor, getting deep on another double-leg and then finishing a single-leg by putting Fisher to his back midway through the period. After the smoke cleared, Manotti led 5-1 going into the third period. In the third period, Manotti chose neutral. With 20 seconds remaining, Fisher was able to finish a single-leg, but could not turn Manotti for back points.    157: Keaton Anderson (Ohio St.) dec. Gray Maynard (Michigan St.), 9-6  Anderson started the match with a takedown for a 2-0 lead. Maynard then earned an escape to cut the lead to 2-1. Countering an Anderson shot, Maynard was able to spin around Anderson for a takedown and his first lead of the match, 3-2. Maynard then used a tilt for two nearfall points and a 5-2 advantage. In the second period, Anderson chose bottom and after Maynard rode him for the first 40 seconds of the period, he scored an escape to cut the lead to 5-3. With three seconds left in the period, Anderson got deep on a double-leg and finished it at the edge of the mat to tie the score at 5-5 going into the third period. In the third, Maynard chose bottom and quickly earned an escape to retake the lead at 6-5. With 25 seconds left in the match, Anderson shot a double-leg. Maynard attempted to use an underhook to throw him to his back, but Anderson rolled through and put Maynard on his back for a takedown and two nearfall points.    165: Matt Lackey (Illinois) dec. Joe Heskett (Sunkist Kids), 9-5  After a scoreless first period that saw a serious chess match from these two adversaries, Heskett chose bottom in the second period and quickly earned an escape for a 1-0 lead. Lackey was then able to lift a single-leg and trip Heskett near the edge of the mat, taking a 2-1 lead. Heskett quickly earned an escape to tie the match at 2-2. In the third, Lackey chose bottom and earned an escape to take a 3-2 lead. Lackey then got deep on a double-leg and finished by putting Heskett to his back, scoring two nearfall points in the process. The flurry gave Lackey a 7-3 lead. Heskett got back into the match, scoring a reversal to cut the lead to 7-5 with 32 seconds remaining. Lackey earned an escape with 14 seconds remaining for an 8-5 lad, and on the ensuing whistle, Heskett was given his third caution, awarding another point to Lackey.    174: Joe Williams (Sunkist Kids) dec. Tyler Nixt (Iowa), 6-3  Williams, with stitches under his eye after getting accidentally kicked in the face in the semifinals, scored twice on double-legs for a 4-1 lead after the first period. In the second, Nixt chose bottom and earned an escape to cut the lead to 4-2. Williams added another takedown to extend his lead to 6-3 going into the final period. Williams becomes the first wrestler in Midlands history to win nine straight titles.    184: Jessman Smith (Iowa) dec. Clint Wattenberg (Cornell), 6-5  Wattenberg finished a single-leg at the edge of the mat with 45 seconds remaining in the first period for a 2-0 lead. Smith earned an escape to cut the lead to 2-1 heading into the second period. In the second, Smith chose bottom and earned another escape to tie the match at 2-2. Midway through the second, Smith was able to lift a single-leg and finish for a 4-2 lead. Wattenberg scored an escape to cut the lead to 4-3. In the third period, Wattenberg chose bottom and earned an escape to tie the match at 4-4. With one minute remaining, Smith got deep on a single leg, and after Wattenberg used a whizzer to battle off the first attack, Smith tripped Wattenberg to finish the takedown for a 6-4 lead.    197: Jon Trenge (Lehigh) dec. Lee Fullhart (Gator WC), 4-1  In the second period of a scoreless match, Fullhart chose bottom. Trenge locked up a cradle and turned Fullhart for three nearfall points and a 3-0 lead. Trenge rode Fullhart out for the remainder of the period. In the third, Trenge chose bottom and earned an escape midway through the period.    285: Steve Mocco (Iowa) dec. Tommy Rowlands (Ohio St.), 4-2  Twice in the first period, Rowlands was able to get deep on shots, but both times Mocco sprawled and his strength stopped Rowlands in his tracks. In the second, Rowlands chose bottom. After 30 seconds, Mocco let Rowlands up, giving Rowlands a 1-0 lead. A second warning against Rowlands for backing out of bounds tied the match at 1-1. In the third, Mocco chose bottom and earned an escape to take a 2-1 lead. With 15 seconds remaining, Mocco spun behind a Rowlands shot and took a 4-1 lead with the takedown. The match ended with the two trading shoves and Rowlands taking an extra shot towards Mocco.