Cadet Greco-Roman Nationals Day 1 Notebook
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by Jason Bryant
Starting it off
Pennsylvania's Devon Lotito and Missouri's Cody Hummer started the tournament under the watchful eyes of everyone. The pair drew match 1, mat 1 to launch the 2009 Cadet Greco-Roman National Championships. Lotito topped Hummer 1-0, 1-0 at 105 pounds.
First win of the day
Virginia's Joey Dance earned the tournament's first win, kicking off the 2009 Cadet Greco-Roman National Championships. A double All-American last year, Dance pinned North Carolina's Giancarlo Solorzano in 41 seconds on mat 15.
By the numbers
This year's Cadet Greco-Roman tournament contains 782 wrestlers from 41 state associations. Last year, the Cadet Greco-Roman tournament drew 850 wrestlers.
It's all about the minutiae
Credit New Jersey ultimate frisbee guru Gary "Gimp" Brownell for the headline, but at 10:20 a.m., announcer Sandy Stevens hit the crowd with the first "maroon seats" announcement. Since the maroon seats in the FargoDome are reserved for NSDU folks who have purchased those suites, wrestlers (or anyone else) are forbidden to sit in them. For years, Stevens has let everyone in the building know about it ... repeatedly.
Speaking of speakers
Last year, Don Blasingame, the booming voice of this tournament for many years, quietly announced he was retiring from handling the announcing duties. A.L. Haizlip, the voice of Oklahoma Sooner wrestling, has filled Don's role for at least the Greco portion. Haizlip has announced this tournament in the past, but for many here in Fargo, there's a noticeable sound absent from the FargoDome.
Off to the races
California and Pennsylvania have set the pace when it comes to picking up pins in the day's opening session. As of 12:09 p.m. CDT, each state has amassed 14 falls. Washington, one of the top Greco-Roman wrestling states, is right on their heels with 13. Pennsylvania has a pair of wrestlers who picked up falls in their first two matches -- Josh DiSanto (112) and Phillip Kail (125). California's Brian Sergi (125) has two.
Alabama Man
Check out today's interview with Sam Hazewinkel, who is coaching with Team Alabama out here this summer. Hazewinkel, a former Junior National Champion in Greco-Roman, was a four-time All-American at Oklahoma and is returning to Fargo for the first time since he was a competitor. Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4aMlnPfbH8
Fall Update
It seems California took exception to the earlier note. The wrestlers from the Golden State added three more falls to bring their first session total to 17 as of 1:04 p.m. CDT. Washington moved into second with 16, while Illinois has 15.
Four down, two to go
Michigan's Taylor Massa has started the Cadet Greco-Roman tournament well, picking up two technical fall victories at 152 pounds. Massa won the Cadet Triple Crown last year by taking championships in USA Wrestling's folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments. He's already won folkstyle this season and eyes Greco in two days. Should Massa double here in Fargo again, he'd become the first wrestler to win the Cadet to win the triple crown twice. Keep your eye on him.
Quotable
" ... that was a rough round."
-- New York Greco-Roman coach and 1984 U.S. Olympic Champion Jeff Blatnick.
Session II
Nazareth (Pa.)'s Zach Horan blitzed through his fourth round match, topping Dustin Greene of New York 6-0, 7-0. To watch Horan's victory, follow the USA Wrestling YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09r43cIAo0I
Hamley, Donar dominant in opening rounds
North Dakota's Kameron Hamley and Wisconsin's Jarod Donar have been finishing opponents with success in the Cadet Greco-Roman tournament. Hamley, wrestling at 125 pounds. picked up his fourth fall and improved to 5-0. Hamley's latest victim was Washington's Ryan Deweese in 1:58. Donar's four straight falls put him in solid position in the vertical pairing bracket until he ran into Minnesota's Matt Kelliher in the fifth round at 130 pounds. Kelliher topped Donar 3-0, 0-5, 2-2.
Catching up with Mark Grey
To whom does Mark Grey of New Jersey attribute his solid top offense from par terre? Find out what he said following his fourth round victory. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMSMhDQerbo
Pennsylvania's Devon Lotito and Missouri's Cody Hummer started the tournament under the watchful eyes of everyone. The pair drew match 1, mat 1 to launch the 2009 Cadet Greco-Roman National Championships. Lotito topped Hummer 1-0, 1-0 at 105 pounds.
First win of the day
Virginia's Joey Dance earned the tournament's first win, kicking off the 2009 Cadet Greco-Roman National Championships. A double All-American last year, Dance pinned North Carolina's Giancarlo Solorzano in 41 seconds on mat 15.
By the numbers
This year's Cadet Greco-Roman tournament contains 782 wrestlers from 41 state associations. Last year, the Cadet Greco-Roman tournament drew 850 wrestlers.
It's all about the minutiae
Credit New Jersey ultimate frisbee guru Gary "Gimp" Brownell for the headline, but at 10:20 a.m., announcer Sandy Stevens hit the crowd with the first "maroon seats" announcement. Since the maroon seats in the FargoDome are reserved for NSDU folks who have purchased those suites, wrestlers (or anyone else) are forbidden to sit in them. For years, Stevens has let everyone in the building know about it ... repeatedly.
Speaking of speakers
Last year, Don Blasingame, the booming voice of this tournament for many years, quietly announced he was retiring from handling the announcing duties. A.L. Haizlip, the voice of Oklahoma Sooner wrestling, has filled Don's role for at least the Greco portion. Haizlip has announced this tournament in the past, but for many here in Fargo, there's a noticeable sound absent from the FargoDome.
Off to the races
California and Pennsylvania have set the pace when it comes to picking up pins in the day's opening session. As of 12:09 p.m. CDT, each state has amassed 14 falls. Washington, one of the top Greco-Roman wrestling states, is right on their heels with 13. Pennsylvania has a pair of wrestlers who picked up falls in their first two matches -- Josh DiSanto (112) and Phillip Kail (125). California's Brian Sergi (125) has two.
Alabama Man
Check out today's interview with Sam Hazewinkel, who is coaching with Team Alabama out here this summer. Hazewinkel, a former Junior National Champion in Greco-Roman, was a four-time All-American at Oklahoma and is returning to Fargo for the first time since he was a competitor. Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4aMlnPfbH8
Fall Update
It seems California took exception to the earlier note. The wrestlers from the Golden State added three more falls to bring their first session total to 17 as of 1:04 p.m. CDT. Washington moved into second with 16, while Illinois has 15.
Four down, two to go
Michigan's Taylor Massa has started the Cadet Greco-Roman tournament well, picking up two technical fall victories at 152 pounds. Massa won the Cadet Triple Crown last year by taking championships in USA Wrestling's folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments. He's already won folkstyle this season and eyes Greco in two days. Should Massa double here in Fargo again, he'd become the first wrestler to win the Cadet to win the triple crown twice. Keep your eye on him.
Quotable
" ... that was a rough round."
-- New York Greco-Roman coach and 1984 U.S. Olympic Champion Jeff Blatnick.
Session II
Nazareth (Pa.)'s Zach Horan blitzed through his fourth round match, topping Dustin Greene of New York 6-0, 7-0. To watch Horan's victory, follow the USA Wrestling YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09r43cIAo0I
Hamley, Donar dominant in opening rounds
North Dakota's Kameron Hamley and Wisconsin's Jarod Donar have been finishing opponents with success in the Cadet Greco-Roman tournament. Hamley, wrestling at 125 pounds. picked up his fourth fall and improved to 5-0. Hamley's latest victim was Washington's Ryan Deweese in 1:58. Donar's four straight falls put him in solid position in the vertical pairing bracket until he ran into Minnesota's Matt Kelliher in the fifth round at 130 pounds. Kelliher topped Donar 3-0, 0-5, 2-2.
Catching up with Mark Grey
To whom does Mark Grey of New Jersey attribute his solid top offense from par terre? Find out what he said following his fourth round victory. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMSMhDQerbo
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