Massa, Waste, Peterson win Cadet Triple Crowns, Whitford is OW and Illinois wins team title in Cadet Freestyle
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by Craig Sesker
Michigan's Taylor Massa wins his second straight Cadet Triple Crown on Friday afternoon. Photo by John Sachs/Tech-fall.com
FARGO, N.D. - Michigan's Taylor Massa is looking forward to an upcoming family vacation.
He certainly deserves one after the hectic and productive week he's had.
Massa became the first two-time USA Wrestling Triple Crown winner after he downed Washington's Jordan Rogers 4-2, 3-1 in the 152-pound Cadet freestyle finals on Friday afternoon at the FargoDome.
"I had just about everything to lose and everybody I wrestle is really coming after me," Massa said. "Everybody expects me to win. I just have to make sure I don't get too caught up in everything. I have to put all the Triple Crown talk out of my head and just wrestle hard every time I go out there."
Minnesota's Jake Waste (160) and Wisconsin's Devin Peterson (171) followed with Cadet Triple Crowns of their own on a historic day in North Dakota.
Waste and Peterson became the sixth and seventh Cadets to win Triple Crowns, joining Massa and four other previous winners on the list.
Massa survived an early scare when Rogers caught him on his back in the first period. Massa quickly recovered and came back to win the period. Massa also came from behind to win the second period.
"It was kind of scary when he caught me," Massa said. "Once I got off my back, I knew I could get some takedowns and come back. I didn't let that get on my nerves at all. I just had to regroup. I was a little disappointed with my performance. I wanted to dominate everyone all the way through."
Waste came back from a loss in his freestyle pool to reach the finals. He made sure he didn't lose again in downing Sam Brooks of Illinois in the finals. Waste has overcome his share of adversity this year after he didn't make weight at the Minnesota state high school tournament.
Waste dropped the first period to Brooks 3-0 before earning convincing 5-0 and 6-0 victories in the last two periods.
"It's been a lifetime dream to win this," Waste said. "I can't even describe what this feels like - it's just amazing."
Peterson, a past Kids Triple Crown winner, beat Lucas Sheridan of California in three periods in the finals.
"Some people think a Triple Crown is no big deal or that it's nothing," Peterson said. "To me, it is a real big deal. It feels great to accomplish this. You put in all that hard work and to see it pay off at the end, it's just great. It was great to see the guys at 152 and 160 win Triple Crowns right before me. That was a big motivator for me. It was really cool to watch those guys win it before I did."
The Triple Crown consists of winning titles in the Folkstyle, Greco-Roman and freestyle divisions.
Michigan's Ben Whitford (112) was named Outstanding Wrestler of the Cadet freestyle tournament.
Whitford won a wild, three-period battle with New Jersey's Mark Grey, who was trying to repeat as a double Cadet Nationals champion. Grey beat Whitford in the Cadet Greco finals.
In their freestyle finals matchup, Grey appeared to have won the match in two straight periods. But after Whitford's coaches protested following the second period, the match went to a video review and six seconds were put back on the clock. Whitford then scored a takedown to send the match to a decisive third period. Whitford then caught Grey on his back en route to the win.
"I thought it was over," Whitford said. "When they put the time back on the clock, I was so pumped up to have another chance."
Michigan had three champions with Massa, Whitford and Cadet 140-pound winner Jordan Wohlfert prevailing. Massa and Wohlfert are teammates at St. Johns (Mich.) High School.
Team Illinois - led by individual champions Edwin Cooper (130), Austin Marsden (189) and Gage Harrah (215) - won the team title.
Cooper countered a shot attempt late in the second period to score the winning points as he took two straight periods from Indiana's Jason Tsirtsis in the finals. Cooper was third in this event last year.
Tsirtsis, younger brother of past Iowa All-American Alex Tsirtsis, won a Cadet Folkstyle Nationals title earlier this year.
One other wrestler who had been in line to win a Triple Crown - Oliver Pierce of Texas (135) - ended up fourth in Cadet freestyle.
2008 Cadet Nationals double champion Nick Roberts of Pennsylvania (98) repeated as a double Cadet champion.
Roberts won a tough, three-period match over Ohio's Jered Cortez in the finals. The final period went to the leg clinch. Roberts won the coin flip and then finished with the leg to win the match.
Wisconsin's Alex Dieringer become a 2009 Cadet double champion at two different weight classes. Dieringer pinned Pennsylvania's Steve Spearman in the freestyle finals at 135 after winning a Cadet Greco title earlier in the week at 130.
"I was second (in freestyle) and third (in Greco-Roman) last year, so I knew I could come here and have a chance to win it this year," Dieringer said. "That experience from last year helped out a lot."
Tyler Fraley of New Jersey, a Junior Nationals champion in freestyle in 2008, fell just short of become a double Cadet Nationals champion in 2009. Virginia's Joey Dance downed Fraley in the Cadet freestyle finals, avenging a loss to Fraley in the Greco finals on Monday.
Missouri's Terrel Wilbourn (125) took two straight periods from 2008 Cadet freestyle champion Zachary Horan of Pennsylvania. Wilbourn won the title after placing third in Cadets in 2008. He caught Horan with a throw late in the first period to take control.
CADET NATIONALS FREESTYLE FINALS RESULTS
84 Pounds
Darshawn Sharpe (Georgia) dec. Billy Rappo (Pennsylvania), 5-2, 9-7
91 Pounds
Brad Perkins (Missouri) dec. Phillip Laux (Iowa), 7-0, 5-3
98 Pounds
Nick Roberts (Pennsylvania) dec. Jered Cortez (Ohio), 2-1, 0-2, 2-0
105 Pounds
Joey Dance (Virginia) dec. Tyler Fraley (New Jersey), 2-0, 1-0
112 Pounds
Ben Whitford (Michigan) dec. Mark Grey (New Jersey), 1-1, 1-1, 5-3
119 Pounds
Kagan Squire (Ohio) dec. Brandon Sorensen (Iowa), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
125 Pounds
Terrel Wilbourn (Missouri) dec. Zachary Horan (Pennsylvania), 4-1, 6-0
130 Pounds
Edwin Cooper (Illinois) dec. Jason Tsirtsis (Indiana), 4-2, 2-1
135 Pounds
Alex Dieringer (Wisconsin) pinned Steve Spearman (Pennsylvania), 8-1, 0:50
140 Pounds
Jordan Wohlfert (Michigan) dec. Brian Brill (Pennsylvania), 5-11, 4-0, 3-0
145 Pounds
Justin Koethe (Iowa) dec. Dominic Prezzia (Ohio), 1-0, 1-0
152 Pounds
Taylor Massa (Michigan) dec. Jordan Rogers (Washington), 4-2, 3-1
160 Pounds
Jake Waste (Minnesota) dec. Sam Brooks (Illinois), 0-3, 5-0, 6-0
171 Pounds
Devin Peterson (Wisconsin) dec. Lucas Sheridan (California), 2-0, 2-2, 2-0
189 Pounds
Austin Marsden (Illinois) dec. Curtis Berger (Oregon), 0-1, 4-3, 5-0
215 Pounds
Gage Harrah (Illinois) dec. Nick Tavanello (Ohio), 2-1, 0-3, 3-2
285 Pounds
Donny Longendyke (Minnesota) vs. Greg Kuhar (Ohio), 3-1, 6-0
FARGO, N.D. - Michigan's Taylor Massa is looking forward to an upcoming family vacation.
He certainly deserves one after the hectic and productive week he's had.
Massa became the first two-time USA Wrestling Triple Crown winner after he downed Washington's Jordan Rogers 4-2, 3-1 in the 152-pound Cadet freestyle finals on Friday afternoon at the FargoDome.
"I had just about everything to lose and everybody I wrestle is really coming after me," Massa said. "Everybody expects me to win. I just have to make sure I don't get too caught up in everything. I have to put all the Triple Crown talk out of my head and just wrestle hard every time I go out there."
Minnesota's Jake Waste (160) and Wisconsin's Devin Peterson (171) followed with Cadet Triple Crowns of their own on a historic day in North Dakota.
Waste and Peterson became the sixth and seventh Cadets to win Triple Crowns, joining Massa and four other previous winners on the list.
Massa survived an early scare when Rogers caught him on his back in the first period. Massa quickly recovered and came back to win the period. Massa also came from behind to win the second period.
"It was kind of scary when he caught me," Massa said. "Once I got off my back, I knew I could get some takedowns and come back. I didn't let that get on my nerves at all. I just had to regroup. I was a little disappointed with my performance. I wanted to dominate everyone all the way through."
Waste came back from a loss in his freestyle pool to reach the finals. He made sure he didn't lose again in downing Sam Brooks of Illinois in the finals. Waste has overcome his share of adversity this year after he didn't make weight at the Minnesota state high school tournament.
Waste dropped the first period to Brooks 3-0 before earning convincing 5-0 and 6-0 victories in the last two periods.
"It's been a lifetime dream to win this," Waste said. "I can't even describe what this feels like - it's just amazing."
Peterson, a past Kids Triple Crown winner, beat Lucas Sheridan of California in three periods in the finals.
"Some people think a Triple Crown is no big deal or that it's nothing," Peterson said. "To me, it is a real big deal. It feels great to accomplish this. You put in all that hard work and to see it pay off at the end, it's just great. It was great to see the guys at 152 and 160 win Triple Crowns right before me. That was a big motivator for me. It was really cool to watch those guys win it before I did."
The Triple Crown consists of winning titles in the Folkstyle, Greco-Roman and freestyle divisions.
Michigan's Ben Whitford (112) was named Outstanding Wrestler of the Cadet freestyle tournament.
Whitford won a wild, three-period battle with New Jersey's Mark Grey, who was trying to repeat as a double Cadet Nationals champion. Grey beat Whitford in the Cadet Greco finals.
In their freestyle finals matchup, Grey appeared to have won the match in two straight periods. But after Whitford's coaches protested following the second period, the match went to a video review and six seconds were put back on the clock. Whitford then scored a takedown to send the match to a decisive third period. Whitford then caught Grey on his back en route to the win.
"I thought it was over," Whitford said. "When they put the time back on the clock, I was so pumped up to have another chance."
Michigan had three champions with Massa, Whitford and Cadet 140-pound winner Jordan Wohlfert prevailing. Massa and Wohlfert are teammates at St. Johns (Mich.) High School.
Team Illinois - led by individual champions Edwin Cooper (130), Austin Marsden (189) and Gage Harrah (215) - won the team title.
Cooper countered a shot attempt late in the second period to score the winning points as he took two straight periods from Indiana's Jason Tsirtsis in the finals. Cooper was third in this event last year.
Tsirtsis, younger brother of past Iowa All-American Alex Tsirtsis, won a Cadet Folkstyle Nationals title earlier this year.
One other wrestler who had been in line to win a Triple Crown - Oliver Pierce of Texas (135) - ended up fourth in Cadet freestyle.
2008 Cadet Nationals double champion Nick Roberts of Pennsylvania (98) repeated as a double Cadet champion.
Roberts won a tough, three-period match over Ohio's Jered Cortez in the finals. The final period went to the leg clinch. Roberts won the coin flip and then finished with the leg to win the match.
Wisconsin's Alex Dieringer become a 2009 Cadet double champion at two different weight classes. Dieringer pinned Pennsylvania's Steve Spearman in the freestyle finals at 135 after winning a Cadet Greco title earlier in the week at 130.
"I was second (in freestyle) and third (in Greco-Roman) last year, so I knew I could come here and have a chance to win it this year," Dieringer said. "That experience from last year helped out a lot."
Tyler Fraley of New Jersey, a Junior Nationals champion in freestyle in 2008, fell just short of become a double Cadet Nationals champion in 2009. Virginia's Joey Dance downed Fraley in the Cadet freestyle finals, avenging a loss to Fraley in the Greco finals on Monday.
Missouri's Terrel Wilbourn (125) took two straight periods from 2008 Cadet freestyle champion Zachary Horan of Pennsylvania. Wilbourn won the title after placing third in Cadets in 2008. He caught Horan with a throw late in the first period to take control.
CADET NATIONALS FREESTYLE FINALS RESULTS
84 Pounds
Darshawn Sharpe (Georgia) dec. Billy Rappo (Pennsylvania), 5-2, 9-7
91 Pounds
Brad Perkins (Missouri) dec. Phillip Laux (Iowa), 7-0, 5-3
98 Pounds
Nick Roberts (Pennsylvania) dec. Jered Cortez (Ohio), 2-1, 0-2, 2-0
105 Pounds
Joey Dance (Virginia) dec. Tyler Fraley (New Jersey), 2-0, 1-0
112 Pounds
Ben Whitford (Michigan) dec. Mark Grey (New Jersey), 1-1, 1-1, 5-3
119 Pounds
Kagan Squire (Ohio) dec. Brandon Sorensen (Iowa), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
125 Pounds
Terrel Wilbourn (Missouri) dec. Zachary Horan (Pennsylvania), 4-1, 6-0
130 Pounds
Edwin Cooper (Illinois) dec. Jason Tsirtsis (Indiana), 4-2, 2-1
135 Pounds
Alex Dieringer (Wisconsin) pinned Steve Spearman (Pennsylvania), 8-1, 0:50
140 Pounds
Jordan Wohlfert (Michigan) dec. Brian Brill (Pennsylvania), 5-11, 4-0, 3-0
145 Pounds
Justin Koethe (Iowa) dec. Dominic Prezzia (Ohio), 1-0, 1-0
152 Pounds
Taylor Massa (Michigan) dec. Jordan Rogers (Washington), 4-2, 3-1
160 Pounds
Jake Waste (Minnesota) dec. Sam Brooks (Illinois), 0-3, 5-0, 6-0
171 Pounds
Devin Peterson (Wisconsin) dec. Lucas Sheridan (California), 2-0, 2-2, 2-0
189 Pounds
Austin Marsden (Illinois) dec. Curtis Berger (Oregon), 0-1, 4-3, 5-0
215 Pounds
Gage Harrah (Illinois) dec. Nick Tavanello (Ohio), 2-1, 0-3, 3-2
285 Pounds
Donny Longendyke (Minnesota) vs. Greg Kuhar (Ohio), 3-1, 6-0
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