Nye, Churella, Humphrey among champions at University World Team Trials on Friday
Share:
by Gary Abbott
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Greco-Roman star Erik Nye of the Sunkist Kids and freestyle wrestler Ryan Churella of the New York AC were among the top performers at the University World Team Trials held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center on Friday.
The winners of the best-of-three Championship Series have earned a spot on the U.S. World University Team. The World University Championships are set to take place in Thessaloniki, Greece, July 9-13.
Four Greco-Roman weight classes and three freestyle weight classes were contested on Friday.
Nye, who has competed at the FILA Junior World Championships the last two years, qualified for his first University World Team by capturing the 120 kg/264.5 lbs. division. He defeated David Arendt of the U.S. Marines in two straight bouts. Nye won the first match, 3-0, 1-1, then stopped Arendt in the second match, 1-1, 1-1.
It was an exciting day for Nye, who was a recruit at Arizona State, which reinstated its varsity wrestling team today. ASU announced it had discontinued wrestling less than two weeks ago, and Nye had not yet determined what he would do concerning about his college career.
"I was the first to know, except for the coach," said Nye about the ASU's reinstatement. "It is a big relief. I don't have to look somewhere else, and I won't get 100 calls a week from other schools. With the guys coming into Arizona State, we will be right up there nationally. We have great wrestlers. It is one of the best recruiting classes in the nation."
Nye is looking for his first World medal competing for the United States. He placed fifth in the Junior Worlds in freestyle in 2006 and then placed fifth in the Junior Worlds in Greco-Roman in 2007.
"I am sick of getting fifth," said Nye. "I am ready to get a gold. I am tired of losing to the Russian guy."
Churella, a star at the University of Michigan, was the only one of the three freestyle champions on Friday who had not won the University Nationals in April in Akron, Ohio. He defeated 2008 University Nationals champion Nathaniel Holt of the Bronco WC in two straight matches. Churella won the first match, 1-0, 0-1, 1-0, then shut out Holt in the second match, 2-0, 5-0. Holt wrestled for Central Michigan this year.
Churella competed at the Rocky Mountain Regional Olympic Trials last weekend in Pueblo, Colo., placing second and just falling short of qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. His victory today gave Churella a big boost.
"I wrestled last week with the intention to qualify for the Olympic Trials. I still planned on wrestling here this weekend. It gives me something to look forward to, competing at the World Championships this summer. It is very motivating to me," said Churella.
Churella, the son of three-time NCAA champion Mark Churella who is one of the assistant coaches at Michigan, has set high goals for his international career. He will be competing in his first World Championships.
"This will help me to develop," said Churella. "I didn't wrestle much freestyle when I was in college. The trip to the Worlds will help build experience for competing on the Senior level in the future.
One of the freestyle finals was a match between two 2008 University Nationals champions. Reece Humphrey of Ohio State needed three matches to defeat Daniel Dennis of Iowa at 60 kg/132 lbs.
Humphrey had won the University Nationals at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., which is not a weight contested at the World Championships. Dennis had won the University Nationals at 60 kg/132 lbs.
Dennis won the first match, 1-0, 3-0 and Humphrey won the second match, 1-0, 4-4. In the deciding third match, Humphrey won, 6-1, 4-1. Humphrey is the son of Jim Humphrey, the head coach of the 1988 U.S. Olympic freestyle team and a past World medalist.
"In the first match, I wasn't ready," said Humphrey. "I wrestled one of the top kids in the sport, Franklin Gomez, in the Challenge Tournament finals. I figured I could beat (Dennis) if I stayed in good position. I had to work hard to win."
Humphrey, who qualified for two previous U.S. teams but did not attend the World Championships, will be wrestling at the World level for the first time this summer.
"I am ready. I am in shape now. I will be in better shape when the Worlds come around. I will go to win," said Humphrey.
The other freestyle champion on Friday was Penn State wrestler Brad Pataky of the New York AC, who won the 55 kg/121 lbs. division in two straight matches over Michael Martinez of the Cowboy WC, who wrestles for the Univ. of Wyoming. Pataky, the 2008 University Nationals champion, defeated Martinez, 2-0, 5-2 in the first match, then 2-2, 4-2 in the second match.
In a battle of teammates at the USOEC Greco-Roman team at Northern Michigan Univ., Cheney Haight of the New York AC defeated Andrew Bisek of the Minnesota Storm in two straight matches. Haight won the first bout, 1-1, 3-2, then captured the second bout, 3-0, 1-1. At the recent U.S. Senior Nationals, Bisek placed second and Haight placed fourth.
At 84 kg/185 lbs., Chas Betts of the Minnesota Storm won the weight class by injury default over 2008 U.S. Nationals champion Brad Ahearn of the U.S. Army. Ahearn had injured his hand in the finals of the Challenge Tournament in a victory over Jeremy Pederson of the U.S. Marines. Betts was the 2008 University Nationals champion and placed third at the U.S. Senior Nationals.
At 96 kg/211.5 lbs., Robbie Smith of the New York AC defeated 2008 University Nationals champion Peter Gounaridis of the Sunkist Kids in two straight matches. Smith won the first match, 1-7, 3-1, 7-0, then captured bout two by a 3-1, 7-1 margin.
On Saturday, there will be four FILA Junior freestyle weight classes and three FILA Junior Greco-Roman weight classes contested.
UNIVERSITY WORLD TEAM TRIALS
At Colorado Springs, Colo., May 23
Greco-Roman Championship Series
74 kg/163 lbs.
Cheney Haight (New York AC) dec. Andrew Bisek (Minnesota Storm), 1-1, 3-2
Cheney Haight (New York AC) dec. Andrew Bisek (Minnesota Storm), 3-0, 1-1
Haight wins series, 2 matches to 0
84 kg/185 lbs.
Chas Betts (Minnesota Storm) won by injury default over Brad Ahearn (U.S. Army)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Robbie Smith (New York AC) dec. Peter Gounaridis (Sunkist Kids), 1-7, 3-1, 7-0
Robbie Smith (New York AC) dec. Gounaridis (Sunkist Kids), 3-1, 7-1
Smith wins series, 2 matches to 0
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Erik Nye (Sunkist Kids) dec. David Arendt (U.S. Marines), 3-0, 1-1
Erik Nye (Sunkist Kids) dec. David Arendt (U.S. Marines), 1-1, 1-1
Nye wins series, 2 matches to 0
Freestyle Championship Series
55 kg/121 lbs.
Brad Pataky (New York AC) dec. Michael Martinez (Cowboy WC), 2-0, 5-2
Brad Pataky (New York AC) dec. Michael Martinez (Cowboy WC), 2-2, 4-2
Pataky wins series, 2 matches to 0
60 kg/132 lbs.
Daniel Dennis (Iowa) dec. Reece Humphrey (Ohio State), 1-0, 3-0
Reece Humphrey (Ohio State) dec. Daniel Dennis (Iowa), 1-0, 4-4
Reece Humphrey (Ohio State) dec. Daniel Dennis (Iowa), 6-1, 4-1
Humphrey wins series, 2 matches to 1
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Josh Churella (New York AC) dec. Nathaniel Holt (Bronco), 1-0, 0-1, 1-0
Josh Churella (New York AC) dec. Nathaniel Holt (Bronco), 2-0, 5-0
Churella wins series, 2 matches to 0
The winners of the best-of-three Championship Series have earned a spot on the U.S. World University Team. The World University Championships are set to take place in Thessaloniki, Greece, July 9-13.
Four Greco-Roman weight classes and three freestyle weight classes were contested on Friday.
Nye, who has competed at the FILA Junior World Championships the last two years, qualified for his first University World Team by capturing the 120 kg/264.5 lbs. division. He defeated David Arendt of the U.S. Marines in two straight bouts. Nye won the first match, 3-0, 1-1, then stopped Arendt in the second match, 1-1, 1-1.
It was an exciting day for Nye, who was a recruit at Arizona State, which reinstated its varsity wrestling team today. ASU announced it had discontinued wrestling less than two weeks ago, and Nye had not yet determined what he would do concerning about his college career.
"I was the first to know, except for the coach," said Nye about the ASU's reinstatement. "It is a big relief. I don't have to look somewhere else, and I won't get 100 calls a week from other schools. With the guys coming into Arizona State, we will be right up there nationally. We have great wrestlers. It is one of the best recruiting classes in the nation."
Nye is looking for his first World medal competing for the United States. He placed fifth in the Junior Worlds in freestyle in 2006 and then placed fifth in the Junior Worlds in Greco-Roman in 2007.
"I am sick of getting fifth," said Nye. "I am ready to get a gold. I am tired of losing to the Russian guy."
Churella, a star at the University of Michigan, was the only one of the three freestyle champions on Friday who had not won the University Nationals in April in Akron, Ohio. He defeated 2008 University Nationals champion Nathaniel Holt of the Bronco WC in two straight matches. Churella won the first match, 1-0, 0-1, 1-0, then shut out Holt in the second match, 2-0, 5-0. Holt wrestled for Central Michigan this year.
Churella competed at the Rocky Mountain Regional Olympic Trials last weekend in Pueblo, Colo., placing second and just falling short of qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. His victory today gave Churella a big boost.
"I wrestled last week with the intention to qualify for the Olympic Trials. I still planned on wrestling here this weekend. It gives me something to look forward to, competing at the World Championships this summer. It is very motivating to me," said Churella.
Churella, the son of three-time NCAA champion Mark Churella who is one of the assistant coaches at Michigan, has set high goals for his international career. He will be competing in his first World Championships.
"This will help me to develop," said Churella. "I didn't wrestle much freestyle when I was in college. The trip to the Worlds will help build experience for competing on the Senior level in the future.
One of the freestyle finals was a match between two 2008 University Nationals champions. Reece Humphrey of Ohio State needed three matches to defeat Daniel Dennis of Iowa at 60 kg/132 lbs.
Humphrey had won the University Nationals at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., which is not a weight contested at the World Championships. Dennis had won the University Nationals at 60 kg/132 lbs.
Dennis won the first match, 1-0, 3-0 and Humphrey won the second match, 1-0, 4-4. In the deciding third match, Humphrey won, 6-1, 4-1. Humphrey is the son of Jim Humphrey, the head coach of the 1988 U.S. Olympic freestyle team and a past World medalist.
"In the first match, I wasn't ready," said Humphrey. "I wrestled one of the top kids in the sport, Franklin Gomez, in the Challenge Tournament finals. I figured I could beat (Dennis) if I stayed in good position. I had to work hard to win."
Humphrey, who qualified for two previous U.S. teams but did not attend the World Championships, will be wrestling at the World level for the first time this summer.
"I am ready. I am in shape now. I will be in better shape when the Worlds come around. I will go to win," said Humphrey.
The other freestyle champion on Friday was Penn State wrestler Brad Pataky of the New York AC, who won the 55 kg/121 lbs. division in two straight matches over Michael Martinez of the Cowboy WC, who wrestles for the Univ. of Wyoming. Pataky, the 2008 University Nationals champion, defeated Martinez, 2-0, 5-2 in the first match, then 2-2, 4-2 in the second match.
In a battle of teammates at the USOEC Greco-Roman team at Northern Michigan Univ., Cheney Haight of the New York AC defeated Andrew Bisek of the Minnesota Storm in two straight matches. Haight won the first bout, 1-1, 3-2, then captured the second bout, 3-0, 1-1. At the recent U.S. Senior Nationals, Bisek placed second and Haight placed fourth.
At 84 kg/185 lbs., Chas Betts of the Minnesota Storm won the weight class by injury default over 2008 U.S. Nationals champion Brad Ahearn of the U.S. Army. Ahearn had injured his hand in the finals of the Challenge Tournament in a victory over Jeremy Pederson of the U.S. Marines. Betts was the 2008 University Nationals champion and placed third at the U.S. Senior Nationals.
At 96 kg/211.5 lbs., Robbie Smith of the New York AC defeated 2008 University Nationals champion Peter Gounaridis of the Sunkist Kids in two straight matches. Smith won the first match, 1-7, 3-1, 7-0, then captured bout two by a 3-1, 7-1 margin.
On Saturday, there will be four FILA Junior freestyle weight classes and three FILA Junior Greco-Roman weight classes contested.
UNIVERSITY WORLD TEAM TRIALS
At Colorado Springs, Colo., May 23
Greco-Roman Championship Series
74 kg/163 lbs.
Cheney Haight (New York AC) dec. Andrew Bisek (Minnesota Storm), 1-1, 3-2
Cheney Haight (New York AC) dec. Andrew Bisek (Minnesota Storm), 3-0, 1-1
Haight wins series, 2 matches to 0
84 kg/185 lbs.
Chas Betts (Minnesota Storm) won by injury default over Brad Ahearn (U.S. Army)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Robbie Smith (New York AC) dec. Peter Gounaridis (Sunkist Kids), 1-7, 3-1, 7-0
Robbie Smith (New York AC) dec. Gounaridis (Sunkist Kids), 3-1, 7-1
Smith wins series, 2 matches to 0
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Erik Nye (Sunkist Kids) dec. David Arendt (U.S. Marines), 3-0, 1-1
Erik Nye (Sunkist Kids) dec. David Arendt (U.S. Marines), 1-1, 1-1
Nye wins series, 2 matches to 0
Freestyle Championship Series
55 kg/121 lbs.
Brad Pataky (New York AC) dec. Michael Martinez (Cowboy WC), 2-0, 5-2
Brad Pataky (New York AC) dec. Michael Martinez (Cowboy WC), 2-2, 4-2
Pataky wins series, 2 matches to 0
60 kg/132 lbs.
Daniel Dennis (Iowa) dec. Reece Humphrey (Ohio State), 1-0, 3-0
Reece Humphrey (Ohio State) dec. Daniel Dennis (Iowa), 1-0, 4-4
Reece Humphrey (Ohio State) dec. Daniel Dennis (Iowa), 6-1, 4-1
Humphrey wins series, 2 matches to 1
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Josh Churella (New York AC) dec. Nathaniel Holt (Bronco), 1-0, 0-1, 1-0
Josh Churella (New York AC) dec. Nathaniel Holt (Bronco), 2-0, 5-0
Churella wins series, 2 matches to 0
Read More#
Brandon Slay moves on from leading Pennsylvania RTC; Will direct SportsLife Wrestling and launch G1 Training Center in Arkansas
U.S. Beach Nationals return to Carolina Beach, N.C., May 10 with berths on U.S. World Teams up for grabs
NCAA Div. II Edinboro in Pennsylvania adds varsity Women’s Wrestling and Women's Golf
2025 CLAW U.S. Open, with 4,400 entries already, to light up Las Vegas, April 23-27; Still time to register in all 14 tournaments
