Jade Rauser, Alton twins among big names making splash early as Junior Nationals freestyle competition kicks off
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by Craig Sesker
FARGO, N.D. - Montana's Jade Rauser passed his first test in the Junior Nationals freestyle competition.
And it wasn't much of a test.
Rauser, in the running to become USA Wrestling's first Junior Triple Crown winner, won by technical fall in the opening round at 105 pounds on Thursday morning at the FargoDome.
This is the third year that Juniors have had a chance to win the Triple Crown. The Junior division was added at the 2007 Folkstyle Nationals.
Rauser won Folkstyle Nationals in April and followed by winning Junior Nationals in Greco-Roman on Tuesday.
Twins Andrew and Dylan Alton of Pennsylvania are both back looking to repeat as Junior Nationals freestyle champions. Andrew (140) and Dylan (145), who have committed to Penn State, started off strong on Thursday. The Altons each finished 2-0 in the first freestyle session. They won all of their bouts by technical fall.
Missouri's Ryan Mango (119) continued his quest to repeat as a double Junior Nationals champion. Mango won his first two freestyle matches by technical fall on Thursday. Mango won a Junior Greco title on Tuesday.
Florida's Kendrick Sanders (152), a two-time Junior Nationals champion in Greco-Roman, won by fall and technical fall in his first two Junior freestyle matches.
Oregon's Brock Gutches (160), a Boise State recruit, won his first match by decision and his second by fall. Gutches, cousin of past NCAA and World champion Les Gutches, won a Junior Nationals Greco title earlier this week.
2008 Cadet Nationals freestyle champ Destin McCauley (145) won his first Junior Nationals freestyle bout by decision and second by fall.
2008 Cadet Triple Crown winner Dylan Ness of Minnesota won his first two Junior Nationals freestyle bouts at 140. Ness placed second in the Junior Nationals Greco-Roman event.
Nebraska's RaVaughn Perkins (140), who beat Ness in the Greco finals on Tuesday, won his first two freestyle matches on Thursday.
2008 Cadet Nationals double champion Andrew Campolattano of New Jersey (189), who won a Junior Greco-Roman title on Tuesday, is not entered in the freestyle competition. He said he suffered an injury in the Greco competition.
And it wasn't much of a test.
Rauser, in the running to become USA Wrestling's first Junior Triple Crown winner, won by technical fall in the opening round at 105 pounds on Thursday morning at the FargoDome.
This is the third year that Juniors have had a chance to win the Triple Crown. The Junior division was added at the 2007 Folkstyle Nationals.
Rauser won Folkstyle Nationals in April and followed by winning Junior Nationals in Greco-Roman on Tuesday.
Twins Andrew and Dylan Alton of Pennsylvania are both back looking to repeat as Junior Nationals freestyle champions. Andrew (140) and Dylan (145), who have committed to Penn State, started off strong on Thursday. The Altons each finished 2-0 in the first freestyle session. They won all of their bouts by technical fall.
Missouri's Ryan Mango (119) continued his quest to repeat as a double Junior Nationals champion. Mango won his first two freestyle matches by technical fall on Thursday. Mango won a Junior Greco title on Tuesday.
Florida's Kendrick Sanders (152), a two-time Junior Nationals champion in Greco-Roman, won by fall and technical fall in his first two Junior freestyle matches.
Oregon's Brock Gutches (160), a Boise State recruit, won his first match by decision and his second by fall. Gutches, cousin of past NCAA and World champion Les Gutches, won a Junior Nationals Greco title earlier this week.
2008 Cadet Nationals freestyle champ Destin McCauley (145) won his first Junior Nationals freestyle bout by decision and second by fall.
2008 Cadet Triple Crown winner Dylan Ness of Minnesota won his first two Junior Nationals freestyle bouts at 140. Ness placed second in the Junior Nationals Greco-Roman event.
Nebraska's RaVaughn Perkins (140), who beat Ness in the Greco finals on Tuesday, won his first two freestyle matches on Thursday.
2008 Cadet Nationals double champion Andrew Campolattano of New Jersey (189), who won a Junior Greco-Roman title on Tuesday, is not entered in the freestyle competition. He said he suffered an injury in the Greco competition.
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