McKenna beats Zacherl in two straight in UWW Junior World Team 60kg Special Wrestle-off
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Coaches Jeff Buxton and Zach Rey work with Joey McKenna during a break at the 60 kg Special Wrestle-off for the UWW Junior World Team.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Joey McKenna (Towaco, N.J./Lehigh Valley AC) defeated Brock Zacherl (Mayport, Pa./Clarion WC), two matches to none, in the Special Wrestle-off for the 60 kg/132 lbs. position on the 2015 U.S. UWW Junior World Team, held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
McKenna earned a spot on the 2015 UWW Junior World Team which will compete in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, August 11-16
McKenna was a 2014 UWW Junior World silver medalist while Zacherl was the 2015 UWW Junior World Team Trials champion.
McKenna won the first match by a 10-0 technical fall at 4:08. The first period ended 2-0, with McKenna scoring a takedown on the edge. In the second period, a McKenna double leg takedown was followed by a series of three straight gut wrenches, scoring eight quick points to secure the technical fall.
The second match was more of a challenge, a 6-4 McKenna win. McKenna jumped out early for a 5-1 lead after the first period on a takedown, gutwrench and pushout. Zacherl scored a first-period escape. After the break, McKenna extended the lead to 6-1 after a pushout. Zacherl came back with a nice double-leg takedown to close it to 6-3. McKenna was penalized for fleeing the hold, making it 6-4 before time ran out.
“I felt good out there, trying to get to my offense. I knew he was a lefty lead and just wanted my right leg. I have been working a lot, keeping the leg protected. I am a lefty, which was to my advantage. I had a game plan to get to my attacks, and get on top to get a turn and try to finish the match,” said McKenna.
Although Zacherl fell short today, he has made huge progress during his redshirt year as a freshman at Clarion in all aspects of his wrestling.
“I thought the first match I didn’t do so hot. It took me a little bit to figure him out on our feet. He has a really good stance, a left leg lead. Sometimes, that causes problems for me. The biggest thing was my par terre defense. That is what let him run away with that first match and was the deciding factor in the second match,” said Zacherl.
McKenna, as a returning UWW Junior World medalist, was able to get an extension on his best-of-three championship series if he qualified for and entered the 2015 U.S. Senior World Team Trials in Madison, Wis., according to team selection procedures. The Senior World Team Trials were held after the UWW Junior World Team Trials in Madison on the same weekend. McKenna qualified for the Senior World Team Trials as a wildcard, and competed in the 66 kg/145.5 lbs. division.
Zacherl won the 60 kg/132 lbs. division at the UWW Junior World Team Trials in Madison, earning the opportunity to wrestle-off for the team spot against McKenna.
VIDEO: Match One – McKenna tech. Zacherl 10-0
VIDEO: Match Two – McKenna dec. Zacherl, 6-4
JUNIOR WORLD TEAM 60 KG SPECIAL WRESTLE-OFF
At Colorado Springs, Colo., June 28, 2015
Joey McKenna (Towaco, N.J./Lehigh Valley AC) dec. Brock Zacherl (Mayport, Pa./Clarion WC), two matches to none
Bout One – McKenna tech. fall Zacherl, 10-0, 4:08
Bout Two – McKenna dec. Zacherl, 6-4
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Joey McKenna (Towaco, N.J./Lehigh Valley AC) defeated Brock Zacherl (Mayport, Pa./Clarion WC), two matches to none, in the Special Wrestle-off for the 60 kg/132 lbs. position on the 2015 U.S. UWW Junior World Team, held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
McKenna earned a spot on the 2015 UWW Junior World Team which will compete in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, August 11-16
McKenna was a 2014 UWW Junior World silver medalist while Zacherl was the 2015 UWW Junior World Team Trials champion.
McKenna won the first match by a 10-0 technical fall at 4:08. The first period ended 2-0, with McKenna scoring a takedown on the edge. In the second period, a McKenna double leg takedown was followed by a series of three straight gut wrenches, scoring eight quick points to secure the technical fall.
The second match was more of a challenge, a 6-4 McKenna win. McKenna jumped out early for a 5-1 lead after the first period on a takedown, gutwrench and pushout. Zacherl scored a first-period escape. After the break, McKenna extended the lead to 6-1 after a pushout. Zacherl came back with a nice double-leg takedown to close it to 6-3. McKenna was penalized for fleeing the hold, making it 6-4 before time ran out.
“I felt good out there, trying to get to my offense. I knew he was a lefty lead and just wanted my right leg. I have been working a lot, keeping the leg protected. I am a lefty, which was to my advantage. I had a game plan to get to my attacks, and get on top to get a turn and try to finish the match,” said McKenna.
Although Zacherl fell short today, he has made huge progress during his redshirt year as a freshman at Clarion in all aspects of his wrestling.
“I thought the first match I didn’t do so hot. It took me a little bit to figure him out on our feet. He has a really good stance, a left leg lead. Sometimes, that causes problems for me. The biggest thing was my par terre defense. That is what let him run away with that first match and was the deciding factor in the second match,” said Zacherl.
McKenna, as a returning UWW Junior World medalist, was able to get an extension on his best-of-three championship series if he qualified for and entered the 2015 U.S. Senior World Team Trials in Madison, Wis., according to team selection procedures. The Senior World Team Trials were held after the UWW Junior World Team Trials in Madison on the same weekend. McKenna qualified for the Senior World Team Trials as a wildcard, and competed in the 66 kg/145.5 lbs. division.
Zacherl won the 60 kg/132 lbs. division at the UWW Junior World Team Trials in Madison, earning the opportunity to wrestle-off for the team spot against McKenna.
VIDEO: Match One – McKenna tech. Zacherl 10-0
VIDEO: Match Two – McKenna dec. Zacherl, 6-4
JUNIOR WORLD TEAM 60 KG SPECIAL WRESTLE-OFF
At Colorado Springs, Colo., June 28, 2015
Joey McKenna (Towaco, N.J./Lehigh Valley AC) dec. Brock Zacherl (Mayport, Pa./Clarion WC), two matches to none
Bout One – McKenna tech. fall Zacherl, 10-0, 4:08
Bout Two – McKenna dec. Zacherl, 6-4
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