Oklahoma storms to Freestyle Junior Duals Championship

Oklahoma's Chandler Rogers celebrates his victory in the Junior Duals finals. Austin Bernard Photo.

2014 JUNIOR DUALS VIDEO PLAYLIST

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The 2014 Freestyle Junior National Duals concluded with a bang Saturday night, as the hometown heroes from Oklahoma capped off an electrifying tournament with a 38-29 win over Minnesota in the championship finals.

Montori Bridges got Oklahoma off to a fast start earning a quick first period fall over Minnesota’s Brent Jones at 113 lbs.

The resilient Minnesota squad would respond with three straight wins over three of Oklahoma’s heavy-hitters. During this span Skyler Petry won 14-6 over past USA Wrestling Triple Crown winner Daton Fix, Mitch McKee defeated two-time Fargo finalist Kaid Brock 15-10 and Tommy Thorn topped Gary Wayne Harding 10-0.

The two teams would trade the next two bouts as Tristan Moran won by technical fall at 138 lbs. for Oklahoma and Brady Berge also won via technical fall at 145 lbs. for Minnesota.

Trailing 16-13, Oklahoma would sweep 152 lbs. and 160 lbs. as Joe Smith and Jacobe Smith picked up key technical fall victories to give Oklahoma a 21-17 lead heading into 170 lbs.

In a risky move, Oklahoma would forfeit 170 lbs. to Minnesota phenom Mark Hall, electing instead to bump Chandler Rogers up to 182 lbs. to face Keegan Moore. Down 4-0 Rogers stepped over a Moore gutwrench, and picked up a fall in what would be the duals defining moment.

“The coaches decided to gamble a little bit and put me up,” Rogers said. “That one was just so special. After Greco I was so disappointed that our team fell off the rims and when I got thrown I was like, I am not letting this thing fall off the rims this time. To get the pin like that, it was amazing.”

Joel Dixon, Andrew Dixon, Korey Walker and Mason Nafieh would sweep the next four weights for Oklahoma to seal the victory in front of the hometown crowd.

Oklahoma head freestyle coach Bobby Cook guided the state to its first Freestyle Junior Duals championship since 2002.

“With this being the last year it is in Oklahoma, it was significant for us to try and put this team together and have a legit opportunity to win it,” Cook said.

Michigan capped off a strong tournament with a 33-29 victory over New Jersey in the third place match. Michigan won the Greco-Roman Junior Duals earlier in the week.

Four-time defending champion Illinois wound up in fifth place overall, defeating Iowa 49-16 in the fifth place dual.

Utah took out Missouri 38-31 to finish in seventh place.

2014 Freestyle Junior National Duals Results
June 28 in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Gold/Silver Results
1st Place - Oklahoma
2nd Place - Minnesota Blue
3rd Place - Michigan Blue
4th Place - New Jersey
5th Place - Illinois
6th Place - Iowa Blue
7th Place - Utah
8th Place - Missouri
1st Place Match
Oklahoma defeated Minnesota Blue 38-29.
3rd Place Match
Michigan Blue defeated New Jersey 33-29.
5th Place Match
Illinois defeated Iowa Blue 49-16.
7th Place Match
Utah defeated Missouri 38-31.

Bronze/Copper Results
1st Place - Maryland
2nd Place - Florida
3rd Place - Washington
4th Place - North Dakota Red
5th Place - California
6th Place - Georgia Blue
7th Place - South Dakota
8th Place - Kansas Blue
1st Place Match
Maryland defeated Florida 0-0.
3rd Place Match
Washington defeated North Dakota Red 47-24.
5th Place Match
California defeated Georgia Blue 36-30.
7th Place Match
South Dakota defeated Kansas Blue 38-31.

Red/Blue Pool Results
1st Place - Iowa Red
2nd Place - New York
3rd Place - Ohio Red
4th Place - Connecticut
5th Place - Texas Blue
6th Place - Virginia
7th Place - Indiana
8th Place - Arkansas
1st Place Match
Iowa Red defeated New York 42-23.
3rd Place Match
Ohio Red defeated Connecticut 37-36.
5th Place Match
Texas Blue defeated Virginia 42-28.
7th Place Match
Indiana defeated Arkansas 34-27.

Green/Yellow Pool Results
1st Place - Nebraska
2nd Place - Michigan Red
3rd Place - Kansas Red
4th Place - New Mexico
5th Place - North Carolina
6th Place - Texas Red
7th Place - South Carolina
8th Place - Ohio Blue
1st Place Match
Nebraska defeated Michigan Red 39-26.
3rd Place Match
Kansas Red defeated New Mexico 50-21.
5th Place Match
North Carolina defeated Texas Red 33-33.
7th Place Match
South Carolina defeated Ohio Blue 34-21.