Minnesota wins first Greco-Roman Junior National Duals title in five years

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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
06/27/2003


Michael Felling became quite the hero on Thursday evening for the Minnesota Say Uncle team at the Greco-Roman Junior National Duals in Enid, Okla. Felling recorded a come-from-behind 8-7 win over Louis Socier of Michigan that was part of five straight wins for Minnesota in its 35-26 win over Michigan.    The win gave Minnesota its first Greco-Roman National Duals title in five years, while also knocking defending champion Michigan off its throne.    Trailing 5-1 in the second period, Felling chipped away at Socier's lead, scoring on a gut wrench to tie the match with one minute remaining. Late in the match, a wild scramble ensued, and while Felling and Socier traded two-point scores, but Felling was also awarded one more point for finishing the scramble on top.    The win cut Michigan's lead to 25-20 and began an onslaught of pins and technical superiority wins by the Minnesota wrestlers.    Minnesota jumped out of the gate quick with technical superiority wins by Derek Stolarzyk at 98 lbs. and Seth Flodeen at 105 lbs., but Junior national champion Paul Donahoe got things rolling for Michigan with a 5-1 win at 112 lbs.    The dual meet see-sawed back and forth from the point on.    Michigan made a big run in the middle of the dual meet, winning four consecutive matches, led by Cadet All-American Brent Metcalf, who scored a quick 10-0 win at 140 lbs., and Curtis Roddy, who recorded a 10-0 win at 145 lbs.    Junior national runner-up Jon May finished the dual meet off for Minnesota, pounding his way to a 10-0 win at 275 lbs. to cap off the state's first Greco-Roman dual national title in five years.    Pennsylvania forfeited their dual against the Florida Orange team, giving Florida third place. The Wisconsin Mosquitoes defeated the California Heat 33-28 for fifth place and New York uNYted defeated Arizona 31-29 for seventh place.    Overall, 26 teams competed in the Greco-Roman Junior National Duals. Competition was intense and possible the closest it has ever been in the Greco-Roman division.    "We have never had this many good teams, all with a chance to win the team title," stated Archie Randall, tournament director. "Michigan, who placed a close second, dropped a dual to the team that placed seventh. We had a lot more matches going the full six minutes and beyond. That says a lot about the level that Greco-Roman wrestling is starting to reach in this country."    The freestyle Junior National Duals will get underway on Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.    Minnesota Say Uncle 35, Michigan 26  98 - Derek Stolarzyk (Minn.) tech. fall Devon Childress (Mich.), 11-0, 1:41  105 - Seth Flodeen (Minn.) tech. fall Chris Zambrana (Mich.), 14-3, 3:19  112 - Paul Donahoe (Mich.) dec. Zac Bigboy (Minn.), 5-1  119 - Brandon Kinney (Mich.) by fall over Jayson Ness (Minn.), 0:58  125 - Tyler Safratowich (Minn.) dec. Paul Lyons (Mich.), 7-6, ot  130 - Will O'Neil (Mich.) dec. Ryan Adams (Minn.), 9-1  135 - Tim Ebenhoeh (Mich.) dec.  T.J. Parlin (Minn.), 7-1  140 - Brent Metcalf (Mich.) tech. fall Levi Price (Minn.), 10-0  145 - Curtis Roddy (Mich.) tech. fall Justin Hulegaard (Minn.), 10-0, 1:22  152 - Mike Quamme (Minn.) dec. Bob Gingerich (Mich.), 5-1  160 - Michael Felling (Minn.) dec. Louis Socier (Mich.), 8-7  171 - Cory Harnitz (Minn.) by fall over Jesse Reader (Mich.), 1:20  189 - Jeremy Pederson (Minn.) tech. fall Jeff O'Mara (Mich.), 10-0, 4:17  215 - Justin Bronson (Minn.) dec. Ryan Frost (Mich.), 8-1  275 - Jon May (Minn.) tech. fall Joe Wood (Mich.), 10-0