Hazewinkel, Mango, Gavin, Herbert among winners at University World Team Trials on Saturday
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by Gary Abbott
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - A number of top stars on the Senior level were able to capture titles on the final day of the University World Team Trials at the U.S. Olympic Training Center on Saturday.
In the Greco-Roman division, past U.S. Nationals champions Sam Hazewinkel of the Gator WC and Spenser Mango of the Gator WC were among the winners of Saturday night's Championship Series.
In freestyle, 2008 NCAA champion Keith Gavin of the New York AC and 2007 NCAA champion Jake Herbert of the New York AC were also winners of their Championships Series.
Champions earned a spot on the 2008 U.S. University World Team. The World University Championships are set to take place in Thessaloniki, Greece, July 9-13.
Hazewinkel, Mango, Gavin and Herbert will also compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev., June 13-15. In addition to wrestling for a spot on the University World Team, these athletes, along with many others, were using this as a tuneup for the Olympic Trials.
Hazewinkel, a 2007 U.S. Nationals champion, won the 55 kg/121 lbs. division with two dominant wins over 2008 University Nationals champion Nikko Triggas of Ohio State. Hazewinkel won the first match, 5-1, 5-1 and scored a 7-0, 6-0 technical fall in the second match.
"I was debating whether or not it was smart to wrestle here," said Hazewinkel. "You never go wrong wrestling matches. It was good to make the weight again and keep from getting too big. It was all around good for me. In the past, I didn't do the University Worlds because I focused on making the Senior team. I was looking at it wrong, I should have gotten that experience. You learn as you go along."
Mango, a 2008 U.S. Nationals champion at 55 kg/121 lbs., moved up to 60 kg/132 lbs. and needed three matches to defeat Donovan Depatto of the U.S. Marines, Mango won the first bout, 5-1, 3-1, but Depatto claimed the second bout with a surprise 1-1, 3-2 win. In the deciding third match, Mango opened up his offense to score a technical fall victory, 7-0, 6-0.
Mango had also defeated Depatto in the finals of the 2007 and 2008 University Nationals. Mango was a 2006 World University champion, and will have another chance at winning a medal this summer.
"I was only planning on wrestling twice," said Mango. "I had a bad second match. I put it together the third match and wrestled my match. It is nice making this team. It is a chance to get a little more competition this summer before the Olympics. I am looking forward to that."
Gavin, who won his 2008 NCAA title for the Univ. of Pittsburgh, defeated Eric Luedke of Iowa in two straight matches at 74 kg/163 lbs. Gavin lost the first period of bout one, but battled back to win 4-4, 6-2, 3-0. In the second match, Gavin was in control for a 7-0, 5-2 victory. Gavin was a 2008 University Nationals champion.
"I felt good. The first match, I was a little sluggish. I got better as it went along. I am really excited. It should be a great experience to get an international experience," said Gavin. "Right now, I need as many freestyle matches as possible to help me make the adjustment quicker. I think I keep improving. I'll be excited to get to the Olympic Trials to see how I do."
At 84 kg/185 lbs., Herbert was in control in a two-match victory over Phillip Keddy of Iowa. Herbert won the first bout, 5-3, 5-1, then captured the second match, 2-1, 4-0. Herbert was a 2007 NCAA champion for Northwestern, and has taken an Olympic redshirt year this season to pursue a spot on the Olympic team. It will be Herbert's second University World team.
"I was there in 2006 and got bronze. I look to go in 2008 and get gold," said Herbert. "I have been there once and know what it is about. This is also my early warmup for the Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games. It is progressing great. I am ready to go. Now I need to get mentally ready, getting my body and mind feeling good."
The other University Nationals champions on Saturday in freestyle were Konrad Dudziak of the New York AC at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Tervel Dlagnev of the Sunkist Kids at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Dudziak, who is taking an Olympic redshirt year from Duke, defeated 2008 University Nationals champion Brent Jones of the Cavalier WC in two straight, 4-4, 3-0 in bout one and 3-0, 3-0 in bout two.
Dlagnev, a two-time NCAA Div. II champion from Nebraska-Kearney, swept Aaron Anspach of Penn State in two matches. Dlagnev won the first match 2-0, 1-0 and the second match, 5-3, 6-0.
"I am super excited," said Dlagnev. "It is an honor. I have not been overseas on a tour yet. This is a step in the right direction, and there is a lot more to come."
The final Greco-Roman champion was top seeded Jacob Curby of the Gator WC at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. , who dominated Chad Vandiver in the finals. Curby scored a 6-0, 7-0 technical fall in bout one, and pinned Vandiver in 55 seconds in bout two.
"It feels good," said Curby. "I wanted to get a good tuneup before the Olympic Trials. "This is my second University World Team. This time I go with higher expectations. I hope to win a medal."
UNIVERSITY WORLD TEAM TRIALS
At Colorado Springs, Colo., May 24
Freestyle Championship Series
74 kg/163 lbs.
Keith Gavin (New York AC) dec. Eric Luedke (Iowa), 4-4, 6-2, 3-0
Keith Gavin (New York AC) dec. Eric Luedke (Iowa), 7-0, 5-2
Gavin won series, 2 matches to 0
84 kg/185 lbs.
Jake Herbert (New York AC) dec. Phillip Keddy (Iowa), 5-3, 5-1
Jake Herbert (New York AC) dec. Phillip Keddy (Iowa), 2-1, 4-0
Herbert won series, 2 matches to 0
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Konrad Dudziak (New York AC) dec. Brent Jones (Cavalier WC), 4-4, 3-0
Konrad Dudziak (New York AC) dec. Brent Jones (Cavalier WC), 3-0, 3-0
Dudziak won series, 2 matches to 0
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Tervel Dlagnev (Sunkist Kids) dec. Aaron Anspach (Penn State), 2-0, 1-0
Tervel Dlagnev (Sunkist Kids) dec. Aaron Anspach (Penn State), 5-3, 6-0
Dlagnev won series, 2 matches to 0
Greco-Roman Championship Series
55 kg/121 lbs.
Sam Hazewinkel (Gator WC) dec. Nikko Triggas (Ohio State), 5-1, 5-1
Sam Hazewinkel (Gator WC) tech. fall Nikko Triggas (Ohio State), 7-0, 6-0
Hazewinkel won series, 2 matches to 0
60 kg/132 lbs.
Spenser Mango (Gator WC) dec. Donovan Depatto (U.S. Marines), 5-1, 3-1
Donovan Depatto (U.S. Marines) dec. Spenser Mango (Gator WC), 1-1, 3-2
Spenser Mango (Gator WC) tech fall. Donovan Depatto (U.S. Marines), 7-0, 6-0
Mango won series, 2 matches to 1
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Jacob Curby (Gator WC) tech. fall Chad Vandiver (unattached), 6-0, 7-0
Jacob Curby (Gator WC) pin Chad Vandiver (unattached), 0:55
Curby won series, 2 matches to 0
In the Greco-Roman division, past U.S. Nationals champions Sam Hazewinkel of the Gator WC and Spenser Mango of the Gator WC were among the winners of Saturday night's Championship Series.
In freestyle, 2008 NCAA champion Keith Gavin of the New York AC and 2007 NCAA champion Jake Herbert of the New York AC were also winners of their Championships Series.
Champions earned a spot on the 2008 U.S. University World Team. The World University Championships are set to take place in Thessaloniki, Greece, July 9-13.
Hazewinkel, Mango, Gavin and Herbert will also compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev., June 13-15. In addition to wrestling for a spot on the University World Team, these athletes, along with many others, were using this as a tuneup for the Olympic Trials.
Hazewinkel, a 2007 U.S. Nationals champion, won the 55 kg/121 lbs. division with two dominant wins over 2008 University Nationals champion Nikko Triggas of Ohio State. Hazewinkel won the first match, 5-1, 5-1 and scored a 7-0, 6-0 technical fall in the second match.
"I was debating whether or not it was smart to wrestle here," said Hazewinkel. "You never go wrong wrestling matches. It was good to make the weight again and keep from getting too big. It was all around good for me. In the past, I didn't do the University Worlds because I focused on making the Senior team. I was looking at it wrong, I should have gotten that experience. You learn as you go along."
Mango, a 2008 U.S. Nationals champion at 55 kg/121 lbs., moved up to 60 kg/132 lbs. and needed three matches to defeat Donovan Depatto of the U.S. Marines, Mango won the first bout, 5-1, 3-1, but Depatto claimed the second bout with a surprise 1-1, 3-2 win. In the deciding third match, Mango opened up his offense to score a technical fall victory, 7-0, 6-0.
Mango had also defeated Depatto in the finals of the 2007 and 2008 University Nationals. Mango was a 2006 World University champion, and will have another chance at winning a medal this summer.
"I was only planning on wrestling twice," said Mango. "I had a bad second match. I put it together the third match and wrestled my match. It is nice making this team. It is a chance to get a little more competition this summer before the Olympics. I am looking forward to that."
Gavin, who won his 2008 NCAA title for the Univ. of Pittsburgh, defeated Eric Luedke of Iowa in two straight matches at 74 kg/163 lbs. Gavin lost the first period of bout one, but battled back to win 4-4, 6-2, 3-0. In the second match, Gavin was in control for a 7-0, 5-2 victory. Gavin was a 2008 University Nationals champion.
"I felt good. The first match, I was a little sluggish. I got better as it went along. I am really excited. It should be a great experience to get an international experience," said Gavin. "Right now, I need as many freestyle matches as possible to help me make the adjustment quicker. I think I keep improving. I'll be excited to get to the Olympic Trials to see how I do."
At 84 kg/185 lbs., Herbert was in control in a two-match victory over Phillip Keddy of Iowa. Herbert won the first bout, 5-3, 5-1, then captured the second match, 2-1, 4-0. Herbert was a 2007 NCAA champion for Northwestern, and has taken an Olympic redshirt year this season to pursue a spot on the Olympic team. It will be Herbert's second University World team.
"I was there in 2006 and got bronze. I look to go in 2008 and get gold," said Herbert. "I have been there once and know what it is about. This is also my early warmup for the Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games. It is progressing great. I am ready to go. Now I need to get mentally ready, getting my body and mind feeling good."
The other University Nationals champions on Saturday in freestyle were Konrad Dudziak of the New York AC at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Tervel Dlagnev of the Sunkist Kids at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Dudziak, who is taking an Olympic redshirt year from Duke, defeated 2008 University Nationals champion Brent Jones of the Cavalier WC in two straight, 4-4, 3-0 in bout one and 3-0, 3-0 in bout two.
Dlagnev, a two-time NCAA Div. II champion from Nebraska-Kearney, swept Aaron Anspach of Penn State in two matches. Dlagnev won the first match 2-0, 1-0 and the second match, 5-3, 6-0.
"I am super excited," said Dlagnev. "It is an honor. I have not been overseas on a tour yet. This is a step in the right direction, and there is a lot more to come."
The final Greco-Roman champion was top seeded Jacob Curby of the Gator WC at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. , who dominated Chad Vandiver in the finals. Curby scored a 6-0, 7-0 technical fall in bout one, and pinned Vandiver in 55 seconds in bout two.
"It feels good," said Curby. "I wanted to get a good tuneup before the Olympic Trials. "This is my second University World Team. This time I go with higher expectations. I hope to win a medal."
UNIVERSITY WORLD TEAM TRIALS
At Colorado Springs, Colo., May 24
Freestyle Championship Series
74 kg/163 lbs.
Keith Gavin (New York AC) dec. Eric Luedke (Iowa), 4-4, 6-2, 3-0
Keith Gavin (New York AC) dec. Eric Luedke (Iowa), 7-0, 5-2
Gavin won series, 2 matches to 0
84 kg/185 lbs.
Jake Herbert (New York AC) dec. Phillip Keddy (Iowa), 5-3, 5-1
Jake Herbert (New York AC) dec. Phillip Keddy (Iowa), 2-1, 4-0
Herbert won series, 2 matches to 0
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Konrad Dudziak (New York AC) dec. Brent Jones (Cavalier WC), 4-4, 3-0
Konrad Dudziak (New York AC) dec. Brent Jones (Cavalier WC), 3-0, 3-0
Dudziak won series, 2 matches to 0
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Tervel Dlagnev (Sunkist Kids) dec. Aaron Anspach (Penn State), 2-0, 1-0
Tervel Dlagnev (Sunkist Kids) dec. Aaron Anspach (Penn State), 5-3, 6-0
Dlagnev won series, 2 matches to 0
Greco-Roman Championship Series
55 kg/121 lbs.
Sam Hazewinkel (Gator WC) dec. Nikko Triggas (Ohio State), 5-1, 5-1
Sam Hazewinkel (Gator WC) tech. fall Nikko Triggas (Ohio State), 7-0, 6-0
Hazewinkel won series, 2 matches to 0
60 kg/132 lbs.
Spenser Mango (Gator WC) dec. Donovan Depatto (U.S. Marines), 5-1, 3-1
Donovan Depatto (U.S. Marines) dec. Spenser Mango (Gator WC), 1-1, 3-2
Spenser Mango (Gator WC) tech fall. Donovan Depatto (U.S. Marines), 7-0, 6-0
Mango won series, 2 matches to 1
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Jacob Curby (Gator WC) tech. fall Chad Vandiver (unattached), 6-0, 7-0
Jacob Curby (Gator WC) pin Chad Vandiver (unattached), 0:55
Curby won series, 2 matches to 0
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