Sanders, Provisor need three matches to win FILA Junior World Team Trials on Sunday
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by Gary Abbott
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. - There was great drama in key matchups in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the FILA Junior World Team Trials at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
Freestyle champion Zach Sanders of the Minnesota Storm and Greco-Roman champion Ben Provisor of the Dennis Hall World Gold WC needed three bouts in their Championship Series to earn their spots on the FILA Junior World Team.
Champions in each weight class qualified for the 2008 U.S. Junior World Team. The Junior World Championships will be held in Istanbul, Turkey from July 29 to August 3.
Sanders, a freshman at the Univ. of Minnesota, won the 55 kg/121 lbs. division in an intense battle with Ohio high school junior David Taylor, a member of the 2007 Junior World Team.
Sanders won the first match, 4-1, 2-1, with a key three-point takedown in the last seconds of the first period. Taylor bounced back with a second period pin in the second match, 2-3, 1:07. The deciding third match went into the third period, where Sanders scored three takedowns to emerge with a dramatic 4-2, 1-1, 3-0 victory.
"I had to keep attacking and wrestle my style," said Sanders. "He is kind of funky. I had to stay clear of that stuff. I had to wrestle basic."
Sanders will be competing on his first U.S. World Team.
"It feels really good. I set this as my goal. I set the goal a year ago. To win a big tournament this spring is great. It will be cool to go overseas. This is my first one. I have won national tournaments, but nothing that lets you go overseas," said Sanders.
Provisor, a 2008 University Nationals champion, had an intense three-match battle with Talon Knox of the USOEC in the finals at 74 kg/163 lbs.Knox won the first match, 1-1, 0-4, 1-0, but Provisor rebounded with a 4-0, 0-2, 1-1 in the second match. With the team spot on the line, Provisor shut out Knox, 2-0, 2-0.
Coaching Provisor in the finals was his regular club coach Dennis Hall, a 1995 World champion and 1996 Olympic silver medalist, along with past U.S. World Team member Keith Sieracki. Provisor is a native of Wisconsin, and both Hall and Sieracki also came from Wisconsin.
"I have got to attack more on my feet. I wrestled all right, I guess. I need to get in even better shape," said Provisor. "I stepped up my defense in the second and third matches. I became more confident. I can't wait. It will be fun to be here (Colorado Springs) for a month, get in the best shape of my life, and go compete for a World medal."
Provisor gives credit to Hall for helping him to improve as a wrestler.
"Dennis is like my dad. I talk to him every day. I train with him every week. We are best of friends. It is great having that kind of person around for you," said Provisor.
Earning a spot on the Junior World freestyle team for the second straight year was Colorado high school star Tyler Graff of the New York AC, who defeated 2008 FILA Junior Nationals champion Dylan Alton of the New York AC in two straight matches at 60 kg/132 lbs.
Graff came back in the first match after losing the first period. He tired out Alton and opened up his offense, scoring a third period technical fall with multiple gutwrench turns for a 0-1 ,3-3, 9-3 victory. In the second match, Graff scored all of the points in a 2-0, 6-0 victory.
Graff competed at the 2007 Junior World Championships at 55 kg/121 lbs. Graff has signed to compete at the Univ. of Wisconsin.
"I am happy with the win but not with the performance," said Graff. "I felt I could have done better. I thank God for the victory and am grateful for the outcome. This is a great opportunity for me. This has been a goal of mine since last year, when I sat and watched my weight class and saw them give the gold to the Russian. It inspired me to want to return and be a World champion."
Claiming a freestyle title was Jordan Burroughs of the Sunkist Kids, a NCAA All-American from the Univ. of Nebraska. Burroughs, a 2008 University Nationals champion, won the 66 kg/145.5 lbs. division with two straight victories over Univ. of Michigan star Kellen Russell of the Cliff Keen WC.
"I only had to wrestle twice. I was happy to wrestle well," said Burroughs."He's a tough kid. He had a good season this year. It was a tough match for me. I am really excited, because for the first time I will get to wrestle outside the United States. My goal is to win there. That is always my No. 1 goal."
The other individual champion was Pennsylvania prep star Mark Rappo of the Sunkist Kids at 110 pounds, a recruit for the Univ. of Pennsylvania. Rappo defeated 2008 University Nationals champion Desmond Moore of Penn State, 3-0, 6-0 in bout one and 4-1, 8-1 in bout two.
The U.S. Olympic Education Center program from Northern Michigan Univ. won the other three Greco-Roman titles, as Zach Nielson of the Minnesota Storm at 84 kg/185 lbs., Michael Rossetti of the USOEC at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Peter Kowalczuk of the Sunkist Kids/USOEC at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. All three won their Championship Series in two straight matches, and all three will be competing on their first University World Team.
"I am really excited. I am psyched. I am jumping at the chance to wrestle against foreign kids. I have been training all year for this, and am excited I get to go," said Nielsen. "I have grown a lot at the USOEC. When I arrived this year, I was getting thrown around. I received positive encouragement from my partners and coaches. I am glad I am there. I am excited for the future."
FILA JUNIOR WORLD TEAM TRIALS
At Colorado Springs, Colo., May 24
Freestyle Championship Series
50 kg/110 lbs.
Mark Rappo (Sunkist Kids) dec. Desmond Moore (Penn State), 3-0, 6-0
Mark Rappo (Sunkist Kids) dec. Desmond Moore (Penn State), 4-1, 8-1
Rappo won series, 2 matches to 0
55 kg/121 lb.s
Zach Sanders (Minnesota Storm) dec. David Taylor (Mat Rats), 4-1, 2-1
David Taylor (Mat Rats) pin Zach Sanders (Minnesota Storm), 2-3, 1:07
Zach Sanders (Minnesota Storm) dec. David Taylor (Mat Rats), 4-2, 1-1, 3-0
Sanders won series, 2 matches to 1
60 kg/132 lbs.
Tyler Graff (New York AC) dec. Dylan Alton (New York AC), 0-1 ,3-3, 9-3
Tyler Graff (NYAC) dec. Dylan Alton (New York AC), 2-0, 6-0
Graff won series, 2 matches to 0
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Jordan Burroughs (Sunkist Kids) dec. Kellen Russell (Cliff Keen), 6-0, 4-1
Jordan Burroughs (Sunkist Kids) dec. Kellen Russell (Cliff Keen), 4-0, 4-0
Burroughs won series, 2 matches to 0
Greco-Roman Championship Series
74 kg/163 lbs.
Talon Knox (USOEC) dec. Ben Provisor (DennisHall/WorldGoldWrestling), 1-1, 0-4, 0-0
Ben Provisor (DennisHall/WorldGoldWrestling) dec. Talon Knox (USOEC), 4-0, 0-2, 1-1
Ben Provisor (DennisHall/WorldGoldWrestling) dec. Talon Knox (USOEC), 2-0, 2-0
Provisor won series, 2 matches to 1
84 kg/185 lbs.
Zac Nielsen (Minnesota Storm) tech. fall Chris Bullins (McMichael), 6-0, 5-0
Zac Nielsen (Minnesota Storm) dec. Chris Bullins (McMichael), 4-1, 6-0
Nielsen won series, 2 matches to 0
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Michael Rossetti (USOEC) dec. Brent Eidenshink (Minnesota Storm), 5-1, 3-1
Michael Rossetti (USOEC) dec. Brent Eidenshink (Minnesota Storm) , 3-1, 6-0
Rossetti won series, 2 matches to 0
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Peter Kowalczuk (Sunkist Kids/ USOEC) dec. Nathan Schwartz (Cleveland WC), 3-1, 6-0
Peter Kowalczuk (Sunkist Kids/ USOEC) dec. Nathan Schwartz (Cleveland WC), 3-1, 7-0
Kowalczuk won series, 2 matches to 0
Freestyle champion Zach Sanders of the Minnesota Storm and Greco-Roman champion Ben Provisor of the Dennis Hall World Gold WC needed three bouts in their Championship Series to earn their spots on the FILA Junior World Team.
Champions in each weight class qualified for the 2008 U.S. Junior World Team. The Junior World Championships will be held in Istanbul, Turkey from July 29 to August 3.
Sanders, a freshman at the Univ. of Minnesota, won the 55 kg/121 lbs. division in an intense battle with Ohio high school junior David Taylor, a member of the 2007 Junior World Team.
Sanders won the first match, 4-1, 2-1, with a key three-point takedown in the last seconds of the first period. Taylor bounced back with a second period pin in the second match, 2-3, 1:07. The deciding third match went into the third period, where Sanders scored three takedowns to emerge with a dramatic 4-2, 1-1, 3-0 victory.
"I had to keep attacking and wrestle my style," said Sanders. "He is kind of funky. I had to stay clear of that stuff. I had to wrestle basic."
Sanders will be competing on his first U.S. World Team.
"It feels really good. I set this as my goal. I set the goal a year ago. To win a big tournament this spring is great. It will be cool to go overseas. This is my first one. I have won national tournaments, but nothing that lets you go overseas," said Sanders.
Provisor, a 2008 University Nationals champion, had an intense three-match battle with Talon Knox of the USOEC in the finals at 74 kg/163 lbs.Knox won the first match, 1-1, 0-4, 1-0, but Provisor rebounded with a 4-0, 0-2, 1-1 in the second match. With the team spot on the line, Provisor shut out Knox, 2-0, 2-0.
Coaching Provisor in the finals was his regular club coach Dennis Hall, a 1995 World champion and 1996 Olympic silver medalist, along with past U.S. World Team member Keith Sieracki. Provisor is a native of Wisconsin, and both Hall and Sieracki also came from Wisconsin.
"I have got to attack more on my feet. I wrestled all right, I guess. I need to get in even better shape," said Provisor. "I stepped up my defense in the second and third matches. I became more confident. I can't wait. It will be fun to be here (Colorado Springs) for a month, get in the best shape of my life, and go compete for a World medal."
Provisor gives credit to Hall for helping him to improve as a wrestler.
"Dennis is like my dad. I talk to him every day. I train with him every week. We are best of friends. It is great having that kind of person around for you," said Provisor.
Earning a spot on the Junior World freestyle team for the second straight year was Colorado high school star Tyler Graff of the New York AC, who defeated 2008 FILA Junior Nationals champion Dylan Alton of the New York AC in two straight matches at 60 kg/132 lbs.
Graff came back in the first match after losing the first period. He tired out Alton and opened up his offense, scoring a third period technical fall with multiple gutwrench turns for a 0-1 ,3-3, 9-3 victory. In the second match, Graff scored all of the points in a 2-0, 6-0 victory.
Graff competed at the 2007 Junior World Championships at 55 kg/121 lbs. Graff has signed to compete at the Univ. of Wisconsin.
"I am happy with the win but not with the performance," said Graff. "I felt I could have done better. I thank God for the victory and am grateful for the outcome. This is a great opportunity for me. This has been a goal of mine since last year, when I sat and watched my weight class and saw them give the gold to the Russian. It inspired me to want to return and be a World champion."
Claiming a freestyle title was Jordan Burroughs of the Sunkist Kids, a NCAA All-American from the Univ. of Nebraska. Burroughs, a 2008 University Nationals champion, won the 66 kg/145.5 lbs. division with two straight victories over Univ. of Michigan star Kellen Russell of the Cliff Keen WC.
"I only had to wrestle twice. I was happy to wrestle well," said Burroughs."He's a tough kid. He had a good season this year. It was a tough match for me. I am really excited, because for the first time I will get to wrestle outside the United States. My goal is to win there. That is always my No. 1 goal."
The other individual champion was Pennsylvania prep star Mark Rappo of the Sunkist Kids at 110 pounds, a recruit for the Univ. of Pennsylvania. Rappo defeated 2008 University Nationals champion Desmond Moore of Penn State, 3-0, 6-0 in bout one and 4-1, 8-1 in bout two.
The U.S. Olympic Education Center program from Northern Michigan Univ. won the other three Greco-Roman titles, as Zach Nielson of the Minnesota Storm at 84 kg/185 lbs., Michael Rossetti of the USOEC at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Peter Kowalczuk of the Sunkist Kids/USOEC at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. All three won their Championship Series in two straight matches, and all three will be competing on their first University World Team.
"I am really excited. I am psyched. I am jumping at the chance to wrestle against foreign kids. I have been training all year for this, and am excited I get to go," said Nielsen. "I have grown a lot at the USOEC. When I arrived this year, I was getting thrown around. I received positive encouragement from my partners and coaches. I am glad I am there. I am excited for the future."
FILA JUNIOR WORLD TEAM TRIALS
At Colorado Springs, Colo., May 24
Freestyle Championship Series
50 kg/110 lbs.
Mark Rappo (Sunkist Kids) dec. Desmond Moore (Penn State), 3-0, 6-0
Mark Rappo (Sunkist Kids) dec. Desmond Moore (Penn State), 4-1, 8-1
Rappo won series, 2 matches to 0
55 kg/121 lb.s
Zach Sanders (Minnesota Storm) dec. David Taylor (Mat Rats), 4-1, 2-1
David Taylor (Mat Rats) pin Zach Sanders (Minnesota Storm), 2-3, 1:07
Zach Sanders (Minnesota Storm) dec. David Taylor (Mat Rats), 4-2, 1-1, 3-0
Sanders won series, 2 matches to 1
60 kg/132 lbs.
Tyler Graff (New York AC) dec. Dylan Alton (New York AC), 0-1 ,3-3, 9-3
Tyler Graff (NYAC) dec. Dylan Alton (New York AC), 2-0, 6-0
Graff won series, 2 matches to 0
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Jordan Burroughs (Sunkist Kids) dec. Kellen Russell (Cliff Keen), 6-0, 4-1
Jordan Burroughs (Sunkist Kids) dec. Kellen Russell (Cliff Keen), 4-0, 4-0
Burroughs won series, 2 matches to 0
Greco-Roman Championship Series
74 kg/163 lbs.
Talon Knox (USOEC) dec. Ben Provisor (DennisHall/WorldGoldWrestling), 1-1, 0-4, 0-0
Ben Provisor (DennisHall/WorldGoldWrestling) dec. Talon Knox (USOEC), 4-0, 0-2, 1-1
Ben Provisor (DennisHall/WorldGoldWrestling) dec. Talon Knox (USOEC), 2-0, 2-0
Provisor won series, 2 matches to 1
84 kg/185 lbs.
Zac Nielsen (Minnesota Storm) tech. fall Chris Bullins (McMichael), 6-0, 5-0
Zac Nielsen (Minnesota Storm) dec. Chris Bullins (McMichael), 4-1, 6-0
Nielsen won series, 2 matches to 0
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Michael Rossetti (USOEC) dec. Brent Eidenshink (Minnesota Storm), 5-1, 3-1
Michael Rossetti (USOEC) dec. Brent Eidenshink (Minnesota Storm) , 3-1, 6-0
Rossetti won series, 2 matches to 0
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Peter Kowalczuk (Sunkist Kids/ USOEC) dec. Nathan Schwartz (Cleveland WC), 3-1, 6-0
Peter Kowalczuk (Sunkist Kids/ USOEC) dec. Nathan Schwartz (Cleveland WC), 3-1, 7-0
Kowalczuk won series, 2 matches to 0
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