Cejudo, Nickerson repeat as Cadet National Greco-Roman champions; Four remain alive to the quest to

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
07/21/2003


Henry Cejudo of Arizona and Troy Nickerson of New York won titles for the second straight year, with dominant performances at the ASICS/Vaughan Cadet National Greco-Roman Championships at the FargoDome at North Dakota State Univ. in Fargo, N.D., July 21.    Cejudo won his second straight gold medal with a flair, defeating Adam Smetana of Pennsylvania by technical fall, 15-0 in 2:57 at 105 pounds. He hit a five-point reverse lift throw in the first period to open an 8-0 lead at break, then closed the match out with another five-point reverse lift throw.    He went through the entire tournament without giving up a point, and based upon that dominance, Cejudo was named Outstanding Wrestler of the competition.    Nickerson scored a number of tilts in the opening session to jump to 7-0 first period lead over Matt Vacanti of Nebraska at 112 pounds. In the second period, Vacanti hit a three-point exposure from the feet to tighten the score, but Nickerson went on to a solid 8-3 win.    This will be the first year that there will be the chance for Cadet wrestlers to win the coveted Triple Crown, with titles in folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman in the same year. For the first time, USA Wrestling hosted a Cadet Folkstyle Nationals Tournament, which was held in Kansas in April.    Four wrestlers added a Cadet Greco-Roman National title to their Cadet Folkstyle crown this year, completing the first two legs of the Cadet Triple Crown: Donny Altman of Kansas (84), Scott O'Donnell of Missouri (91), Louis Caputo of Missouri (171) and Taylor Moore of Missouri (189).    A first-period hip toss gave Altman a big early lead, and he controlled the action for a 6-0 decision over Jake Quinten of Kansas.     O'Donnell used a huge five-point back souplesse throw to jump to a 7-0 first period lead, then held the match scoreless in the second period to beat Pat McCaffrey of Pennsylvania, 7-0. McCaffrey was a Cadet National freestyle champion last year, and was third in last year's Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman.    Caputo took it to Seth Parker of Indiana immediately, taking him down and turning him a number of times for a 10-0 technical fall in just 1:17. Caputo was also second at the 2002 Cadet Nationals in freestyle.    Moore defeated James Aston of Texas in the finals, 5-1. Moore hit a three-point throw and two one-point lifts in the first period for a 5-0 lead at the break, then held off Aston's second period attack for the win. This was a rematch of the finals at the Cadet Folkstyle Nationals in Kansas, also won by Moore,    There was some tremendous action in the finals round, the first of five gold-medal finals during the Cadet/Junior Nationals week.    In a match of two super talents at 160 pounds, Alton Lucas of New York hit a three-point headlock from the clinch to break a scoreless tie, and held on to defeat David Craig of Florida, 4-1. Lucas was a FILA Cadet National champion in both styles in 2003. Craig had won the 2003 Cadet Folkstyle National title, and the loss stopped his quest for the Triple Crown. Craig was also a Cadet National freestyle champion last year.    Jumping to a 5-0 lead at the break, Mike Thorn of Minnesota went on to shut our Levi Jones of Washington, 8-0 at 98 pounds. Thorn was a Cadet National runner-up last year in Greco-Roman.    Hitting a two-point gut wrench with just four seconds left on the clock, Jake Swenson of Utah scored a 6-5 comeback win over Jayson Ness of Minnesota at 119 pounds. In 2002, Ness was a Cadet National freestyle champion.     Trailing 1-0 in the second period, Dallas Seavey of Alaska hit a three-point throw in the final minute and went on to a 4-2 victory over Garrett Scott of Pennsylvania at 125 pounds. He became the first Cadet National champion from Alaska. Seavey was sixth in the Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman last year. Scott was a Cadet National freestyle champion last year.    Matt Lopez of Arizona claimed the 130-pound title with a 5-3 win over Brandon Sitch of Washington. Lopez hit a gut wrench in the first period and a headlock in the second period for the key scoring moves.    In an all-Pennsylvania finals, Tim McGoldrick defeted Jeff  Warusz, 4-0 at 135 pounds. The key was a three-point throw by McGoldrick in the first period.    The Keystone state followed with another title at 140 pounds, as Matt Dragon of Pennsylvania scored a rapid 10-0 technical fall over John Dibala of Oregon in 51 seconds at 140 pounds. Dragon hit a three-point throw, then a series of exposure techniques to put Dibala away. Dragon was fifth in both styles as last year's Cadet Nationals.    Kyle Bounds of Washington scored a three-point throw off the clinch to start the second period, breaking a scoreless tie, and went on defeat Brett Ambrosino of Illinois, 10-1 at 145 pounds. Bounds was a Cadet National Greco-Roman runner-up last year.    Brandon Simpson of Missouri scored nine first period points, and went on to score an 11-1 technical fall win at 4:00 over Paul Vazquez of Arizona at 152 pounds.    In an all-California finals at 215 pounds, Erik Nye and Robby Smith went to the clinch after a scoreless first period. Nye scored the first point, blocking a Smith throw attempt. The match went into overtime with Nye leading 1-0. In just eight seconds, Nye scored a takedown and a one-point turn for the necessary three points and a 3-0 win at 4:08.    The finals at 275 pounds also went to the clinch after a scoreless first period between Justin Neal of Maryland and Aaron Shiosaki of California. Neal countered a headlock attempt for the takedown and a 1-0 lead. Without the mandatory three points, the match went to overtime and another clinch. Shiosaki broke his hand hold and Neal scored another point for a 2-0 lead. Neal won the match on a bodylock takedown, for a 3-0 win at 5:37.