Ness, Massa win Cadet Triple Crowns with victory at Cadet Freestyle Nationals
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by Gary Abbott
FARGO, N.D. - Dylan Ness of Minnesota and Taylor Massa of Michigan won the prestigious Cadet Triple Crown with their victories at the Accelerade Cadet National Freestyle Championships at the FargoDome on Friday.
The Cadet Triple Crown is awarded to wrestlers who win USA Wrestling national titles in folkstyle, Greco-Roman and freestyle during the same year. They became the fourth and fifth wrestlers to ever win this honor.
Ness scored a first period pin over Stanley Taylor of Nebraska in the finals in 1:11. Taylor scored first with a two-point crotch lift, but Ness took down Taylor and turned him with a half nelson, pressing him for the pin. Ness was named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament
Ness also won Cadet National titles in folkstyle and Greco-Roman in 2007, giving him five Cadet national titles during his career.
"It means a lot to me knowing that I'm the best," said Ness. "This one ranks way up there. This is only the first time I've won in freestyle."
Massa scored a comeback victory over Colby Kloetzer of Idaho, 1-2, 7-4, 6-0. After Kloetzer won the first period, Massa got his takedown offense going in the second period. In the deciding third period, Massa dominated the action, scoring three takedowns including a three-point knee pick to secure the technical fall for the period.
"Three big wins, but no big deal. It's just three tournaments that I won," said Massa of winning the Triple Crown. "It's great that I won the Triple Crown, but I had forgotten that I won the folkstyle championships before coming here. It wasn't until the finals that my dad sad, 'Hey you have a chance to win the Triple Crown.' I said that's cool."
Previous Triple Crown winners were Taylor Moore of Missouri in 2003, Zach Sanders of Minnesota in 2004 and Hayden Zillmer of Minnesota in 2007.
Two returning 2007 Cadet National freestyle champions their titles: Hayden Zillmer of Minnesota (91) and Chris Phillips of Ohio (171).
Zillmer made a strong comeback to defeat Michigan's Freddy Rodriguez, 1-5, 5-3, 4-3. Rodriguez won the first period, but Zillmer came back in the second period, scoring two points late in the period. In the third period, Zillmer scored a pair of two-point exposures for the victory.
This was his fifth Cadet Nationals title of his career. Zillmer was also a 2008 Cadet National Greco-Roman champion. In 2007, he won the Cadet Triple Crown, capturing all three styles.
Phillips put on a technique clinic in his impressive 5-0, 4-0 victory over Ethan Blackstock of Georgia in the finals. Phillips was dominant with his leg attacks and finishes throughout the match.
Zachary Horan of Pennsylvania pinned 2007 Cadet Nationals freestyle champion Hunter Stieber of Ohio at
112 pounds, 4-1, 6-2. Horan controlled the first period which included a three-point takedown on the edge of the mat. Stieber led the second period 2-0, but Horan used a front headlock to turn Stieber and adjusted for the fall.
In addition to Ness, Massa and Zillmer, other 2008 Cadet National Greco-Roman champions who also won freestyle national titles this year were Nick Roberts of Pennsylvania (84), Mark Grey of New Jersey (98), Cody Brewer of Missouri (105), Jahwon Akui of Illinois (160) and Andrew Campolattano of New Jersey (189).
In a rematch of the 84 pound Greco-Roman finals, Nick Roberts of Pennsylvania dominated Dylan Thompson of Colorado by technical fall, 6-0, 6-0. Roberts was successful in turning Thompson numerous times in both periods. This was a rematch of the Greco-Roman finals, won by Roberts by technical fall. Roberts did not have a single point scored upon him in both the freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments,
In a battle of New Jersey stars at 98 pounds, Grey stopped Joe Orecchio in two straight periods, 7-0, 1-0. He dominated the first period with takedowns and tilt, and scored the only point of the second period for the win. Grey was a FILA Cadet National freestyle champion earlier this year, where he also beat Orecchio in the finals.
Brewer overcame a slow start to pin New Jersey's Robert Deutsch in the second period of their finals bout, 3-3, 0:51. Deutsch led 3-0 in the first period, but Brewer scored a takedown and turn in the closing seconds to take the period. In the second period, Brewer hit a hip toss and pinned Deutsch .
Akui showed superior power in his two-period victory over Ronnie Balfour of Oklahoma, 5-0, 7-2. Akui was especially adept in scoring takedowns and pushouts.
Campolattano defeated Morgan McIntosh of California in the finals, 1-0, 1-0. He won the first period by defending from the clinch position, and scored the only takedown of the second period. It was a rematch of the Greco-Roman finals, also won by Campolattano. It was his third career Cadet Nationals title, as he was also a 2007 Cadet Greco-Roman champion.
Led by six finalists and three champions, New Jersey dominated the Wells Fargo Insurance Services Cup team standings with 63 points. Pennsylvania was second with 44 points, followed by Ohio with 40 points.
Brandon Wright of Indiana came out strong and went on to defeat Alex Dieringer of Wisconsin in two periods, 7-1, 5-2, at 119 pounds. Wright scored a headlock and a gutwrench in the first period to secure the technical fall, then scored early in the second period to seal the victory.
At 125 pounds, Louis Trujillo of New Mexico defeated Ryne Cokeley of Kansas, 2-1, 3-1 at 125 pounds. Trujillo displayed tremendous quickness from his feet to score five takedowns during the match. Trujillo placed fourth at the 2007 Cadet Freestyle Nationals.
Destin McCauley of Minnesota used a front headlock to turn and pin Justin DeAngelis of Oklahoma for a pin in the 135-pound finals, 1-0, 1:31. McCauley was third at the Cadet Nationals in freestyle last year.
At 145 pounds, Anthony Baldosaro of New Jersey won the title in two straight periods over Blake Roulo of Virginia, 2-0, 2-0. Baldosaro hit a two-point front headlock turn in each period to win the match.
Joey Chandler of Oregon used his superior strength to defeat Bryce Hammond of California in two straight periods at 152 pounds, 1-0, 2-2. Chandler scored the only takedown of the first period, and won the second period with the final point scored on a pushout. Chandler was a runner-up in Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman earlier this week.
At 215 pounds, Connor Medbery needed three periods to defeat Joshua Davis of New Jersey, 2-2, 6-2, 7-1. Davis won the first period by scoring the last point of the period on a takedown. In the second period, Medbery had two three-point takedowns. In the deciding third period, Medbery hit two three-point blast double leg takedowns to secure the technical fall. Medbery was second in the Cadet National Greco-Roman tournament on Monday.
In a battle of Pennsylvania heavyweights, Tyler DeMott locked up and pinned two-time Cadet National Greco-Roman champion Evan Craig in the second period, 0-8, 0:30. Craig hit a three-point bodylock to finish the first period with a technical fall. In the second period, DeMott crunched Craig to his back with a bodylock and secured the pin.
The Cadet Triple Crown is awarded to wrestlers who win USA Wrestling national titles in folkstyle, Greco-Roman and freestyle during the same year. They became the fourth and fifth wrestlers to ever win this honor.
Ness scored a first period pin over Stanley Taylor of Nebraska in the finals in 1:11. Taylor scored first with a two-point crotch lift, but Ness took down Taylor and turned him with a half nelson, pressing him for the pin. Ness was named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament
Ness also won Cadet National titles in folkstyle and Greco-Roman in 2007, giving him five Cadet national titles during his career.
"It means a lot to me knowing that I'm the best," said Ness. "This one ranks way up there. This is only the first time I've won in freestyle."
Massa scored a comeback victory over Colby Kloetzer of Idaho, 1-2, 7-4, 6-0. After Kloetzer won the first period, Massa got his takedown offense going in the second period. In the deciding third period, Massa dominated the action, scoring three takedowns including a three-point knee pick to secure the technical fall for the period.
"Three big wins, but no big deal. It's just three tournaments that I won," said Massa of winning the Triple Crown. "It's great that I won the Triple Crown, but I had forgotten that I won the folkstyle championships before coming here. It wasn't until the finals that my dad sad, 'Hey you have a chance to win the Triple Crown.' I said that's cool."
Previous Triple Crown winners were Taylor Moore of Missouri in 2003, Zach Sanders of Minnesota in 2004 and Hayden Zillmer of Minnesota in 2007.
Two returning 2007 Cadet National freestyle champions their titles: Hayden Zillmer of Minnesota (91) and Chris Phillips of Ohio (171).
Zillmer made a strong comeback to defeat Michigan's Freddy Rodriguez, 1-5, 5-3, 4-3. Rodriguez won the first period, but Zillmer came back in the second period, scoring two points late in the period. In the third period, Zillmer scored a pair of two-point exposures for the victory.
This was his fifth Cadet Nationals title of his career. Zillmer was also a 2008 Cadet National Greco-Roman champion. In 2007, he won the Cadet Triple Crown, capturing all three styles.
Phillips put on a technique clinic in his impressive 5-0, 4-0 victory over Ethan Blackstock of Georgia in the finals. Phillips was dominant with his leg attacks and finishes throughout the match.
Zachary Horan of Pennsylvania pinned 2007 Cadet Nationals freestyle champion Hunter Stieber of Ohio at
112 pounds, 4-1, 6-2. Horan controlled the first period which included a three-point takedown on the edge of the mat. Stieber led the second period 2-0, but Horan used a front headlock to turn Stieber and adjusted for the fall.
In addition to Ness, Massa and Zillmer, other 2008 Cadet National Greco-Roman champions who also won freestyle national titles this year were Nick Roberts of Pennsylvania (84), Mark Grey of New Jersey (98), Cody Brewer of Missouri (105), Jahwon Akui of Illinois (160) and Andrew Campolattano of New Jersey (189).
In a rematch of the 84 pound Greco-Roman finals, Nick Roberts of Pennsylvania dominated Dylan Thompson of Colorado by technical fall, 6-0, 6-0. Roberts was successful in turning Thompson numerous times in both periods. This was a rematch of the Greco-Roman finals, won by Roberts by technical fall. Roberts did not have a single point scored upon him in both the freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments,
In a battle of New Jersey stars at 98 pounds, Grey stopped Joe Orecchio in two straight periods, 7-0, 1-0. He dominated the first period with takedowns and tilt, and scored the only point of the second period for the win. Grey was a FILA Cadet National freestyle champion earlier this year, where he also beat Orecchio in the finals.
Brewer overcame a slow start to pin New Jersey's Robert Deutsch in the second period of their finals bout, 3-3, 0:51. Deutsch led 3-0 in the first period, but Brewer scored a takedown and turn in the closing seconds to take the period. In the second period, Brewer hit a hip toss and pinned Deutsch .
Akui showed superior power in his two-period victory over Ronnie Balfour of Oklahoma, 5-0, 7-2. Akui was especially adept in scoring takedowns and pushouts.
Campolattano defeated Morgan McIntosh of California in the finals, 1-0, 1-0. He won the first period by defending from the clinch position, and scored the only takedown of the second period. It was a rematch of the Greco-Roman finals, also won by Campolattano. It was his third career Cadet Nationals title, as he was also a 2007 Cadet Greco-Roman champion.
Led by six finalists and three champions, New Jersey dominated the Wells Fargo Insurance Services Cup team standings with 63 points. Pennsylvania was second with 44 points, followed by Ohio with 40 points.
Brandon Wright of Indiana came out strong and went on to defeat Alex Dieringer of Wisconsin in two periods, 7-1, 5-2, at 119 pounds. Wright scored a headlock and a gutwrench in the first period to secure the technical fall, then scored early in the second period to seal the victory.
At 125 pounds, Louis Trujillo of New Mexico defeated Ryne Cokeley of Kansas, 2-1, 3-1 at 125 pounds. Trujillo displayed tremendous quickness from his feet to score five takedowns during the match. Trujillo placed fourth at the 2007 Cadet Freestyle Nationals.
Destin McCauley of Minnesota used a front headlock to turn and pin Justin DeAngelis of Oklahoma for a pin in the 135-pound finals, 1-0, 1:31. McCauley was third at the Cadet Nationals in freestyle last year.
At 145 pounds, Anthony Baldosaro of New Jersey won the title in two straight periods over Blake Roulo of Virginia, 2-0, 2-0. Baldosaro hit a two-point front headlock turn in each period to win the match.
Joey Chandler of Oregon used his superior strength to defeat Bryce Hammond of California in two straight periods at 152 pounds, 1-0, 2-2. Chandler scored the only takedown of the first period, and won the second period with the final point scored on a pushout. Chandler was a runner-up in Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman earlier this week.
At 215 pounds, Connor Medbery needed three periods to defeat Joshua Davis of New Jersey, 2-2, 6-2, 7-1. Davis won the first period by scoring the last point of the period on a takedown. In the second period, Medbery had two three-point takedowns. In the deciding third period, Medbery hit two three-point blast double leg takedowns to secure the technical fall. Medbery was second in the Cadet National Greco-Roman tournament on Monday.
In a battle of Pennsylvania heavyweights, Tyler DeMott locked up and pinned two-time Cadet National Greco-Roman champion Evan Craig in the second period, 0-8, 0:30. Craig hit a three-point bodylock to finish the first period with a technical fall. In the second period, DeMott crunched Craig to his back with a bodylock and secured the pin.
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