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2014 LAS VEGAS: FILA Junior, Veterans and Western Junior previews

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by Chris Casper

Aaron Pico of California, shown on the way to his 2013 Cadet World title, is a defending champion in both styles at the FILA Junior Nationals, set for Las Vegas, Nev. this week. T.R. Foley photos.

Defending FILA Junior World champion Kyle Snyder returns, along with Greco team members Tuma and Beazley


USA Wrestling is proud to announce that it will be hosting the Men’s ASICS Junior National Championships (previously called the FILA Junior National Championships) in Las Vegas, Nev., along with the ASICS/Las Vegas Open Wrestling Championships, April 17 -19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.


FILA Junior athletes will compete in freestyle and Greco-Roman with the chance to compete for national titles and All-American honors. The FILA Junior age group includes athletes between the ages of 17 and 20, featuring some of the country’s top high school athletes and college underclassmen wrestlers.


The champions who come out on top will earn the No. 1 position for the 2014 ASICS U.S. Junior World Team Trials that will take place in Madison, Wis. on May 30.


Two 2013 Junior Greco-Roman World Team Members are still eligible to compete in this year’s competition, Hayden Tuma at 132 lbs. and Kevin Beazley at 211 lbs.


2013 FILA Junior Freestyle National Champions who can compete are reigning World Champion Kyle Snyder at 211.5 lbs., Adrian Cordova at 110 lbs., Thomas Gilman at 121 lbs., Ben Whitford at 132 lbs., Aaron Pico at 138 lbs., Christopher Castillo at 145.5 lbs., Lelund Weatherspoon at 174 lbs. and Amarveer Dhesi at 264 lbs.


Freestyle runner-ups who are eligible to return and compete this year are Nathan Tomasello at 121 lbs., James Gulibon at 132 lbs. and Adam Coon at 264.5 lbs.


2013 FILA Junior Greco-Roman National Champions who can compete this year are Hayden Tuma at 132 lbs., Aaron Pico at 138 lbs., Alejandro Sancho at 145.5 lbs, Kevin Beazley at 211.5 lbs. and Adam Coon at 264.5 lbs.


Greco-Roman runner-ups who are eligible to compete are Trey Andrews at 121 lbs., Jose Luis Felipe at 138 lbs., Tyrel White at 154 lbs. and Barret Stanghill at 163 lbs.


The competition for FILA Junior Greco-Roman wrestlers will be held Thursday April, 17. The FILA Junior Freestyle competition will be held on Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19.

2013 FILA JUNIOR FREESTYLE NATIONALS

Gold-medal matches


110 – Adrian Cordova (unattached) dec. Doyle Trout (Ironhawk), 3-1, 3-0

121 - Thomas Gilman (Hawkeye WC) dec. Nathan Tomasello (Ohio RTC), 2-0, 2-1

132 - Ben Whitford (Massas Maniacs) dec. James Gulibon (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club), 3-1, 0-3, 4-2

138.75 - Aaron Pico (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Joey Ward (North Carolina (RTC), 7-0, 5-0

145.5 - Jason Tsirtsis (Northwestern Unatt.) tech fall Connor Ryan (Hawkeye WC), 6-0, 6-0

154 - Christopher Castillo (Bronco WC) dec. Thomas Gantt (Wolfpack WC), 5-0, 4-0

163 - Dylan Palacio (Finger Lakes WC) dec. Matthew Gray (Bison WC), 0-3, 1-1, 4-2

174 - Lelund Weatherspoon (Iowa State) dec. Jordan Wohlfert (Michigan WC), 3-0, 1-0

185 - Victor Avery (Edinboro) pin Lucas Sheridan (Hoosier WC), 3-0, 2-2, 1:40

211.5 - Kyle Snyder (unattached) dec. Willie Miklus (OTC), 2-0, 3-0

264.5 - Amarveer Dhesi (NWRTC) dec. Adam Coon (Fowlerville), 4-1, 4-0

2013 FILA JUNIOR GRECO-ROMAN NATIONALS

Gold-medal matches


110 – Erik Zorrilla (Florida JETS) dec. Michael Beck (TEAM Penguin), 3-0, 2-0

121 - Isaiah Varona (USOEC) dec. Trey Andrews (Bear Cave), 4-2, 4-0

132 - Hayden Tuma (Suples WC) tech fall Mitchell Brown (Rocky Mountain RTC), 7-0, 6-0

138.75- Aaron Pico (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Jose Luis Felipe (305 Wrestling), 1-0, 2-0

145.5 - Alejandro Sancho (USOEC) dec. Rylan Lubeck (Badger WC), 2-0, 3-3

154 - Eleazar De Luca (Florida JETS) dec.Tyrel White (Shamrock), 1-0, 3-2

163 - Geordan Speiller (Florida JETS) dec. Barrett Stanghill (USOEC), 2-0, 0-1, 1-0

174 - William Baker (Rocky Mountain RTC) dec. Zeke Honegger (USOEC), 3-1, 5-1

185- Lucas Sheridan (Hoosier WC) dec. Payne Hayden (Massa Maniacs), 3-0, 5-0

211.5 - Kevin Beazley (HRAW/VBRTC) dec. Brandon Larson (Minnesota Storm), 0-2, 4-0, 4-0

264.5 - Adam Coon (Fowlerville) dec. Orry Elor (USOEC), 4-2, 1-0

Veterans Nationals in both freestyle and Greco-Roman featured athletes from a number of countries last year


Adult wrestlers 25-years-old and above will have the chance to compete in the 2014 Veterans National Championships in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.


Greco-Roman wrestlers will compete on Wednesday, April 16 and the freestyle competition will be held the next day, Thursday, April 17.


The competition is broken down into five age divisions: Div. A (Born 1982-1989), Div. B (Born 1974 and 1981), Div. C (Born 1966 and 1973) Div. D (Born 1959 and 1964) Div. E (Born 1958 and before).


These weight classes differ from the new Olympic weight classes. The Veterans weights are 58 kg, 63 kg, 69 kg, 76 kg, 85 kg, 97 kg and 130 kg.


Last year’s U.S. Veterans Nationals featured many Veteran wrestlers from around the world. This event had a total of 12 Veteran wrestlers win in both Olympic style of wrestling, freestyle and Greco-Roman, at the 2013 Veteran Nationals.


Double champions last year included:

• Division A - Ryan Vottero at 69 kg & Maurice Washington at 69 kg

• Division B - Jason Goldman at 58 kg and Aleksandr Serebrinnikov at 63 kg

• Division C - Michael Tuck at 63 kg

• Division D - Victor Aybar at 58 kg, Jamey Kasser at 69 kg, Darryl Hall at 76 kg and Paul Jones at 97 kg

• Division E - Victor Chirkov at 58 kg, Bruce Moe at 76 kg and Stephen Campbell at 97 kg.


Veterans wrestlers that meet the required age will also have a chance to compete in the Veterans World Championships each year. This year, the Veterans Freestyle Worlds is being held in Belgrade, Serbia on Aug. 26-31, while the Veterans Greco-Roman Worlds is being held in Budapest, Hungary Oct. 23-25.

2013 Veterans Freestyle Champions
Division A: 63 kg - Travis Mercado; 69 kg - Ryan Vottero; 76 kg - Maurice Washington; 85 kg - Luke Santos; 97 kg- Matthew Ishler; 130 kg - Ryan Hoover
Division B: 58 kg - Jason Goldman; 63 kg- Aleksandr Serebrinnikov; 69 kg - Tracy Dent; 76 kg - Dustin Clocherty; 85 kg - Shawn Henebry; 97 kg - Jason Blakeman; 130 kg - Timothy Duggan
Division C: 63 kg - Michael Tuck; 69 kg - Bret Fry; 76 kg - Igor Ilin; 85 kg - Kevin Pine; 97 kg - Craig Fredrikson; 130 kg- Tyrone Abercrombie
Division D: 58 kg - Zhora Hovhannisyan; 63 kg - Steven Michalke; 69 kg - Jamey Kasser; 76 kg - Darryl Hall; 85 kg - Petros Petrosyan; 97 kg - Paul Jones; 130 kg - Safiyula Abdrashitov
Division E: 58 kg: Victor Chirkov (Russia); 63 kg - Shirzad Ahmadi; 69 kg – JD Hawkins; 76 kg - Bruce Moe; 85 kg - Kevin Hejnal; 97 kg - Stephen Campbell; 130 kg - Joe Reasbeck


2013 Veterans Greco-Roman champions

Division A: 69 kg- Ryan Vottero; 76 kg- Maurice Washington; 85 kg- Anthony Uchytil; 97 kg - Andrew Bristow; 130 kg- Richard Swinger
Division B: 58 kg - Jason Goldman; 63 kg - Aleksandr Serebrinnikov 69 kg- Ignacio Ramirezlazos; 76 kg- Joseph Longano; 85 kg - Ievgenii Vasyliev (Ukraine); 97 kg - Octavius Bellamy; 130 kg - Henning Skilbred
Division C: 63 kg - Michael Tuck; 69 kg- Evgeny Didenko; 76 kg - Tony Piva; 85 kg - Alexander Sergeev; 97 kg - Roy Andersen; 130 kg - Viktor Hunmadarasz
Division D: 58 kg - Victor Aybar ; 63 kg- Rafik Khamidullin; 69 kg- Jamey Kasser; 76 kg- Darryl Hall; 85 kg- Andrei Semanov; 97 kg - Paul Jones; 130 kg - Alexander Pisakin
Division E: 58 kg- Victor Chirkov; 63 kg- Radik Khamidullin 69 kg - Igor Korolkov; 76 kg - Bruce Moe; 85 kg - Steve Contarino; 97 kg- Stephen Campbell; 130 kg- Joe Reasbeck

Western Junior Regionals to feature top high school stars, many who go on to success at the Junior Nationals


The Western Junior Regional will play host to some of the top high school wrestlers in the U.S. when they compete in this year’s tournament in Las Vegas, on April 16-20 as part of the 2014 ASICS Open Wrestling Championships.


The Western Regional Women’s Division and Greco-Roman competitions will be held on Wed., April 16.


The Western Junior Regional men’s freestyle will be held on Thursday, April 17 and Friday, April 18.


This event allows many great high school athletes to test themselves against the best in their weight classes. This competition also helps them to sharpen their skills for the upcoming ASICS/Vaughan Junior Nationals later in the season.


At the 2013 Western Junior Regional, there were four wrestlers who won double titles in both men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman competitions. Double titlists included Matt Schmitt of Missouri at 100 lbs., Jacob Schmitt of Michigan at 132 lbs., Blayne Briceno of California at 152 lbs. and Roy Nash of Utah at 220 lbs.


The Western Junior Regional also allows the top three placewinners in each Junior weight division to qualify for their individual state’s national team. The USA Wrestling’s ASICS/Vaughan Junior National Championships will be held on July 18-26, in Fargo, N.D.


Last year’s Western Junior double champion at 220 lbs., Roy Nash of Utah, went on to make the 2013 Cadet World Team. He was also a double champion at the 2013 ASICS/Vaughan Junior Nationals.


Last year’s Western Junior freestyle champions Zahid Valencia of California at 126 lbs. and Sean Cannon of Nevada at 120 lbs. went on to win gold medals at the 2014 USA Wrestling Folkstyle Junior National Championships.Valencia was also a double champion at the 2013 ASICS/Vaughan Cadet Nationals, winning gold in both styles.


For the second time, the Western Junior Regionals girls division will be held in Las Vegas as part of the ASICS Open Wrestling Championships on April 16, 2014. The event is expected to feature many of the nation’s best female high school wrestlers.


2013 Western Junior Regional champions eligible to return include Cadet World Team members Sariyah Jones of California at 97 lbs. and Teshya Alo of Hawaii at 130 lbs. Another champion who may return is Jasmine Bailey of Iowa at 117 lbs., who recently won the 2014 USA Wrestling Girls Folkstyle Junior Nationals.

2013 WESTERN JUNIOR FREESTYLE REGIONALS

Gold-medal matches


110 – Matthew Schmitt (Missouri) tech. Chase Wickman (Washington), 6-0,7-0

106 - Tanner Rohweder (Iowa) dec. Michael Murphy (Tennessee), 2-1, 5-0

113 – Nolan Hellickson (Iowa) dec. Andrew Ibarra (California), 1-0, 1-0

120 – Sean Cannon (Nevada) dec. Devan Richter (Missouri), 2-1, 5-2

126 – Zahid Valencia (California) dec. Cole Weaver (Michigan), 1-0, 1-1

132 – Jacob Schmitt (Michigan) tech. Jacob Rubio (Texas), 7-0, 7-1

138 – Josh Reyes (Oregon) dec. Chase Call (Idaho), 1-4, 2-1, 2-0

145 – Daniel Lewis (Missouri) dec. Garrett Wood (Idaho), 3-3, 3-1, 6-0

152 – Blayne Briceno (California) dec. Austin Eads (Missouri), 0-6, 3-1, 7-0

160 – Jaskarn Ranu (Washington) dec. Aaron Blaine (Washington), 2-0, 6-0

170 – Drew Gracia (Michigan) pin Tyler McNutt (Missouri), 8-0, 1:21

182 – Ryder Newman (Nevada) tech. David Stepanyan (California), 6-0, 6-0

195 – Marcus Harrington (Iowa) dec. Micah T Gill (Utah), 5-0, 7-1

220 – Roy Nash (Utah) dec. Ben Andrew (Arizona), 8-3,6-5

285– Amarveer Dhesi (Washington) dec. Garrett Ryan (Pennsylvania), 4-0,1-0

2013 WESTERN JUNIOR GRECO-ROMAN REGIONALS

Gold-medal matches


110 – Matt Schmitt (Missouri) dec. Zac Hanson (Washington), 4-0, 1-0

106 – Jaron Chavez (Idaho) dec. Donovin Guerrero (California), 1-0, 2-0

113 – Andrew Ibarra (California) dec. Tyler Schilling (Oregon), 1-0, 2-3, 3-0

120 – Kyndall Rutz (Colorado) dec. Sean Cannon (Nevada), 0-3, 6-5, 3-2

126 – Cole Weaver (Michigan) dec. Malacai Collins (Missouri), 3-1,7-0

132 – Jacob Schmitt (Michigan) dec. Stuart Malm (California), 2-1, 6-0

138 – Rodney Clevenger (Missouri) dec. Chase Call (Idaho), 4-1, 2-4, 4-2

145 – Jared Johnshoy (Idaho) dec. Garrett Wood (Idaho), 1-0, 4-2

152 – Blayne Briceno (California) dec. Jake Deutschlander (Minnesota), 2-5, 4-3, 7-0

160 – Casey Brown (Wyoming) pin Aaron Blaine (Washington), 1:22

170 – Kyle Bateman (Oregon) dec. Drew Garcia (Michigan), 5-0, 1-1, 4-0

182 – Wyatt Richardson (Minnesota) won by tech. fall over Zach Black (Missouri), 8-0, 6-0

195 – Sean Lang (California)dec. Micah T. Gil (Utah), 2-0, 2-1

220 – Roy Nash (Utah) tech. Graham Grant (California), 8-1, 8-0

285 – Robert Barrios (California) dec. Cameron Fick (California), 3-0, 5-6, 1-0

2013 WESTERN JUNIOR WOMEN’S FREESTYLE REGIONALS

Gold-medal matches


97 - Sariyah Jones (California) dec. Maia Phanthadara (Hawaii), 5-2, 2-3, 1-0

105 - Kaylee Chevez (California) pin Harmonie Roberts (California), 0:41

112 - Lyndsey Barnhill (Washington) dec. Danielle Sigala (California), 4-1, 5-2

117 - Jasmine Bailey (Iowa) pin Cara Romeike (Texas), 0:47

121 - Alyssa Gonzalez (California) pin Peyton Reece (Washington), 1:21

130 - Teshya Alo (Hawaii) tech. fall Jasmine Mendez (California), 6-0, 9-1

139 - Kelsey Baker (Texas) dec. Forrest Molinari (California), 4-2, 2-1

148 - Sonya Redbird (Washington)

159 - Anastasia Lobsinger (California) dec. Kendall Reusing (California), 4-0, 7-1

172 - Courteney Tompkins (California)

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