Humphrey outlasts Graff to highlight final round of University and Junior World Team Trials
Share:
by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
Reece Humphrey scores the winning takedown against Tyler Graff. John Sachs photo.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - There are few guarantees in an event as highly competitive as the University and U.S. Junior World Team Trials.
Even when you are a past World University silver medalist like Reece Humphrey.
Humphrey had to battle through a hard-fought, entertaining three-match finals series to defeat talented young Tyler Graff to win the University World Team Trials freestyle title at 60 kg/132 lbs.
Humphrey won the final match in three periods on Friday night at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Graff, a past Junior World Team member, had won University Nationals last month.
"It's been a tough week" said Humphrey, an NCAA runner-up for Ohio State. "I've been sick, and my knee's been bothering me. And then the altitude affected me a little. I got in here late because I had some flight delays.
"I've been training like crazy, but I felt horrible today. I just had to suck it up. Winners find a way, and I was able to do that."
Humphrey was one of 15 champions crowned in the University and Junior divisions in freestyle and Greco-Roman on Friday.
Humphrey was in danger of falling to Graff in the decisive third match. He scored a takedown with one second remaining in the second period of the third match to stay alive.
"Graff is a great competitor" Humphrey said. "He keeps coming and coming. I stole it from him."
The third period went to a ball draw after a scoreless two minutes. Humphrey won the draw and finished in the leg clinch to prevail.
"I was 0-for-9 in ball draws coming into this tournament" Humphrey said. "I lost the flip in the finals of the World Universities. The clinch is my best position, and I was able to finish at the end."
Champions in each weight class in the University World Team Trials position themselves for a trip to the University World Championships on Oct. 26-30 in Turin, Italy.
Any wrestler who finishes in the top three at next month's U.S. World Team Trials in freestyle, and is eligible for the University division, can challenge the University World Team Trials champion for the spot on the University World Team.
Champions in each weight class in the Junior World Team Trials advance to the Junior World Championships on July 20-25 in Budapest, Hungary.
Oklahoma State redshirt Chris Perry earned a second straight win to the Junior World Championships by cruising to the title at 84 kg/185 lbs. Perry placed fifth in the 2009 Junior Worlds.
Jimmy Chase made his third Junior World Team in Greco-Roman by outlasting Ryan Mango in three matches at 60 kg/132 lbs. Chase has placed fifth in Junior Worlds.
Max Nowry and Jesse Thielke also earned return trips to Junior Worlds in Greco-Roman.
U.S. Senior Open champion Brandon Rupp took two straight matches from Jarod Trice in the University Greco finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Day 2 of the tournament is set for Saturday at the Olympic Training Center.
2010 UNIVERSITY AND U.S. JUNIOR WORLD TEAM TRIALS
UNIVERSITY GRECO-ROMAN FINALS RESULTS
74 kg/163 lbs.
Aaron Briggs (New York AC) def. Kendrick Sanders (New York AC), 2 matches to 0
Briggs dec. Sanders, 3-0, 3-1
Briggs dec. Sanders, 1-0, 5-0
84 kg/185 lbs.
Talan Knox (Sunkist Kids) def. Mark Stenberg (USOEC), 2 matches to 0
Knox dec. Stenberg, 2-0, 1-0
Knox dec. Stenberg, 2-0, 4-0
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Zac Nielsen (Minnesota Storm) def. Pete Gounaridis (Sunkist Kids), 2 matches to 0
Nielsen dec. Gounaridis, 1-0, 0-2, 1-0
Nielsen dec. Gounaridis, 2-0, 5-0
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Brandon Rupp (New York AC) def. Jarod Trice (Gator WC), 2 matches to 0
Rupp dec. Trice, 7-0, 2-0
Rupp dec. Trice, 1-0, 0-4, 1-0
JUNIOR GRECO-ROMAN FINALS RESULTS
50 kg/110 lbs.
Max Nowry (New York AC) def. Colton Keck (Modern Day Gladiators), 2 matches to 0
Nowry won by injury default over Keck
Nowry won by injury default over Keck
55 kg/121 lbs.
Jesse Thielke (Ringers) def. Tyler Cox (Gator WC), 2 matches to 0
Thielke pinned Cox, 0:58
Thielke dec. Cox, 6-0, 6-1
60 kg/132 lbs.
Jimmy Chase (New York AC) def. Ryan Mango (New York AC), 2 matches to 1
Chase dec. Mango, 5-0, 1-0
Mango dec. Chase, 2-0, 1-0
Chase dec. Mango, 3-0, 1-3, 1-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Ellis Coleman (New York AC) def. Tanner Andrews (USOEC), 2 matches to 0
Coleman dec. Andrews, 6-0, 0-2, 1-0
Coleman dec. Andrews, 3-0, 1-0
UNIVERSITY FREESTYLE FINALS RESULTS
55 kg/121 lbs.
Angel Escobedo (New York AC) def. Zach Sanders (Minnesota Storm), 2 matches to 0
Escobedo dec. Sanders, 6-0, 0-1, 3-0
Escobedo dec. Sanders, 3-0, 6-0
60 kg/132 lbs.
Reece Humphrey (New York AC) def. Tyler Graff (New York AC), 2 matches to 1
Humphrey dec. Graff, 1-0, 6-0
Graff dec. Humphrey, 1-0, 1-0
Humphrey dec. Graff, 1-1, 2-1, 1-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Kevin LeValley (Bison WC) def. Jimmy Kennedy (Illinois Wrestling Club), 2 matches to 0
LeValley dec. Kennedy, 0-1, 6-0, 7-0
LeValley pinned Kennedy, 3-1, 0:51
JUNIOR FREESTYLE FINALS RESULTS
74 kg/163 lbs.
Conrad Polz (Illini Wrestling Club) def. Ethen Lofthouse (Hawkeye WC), 2 matches to 0
Polz dec. Lofthouse 0-3, 2-0, 1-1
Polz dec. Lofthouse 0-4, 1-0, 1-0
84 kg/185 lbs.
Chris Perry (Gator WC) def. Lee Munster (Overtime WC), 2 matches to 0
Perry dec. Munster, 6-0,1-0
Perry dec. Munster, 3-0, 3-0
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Tyler Lehman (Minnesota Storm) def. Derek Borlie (Badger WC), 2 matches to 1
Lehman pinned Borlie, 1:48
Borlie pinned Lehman, 0:29
Lehman pinned Borlie, 1-3, 1:49
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Jeremy Johnson (Bobcat WC) def. Steve Andrus (Michigan WC), 2 matches to 0
Johnson dec. Andrus, 1-0, 3-1
Johnson dec. Andrus, 1-0, 4-0
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - There are few guarantees in an event as highly competitive as the University and U.S. Junior World Team Trials.
Even when you are a past World University silver medalist like Reece Humphrey.
Humphrey had to battle through a hard-fought, entertaining three-match finals series to defeat talented young Tyler Graff to win the University World Team Trials freestyle title at 60 kg/132 lbs.
Humphrey won the final match in three periods on Friday night at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Graff, a past Junior World Team member, had won University Nationals last month.
"It's been a tough week" said Humphrey, an NCAA runner-up for Ohio State. "I've been sick, and my knee's been bothering me. And then the altitude affected me a little. I got in here late because I had some flight delays.
"I've been training like crazy, but I felt horrible today. I just had to suck it up. Winners find a way, and I was able to do that."
Humphrey was one of 15 champions crowned in the University and Junior divisions in freestyle and Greco-Roman on Friday.
Humphrey was in danger of falling to Graff in the decisive third match. He scored a takedown with one second remaining in the second period of the third match to stay alive.
"Graff is a great competitor" Humphrey said. "He keeps coming and coming. I stole it from him."
The third period went to a ball draw after a scoreless two minutes. Humphrey won the draw and finished in the leg clinch to prevail.
"I was 0-for-9 in ball draws coming into this tournament" Humphrey said. "I lost the flip in the finals of the World Universities. The clinch is my best position, and I was able to finish at the end."
Champions in each weight class in the University World Team Trials position themselves for a trip to the University World Championships on Oct. 26-30 in Turin, Italy.
Any wrestler who finishes in the top three at next month's U.S. World Team Trials in freestyle, and is eligible for the University division, can challenge the University World Team Trials champion for the spot on the University World Team.
Champions in each weight class in the Junior World Team Trials advance to the Junior World Championships on July 20-25 in Budapest, Hungary.
Oklahoma State redshirt Chris Perry earned a second straight win to the Junior World Championships by cruising to the title at 84 kg/185 lbs. Perry placed fifth in the 2009 Junior Worlds.
Jimmy Chase made his third Junior World Team in Greco-Roman by outlasting Ryan Mango in three matches at 60 kg/132 lbs. Chase has placed fifth in Junior Worlds.
Max Nowry and Jesse Thielke also earned return trips to Junior Worlds in Greco-Roman.
U.S. Senior Open champion Brandon Rupp took two straight matches from Jarod Trice in the University Greco finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Day 2 of the tournament is set for Saturday at the Olympic Training Center.
2010 UNIVERSITY AND U.S. JUNIOR WORLD TEAM TRIALS
UNIVERSITY GRECO-ROMAN FINALS RESULTS
74 kg/163 lbs.
Aaron Briggs (New York AC) def. Kendrick Sanders (New York AC), 2 matches to 0
Briggs dec. Sanders, 3-0, 3-1
Briggs dec. Sanders, 1-0, 5-0
84 kg/185 lbs.
Talan Knox (Sunkist Kids) def. Mark Stenberg (USOEC), 2 matches to 0
Knox dec. Stenberg, 2-0, 1-0
Knox dec. Stenberg, 2-0, 4-0
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Zac Nielsen (Minnesota Storm) def. Pete Gounaridis (Sunkist Kids), 2 matches to 0
Nielsen dec. Gounaridis, 1-0, 0-2, 1-0
Nielsen dec. Gounaridis, 2-0, 5-0
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Brandon Rupp (New York AC) def. Jarod Trice (Gator WC), 2 matches to 0
Rupp dec. Trice, 7-0, 2-0
Rupp dec. Trice, 1-0, 0-4, 1-0
JUNIOR GRECO-ROMAN FINALS RESULTS
50 kg/110 lbs.
Max Nowry (New York AC) def. Colton Keck (Modern Day Gladiators), 2 matches to 0
Nowry won by injury default over Keck
Nowry won by injury default over Keck
55 kg/121 lbs.
Jesse Thielke (Ringers) def. Tyler Cox (Gator WC), 2 matches to 0
Thielke pinned Cox, 0:58
Thielke dec. Cox, 6-0, 6-1
60 kg/132 lbs.
Jimmy Chase (New York AC) def. Ryan Mango (New York AC), 2 matches to 1
Chase dec. Mango, 5-0, 1-0
Mango dec. Chase, 2-0, 1-0
Chase dec. Mango, 3-0, 1-3, 1-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Ellis Coleman (New York AC) def. Tanner Andrews (USOEC), 2 matches to 0
Coleman dec. Andrews, 6-0, 0-2, 1-0
Coleman dec. Andrews, 3-0, 1-0
UNIVERSITY FREESTYLE FINALS RESULTS
55 kg/121 lbs.
Angel Escobedo (New York AC) def. Zach Sanders (Minnesota Storm), 2 matches to 0
Escobedo dec. Sanders, 6-0, 0-1, 3-0
Escobedo dec. Sanders, 3-0, 6-0
60 kg/132 lbs.
Reece Humphrey (New York AC) def. Tyler Graff (New York AC), 2 matches to 1
Humphrey dec. Graff, 1-0, 6-0
Graff dec. Humphrey, 1-0, 1-0
Humphrey dec. Graff, 1-1, 2-1, 1-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Kevin LeValley (Bison WC) def. Jimmy Kennedy (Illinois Wrestling Club), 2 matches to 0
LeValley dec. Kennedy, 0-1, 6-0, 7-0
LeValley pinned Kennedy, 3-1, 0:51
JUNIOR FREESTYLE FINALS RESULTS
74 kg/163 lbs.
Conrad Polz (Illini Wrestling Club) def. Ethen Lofthouse (Hawkeye WC), 2 matches to 0
Polz dec. Lofthouse 0-3, 2-0, 1-1
Polz dec. Lofthouse 0-4, 1-0, 1-0
84 kg/185 lbs.
Chris Perry (Gator WC) def. Lee Munster (Overtime WC), 2 matches to 0
Perry dec. Munster, 6-0,1-0
Perry dec. Munster, 3-0, 3-0
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Tyler Lehman (Minnesota Storm) def. Derek Borlie (Badger WC), 2 matches to 1
Lehman pinned Borlie, 1:48
Borlie pinned Lehman, 0:29
Lehman pinned Borlie, 1-3, 1:49
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Jeremy Johnson (Bobcat WC) def. Steve Andrus (Michigan WC), 2 matches to 0
Johnson dec. Andrus, 1-0, 3-1
Johnson dec. Andrus, 1-0, 4-0
Read More#
Jacobson, Sullivan finish fifth, U.S. places 10th in Greco-Roman at U23 World Championships
Gallagher fifth in men’s freestyle to wrap U23 World Championships
Jacobson, Sullivan advance to Greco-Roman bronze medal match at U23 World Championships
2025 Age-Group Pan American and World Team Selection Procedures now posted
