Jacob Clark makes triumphant return by winning Northern Plains Regional in Greco-Roman
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by Benjamin Hupke
WATERLOO, Iowa - The Northern Plains Senior and Junior Regional Greco-Roman Championships concluded Friday afternoon at Young Arena with familiar names stealing the spotlight.
Most noticeably, Senior 96 kg/211.5 lbs. champion Jacob Clark of the Minnesota Storm.
Clark, a 2006 U.S. World Team member, continued his dominance at the Greco-Roman level. The 29-year-old Minnesota native defeated Jon Schmidt (Ringers) 6-0, 6-0 in the title match.
Clark attributes much of his success to his mentor, Dan Chandler, a three-time Olympian and Olympic coach.
"His instruction brings me a great deal of confidence," Clark said.
Clark, who just returned from a nine-year stint in the U.S. Marines, is back on the mat competitively for the first time in nearly a year. And at the end of May, he'll be right back at the U.S. World Team Trials in Council Bluffs. The event is May 30-31.
"It's good to be back (training) in Minnesota and having Chandler in my corner," Clark added.
Chandler said Clark's success is no surprise.
"Jacob has a good attitude, keeps it loose, and makes sure he has some fun, while being very successful on the mat," Chandler said.
One big surprise winner on the Senior circuit was USOEC's Tim Bleau (74 kg).
Bleau, in the deepest field of the Greco tournament, upended Darnell Lollis (U.S. Army) 5-3, 1-0 in the semifinals, before defeating MN Storm's Jason Adams in the finals, 1-0, 1:49 (fall).
Moises Hernandez (120 kg), USMC, made the most of his "Last Chance." A qualifier in last year's Olympic Trials, Hernandez pinned USMC's Shaun Durfey in 35 seconds.
Other winners on the Senior circuit included Anthony Haynes (55 kg), Mark Bradley (60 kg), Matt Holt (66 kg), and Joshua McAllister (84 kg).
The "Last Chance Qualifier" for the Seniors was the final opportunity to qualify for the upcoming U.S Olympic Team Trials, scheduled for Council Bluffs, Iowa May 30-31.
In the Junior Regional Greco-Roman Championships, Minnesota's Dylan Ness (140) continued to dominate the opposition.
Ness defeated fellow Minnesotan Ryan Arne in the finals, 7-1, 7-0. Prior to his championship victory, Ness defeated Iowa's Bart Reiter, 6-0, 6-0.
"I just really like to compete," Ness said. "I'll continue to train, work hard and set on my sights on Fargo late this summer.""
Just how good is the senior-to-be at Minnesota's Bloomington Kennedy High School.
Just ask Minnesota wrestling icon Dan Chandler.
"He's among the country's best," Chandler said.
The two-day event will continue on Saturday with Freestyle competition in three divisions (Seniors, Women's and Juniors) beginning at 10 a.m.
49-year-old Randy Lewis, a 1984 Olympic champion and two-time NCAA champion for Iowa, is expected to compete in freestyle at 74 kg/163 lbs. Lewis hasn't wrestled competitively since 1992.
Most noticeably, Senior 96 kg/211.5 lbs. champion Jacob Clark of the Minnesota Storm.
Clark, a 2006 U.S. World Team member, continued his dominance at the Greco-Roman level. The 29-year-old Minnesota native defeated Jon Schmidt (Ringers) 6-0, 6-0 in the title match.
Clark attributes much of his success to his mentor, Dan Chandler, a three-time Olympian and Olympic coach.
"His instruction brings me a great deal of confidence," Clark said.
Clark, who just returned from a nine-year stint in the U.S. Marines, is back on the mat competitively for the first time in nearly a year. And at the end of May, he'll be right back at the U.S. World Team Trials in Council Bluffs. The event is May 30-31.
"It's good to be back (training) in Minnesota and having Chandler in my corner," Clark added.
Chandler said Clark's success is no surprise.
"Jacob has a good attitude, keeps it loose, and makes sure he has some fun, while being very successful on the mat," Chandler said.
One big surprise winner on the Senior circuit was USOEC's Tim Bleau (74 kg).
Bleau, in the deepest field of the Greco tournament, upended Darnell Lollis (U.S. Army) 5-3, 1-0 in the semifinals, before defeating MN Storm's Jason Adams in the finals, 1-0, 1:49 (fall).
Moises Hernandez (120 kg), USMC, made the most of his "Last Chance." A qualifier in last year's Olympic Trials, Hernandez pinned USMC's Shaun Durfey in 35 seconds.
Other winners on the Senior circuit included Anthony Haynes (55 kg), Mark Bradley (60 kg), Matt Holt (66 kg), and Joshua McAllister (84 kg).
The "Last Chance Qualifier" for the Seniors was the final opportunity to qualify for the upcoming U.S Olympic Team Trials, scheduled for Council Bluffs, Iowa May 30-31.
In the Junior Regional Greco-Roman Championships, Minnesota's Dylan Ness (140) continued to dominate the opposition.
Ness defeated fellow Minnesotan Ryan Arne in the finals, 7-1, 7-0. Prior to his championship victory, Ness defeated Iowa's Bart Reiter, 6-0, 6-0.
"I just really like to compete," Ness said. "I'll continue to train, work hard and set on my sights on Fargo late this summer.""
Just how good is the senior-to-be at Minnesota's Bloomington Kennedy High School.
Just ask Minnesota wrestling icon Dan Chandler.
"He's among the country's best," Chandler said.
The two-day event will continue on Saturday with Freestyle competition in three divisions (Seniors, Women's and Juniors) beginning at 10 a.m.
49-year-old Randy Lewis, a 1984 Olympic champion and two-time NCAA champion for Iowa, is expected to compete in freestyle at 74 kg/163 lbs. Lewis hasn't wrestled competitively since 1992.
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