Alton twins, Rauser twins headline list of finalists for Junior Nationals in freestyle
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by Craig Sesker
FARGO, N.D. - The Alton twins are on a mission.
Their no-nonsense, businesslike approach was on full display as the Junior Nationals freestyle competition heated up on Friday night at the FargoDome.
Andrew (140 pounds) and Dylan (145) looked impressive in advancing to Saturday morning's finals. The Altons, who are Penn State recruits, will try to repeat as Junior freestyle champions during Saturday morning's final session that kicks off at 9 a.m.
Both Altons, who are from Pennsylvania, looked dominant during Friday night's late session.
Andrew Alton beat 2008 Cadet Nationals champion Dylan Ness of Minnesota 8-0, 4-3 and then won the much-anticipated bout with Wisconsin's Nazar Kulchytskyy 2-0, 2-1.
Kulchytskyy tied the match 1-1 against Alton with a takedown in the second period, but Alton scored a pushout in the closing seconds of the period to win the match.
Dylan Alton earned a methodical 1-0, 2-0 win over 2008 Cadet Nationals freestyle champion Destin McCauley of Minnesota.
Andrew Alton will meet Josh Kindig of Pennsylvania in the finals. Dylan Alton will battle Vlad Dombrowskiy of California in his gold-medal match. Dylan Alton beat Kindig in the Junior finals last year.
Another set of twins, the Rausers, also have reached the finals.
Montana's Jade Rauser now stands just one victory from becoming USA Wrestling's first Junior Triple Crown winner. Jade will meet Iowa's Jack Hathaway in the 105 finals.
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.
Jade Rauser's twin brother, Valyen, advanced to the finals at 112. Valyen placed second in Cadets in Greco-Roman. Valyen will face Ryak Finch of Arizona in the finals. Finch beat Valyen Rauser in the Cadet Greco finals.
Washington's Derek Garcia (152), a Cadet Nationals Greco champion in 2007, reached the Junior Nationals freestyle finals on Friday. He will face Florida's Joseph Cozart in the finals. Cozart is a three-time state champion whose father, Russ, coaches one of the nation's perennial powers in Brandon High School.
Missouri's Ryan Mango (119) came up short in his quest to repeat as a double Junior Nationals champion. Mango lost to Ohio's Ty Mitch in three periods on Friday night. Mango will wrestle for third place on Saturday. Mango won a Junior Greco title on Tuesday.
JUNIOR NATIONALS FREESTYLE FINALS MATCHUPS
98 Pounds
Ruben Navejas (Washington) vs. Maxwell Soria (New York)
105 Pounds
Jade Rauser (Montana) vs. Jack Hathaway (Iowa)
112 Pounds
Valyen Rauser (Montana) vs. Ryak Finch (Arizona)
119 Pounds
Nico Megaludis (Pennsylvania) vs. Ty Mitch (Ohio)
125 Pounds
David Thorn (Minnesota) vs. Devin Carter (Virginia)
130 Pounds
Nick Dardanes (Illinois) vs. Cashe' Quiroga (Indiana)
135 Pounds
C.J. Napier (Kansas) vs. Josh Dziewa (Pennsylvania)
140 Pounds
Andrew Alton (Pennsylvania) vs. Josh Kindig (Pennsylvania)
145 Pounds
Dylan Alton (Pennsylvania) vs. Vlad Dombrowskiy (California)
152 Pounds
Derek Garcia (Washington) vs. Joseph Cozart (Florida)
160 Pounds
Derek St. John (Iowa) vs. Robert Kokesh (South Dakota)
171 Pounds
Lee Munster (Illinois) vs. Ethen Lofthouse (Utah)
189 Pounds
Jake Swartz (Washington) vs. Max Huntley (New Jersey)
215 Pounds
Derrick Borlie (Virginia) vs. Tony Nelson (Minnesota)
285 Pounds
Jake Kettler (Minnesota) vs. Jeremy Johnson (Ohio)
Their no-nonsense, businesslike approach was on full display as the Junior Nationals freestyle competition heated up on Friday night at the FargoDome.
Andrew (140 pounds) and Dylan (145) looked impressive in advancing to Saturday morning's finals. The Altons, who are Penn State recruits, will try to repeat as Junior freestyle champions during Saturday morning's final session that kicks off at 9 a.m.
Both Altons, who are from Pennsylvania, looked dominant during Friday night's late session.
Andrew Alton beat 2008 Cadet Nationals champion Dylan Ness of Minnesota 8-0, 4-3 and then won the much-anticipated bout with Wisconsin's Nazar Kulchytskyy 2-0, 2-1.
Kulchytskyy tied the match 1-1 against Alton with a takedown in the second period, but Alton scored a pushout in the closing seconds of the period to win the match.
Dylan Alton earned a methodical 1-0, 2-0 win over 2008 Cadet Nationals freestyle champion Destin McCauley of Minnesota.
Andrew Alton will meet Josh Kindig of Pennsylvania in the finals. Dylan Alton will battle Vlad Dombrowskiy of California in his gold-medal match. Dylan Alton beat Kindig in the Junior finals last year.
Another set of twins, the Rausers, also have reached the finals.
Montana's Jade Rauser now stands just one victory from becoming USA Wrestling's first Junior Triple Crown winner. Jade will meet Iowa's Jack Hathaway in the 105 finals.
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.
Jade Rauser's twin brother, Valyen, advanced to the finals at 112. Valyen placed second in Cadets in Greco-Roman. Valyen will face Ryak Finch of Arizona in the finals. Finch beat Valyen Rauser in the Cadet Greco finals.
Washington's Derek Garcia (152), a Cadet Nationals Greco champion in 2007, reached the Junior Nationals freestyle finals on Friday. He will face Florida's Joseph Cozart in the finals. Cozart is a three-time state champion whose father, Russ, coaches one of the nation's perennial powers in Brandon High School.
Missouri's Ryan Mango (119) came up short in his quest to repeat as a double Junior Nationals champion. Mango lost to Ohio's Ty Mitch in three periods on Friday night. Mango will wrestle for third place on Saturday. Mango won a Junior Greco title on Tuesday.
JUNIOR NATIONALS FREESTYLE FINALS MATCHUPS
98 Pounds
Ruben Navejas (Washington) vs. Maxwell Soria (New York)
105 Pounds
Jade Rauser (Montana) vs. Jack Hathaway (Iowa)
112 Pounds
Valyen Rauser (Montana) vs. Ryak Finch (Arizona)
119 Pounds
Nico Megaludis (Pennsylvania) vs. Ty Mitch (Ohio)
125 Pounds
David Thorn (Minnesota) vs. Devin Carter (Virginia)
130 Pounds
Nick Dardanes (Illinois) vs. Cashe' Quiroga (Indiana)
135 Pounds
C.J. Napier (Kansas) vs. Josh Dziewa (Pennsylvania)
140 Pounds
Andrew Alton (Pennsylvania) vs. Josh Kindig (Pennsylvania)
145 Pounds
Dylan Alton (Pennsylvania) vs. Vlad Dombrowskiy (California)
152 Pounds
Derek Garcia (Washington) vs. Joseph Cozart (Florida)
160 Pounds
Derek St. John (Iowa) vs. Robert Kokesh (South Dakota)
171 Pounds
Lee Munster (Illinois) vs. Ethen Lofthouse (Utah)
189 Pounds
Jake Swartz (Washington) vs. Max Huntley (New Jersey)
215 Pounds
Derrick Borlie (Virginia) vs. Tony Nelson (Minnesota)
285 Pounds
Jake Kettler (Minnesota) vs. Jeremy Johnson (Ohio)
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