U.S. Olympic Team Trials preview in men's freestyle at 55 kg/121 lbs.
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by Craig Sesker
Matt Azevedo turned in one of the surprise performances of the U.S. Nationals. He will be the top seed at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in freestyle at 55 kg/121 lbs.
Azevedo pinned two-time U.S. Nationals champion and 2007 World Team member Henry Cejudo in the finals of the U.S. Nationals. Cejudo tried to turn Azevedo with a front headlock in the second period, but Azevedo caught and pinned him. Azevedo grew up in Las Vegas and could have a home-mat advantage at the Olympic Trials in Las Vegas.
The big story in this weight class could be the return of 2004 Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas, who missed nearly all of the 2005 and 2006 seasons with knee injuries. Abas placed third at the 2008 Dave Schultz Memorial International and won the Olympic qualifier in Washington.
Abas did not compete at U.S. Nationals, but is expected to wrestle at the Olympic Trials. He has been training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
Look for Cejudo, who is just 21, to come back strong at the Olympic Trials. He pinned 2007 World bronze medalist Andy Moreno of Cuba at the Pan American Championships earlier this year.
Veteran Danny Felix has looked very strong this year and is coming off a third-place finish at U.S. Nationals. Past Michigan State star Nick Simmons is another dangerous wrestler. Simmons placed fourth at U.S. Nationals. He is tough to match up against because he is taller and has more leverage than anyone else in this class.
Vic Moreno also is a top contender here and has looked very strong while receiving a taste of international competition. Moreno placed third in the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix earlier this year. Moreno took fifth at U.S. Nationals.
Another wrestler to watch in this class may be 2008 NCAA champion Angel Escobedo of Indiana. Escobedo made the 2007 U.S. Junior World Team. Veteran Eric Akin is another possibility here. Akin, a past World Team member, placed fifth at the 2007 World Team Trials.
2008 U.S. Nationals results
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
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds
1. Matt Azevedo, Arroyo Grande, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Henry Cejudo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
3. Danny Felix, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids)
4. Stephen Abas, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
5. Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
6. Vic Moreno, Stanford, Calif. (Gator WC)
7. Grant Nakamura, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
8. Adam Smith, State College, Pa. (New York AC)
9. Brad Pataky, Clearfield, Pa. (New York AC)
10. Angel Escobedo, Griffith, Ind. (Indiana WC)
11. Michael Martinez, Pagosa Springs, Colo. (Cowboy WC)
Azevedo pinned two-time U.S. Nationals champion and 2007 World Team member Henry Cejudo in the finals of the U.S. Nationals. Cejudo tried to turn Azevedo with a front headlock in the second period, but Azevedo caught and pinned him. Azevedo grew up in Las Vegas and could have a home-mat advantage at the Olympic Trials in Las Vegas.
The big story in this weight class could be the return of 2004 Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas, who missed nearly all of the 2005 and 2006 seasons with knee injuries. Abas placed third at the 2008 Dave Schultz Memorial International and won the Olympic qualifier in Washington.
Abas did not compete at U.S. Nationals, but is expected to wrestle at the Olympic Trials. He has been training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
Look for Cejudo, who is just 21, to come back strong at the Olympic Trials. He pinned 2007 World bronze medalist Andy Moreno of Cuba at the Pan American Championships earlier this year.
Veteran Danny Felix has looked very strong this year and is coming off a third-place finish at U.S. Nationals. Past Michigan State star Nick Simmons is another dangerous wrestler. Simmons placed fourth at U.S. Nationals. He is tough to match up against because he is taller and has more leverage than anyone else in this class.
Vic Moreno also is a top contender here and has looked very strong while receiving a taste of international competition. Moreno placed third in the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix earlier this year. Moreno took fifth at U.S. Nationals.
Another wrestler to watch in this class may be 2008 NCAA champion Angel Escobedo of Indiana. Escobedo made the 2007 U.S. Junior World Team. Veteran Eric Akin is another possibility here. Akin, a past World Team member, placed fifth at the 2007 World Team Trials.
2008 U.S. Nationals results
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
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds
1. Matt Azevedo, Arroyo Grande, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Henry Cejudo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
3. Danny Felix, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids)
4. Stephen Abas, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
5. Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
6. Vic Moreno, Stanford, Calif. (Gator WC)
7. Grant Nakamura, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
8. Adam Smith, State College, Pa. (New York AC)
9. Brad Pataky, Clearfield, Pa. (New York AC)
10. Angel Escobedo, Griffith, Ind. (Indiana WC)
11. Michael Martinez, Pagosa Springs, Colo. (Cowboy WC)
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