College stars Metcalf, Gavin and Bergman get the job done in Freestyle Qualifying Tournament
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by Gary Abbott
LAS VEGAS, NEV. - The Freestyle Qualification Tournament at the U.S. Nationals has turned into a special showcase of outstanding wrestling. Many of the best young wrestlers in the nation, along with numerous seasoned veterans, have to fight for survival in their quest to become national champions.
The top eight seeds in the tournament are pulled out, advancing directly to into Saturday's U.S. Nationals. Everybody else is thrown into a bracket with a blind draw, with only eight wrestlers able to emerge from the Qualification Tournament and wrestle another day.
What the blind draw allows is for some amazing match-ups right from the first round. This year, there were three outstanding first-round bouts that might have been saved for the championship finals of many other tournaments.
Way down on mat seven, only a few minutes into the first session, 2008 NCAA champion Brent Metcalf of the Gator WC faced veteran freestyler Phillip Simpson of the U.S. Army at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Simpson scored the first takedown of the match, and seemingly had the first period won, when Metcalf scored a single leg takedown with two seconds left to tie it at 1-1, and win the criteria of last point scored. Metcalf came out with another leg attack takedown in the second period, and sealed the win with another last-second takedown, winning his opening test, 1-1, 2-0.
Up on the stage on mat four, in a rematch of a wild University Nationals semifinal from two weeks earlier, 2008 NCAA champion Keith Gavin of the New York AC drew NCAA runner-up Mike Poeta of Illinois at 74 kg/163 lbs.. Gavin controlled the early part of the match, scoring two takedowns on go-behinds, but Poeta hit a late low-single for a point, and had Gavin's leg captured as the whistle blew. In the second period, Gavin countered a Poeta leg shot for a two-point exposure, but Poeta bounced back with another takedown. Gavin's defense held off Poeta's late attack, and Gavin defeated Poeta again, 2-1, 2-1.
On the far edge of the arena, over on mat nine, the 2008 NCAA runner-up J.D. Bergman of Ohio State, who wrestles for the New York AC squared off with Northwestern's respected Mike Tamillow of the Wildcat WC at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Bergman had dropped down from competing as a college heavyweight to make this division for the first time in a year. The match was lopsided from the start, with the seemingly larger Bergman opening up his offense. Bergman scored a takedown and two gutwrenches to lead 5-0, then hip-tossed Tamillow to his back to secure a first-period fall.
To advance, you have to win a number of matches to get into the top eight. That not only includes the first-round winners, but also those who lost in that first round. Those who reach the semifinals or the consolation semifinals are the ones who make it to day two.
All three of the college stars won the rest of their matches and were among the eight qualifiers from their weight class. All three are already looking ahead to the U.S. Nationals on Saturday, with the goal of winning the gold medal at their weight class.
Metcalf clinched his qualification with a quarterfinal win over Ricky LaForge of the New York AC, 4-0, 6-0, dominating the action in both periods.
"Last year, I was seeded, so obviously this was different," said Metcalf. "It is good for me. I started slow. I had a few close matches, but I wrestled a little better here in this match. If I stay in my positions, I will have the successes I want."
Metcalf was aware that he had to be ready when he drew Simpson in his first match.
"I wrestled him the first round here last year," said Metcalf. "He is tough and dangerous. With that guy, I got to him once. I need to get to him two or three more times, and out have to squeak it out."
Metcalf does not sound like an athlete who just finished his sophomore year in college.
"I'm here to win. I came out here last year and didn't have the performance I wanted. There may have been a number of reasons. I know I am the best here this year. I just have to prove it," said Metcalf.
Gavin squared away his qualifying spot with a quarterfinal technical fall win over Michael Chandler of the Sunkist Kids, 8-2, 6-0.
"So far I have wrestled pretty good," said Gavin. "I had a tough draw, but I got through it. It is good," he said. "There can't be any benefit to having the wrestle in this (qualification) tournament. The odds are stacked way against you, having to make weight twice and everything else."
Although he has never won a medal at this level in Senior freestyle, Gavin has plans to continue to win on the second day of the tournament.
"My goal is to win it. I have to wrestle a lot better than I did today, but I believe I am capable of that," said Gavin.
Bergman finished his day with a quarterfinal win over veteran Nate Patrick of the Sunkist Kids, 3-0, 5-1. Like his other matches, Bergman got his offense going well, including a number of exposure points.
"I felt pretty good," said Bergman. "It feels good to wrestle here, compared to at heavyweight. It feels good to be able to wrestle again. It is just getting warmed up today. I use a lot more of my tools at 96 kg."
Like his college peers, Bergman did not come to Las Vegas just to get experience. He has higher goals.
"I plan on trying to win it. If I wrestle well, I can beat anybody at 96 kg," said Bergman.
Eight wrestlers in each of the seven weight classes earned the right to advance to Saturday's U.S. Freestyle Nationals.
FREESTYLE QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT
At Las Vegas, Nev., April 25
55 kg/121 lbs. qualifiers
Quarterfinal winners
Matthew Steintrager (unattached)
Obe Blanc, Lock Haven, Pa. (New York Athletic Club)
Brad Pataky, State College, Pa. (New York Athletic Club)
Mike Watts, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen)
Consolation quarterfinal winners
Kelly Martinez, Norwalk, Calif. (Unattached)
Javier Maldonado, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Sunkist Kids)
Michael Martinez, Pagosa Springs, Colo. (Cowboy WC)
Gabriel Gomez, Phoenix, Ariz. (Unattached)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Quarterfinal winners
Alex Tsirtsis, Griffith, Ind. (Hawkeye WC)
Nick Gallick, Tucson, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
Dylan Long, Ames, IA (Sunkist Kids)
Reece Humphrey, Indianapolis, Ind. (Ohio State)
Consolation quarterfinal winners
David Hoffman, Lewisburg, Pa. (Bison WC)
Andrew Hochstrasser, Boise, Idaho (Bronco Wrestling)
Drew Headlee, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Pittsburgh)
Franklin Gomez, Brandon, Fla. (Michigan WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Quarterfinal winners
Eric Larkin, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
Brent Metcalf, Davison, Mich. (Gator Wrestling Club)
Dewitt Driscoll, Chapel Hill, N.C. (New York AC)
Cyler Sanderson, Heber City, Utah (Sunkist Kids)
Consolation quarterfinal winners
Jared Lawrence, Minneapolis, Minn (Minnesota Storm)
Kyle Ruschell, Crittenden Ky. (Wisconsin Grappler)
Philip Simpson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Jerrod Sanders, Raleigh, N.C. (Wolfpack Wrestling)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Quarterfinal winners
Lloyd Rogers, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Sunkist Kids)
Scott Owens, Annapolis Md. (New York AC)
Eric Luedke, Colby, Kan. (Hawkeye WC)
Keith Gavin, Pittsburgh, Pa (New York AC)
Consolation quarterfinal winners
Mike Poeta, Champaign, Ill. (Illinois)
Michael Chandler, Hartland, Mo. (Sunkist Kids)
Travis Koppenhafer, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
Eugene Harris, Las Vegas, Nev. (K.Y.E.)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Quarterfinal winners
Tyrel Todd, Ann Arbor, Mich (New York AC)
Jake Varner, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
Matt Pell, Charlottesville, Va. (Cavalier WC)
Tom Meester, Rock Rapids, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
Consolation quarterfinal winners
BJ Padden, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Travis Pascoe, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
James Yonushonis, State College, Pa. (New York AC)
Terry Madden, New York, N.Y. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Quarterfinal winners
Brandon Halsey, Oceanside, Calif. (No Mercy)
J D Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC)
Max Askren, Hartland, Wis. (Sunkist Kids)
Nick Preston, Morgantown, W.V. (Sunkist Kids)
Consolation quarterfinal winners
Michael Irving, Raleigh, N.C. (Gator WC)
Riley Orozco, Bakersfield, Calif. (Roadrunner Express)
Konrad Dudziak, Bayonne, N.J. (New York AC)
Chris Weidman, Hempstead, N.Y. (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Quarterfinal winners
Dom Bradley, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids)
Zach Sheaffer, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Pittsburgh)
Scott Steele, Baltimore, Md. (Navy Mat Club)
Justin Dobies, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Carolina Wrestling Club)
Consolation quarterfinal winners
David Morgan, Bakersfield, Calif. (Roadrunner Express)
David Zabriske, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
K.C. Walsh, Boise, Idaho (Bronco Wrestling)
Jeremy Johnson, Oklahoma City, Okla. (OCU Stars)
The top eight seeds in the tournament are pulled out, advancing directly to into Saturday's U.S. Nationals. Everybody else is thrown into a bracket with a blind draw, with only eight wrestlers able to emerge from the Qualification Tournament and wrestle another day.
What the blind draw allows is for some amazing match-ups right from the first round. This year, there were three outstanding first-round bouts that might have been saved for the championship finals of many other tournaments.
Way down on mat seven, only a few minutes into the first session, 2008 NCAA champion Brent Metcalf of the Gator WC faced veteran freestyler Phillip Simpson of the U.S. Army at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Simpson scored the first takedown of the match, and seemingly had the first period won, when Metcalf scored a single leg takedown with two seconds left to tie it at 1-1, and win the criteria of last point scored. Metcalf came out with another leg attack takedown in the second period, and sealed the win with another last-second takedown, winning his opening test, 1-1, 2-0.
Up on the stage on mat four, in a rematch of a wild University Nationals semifinal from two weeks earlier, 2008 NCAA champion Keith Gavin of the New York AC drew NCAA runner-up Mike Poeta of Illinois at 74 kg/163 lbs.. Gavin controlled the early part of the match, scoring two takedowns on go-behinds, but Poeta hit a late low-single for a point, and had Gavin's leg captured as the whistle blew. In the second period, Gavin countered a Poeta leg shot for a two-point exposure, but Poeta bounced back with another takedown. Gavin's defense held off Poeta's late attack, and Gavin defeated Poeta again, 2-1, 2-1.
On the far edge of the arena, over on mat nine, the 2008 NCAA runner-up J.D. Bergman of Ohio State, who wrestles for the New York AC squared off with Northwestern's respected Mike Tamillow of the Wildcat WC at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Bergman had dropped down from competing as a college heavyweight to make this division for the first time in a year. The match was lopsided from the start, with the seemingly larger Bergman opening up his offense. Bergman scored a takedown and two gutwrenches to lead 5-0, then hip-tossed Tamillow to his back to secure a first-period fall.
To advance, you have to win a number of matches to get into the top eight. That not only includes the first-round winners, but also those who lost in that first round. Those who reach the semifinals or the consolation semifinals are the ones who make it to day two.
All three of the college stars won the rest of their matches and were among the eight qualifiers from their weight class. All three are already looking ahead to the U.S. Nationals on Saturday, with the goal of winning the gold medal at their weight class.
Metcalf clinched his qualification with a quarterfinal win over Ricky LaForge of the New York AC, 4-0, 6-0, dominating the action in both periods.
"Last year, I was seeded, so obviously this was different," said Metcalf. "It is good for me. I started slow. I had a few close matches, but I wrestled a little better here in this match. If I stay in my positions, I will have the successes I want."
Metcalf was aware that he had to be ready when he drew Simpson in his first match.
"I wrestled him the first round here last year," said Metcalf. "He is tough and dangerous. With that guy, I got to him once. I need to get to him two or three more times, and out have to squeak it out."
Metcalf does not sound like an athlete who just finished his sophomore year in college.
"I'm here to win. I came out here last year and didn't have the performance I wanted. There may have been a number of reasons. I know I am the best here this year. I just have to prove it," said Metcalf.
Gavin squared away his qualifying spot with a quarterfinal technical fall win over Michael Chandler of the Sunkist Kids, 8-2, 6-0.
"So far I have wrestled pretty good," said Gavin. "I had a tough draw, but I got through it. It is good," he said. "There can't be any benefit to having the wrestle in this (qualification) tournament. The odds are stacked way against you, having to make weight twice and everything else."
Although he has never won a medal at this level in Senior freestyle, Gavin has plans to continue to win on the second day of the tournament.
"My goal is to win it. I have to wrestle a lot better than I did today, but I believe I am capable of that," said Gavin.
Bergman finished his day with a quarterfinal win over veteran Nate Patrick of the Sunkist Kids, 3-0, 5-1. Like his other matches, Bergman got his offense going well, including a number of exposure points.
"I felt pretty good," said Bergman. "It feels good to wrestle here, compared to at heavyweight. It feels good to be able to wrestle again. It is just getting warmed up today. I use a lot more of my tools at 96 kg."
Like his college peers, Bergman did not come to Las Vegas just to get experience. He has higher goals.
"I plan on trying to win it. If I wrestle well, I can beat anybody at 96 kg," said Bergman.
Eight wrestlers in each of the seven weight classes earned the right to advance to Saturday's U.S. Freestyle Nationals.
FREESTYLE QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT
At Las Vegas, Nev., April 25
55 kg/121 lbs. qualifiers
Quarterfinal winners
Matthew Steintrager (unattached)
Obe Blanc, Lock Haven, Pa. (New York Athletic Club)
Brad Pataky, State College, Pa. (New York Athletic Club)
Mike Watts, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen)
Consolation quarterfinal winners
Kelly Martinez, Norwalk, Calif. (Unattached)
Javier Maldonado, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Sunkist Kids)
Michael Martinez, Pagosa Springs, Colo. (Cowboy WC)
Gabriel Gomez, Phoenix, Ariz. (Unattached)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Quarterfinal winners
Alex Tsirtsis, Griffith, Ind. (Hawkeye WC)
Nick Gallick, Tucson, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
Dylan Long, Ames, IA (Sunkist Kids)
Reece Humphrey, Indianapolis, Ind. (Ohio State)
Consolation quarterfinal winners
David Hoffman, Lewisburg, Pa. (Bison WC)
Andrew Hochstrasser, Boise, Idaho (Bronco Wrestling)
Drew Headlee, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Pittsburgh)
Franklin Gomez, Brandon, Fla. (Michigan WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Quarterfinal winners
Eric Larkin, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
Brent Metcalf, Davison, Mich. (Gator Wrestling Club)
Dewitt Driscoll, Chapel Hill, N.C. (New York AC)
Cyler Sanderson, Heber City, Utah (Sunkist Kids)
Consolation quarterfinal winners
Jared Lawrence, Minneapolis, Minn (Minnesota Storm)
Kyle Ruschell, Crittenden Ky. (Wisconsin Grappler)
Philip Simpson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Jerrod Sanders, Raleigh, N.C. (Wolfpack Wrestling)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Quarterfinal winners
Lloyd Rogers, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Sunkist Kids)
Scott Owens, Annapolis Md. (New York AC)
Eric Luedke, Colby, Kan. (Hawkeye WC)
Keith Gavin, Pittsburgh, Pa (New York AC)
Consolation quarterfinal winners
Mike Poeta, Champaign, Ill. (Illinois)
Michael Chandler, Hartland, Mo. (Sunkist Kids)
Travis Koppenhafer, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
Eugene Harris, Las Vegas, Nev. (K.Y.E.)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Quarterfinal winners
Tyrel Todd, Ann Arbor, Mich (New York AC)
Jake Varner, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
Matt Pell, Charlottesville, Va. (Cavalier WC)
Tom Meester, Rock Rapids, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
Consolation quarterfinal winners
BJ Padden, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Travis Pascoe, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
James Yonushonis, State College, Pa. (New York AC)
Terry Madden, New York, N.Y. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Quarterfinal winners
Brandon Halsey, Oceanside, Calif. (No Mercy)
J D Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC)
Max Askren, Hartland, Wis. (Sunkist Kids)
Nick Preston, Morgantown, W.V. (Sunkist Kids)
Consolation quarterfinal winners
Michael Irving, Raleigh, N.C. (Gator WC)
Riley Orozco, Bakersfield, Calif. (Roadrunner Express)
Konrad Dudziak, Bayonne, N.J. (New York AC)
Chris Weidman, Hempstead, N.Y. (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Quarterfinal winners
Dom Bradley, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids)
Zach Sheaffer, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Pittsburgh)
Scott Steele, Baltimore, Md. (Navy Mat Club)
Justin Dobies, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Carolina Wrestling Club)
Consolation quarterfinal winners
David Morgan, Bakersfield, Calif. (Roadrunner Express)
David Zabriske, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
K.C. Walsh, Boise, Idaho (Bronco Wrestling)
Jeremy Johnson, Oklahoma City, Okla. (OCU Stars)
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