U.S. Nationals Freestyle Preview

[Drooke]

U.S. NATIONALS PREVIEW - FREESTYLE: Young stars, veterans expected to battle for titles

 

USA Wrestling

04/06/2009 

 

 

  It is the first year of the new Olympic four-year cycle, traditionally a time of change within men?s freestyle wrestling.

 

The 2008 season was highlighted by the success of Henry Cejudo, who became the youngest U.S. Olympic wrestling champion when he captured the gold medal at 55 kg/121 pounds at the Olympics in Beijing, China.

 

Cejudo has not yet returned to the mats since his victory, and is not expected to compete at the U.S. Nationals in Las Vegas this year. He has indicated that he expects to return to the sport and seek another Olympic title.

 

Who will be the top stars of the 2009 season? The U.S. Nationals field will include a mix of veterans and exciting young talents, all seeking to be World and Olympic champions.

 

The U.S. Nationals are set for April 9-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The freestyle finals are set for April 11.

 

The top seven finishers in each weight class will qualify for the U.S. World Team Trials on May 30-31 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

 

The World Championships are scheduled for Sept. 21-27 in Herning, Denmark.

 

55 kg/121 lbs. ? With many 2008 contenders not returning, the top wrestlers back from last year are Nick Simmons and Danny Felix.

 

Simmons was third at the 2008 Olympic Team Trials, and Felix was third at the 2008 U.S. Nationals. Both have been successful in international events this winter.

 

Simmons won a bronze medal at the Alexander Medved Tournament in Belarus. He had a big win after knocking off 2008 Olympic bronze medalist and 2007 World bronze medalist Rizvan Gadziev of Belarus

 

Felix placed second in the 2009 Dave Schultz Memorial International Open.

 

Others with experience who could challenger are Javier Maldonado and Mark McKnight. The depth in the division comes from the college ranks, led by NCAA champions Troy Nickerson, Angel Escobedo and Paul Donahoe.   Nickerson edged Donahoe in the 2009 NCAA finals. Nickerson may not compete after wrestling with an injured shoulder during the college season. He said he may need surgery. Nickerson and Donahoe both excelled in freestyle while coming through the USA Wrestling age-group ranks.

 

Other collegians with promise include Brad Pataky and Rollie Peterkin.

 

60 kg/132 lbs. ? 2008 Olympian Mike Zadick is expected to return here. He is seeking to hold his spot in a competitive weight class. Zadick was second at the 2006 World Championships. He also competed in the 2007 Worlds.

 

Zadick has held down the No. 1 spot in the U.S. in this division the last three years.

 

Zadick has not been back down to 132 pounds since he competed at the Olympics. He competed up a class, at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., recently in the Takhti Cup in Iran. He did not place in that event.

 

2008 U.S. Nationals champion Shawn Bunch, who lost to Zadick in the Olympic Trials, stacks up as the top challenger.

 

Nate Gallick, a 2007 U.S. Nationals champion, was injured this winter and will not compete at the 2009 U.S. Nationals. Gallick may return for the World Team Trials.

 

Three past NCAA champions ? Matt Valenti, Coleman Scott and Derek Moore ? are now concentrating full-time on freestyle and should be battling for medals. Scott is a past Junior World Team member.

 

Depth in the field comes from Ed Gutnik and Drew Headlee. College freshman Tyler Graff was nationally competitive in freestyle as a high school wrestler last year, and should be in the mix in Las Vegas. Graff competed in the Dave Schultz event earlier this season.

 

66 kg/145.5 lbs. ? 2008 U.S. Olympian Doug Schwab returns and is seeking to win his first medal on the World or Olympic level. He won his first U.S. Nationals title last year.

 

Schwab placed fifth in the World in 2007 before finishing 0-2 at the 2008 Olympics.

 

Trent Paulson, who was third at the 2008 Olympic Team Trials, seeks to unseat Schwab in this division. Paulson placed third recently in the Alexander Medved International.

 

Paulson and his twin brother, Travis, are hoping to set themselves up to win the World Team Trials in their hometown of Council Bluffs, Iowa, in late May.

 

Three-time World Team member Chris Bono, one of the most experienced stars in freestyle wrestling, continues to be highly competitive. Bono, head coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, won the Dave Schultz Memorial International in February. This may be his last shot at a World Team.

 

Exciting young Brian Stith scored a win over Schwab at the New York AC International this winter. Stith placed second this season in the New York AC and Dave Schultz tournaments.

 

Jared Frayer, who has been ranked as high as No. 2 in this weight class in past seasons, is expected to return to the mat for the U.S. Nationals. Frayer is one of the most dangerous and talented wrestlers in this strong division.

 

Brent Metcalf, a 2008 NCAA champion and past U.S. Junior World Team member, is expected to contend here. Metcalf, a junior at Iowa, was upset in the NCAA finals by North Carolina State?s Darrion Caldwell.

 

Metcalf has wrestled well in freestyle the past few seasons, including earning a win over Trent Paulson at the 2008 Olympic Trials. Metcalf won his first two matches to reach the semifinals of the Olympic Trials Challenge Tournament last year.

 

Josh Churella, Angel Cejudo and Joe Johnston have been active on the freestyle circuit and could contend. Churella placed third in this year?s Dave Schultz event.

 

If Caldwell decides to enter, he could shake things up at this weight class. Caldwell has not wrestled freestyle in recent years, but is a talented wrestler who is very tough on his feet.

 

74 kg/163 lbs. ? The top two returnees from the 2008 Olympic Team Trials who have been competing this season are Travis Paulson and Ryan Churella. Paulson was third at the Trials and Churella was fourth, and both have been competing overseas this winter.

 

Zack Esposito has moved up from 145.5 pounds and has shown good results competing at this new weight class.

 

Keith Gavin, who won an NCAA title last year, has great promise in this division. Gavin was a World University bronze medalist in 2008.

 

A wrestler who could make a very big splash in this division is past NCAA champion Dustin Schlatter, who is redshirting this season. Schlatter placed third in the Dave Schultz event, knocking off Churella in that event.

 

Collegians Mike Poeta, Andrew Howe and Gregor Gillespie could make an impact at this level.

 

Poeta is very tough on his feet, but could be a little undersized for this division. Howe is one of the country?s best young prospects in freestyle. He placed second in the 2009 NCAAs for Wisconsin.Others expected to challenge include Lloyd Rogers and James Allen.

 

84 kg/185 lbs. ? 2008 Olympian Andy Hrovat returns to competition, seeking his first World-level medal. Hrovat was also a member of the 2006 U.S. World Team.

 

Hrovat has been a fixture at the top of this class, but has been slowed this season by injuries.

 

The top two challengers from the Olympic Team Trials who could push Hrovat are Jake Varner and Bryce Hasseman, who finished third and fourth respectively last year.

 

Varner won the 2009 NCAA title at 197 pounds, so it remains to be seen if he will drop down to this weight class again.

 

Hasseman has won a pair of international events this season and looks as strong as anybody in this division right now.

 

Two-time NCAA champion Jake Herbert wrestled freestyle all last season and has made great progress. He has made a number of U.S. age-group World Teams. Herbert is a two-time World University bronze medalist. He has beaten Hrovat in the past and is a legitimate title contender here. Herbert won the Dave Schultz tournament last year.

 

Wrestlers who have been active on the international level this year have been B.J. Padden, Travis Pascoe and Eric Leudke. All three have shown the ability to beat foreign opponents and will push for high placements at the U.S. Nationals.

 

Pascoe placed second recently in the Alexander Medved International and is looking strong this season.

 

David Bertolino, Ben Wissel and Tyrel Todd are among the other contenders in the field.

 

96 kg/211.5 lbs. ? The top two returnees from the 2008 Olympic Team Trials in this division are Sean Stender and Kurt Backes. Stender was third at the Trials and Backes placed fourth. Both have been competing overseas this winter and have expanded their freestyle experience.

 

Mike Tamillow has had a strong winter season, and has shown great progress in his freestyle development. Tamillow has placed in the top three in three international tournaments in 2009.

 

If he returns to compete, Kyle Cerminara should be a threat. J.D. Bergman, who missed the Olympic Trials due to injury, is back on the mats and ready to climb the ladder in this weight. Bergman is a past U.S. National Team member in Greco-Roman wrestling.

 

Israel Silva has shown promise in recent competitions.

 

NCAA runner-up Konrad Dudziak is a talented freestyler who earned a spot on the 2008 University World Team. Dudziak placed second at the 2009 NCAA meet at heavyweight.

 

Other collegians to watch are Max Askren, Brent Jones and Clayton Foster. Each has excelled in the USA Wrestling age-group levels.

 

Past World medalist and Olympian Daniel Cormier has been No. 1 at this weight since 2003, but he is not expected to compete at the U.S. Nationals.

 

120 kg/264.5 lbs. ? 2008 Olympian Steve Mocco returns, and has been very active competing overseas this winter. Mocco has won four international tournaments since the Olympics.

 

Mocco will be pushed by 2008 University World champion Tervel Dlagnev, who beat Mocco at the New York AC International this winter. Dlagnev has packed on some added pounds to better compete with Mocco.

 

Dlagnev, a 2008 World University champion, has won two international events this season.

 

Les Sigman, who was fifth at the Olympic Team Trials, has extensive experience and skill. Sigman has been hampered by injuries and illness this season.

 

John Laboranti has shown improvement here.

 

Collegians to watch include Jared Rosholt, Kyle Massey, Clayton Jack, Zackery Rey and David Zabriskie, all who could make an impact.

 

2008 U.S. Nationals Results

 

55 kg/121 lbs.

1st ? Matt Azevedo, Pismo Beach, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) pin Henry Cejudo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 0:18

3rd ? Danny Felix, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Nick Simmons, Williamstown, Mich. (Sunkist Kids), 2-1, 0-2, 3-0

5th ? Vic Moreno, Palo Alto, Calif (Gator WC) dec. Grant Nakamura, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 5-0, 6-2

7th ? Adam Smith, State College, Pa. (New York AC) dec. Javier Maldonado, Kissimmee, Fla. (Sunkist Kids), 6-0, 1-0

 

60 kg/132 lbs.

1st ? Shawn Bunch, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) dec. Coleman Scott, Waynesburg, Pa. (Gator WC), 4-0, 1-0

3rd ? Teyon Ware, Oklahoma City, Okla. (New York AC) dec. Dylan Long, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 5-1, 1-0

5th ? Michael Lightner, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) inj. dft. over Zach Roberson, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids),

7th ? Drew Headlee, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Pittsburgh) dec. Franklin Gomez, Brandon, Fla. (Michigan WC), 3-2, 6-0

 

66 kg/145.5 lbs.

1st ? Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC) dec. Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 1-0, 3-0

3rd ? Jared Frayer, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) dec. Chris Bono, Ringold, Ga. (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 5-1

5th ? Brent Metcalf, Davison, Mich. (Gator WC) inj. dft. Zack Esposito, Stillwater, OK (Gator Wrestling Club),

7th ? Trent Paulson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) dec. Eric Larkin, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), 0-1, 1-1, 2-1

 

74 kg/163 lbs.

1st ? Ben Askren, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Tyrone Lewis, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC), 3-0, 3-2

3rd ? Ryan Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC) dec. Matt Lackey, Champaign, Ill. (New York AC), 5-2, 1-2, 3-0

5th ? Ramico Blackmon, Colorado Springs Colo. (New York AC) dec. Travis Paulson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 2-0

7th ? Eric Luedke, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC) dec. Casey Cunningham, Mt. Pleasant, Mich. (Sunkist Kids), 0-6, 1-0, 3-0

 

84 kg/185 lbs.

1st ? Mo Lawal, Temecula, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor Mich. (New York AC), 1-1, 1-0

3rd ? Bryce Hasseman, Bloomsburg, Pa, (New York AC) inj. dft. Clint Wattenberg, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York Athletic Club),

5th ? B.J. Padden, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) inj. dft. Matt Pell, Charlottesville, Va. (Cavalier WC),

7th ? Jake Varner, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) dec. Tyrel Todd, , (New York AC), 2-0, 7-1

 

96 kg/211.5 lbs.

1st ? Daniel Cormier, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator Wrestling Club) dec. Nik Fekete, Iowa City Iowa (New York AC), 7-0, 2-0

3rd ? Willie Parks, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Kurt Backes, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 0-1, 2-0, 1-0

5th ? Damion Hahn, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York Athletic Club) dec. Max Askren, Hartland, Wis. (Sunkist Kids), 7-0, 3-0

7th ? Nick Preston, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids) dec. Konrad Dudziak, Bayonne, N.J. (New York AC), 1-0, 3-0

 

120 kg/264.5 lbs.

1st ? Tommy Rowlands, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids) dec. Steve Mocco, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 3-0, 0-2, 1-0

3rd ? Tervel Dlagnev, Kearney, Neb. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Tolly Thompson, Waterloo, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 0-1, 3-0

5th ? Les Sigman, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Patrick Cummins, State College Pa. (New York AC), 2-0, 2-0

7th ? Scott Steele, Baltimore, Md. (Navy Mat Club) dec. Dom Bradley, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids), 0-1, 1-0, 1-1 

 

Is Angel getting surgery or wrestling?

 

And, Caldwell has signed up.

 

[2016GrecoGold]

Is anybody else headed out there? I'm leaving this morning.

[cadet130]

Angel is currently recovering from his surgery.

[Drooke]

Thanks for the info Cadet. I hope Angel has a speedy recovery. I bet he won't know how to act out on the mat when he heals up having two good arms. I can't wait to watch.

[base]

Is Reece Humphrey wrestling in any of the nationals?  His style seems perfect for freestyle/greco.  Thank you.