Castellano wins OW and Mango repeats as champion at FILA Cadet Greco-Roman Nationals in Akron, Ohio
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by Gary Abbott
AKRON, OHIO - Joshua Castellano of Illinois defeated both Cadet National champion Alton brothers from Pennsylvania to win the 63 kg/138.75 lbs. title and was named Outstanding Wrestler at the FILA Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman at the Univ. of Akron on Friday.
Castellano won seven matches to claim the gold medal. In his pool competition, he defeated 2007 Cadet Nationals freestyle champion Dylan Alton, 5-2, 3-3. Dylan Alton was second at the 2007 Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman.
In the championship finals, Castellano scored a gutwrench during the last seconds of the third and deciding period to defeat 2007 Cadet Nationals double champion Andrew Alton, 4-5, 5-4, 5-4.
Castellano was sixth at the FILA Cadet Nationals last year, and was seventh at the Cadet Nationals in Fargo last summer.
"Last year was my first year in Greco-Roman. I have been wrestling hard in practice. I believe this is one of my best victories. I have some very good coaches," Castellano said. "I never gave up, I wrestled my hardest. I was going as hard as I can all of the matches."
Ryan Mango of Missouri was the only wrestler to repeat as a FILA Cadet Nationals Greco-Roman champion, winning a loaded 119 pound weight class.
In his pool competition, he defeated Cadet Nationals champion Jesse Thielke of Wisconsin, 7-0, 0-6, 5-4 and Cadet National All-American Sharky Slyter of Kansas, 1-1, 5-0. In the championship finals, he defeated Cadet Nationals champion Alan Waters of Missouri, 2-3, 6-1, 2-1.
"I took them one match at a time. I had a bad draw, but you have to beat them all to win" said Mango. "I had to wrestle a smart match in the finals against Waters. We wrestled a ton in little league wrestling. It was back and forth, back and forth. I knew he was good on top. I felt my bottom defense was better. I knew we would be even on our feet. "
Mango won the FILA Cadet Nationals last year, but was injured late in the spring and could not wrestle in the Cadet Nationals in Fargo, N.D. due to his injury.
For the second straight year, Mango won the FILA Cadet Nationals while his older brother Spenser was winning the University Nationals, which is held alongside it here in Akron. Spenser was helping coach Ryan during all of his matches.
"I love wrestling in tournaments with him," said Ryan Mango. "It means a lot just to wrestle in the same tournament, let alone to win it. He comes home often and brings some of his teammates from the USOEC. I go up there sometimes. This morning, five of them taught me some new stuff, the things that work on the Senior level. It's great."
Three Cadet Nationals Greco-Roman runners-up from Fargo, N.D. last summer were able to come to the FILA Cadet Nationals and win titles this year: Mark Stenberg of Illinois at 69 kg/152 lbs., Alex Polizzi of Wisconsin at 100 kg/220 lbs. and Nikola Bogjevic of Wisconsin at 125 kg/275 lbs.
Other individual champions included Tyler Fraley of New Jersey at 92.5 pounds, Kevin Norstrem of Florida at 101.25 pounds, Tony Pena of Colorado at 110 pounds, Spencer Brown of Utah at 127.75 pounds, Tyler Beckwith of New York at 167.5 pounds, Max Huntley of Virginia at 187.25 pounds and Nikola Bogojevic of Wisconsin at 275 pounds.
The Alton brothers and Waters were not the only 2007 Cadet Nationals champions who were unable to win the FILA Cadets this year. Ellis Coleman of Illinois placed third at 138.75 pounds and Kyle Caylor of Kansas placed fifth at 220.25 pounds.
FILA CADET GRECO-ROMAN NATIONALS
At Akron, Ohio, April 11
42 kg / 92.5 lbs.
1st Place - Tyler Fraley of New Jersey
2nd Place - Freddie Rodriguez of Michigan
3rd Place - Vidal (Max) Mejia of Arizona
4th Place - Dylan Loos of Wisconsin
5th Place - Kyle Pillars of Michigan
Round Robin Matches
Freddie Rodriguez (Michigan) over Vidal (max) Mejia (Arizona) Dec 6-0,5-1
Tyler Fraley (New Jersey) over Freddie Rodriguez (Michigan) Dec 7-3,6-1
Tyler Fraley (New Jersey) over Vidal (max) Mejia (Arizona) Fall 5-0,0:17
46 kg / 101.25 lbs.
1st - Kevin Norstrem (Florida) over Kendall Hutchinson (Illinois) Fall 1:13
3rd - Jake Bellis (Illinois) over Chris Bostic (Arizona) Fall 1-5,6-0,1:07
5th - Justin Mudlaff (Wisconsin) over Zack Nelson (Ohio) FF
50 kg / 110 lbs.
1st - Tony Pena (Colorado) over Devin Carter (Virginia) Fall 1:07
3rd - Sage Ornelas (Arizona) over Jonny Campbell (Oregon) Dec 6-0,3-0
5th - Ronnie Garbinsky (Pennsylvania) over Drew Fleming (Minnesota) ID
54 kg / 119 lbs.
1st - Ryan Mango (Missouri) over Alan Waters (Missouri) Dec 2-3,6-1,2-1
3rd - Jesse Thielke (Wisconsin) over Evan Vandiver (Illinois) Dec 9-0,0-6,5-0
5th - Sharky Slyter (Kansas) over Jack Stilwell (Washington) TF 6-0,6-3
58 kg / 127.75 lbs
1st - Spencer Brown (Utah) over Josh Kreimier (Colorado) Dec 6-0,5-5,4-2
3rd - Kade Moss (Utah) over Seth Thomas (Oregon) Dec 3-8,5-0,5-2
5th - Vicente Gallegos (Colorado) over Luke Goettl (Arizona) Dec 6-0,3-2
63 kg / 138.75 lbs.
1st - Joshua Castellano (Illinois) over Andrew Alton (Pennsylvania) Dec 4-5,5-4,5-4
3rd - Ellis Coleman (Illinois) over Dylan Alton (Pennsylvania) Dec 2-1,2-1
5th - Chase Nelson (Kansas) over Joshua Dziewa (Pennsylvania) TF 9-6,2-4,6-0
69 kg / 152 lbs.
1st - Mark Stenberg (Illinois) over Kalvin York (Wisconsin) 0-6,6-3,ID
3rd - Justin Gonzales (Colorado) over Joshua Demas (Ohio) Fall 7-0,0:42
5th - Brayden Wienke (Wisconsin) over Daniel Breit (Missouri) Dec 3-0,8-4
76 kg / 167.5 lbs.
1st - Tyler Beckwith (New York) over Mike Curby (Michigan) Dec 2-2,3-1
3rd - Preston Keiffer (New Jersey) over Geordan Speiller (Florida) Dec 4-0,6-0
5th - Levi Clemons (Florida) over Erin Odell (Florida) Dec 5-1,7-3
85 kg / 187.25 lbs.
1st - Max Huntley (Virginia) over Ben Brooks (Illinois) TF 6-0,8-0
3rd - John Eblen (Missouri) over Jeff Nielsen (Minnesota) Dec 3-2,1-1
5th - Jake Filkins (Wisconsin) over Jay Taylor (Florida) Dec 0-6,2-2,6-3
100 kg / 220.25 lbs.
1st - Alex Polizzi (Wisconsin) over Aaron Pavlenko (Arizona) Dec 5-1,6-2
3rd - Anthony Pike (Arizona) over Matthew Monson (Illinois) Fall 0:43
5th - Kyle Caylor (Kansas) over Michael Sojka (Illinois) Dec 7-0,5-1
125 kg / 275 lbs.
1st - Nikola Bogojevic (Wisconsin) over Bryant Dickerson (Washington) Dec 1-1,4-1,5-1
3rd - Zach Teuber (Washington) over Scott Helton (Illinois) Dec 1-2,1-1,3-1
5th - Blake Lucas (Ohio) over Donovan Green (Florida) Dec 2-1, 3-1
Castellano won seven matches to claim the gold medal. In his pool competition, he defeated 2007 Cadet Nationals freestyle champion Dylan Alton, 5-2, 3-3. Dylan Alton was second at the 2007 Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman.
In the championship finals, Castellano scored a gutwrench during the last seconds of the third and deciding period to defeat 2007 Cadet Nationals double champion Andrew Alton, 4-5, 5-4, 5-4.
Castellano was sixth at the FILA Cadet Nationals last year, and was seventh at the Cadet Nationals in Fargo last summer.
"Last year was my first year in Greco-Roman. I have been wrestling hard in practice. I believe this is one of my best victories. I have some very good coaches," Castellano said. "I never gave up, I wrestled my hardest. I was going as hard as I can all of the matches."
Ryan Mango of Missouri was the only wrestler to repeat as a FILA Cadet Nationals Greco-Roman champion, winning a loaded 119 pound weight class.
In his pool competition, he defeated Cadet Nationals champion Jesse Thielke of Wisconsin, 7-0, 0-6, 5-4 and Cadet National All-American Sharky Slyter of Kansas, 1-1, 5-0. In the championship finals, he defeated Cadet Nationals champion Alan Waters of Missouri, 2-3, 6-1, 2-1.
"I took them one match at a time. I had a bad draw, but you have to beat them all to win" said Mango. "I had to wrestle a smart match in the finals against Waters. We wrestled a ton in little league wrestling. It was back and forth, back and forth. I knew he was good on top. I felt my bottom defense was better. I knew we would be even on our feet. "
Mango won the FILA Cadet Nationals last year, but was injured late in the spring and could not wrestle in the Cadet Nationals in Fargo, N.D. due to his injury.
For the second straight year, Mango won the FILA Cadet Nationals while his older brother Spenser was winning the University Nationals, which is held alongside it here in Akron. Spenser was helping coach Ryan during all of his matches.
"I love wrestling in tournaments with him," said Ryan Mango. "It means a lot just to wrestle in the same tournament, let alone to win it. He comes home often and brings some of his teammates from the USOEC. I go up there sometimes. This morning, five of them taught me some new stuff, the things that work on the Senior level. It's great."
Three Cadet Nationals Greco-Roman runners-up from Fargo, N.D. last summer were able to come to the FILA Cadet Nationals and win titles this year: Mark Stenberg of Illinois at 69 kg/152 lbs., Alex Polizzi of Wisconsin at 100 kg/220 lbs. and Nikola Bogjevic of Wisconsin at 125 kg/275 lbs.
Other individual champions included Tyler Fraley of New Jersey at 92.5 pounds, Kevin Norstrem of Florida at 101.25 pounds, Tony Pena of Colorado at 110 pounds, Spencer Brown of Utah at 127.75 pounds, Tyler Beckwith of New York at 167.5 pounds, Max Huntley of Virginia at 187.25 pounds and Nikola Bogojevic of Wisconsin at 275 pounds.
The Alton brothers and Waters were not the only 2007 Cadet Nationals champions who were unable to win the FILA Cadets this year. Ellis Coleman of Illinois placed third at 138.75 pounds and Kyle Caylor of Kansas placed fifth at 220.25 pounds.
FILA CADET GRECO-ROMAN NATIONALS
At Akron, Ohio, April 11
42 kg / 92.5 lbs.
1st Place - Tyler Fraley of New Jersey
2nd Place - Freddie Rodriguez of Michigan
3rd Place - Vidal (Max) Mejia of Arizona
4th Place - Dylan Loos of Wisconsin
5th Place - Kyle Pillars of Michigan
Round Robin Matches
Freddie Rodriguez (Michigan) over Vidal (max) Mejia (Arizona) Dec 6-0,5-1
Tyler Fraley (New Jersey) over Freddie Rodriguez (Michigan) Dec 7-3,6-1
Tyler Fraley (New Jersey) over Vidal (max) Mejia (Arizona) Fall 5-0,0:17
46 kg / 101.25 lbs.
1st - Kevin Norstrem (Florida) over Kendall Hutchinson (Illinois) Fall 1:13
3rd - Jake Bellis (Illinois) over Chris Bostic (Arizona) Fall 1-5,6-0,1:07
5th - Justin Mudlaff (Wisconsin) over Zack Nelson (Ohio) FF
50 kg / 110 lbs.
1st - Tony Pena (Colorado) over Devin Carter (Virginia) Fall 1:07
3rd - Sage Ornelas (Arizona) over Jonny Campbell (Oregon) Dec 6-0,3-0
5th - Ronnie Garbinsky (Pennsylvania) over Drew Fleming (Minnesota) ID
54 kg / 119 lbs.
1st - Ryan Mango (Missouri) over Alan Waters (Missouri) Dec 2-3,6-1,2-1
3rd - Jesse Thielke (Wisconsin) over Evan Vandiver (Illinois) Dec 9-0,0-6,5-0
5th - Sharky Slyter (Kansas) over Jack Stilwell (Washington) TF 6-0,6-3
58 kg / 127.75 lbs
1st - Spencer Brown (Utah) over Josh Kreimier (Colorado) Dec 6-0,5-5,4-2
3rd - Kade Moss (Utah) over Seth Thomas (Oregon) Dec 3-8,5-0,5-2
5th - Vicente Gallegos (Colorado) over Luke Goettl (Arizona) Dec 6-0,3-2
63 kg / 138.75 lbs.
1st - Joshua Castellano (Illinois) over Andrew Alton (Pennsylvania) Dec 4-5,5-4,5-4
3rd - Ellis Coleman (Illinois) over Dylan Alton (Pennsylvania) Dec 2-1,2-1
5th - Chase Nelson (Kansas) over Joshua Dziewa (Pennsylvania) TF 9-6,2-4,6-0
69 kg / 152 lbs.
1st - Mark Stenberg (Illinois) over Kalvin York (Wisconsin) 0-6,6-3,ID
3rd - Justin Gonzales (Colorado) over Joshua Demas (Ohio) Fall 7-0,0:42
5th - Brayden Wienke (Wisconsin) over Daniel Breit (Missouri) Dec 3-0,8-4
76 kg / 167.5 lbs.
1st - Tyler Beckwith (New York) over Mike Curby (Michigan) Dec 2-2,3-1
3rd - Preston Keiffer (New Jersey) over Geordan Speiller (Florida) Dec 4-0,6-0
5th - Levi Clemons (Florida) over Erin Odell (Florida) Dec 5-1,7-3
85 kg / 187.25 lbs.
1st - Max Huntley (Virginia) over Ben Brooks (Illinois) TF 6-0,8-0
3rd - John Eblen (Missouri) over Jeff Nielsen (Minnesota) Dec 3-2,1-1
5th - Jake Filkins (Wisconsin) over Jay Taylor (Florida) Dec 0-6,2-2,6-3
100 kg / 220.25 lbs.
1st - Alex Polizzi (Wisconsin) over Aaron Pavlenko (Arizona) Dec 5-1,6-2
3rd - Anthony Pike (Arizona) over Matthew Monson (Illinois) Fall 0:43
5th - Kyle Caylor (Kansas) over Michael Sojka (Illinois) Dec 7-0,5-1
125 kg / 275 lbs.
1st - Nikola Bogojevic (Wisconsin) over Bryant Dickerson (Washington) Dec 1-1,4-1,5-1
3rd - Zach Teuber (Washington) over Scott Helton (Illinois) Dec 1-2,1-1,3-1
5th - Blake Lucas (Ohio) over Donovan Green (Florida) Dec 2-1, 3-1
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