Final Greco-Roman qualifiers for Olympic Trials determined at South Regional Trials in Kenner, La.

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
04/24/2004


The final seven qualifier for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials on Greco-Roman wrestling were determined at the South Regional Olympic Team Trials event in Kenner, La., April 23.    Champions at each weight class have progressed to the Challenge Tournament at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Indianapolis, Ind., May 21-23. This is the last qualifying competition for the Olympic Trials.    Among the individual champions was former U.S. Nationals runner-up Kenny Owens (Colorado Springs, Colo/U.S. Army), who captured the 84 kg/185 lbs. division with a 10-0 technical fall over unattached Sandon Combs.    Other military athletes who won titles were Grant Whitmer (Pensacola, Fla./U.S. Navy) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Deon Hicks (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marines Corps) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.    Whitmer stopped Kevin Lozano of the Gator WC in the finals. Hicks scored an injury default wim in the finals over Geronimos Dimetrelos of the Geronimos club.    U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete Mark Rial (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) captured the 66 kg/145.5 lbs. title, scoring a 4-1 win over Nich Flach (Pensacola, Fla./U.S. Navy).    Willie Madison, who is in the University resident program at Northern Michigan, captured the 66 kg/145.5 lbs. title. Madison, who is a native of Metairie, La. and wrestles for the Gator WC), scored a technical fall over Francisco Castro (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marines), 11-1 in the finals.    Other champions were Ramie Mohlman (New York AC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Cole Konrad (Freedom, Wis./Minnesota Storm) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.    Mohlman stopped Aaron Lee (Lee WC), 4-3 in the finals. Konrad, who competes for the Univ. of Minnesota, defeated Josh Feldman (Pensacola, Fla./U.S. Navy), 4-2 in the finals.    The competition in men and women's freestyle will be held Saturday, April 24.