Gallick named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the 2003 Men's FILA Junior Freestyle World National Champ
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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
04/06/2003
Click Here for Photos April 5, 2003 - The numbers were higher and so was the intensity for the freestyle portion of the 2003 Men's FILA Junior World National Championships in Chattanooga, Tenn. Nate Gallick (Tucson, Ariz./Cyclone WC) was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler after defeating 2002 Junior National champion Todd Meneely (Omaha, Neb./Hawkeye WC) 3-0 in overtime at 60 kg/132 lbs. Gallick held a 1-0 lead after regulation as the two went into the clinch. Right off the whistle, Gallick used an inside-trip to score a takedown on Meneely. He then scored the necessary third point on a gut wrench near the edge of the mat. Gallick is a redshirt freshman at Iowa State Univ. Gallick's college teammate, Kurt Backes (Neshanic Station, N.J./Cyclone WC), also came away with an individual title after a hard-fought 6-4 victory over J.D. Bergman (Oak Harbor, Ohio) at 84 kg/185 lbs. Mike Silengo (Baptist, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) also had to go into overtime to win the title. Silengo defeated Andrew Domingues (Santa Maria, Calif./Minnesota Storm) 10-9 at 55 kg/121 lbs. Silengo, a freshman at the Univ. of Pennsylvania, led the match 9-3 after the first period, but Domingues mounted a furious comeback, tying the match with five seconds remaining in regulation off a takedown and an exposure point. But in the extra period, Silengo wasted no time, getting deep on a single-leg and finishing for the one-point victory. Michigan State freshman Andy Simmons (Williamston, Mich./Michigan WC) dominated local wrestler Jake Yost (Soddy Daisy, Tenn./Chattanooga) with a 10-0 technical superiority win. 2002 Junior National champion Cole Konrad (New London, Wis./Minnesota Storm) had to hold off a late rally from Ty Watterson (Enumclaw, Wash./Orange Crush) in a 5-4 win at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Konrad is a freshman at the Univ. of Minnesota and Watterson is a freshman at Oregon State Univ. Simmons used two front-headlock throws to take a 7-0 lead and finished Yost off with two gut wrenches, all within the first minute of the match. Winning titles by fall were Paul Donahoe (Davison, Mich.) at 50 kg/110 lbs., Don Reynolds (New Lenox, Ill./Overtime WC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Joe Forsman (Army) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Donahoe won a Junior National title last year. This is the second straight season that Chattanooga has hosted this popular USA Wrestling event. Only wrestlers born 1983-1985 are eligible to compete in this event. These athletes will be competing in the Olympic styles of freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. The champion in each weight class qualifies for the 2003 Junior World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, August 22-29. Wrestlers who are the champions in both freestyle and Greco-Roman will be asked to choose one style to compete at the Junior World Championships. Donahoe and Conrad were the only double-champions.