Pendleton to face Askren in Sunkist Kids International men’s freestyle finals to air live at 3:00 p.m. Pacific
Share:
by Gary Abbott
Chris Pendleton of the Gator WC turns Andre Harris in his first-round bout at the Sunkist Kids International Open. Larry Slater photo
PHOENIX, Ariz. - A long-time rivalry will be revived in the gold-medal finals at the Sunkist Kids International Open in men's freestyle on Sunday afternoon.
Meeting in the championship match at 84 kg/185 lbs. is 2008 Olympian Ben Askren (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) and Chris Pendleton (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC).
The gold-medal finals will be webcast live on TheMat.com starting at 3:00 p.m. Pacific time.
Their rivalry goes back to college, when Pendleton, who wrestled for Oklahoma State, defeated Askren, from the Univ. of Missouri, in the NCAA finals twice. The next two years, after Pendleton had graduated, Askren claimed two NCAA titles.
On the freestyle circuit, the rivals were in different weight classes, with Askren at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Pendleton at 84 kg/185 lbs. Askren took a year after the 2008 Olympic Games, returning to the mat this weekend. Askren is competing up a division here at the Sunkist International.
Askren will be attempting to win a rare double title this weekend, after claiming the No-Gi gold medal at the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials on Friday here in Phoenix.
Another featured finals match will be held at 55 kg/121 lbs., where Sam Hazewinkel (Norman, Okla./Gator WC) will battle Obe Blanc (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC)
Hazewinkel, who was the runner-up at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Greco-Roman and has won two U.S. National Greco-Roman titles, has switched over to freestyle this season. Blanc was second at the 2009 U.S. Nationals in freestyle.
Among the finalists is a current college star, Jon Reader (Davison, Mich./Sunkist-Cyclone WC), who competes for Iowa State. Reader will battle Mike Poeta (Champaign, Ill./Lehigh Valley WC), who graduated last season from Illinois.
Sunkist Kids International men's freestyle final matchups
55 kg/121 lbs. - Obe Blanc (Gator WC) vs. Sam Hazewinkel (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Coleman Scott (Gator WC) vs. Nate Gallick (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jared Frayer (Gator WC) vs. Teyon Ware (Nittany Lion WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Mike Poeta (Lehigh Valley WC) vs. Jon Reader (Sunkist/Cyclone WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Chris Pendleton (Gator WC) vs. Ben Askren (Sunkist Kids)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. (final roundrobin bouts)
Arturo Basulto (Meathead WC) vs. Brian Cobein (Mercenaries)
Largus Brock (USAStars) vs. Jason DeVries (unattached)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Aaron Anspach (Nittany Lion WC) vs. Blake Gillis (unattached)
PHOENIX, Ariz. - A long-time rivalry will be revived in the gold-medal finals at the Sunkist Kids International Open in men's freestyle on Sunday afternoon.
Meeting in the championship match at 84 kg/185 lbs. is 2008 Olympian Ben Askren (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) and Chris Pendleton (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC).
The gold-medal finals will be webcast live on TheMat.com starting at 3:00 p.m. Pacific time.
Their rivalry goes back to college, when Pendleton, who wrestled for Oklahoma State, defeated Askren, from the Univ. of Missouri, in the NCAA finals twice. The next two years, after Pendleton had graduated, Askren claimed two NCAA titles.
On the freestyle circuit, the rivals were in different weight classes, with Askren at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Pendleton at 84 kg/185 lbs. Askren took a year after the 2008 Olympic Games, returning to the mat this weekend. Askren is competing up a division here at the Sunkist International.
Askren will be attempting to win a rare double title this weekend, after claiming the No-Gi gold medal at the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials on Friday here in Phoenix.
Another featured finals match will be held at 55 kg/121 lbs., where Sam Hazewinkel (Norman, Okla./Gator WC) will battle Obe Blanc (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC)
Hazewinkel, who was the runner-up at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Greco-Roman and has won two U.S. National Greco-Roman titles, has switched over to freestyle this season. Blanc was second at the 2009 U.S. Nationals in freestyle.
Among the finalists is a current college star, Jon Reader (Davison, Mich./Sunkist-Cyclone WC), who competes for Iowa State. Reader will battle Mike Poeta (Champaign, Ill./Lehigh Valley WC), who graduated last season from Illinois.
Sunkist Kids International men's freestyle final matchups
55 kg/121 lbs. - Obe Blanc (Gator WC) vs. Sam Hazewinkel (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Coleman Scott (Gator WC) vs. Nate Gallick (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jared Frayer (Gator WC) vs. Teyon Ware (Nittany Lion WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Mike Poeta (Lehigh Valley WC) vs. Jon Reader (Sunkist/Cyclone WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Chris Pendleton (Gator WC) vs. Ben Askren (Sunkist Kids)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. (final roundrobin bouts)
Arturo Basulto (Meathead WC) vs. Brian Cobein (Mercenaries)
Largus Brock (USAStars) vs. Jason DeVries (unattached)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Aaron Anspach (Nittany Lion WC) vs. Blake Gillis (unattached)
Read More#
Join Jordan Burroughs and other stars at the Kickoff Party, Wednesday night March 19 at Union Trust in Philadelphia
Glaude & Guilford to go for gold, Martinez for bronze at Muhamet Malo Ranking Event in Albania
Marsteller to go for gold, Woods, Green & Lewan for bronze at Muhamet Malo Ranking Event in Albania
Lee vs. Ono to highlight FloWrestling Night In America on Feb. 26
