Michigan rolls Oklahoma, secures Junior Duals Greco-Roman Championship

Ty Wildmo (Michigan) throws Lance Dixon (Oklahoma) in the Greco-Roman Junior Duals finals. Austin Bernard Photo.

2014 JUNIOR DUALS VIDEO PLAYLIST

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – In the championship finals of the 2014 Greco-
Roman Junior Duals Michigan Blue put on a show, taking out the hometown favorite Oklahoma 36-29 en route to a national championship.

Ryan Prescott set the tone for Michigan to open the dual, securing a fall in 3:41 over Oklahoma’s Kyler Childers to give Michigan a 5-0 lead.

Dominic Lajoie would extend Michigan’s lead to 9-1, winning the 100 lbs. bout 13-2 over Oklahoma’s Mason Naifeh.

Oklahoma star Kaden Gfeller cut the lead to 9-5, earning a 10-0 technical fall over Dalton Roberts at 106 lbs.

After 106 lbs. the Michigan train would roll. The four-point deficit would be the closest Oklahoma would come in the team score the remainder of the dual.

Ben Freeman and Chris Poland secured big victories at 113 lbs. and 120 lbs. for Michigan to extend the team’s lead to 16-7 heading into 126 lbs.

Kaid Brock picked up an 11-6 victory for Oklahoma at 126 lbs. over Lincoln Olson, but Michigan responded yet again with victories by Cole Weaver at 132 lbs., Justin Oliver at 138 lbs. and Zac Hall at 145 lbs.

Oklahoma All-American Joe Smith won a tight bout over Myles Amine at 152 lbs. by a 2-1 tally to keep Oklahoma’s hopes alive, however Michigan would ice the dual away, winning two of the final three contested bouts.

Ty Wildmo put the exclamation point on the Michigan victory with a dynamic 7-4 victory over Lance Dixon at 182 lbs. to secure the title for Michigan.

“Last year being here in the finals in both style, it has fueled me all year, just that feeling behind me, it is great to finally get it done,” Wildmo said.

Michigan forfeited the final two bouts at 195 lbs. and 220 lbs. to make the final tally Michigan 36 Oklahoma 29. Michigan won a total of nine bouts in the championship dual, marking the state’s first Junior Duals championship since 2002.

Michigan is coached by 2011 World Team member and four-time NCAA All-American for Michigan State Nick Simmons.

“These guys battled,” Simmons said. “A couple guys were injured, one guy got thirteen stitches and they came out and did their job. Our kids did it. It was good.”

Oklahoma finished in second place after knocking off three-time defending champion Illinois in the semi-final round 34-32.

Illinois finished the tournament in third place, ousting Minnesota Blue 35-26 in its final dual.

Utah defeated Florida 40-27 to wind up in fifth place overall, while Maryland took out Iowa 36-32 to come in seventh place.

Action from Oklahoma City will continue Friday morning with the Freestyle Junior Duals in what should be another hotly contested tournament.

Fans can watch all the action from the Freestyle Junior Duals Friday and Saturday live on Flowrestling.com.

2014 Greco-Roman Junior Duals Results
June 26 in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Gold/Silver Results
1st Place - Michigan Blue
2nd Place - Oklahoma
3rd Place - Illinois
4th Place - Minnesota Blue
5th Place - Utah
6th Place - Florida
7th Place - Maryland
8th Place - Iowa
1st Place Match
Michigan Blue defeated Oklahoma 36-29.
3rd Place Match
Illinois defeated Minnesota Blue 35-26.
5th Place Match
Utah defeated Florida 40-27.
7th Place Match
Maryland defeated Iowa 36-32.

Bronze/Copper Pool Results
1st Place - Missouri
2nd Place - California
3rd Place - Washington
4th Place - Michigan Red
5th Place - Georgia Blue
6th Place - Texas Blue
7th Place - Kansas Blue
8th Place - Tennesse
1st Place Match
Missouri defeated California 36-28.
3rd Place Match
Washington defeated Michigan Red 44-26.
5th Place Match
Georgia Blue defeated Texas Blue 50-18.
7th Place Match
Kansas Blue defeated Tennesse 40-25.

Red/Blue Pool Results
1st Place - North Dakota Red
2nd Place - South Dakota
3rd Place - Nebraska
4th Place - Kansas Red
5th Place - Minnesota Red
6th Place - New Mexico
7th Place - North Carolina
8th Place - New York
1st Place Match
North Dakota Red defeated South Dakota 35-34.
3rd Place Match
Nebraska defeated Kansas Red 41-25.
5th Place Match
Minnesota Red defeated New Mexico 50-20.
7th Place Match
North Carolina defeated New York 33-30.

Green/Yellow Pool Results
1st Place - North Dakota Blue
2nd Place - South Carolina
3rd Place - Virginia
4th Place - Connecticut
5th Place - Texas Red
6th Place - Georgia Red
7th Place - Indiana
8th Place - Louisiana
1st Place Match
North Dakota Blue defeated South Carolina 48-22.
3rd Place Match
Virginia defeated Connecticut 41-27.
5th Place Match
Texas Red defeated Georgia Red 29-27.
7th Place Match
Indiana defeated Louisiana 42-20.