NYAC HOLIDAY NOTES: Dubuque tries out freestyle; Graff tests Senior level
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by Gary Abbott
From the opening whistle at the New York Athletic Club Holiday International in the freestyle division, there was tremendous drama and interesting action. In addition to a competitive international field, there were numerous U.S. stars from the international and collegiate ranks.
Dubuque decides to try freesyle in time for the Olympic year
Ever wonder what happened to two-time NCAA champion Joe Dubuque, the tough lightweight who powered through the nationals two years in a row? Now an assistant coach at Hofstra Univ., Dubuque decided to return to the mats at the New York AC Holiday International to test the waters in freestyle. In fact, in spite of years of success in folkstyle wrestling, this was Dubuque's first freestyle competition.
Dubuque's last competition was in a Real Pro Wrestling event last year. His last full tournament featured his final match in the NCAA Championships as a senior two years ago. Dubuque has limited freestyle experience, and admits he does not yet know the rules and techniques of the style yet. However, Dubuque is committed to pursuing a spot on the Olympic team this year.
Dubuque had a tough first match, defeating Osip Mikhaylov of Russia, 1-0, 5-2. In the second round, he pinned Promise Mwenga of the Black Bears WC of Canada late in second period. His quarterfinals victory came against Obe Blanc of the New York AC, 3-0, 0-2, 3-3.
"I feel real good out there," said Dubuque. "I am very confident on my feet. I don't think people can get to my legs when we are wrestling on our feet."
Dubuque will face returning champion Vic Moreno of the Gator WC in the semifinals. Regardless of the result, he is already excited about being back on the wrestling scene.
"I am loving it. I was a little nervous my first match. In my first freestyle match, I wrestled a Russian. I got the early jitters out and just started wrestling. I have a chance to wrestle around great people like Donny Pritzlaff, Damion Hahn and Steve Mocco. Guys like Matt Gentry and Matt Lackey are competing here. It is an honor to be around them and I feel privileged."
Junior talents Graff and White test the waters on the Senior level
Two of the top young wrestlers in the nation traveled from Colorado to New York City to take on the big boys at the 55 kg/121 lbs. division.
Tyler Graff of Loveland, Colo. is a high school senior, who competed for the United States on the Junior World Team last summer. Graff was a Junior National runner-up after his sophomore year, when he burst onto the national scene. Going for his fourth state title, Graff has signed with Wisconsin.
Danny White, originally from New Jersey, moved to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs after his junior year in high school. White won three Prep School national titles for the Peddie School, and was third at the Junior Nationals the last two years. White trains daily in freestyle under National Freestyle Resident Coach Terry Brands and the staff at USA Wrestling.
Graff competes for the New York AC, and wrestled in the dual meet against Russia on Thursday night in New Jersey, losing to Osip Mikhaylov in a close match. White has been picked up by the Sunkist Kids.
In the opening round, Graff lost to Vic Moreno of the Gator WC, the No. 3 wrestler on Freestyle Team USA, 0-1, 0-6. White fell to Toshiaki Kugo of Japan, 1-4, 0-3.
In the first wrestleback round, the young stars had to compete against each other. Graff won the match, 7-0, 8-7. The second period was very competitive, with both wrestlers earning exposure points, but Graff's ankle lace turns proved to be the difference.
Graff's day ended in the next consolation round, when he was pinned by Yuriy Holub of Ukraine.
"Tyler's skill level is beyond his years," said NYAC coach Steve Knight, who has worked with Graff for many years in Colorado. "In my mind, what makes him exceptional is his mental toughness and intensity. He is a battler. That is why he can compete at this level."
Twin brothers Paulson seeking Olympic glory side-by-side
The 163-pound division at the NYAC Holiday International featured twin brothers Travis and Trent Paulson, who were stars in college at Iowa State Univ. and are both pursuing careers in international wrestling.
The Paulsons were in opposite brackets in the tournament. In the first round, Travis defeated Kazuyuki Nagashima of Japan, 1-0, 2-0 and Trent stopped Gentian Geraj of Albania, 3-0, 8-0.
In the quarterfinals, Travis scored a tight 1-1, 2-1 victory over Ryan Churella of the New York AC, while Trent was defeated by Freestyle National Team member Ramico Blackmon of the New York AC, 1-2, 3-0, 0-2. Both of the Paulsons were on the mat at the same time during the quarterfinals.
Local stars all advance to semifinals
All four of the local star wrestlers who competed at the USA vs. Russia dual meet in New Jersey on Thursday have also advanced to the semifinals of the New York AC Holiday International.
Jesse Jantzen (Cambridge, Mass./New York AC), who won four state high school titles at Shoreham-Wading River High School out on Long Island, won his two matches to qualify for the semifinals at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
The three "Jersey Boys" in the tournament who also wrestled in the sold-out dual meet also qualified for the semifinals: Donny Pritzlaff (Madison, Wis./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs., Damion Hahn (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Steve Mocco (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Pritzlaff won three state titles for Lyndhurst High School, and Hahn was a three-time state champion for Lakewood High School. Mocco claimed four Prep National titles, wrestling for St. Benedicts Prep and Blair Academy.
Dubuque decides to try freesyle in time for the Olympic year
Ever wonder what happened to two-time NCAA champion Joe Dubuque, the tough lightweight who powered through the nationals two years in a row? Now an assistant coach at Hofstra Univ., Dubuque decided to return to the mats at the New York AC Holiday International to test the waters in freestyle. In fact, in spite of years of success in folkstyle wrestling, this was Dubuque's first freestyle competition.
Dubuque's last competition was in a Real Pro Wrestling event last year. His last full tournament featured his final match in the NCAA Championships as a senior two years ago. Dubuque has limited freestyle experience, and admits he does not yet know the rules and techniques of the style yet. However, Dubuque is committed to pursuing a spot on the Olympic team this year.
Dubuque had a tough first match, defeating Osip Mikhaylov of Russia, 1-0, 5-2. In the second round, he pinned Promise Mwenga of the Black Bears WC of Canada late in second period. His quarterfinals victory came against Obe Blanc of the New York AC, 3-0, 0-2, 3-3.
"I feel real good out there," said Dubuque. "I am very confident on my feet. I don't think people can get to my legs when we are wrestling on our feet."
Dubuque will face returning champion Vic Moreno of the Gator WC in the semifinals. Regardless of the result, he is already excited about being back on the wrestling scene.
"I am loving it. I was a little nervous my first match. In my first freestyle match, I wrestled a Russian. I got the early jitters out and just started wrestling. I have a chance to wrestle around great people like Donny Pritzlaff, Damion Hahn and Steve Mocco. Guys like Matt Gentry and Matt Lackey are competing here. It is an honor to be around them and I feel privileged."
Junior talents Graff and White test the waters on the Senior level
Two of the top young wrestlers in the nation traveled from Colorado to New York City to take on the big boys at the 55 kg/121 lbs. division.
Tyler Graff of Loveland, Colo. is a high school senior, who competed for the United States on the Junior World Team last summer. Graff was a Junior National runner-up after his sophomore year, when he burst onto the national scene. Going for his fourth state title, Graff has signed with Wisconsin.
Danny White, originally from New Jersey, moved to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs after his junior year in high school. White won three Prep School national titles for the Peddie School, and was third at the Junior Nationals the last two years. White trains daily in freestyle under National Freestyle Resident Coach Terry Brands and the staff at USA Wrestling.
Graff competes for the New York AC, and wrestled in the dual meet against Russia on Thursday night in New Jersey, losing to Osip Mikhaylov in a close match. White has been picked up by the Sunkist Kids.
In the opening round, Graff lost to Vic Moreno of the Gator WC, the No. 3 wrestler on Freestyle Team USA, 0-1, 0-6. White fell to Toshiaki Kugo of Japan, 1-4, 0-3.
In the first wrestleback round, the young stars had to compete against each other. Graff won the match, 7-0, 8-7. The second period was very competitive, with both wrestlers earning exposure points, but Graff's ankle lace turns proved to be the difference.
Graff's day ended in the next consolation round, when he was pinned by Yuriy Holub of Ukraine.
"Tyler's skill level is beyond his years," said NYAC coach Steve Knight, who has worked with Graff for many years in Colorado. "In my mind, what makes him exceptional is his mental toughness and intensity. He is a battler. That is why he can compete at this level."
Twin brothers Paulson seeking Olympic glory side-by-side
The 163-pound division at the NYAC Holiday International featured twin brothers Travis and Trent Paulson, who were stars in college at Iowa State Univ. and are both pursuing careers in international wrestling.
The Paulsons were in opposite brackets in the tournament. In the first round, Travis defeated Kazuyuki Nagashima of Japan, 1-0, 2-0 and Trent stopped Gentian Geraj of Albania, 3-0, 8-0.
In the quarterfinals, Travis scored a tight 1-1, 2-1 victory over Ryan Churella of the New York AC, while Trent was defeated by Freestyle National Team member Ramico Blackmon of the New York AC, 1-2, 3-0, 0-2. Both of the Paulsons were on the mat at the same time during the quarterfinals.
Local stars all advance to semifinals
All four of the local star wrestlers who competed at the USA vs. Russia dual meet in New Jersey on Thursday have also advanced to the semifinals of the New York AC Holiday International.
Jesse Jantzen (Cambridge, Mass./New York AC), who won four state high school titles at Shoreham-Wading River High School out on Long Island, won his two matches to qualify for the semifinals at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
The three "Jersey Boys" in the tournament who also wrestled in the sold-out dual meet also qualified for the semifinals: Donny Pritzlaff (Madison, Wis./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs., Damion Hahn (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Steve Mocco (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Pritzlaff won three state titles for Lyndhurst High School, and Hahn was a three-time state champion for Lakewood High School. Mocco claimed four Prep National titles, wrestling for St. Benedicts Prep and Blair Academy.
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