Illinois to face Florida in Junior Duals Greco-Roman finals
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by Roger Moore
OKLAHOMA CITY - Illinois didn't need the full docket of 15 matches to advance to the finals of the 2009 Junior Greco-Roman Duals at Oklahoma City University on Friday morning.
With a 33-14 lead after 171 pounds, the reigning champions forfeited the final three weights and still won 33-29. They will face Florida at 11 a.m. (CST) in search of a third straight Junior Greco title.
Last week in Rochester, Minn., Illinois captured both Greco and freestyle titles at the 2009 Cadet Duals.
Junior All-American Kent Williams' 33-second pin at 119 pounds put Illinois up 17-1.
Jesse Thielke, a Cadet national champion, momentarily stopped the bleeding for Wisconsin at 125, but three straight wins for Illinois and it was quickly out of reach.
Wisconsin's Cullan Morrissey, fifth in Cadets last summer and unbeaten through eight matches this week, was no match for Jimmy Chase, a member of the 2008 Junior World team. Chase's almost unstoppable gut wrenches from the front headlock position led to a quick technical fall at 130.
A second period rally helped Chris Holmes beat James Clark at 135 for a 25-5 Illinois lead.
2008 Junior runner-up Ellis Coleman made quick work of Cadet All-American AJ Zemke and it was 29-5 entering 145 pounds.
Wisconsin got a win by Nazar Kulchytsky at 145 and a decision by 2008 Junior national champion Kalvin York at 160 to make the score 32-11.
Wisconsin's Ben Provisor then fought off an arm injury and battled back to beat 2008 Junior bronze medalist Mark Stenberg in three periods at 171, but it was too little too late as Illinois still led 33-14 with three bouts remaining.
With the insurmountable lead, Illinois forfeited the final three weights.
Minnesota entered with a powerful squad littered with 10 combined Junior and Cadet All-Americans from a year ago.
However, Florida, with five Cadet All-Americans and the potent 1-2 punch of Shakendrick Sanders and Joseph Cozart, first and fourth, respectively , last summer in Juniors, proved too much in a 32-26 semifinal victory.
Rossi Bruno's decision of Ben Morgan at 125 cut an early Minnesota lead to 11-9.
Tyler Liberatore's win at 130 put Florida up 12-11 and when Joseph Locksmith beat 2008 Cadet national champion Drew Lexvold at 135 it was 15-12 in favor of the Floridians.
At 140, 2008 Cadet national champion Dylan Ness and the bronze medalist in that same tournament, Matthew Nereim, split a pair of high-flying periods, Nereim with a big throw to end the second. In the third, Ness turned a body lock into 3 and quickly tossed Nereim off the mat for 3 more to end it and tie the dual at 16.
Florida's Kyle Gordon rebounded with a 1-1, 3-1 decision of 2008 Junior bronze medalist Bobby Fisher and it was 19-17 with Sanders and Cozart coming up.
Sanders, a national champion in 2008, used a pair of powerful first period turns then another late in the second to beat Junior All-American Pat Smith at 152 for a 22-17 advantage.
Cozart followed with a third period pin and Florida's lead moved to 27-17 entering 171 pounds where 2008 Cadet National champion Wally Figaro beat Kevin Steinhaus, for a 30-17 margin.
Minnesota, third a year ago, won the final three bouts, but it wasn't enough as Florida moved to the title match with a 32-26 victory.
With a 33-14 lead after 171 pounds, the reigning champions forfeited the final three weights and still won 33-29. They will face Florida at 11 a.m. (CST) in search of a third straight Junior Greco title.
Last week in Rochester, Minn., Illinois captured both Greco and freestyle titles at the 2009 Cadet Duals.
Junior All-American Kent Williams' 33-second pin at 119 pounds put Illinois up 17-1.
Jesse Thielke, a Cadet national champion, momentarily stopped the bleeding for Wisconsin at 125, but three straight wins for Illinois and it was quickly out of reach.
Wisconsin's Cullan Morrissey, fifth in Cadets last summer and unbeaten through eight matches this week, was no match for Jimmy Chase, a member of the 2008 Junior World team. Chase's almost unstoppable gut wrenches from the front headlock position led to a quick technical fall at 130.
A second period rally helped Chris Holmes beat James Clark at 135 for a 25-5 Illinois lead.
2008 Junior runner-up Ellis Coleman made quick work of Cadet All-American AJ Zemke and it was 29-5 entering 145 pounds.
Wisconsin got a win by Nazar Kulchytsky at 145 and a decision by 2008 Junior national champion Kalvin York at 160 to make the score 32-11.
Wisconsin's Ben Provisor then fought off an arm injury and battled back to beat 2008 Junior bronze medalist Mark Stenberg in three periods at 171, but it was too little too late as Illinois still led 33-14 with three bouts remaining.
With the insurmountable lead, Illinois forfeited the final three weights.
Minnesota entered with a powerful squad littered with 10 combined Junior and Cadet All-Americans from a year ago.
However, Florida, with five Cadet All-Americans and the potent 1-2 punch of Shakendrick Sanders and Joseph Cozart, first and fourth, respectively , last summer in Juniors, proved too much in a 32-26 semifinal victory.
Rossi Bruno's decision of Ben Morgan at 125 cut an early Minnesota lead to 11-9.
Tyler Liberatore's win at 130 put Florida up 12-11 and when Joseph Locksmith beat 2008 Cadet national champion Drew Lexvold at 135 it was 15-12 in favor of the Floridians.
At 140, 2008 Cadet national champion Dylan Ness and the bronze medalist in that same tournament, Matthew Nereim, split a pair of high-flying periods, Nereim with a big throw to end the second. In the third, Ness turned a body lock into 3 and quickly tossed Nereim off the mat for 3 more to end it and tie the dual at 16.
Florida's Kyle Gordon rebounded with a 1-1, 3-1 decision of 2008 Junior bronze medalist Bobby Fisher and it was 19-17 with Sanders and Cozart coming up.
Sanders, a national champion in 2008, used a pair of powerful first period turns then another late in the second to beat Junior All-American Pat Smith at 152 for a 22-17 advantage.
Cozart followed with a third period pin and Florida's lead moved to 27-17 entering 171 pounds where 2008 Cadet National champion Wally Figaro beat Kevin Steinhaus, for a 30-17 margin.
Minnesota, third a year ago, won the final three bouts, but it wasn't enough as Florida moved to the title match with a 32-26 victory.
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