UPDATE: Konrath, Lloyd repeat as national champs, four Californians win Junior titles

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Of the seven returning Cadet and Junior folkstyle champions in the field, only two—Paul Konrath and Alex Lloyd—went back-to-back at the 2017 Junior Folkstyle National Championships in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday evening.

 

Konrath, an Indiana native, who bonused his way through the tournament, met up with California’s Chris Deloza in the 132-pound finals.

 

Despite not scoring bonus points, Konrath maintained control throughout the match with two takedowns on the board for a 5-1 decision to claim his second Junior folkstyle national title and third overall.

 

“I felt pretty good,” Konrath said. “It was a little bit tougher competition because they stayed in a little bit better position and scrambled a little bit better, so I had to slow things down and make sure everything was right. I felt good overall.”

 

Lloyd of Minnesota also collected his second Junior folkstyle stop sign after surviving a 7-5 sudden victory win over Isaac Wilcox in the semis to move on to the finals at 152 pounds.

 

Lloyd took on Harlan Steffensmeier of Iowa, against whom he returned to his dominating ways, recording an 11-3 major decision to take the title.

 

Team California crowned four national champions and sent two others to the finals.

 

At 106 pounds, Jonathan Prata got the Cali boys off to a good start with a 9-4 decision over Destin Summers of Idaho.

 

Prata, who finished second at the Cadet level last year, picked up three takedowns and a reversal in his championship efforts against the Idaho state champion.

 

Christian Nunez stirred up some excitement at 120 pounds, scoring a winning takedown on fellow Californian Eddie Nunez as the final buzzer sounded.

 

“There were 14 seconds left, and he took a shot so I figured I just have to scramble,” Nunez said. “At the end of the scramble, I thought time was over but I just kept telling myself to keep going and I ended up getting it.”

 

Nunez ended the tournament with four wins by decision and a tournament-opening technical fall.

 

OU signee Anthony Mantanona picked up another win for California, earning a dominant 17-1 tech fall in the 170-pound finals.

 

Pinning his way to the finals, Mantanona faced Josh Ramirez from Gator Wrestling and scored 10 points in the first period, thanks to a takedown and eight back points. He finished it off halfway through the second period with another takedown and seven more back points.

 

“I couldn’t ask for much more,” Mantanona said. “I didn’t give up any offensive points, and I feel like I made a statement. I came not just wanting to win but to dominate. It’s my last high school tournament before I head off to college, so I just wanted to leave my mark.”

 

At 220 pounds, Cade Belshay capped off California’s dominant run in the finals, knocking off 2016 Missouri state champion Zach Elam in a 2-1 decision.  

 

Nine others were crowned 2017 Cadet Folkstyle national champions: Daniel Kimball (100), Cody Phippen (113), Jake Gilva (126), Parker Filius (138), Zach Barnes (145), Austin Yant (160), Max Lyon (182), Andrew Wenger (195) and Anthony Cassioppi (285).

 

Folkstyle Nationals action continues tomorrow at 8 a.m. with the Kids and Masters tournaments.

 

2017 USA WRESTLING FOLKSTYLE NATIONALS
April 1, 2017 at UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa

 

Junior finals results
100: Daniel Kimball (IAWC) dec. Devin Harmison (Southeast Polk), 6-1

106: Jonathan Prata (Team California) dec. Destin Summers (Delchev Trained Academy), 9-4

113: Cody Phippen (East Kansas Wrestling Club) MD Blake Mateu (Gator Wrestling Club), 10-0

120: Christian Nunez (Team California) dec. Eddie Flores (Team California), 7-6

126: Jake Gliva (Pinnacle) dec. Jackson Stauffacher (Scott West Panther Cubs), 7-3

132: Paul Konrath (Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club) dec. Chris Deloza (Team California), 5-1

138: Parker Filius (Havre) dec. Jakob Bergeland (Pinnacle), 5-3

145: Zachary Barnes (Ubasa Wrestling Academy) dec. Brock Mauller (Eierman Elite), 4-3

152: Alexander Lloyd (Pinnacle) MD Harlan Steffensmeier (Eastern Iowa Wrestling Club), 11-3

160: Austin Yant (Waverly Area Wrestling Club) dec. Hunter Mullin (Team Kansas), 3-2

170: Anthony Mantanona (Team California) TF Josh Ramirez (Gator Wrestling Club), 17-1

182: Max Lyon (Western Dubuque Bobcats) dec. Jack Jessen (Izzy Style Wrestling), 7-5

195: Andrew Wenger (Dakota Rattlers Wrestling Club) dec. Tyler Buesgens (Minnesota), 9-5

220: Cade Belshay (Buchanan Wrestling) dec. Zach Elam (Team Central Wrestling Club), 2-1

285: Anthony Cassioppi (Hononegah Wrestling Club) fall Aaron Costello (Basement Boys Wrestling Club), 5:19

 

Junior - 100
1st Place Match - Daniel Kimball (IAWC) won by decision over Devin Harmison (Southeast Polk) (Dec 6-1)
3rd Place Match - Daniel Rehfeldt (DCC Shamrocks) won by fall over Richard Lopez (Merrill West HS) (Fall 2:47)
5th Place Match - Collin Benson (New lisbon wresting) won by decision over Ryan McKitrick (Team Utah) (Dec 4-3)
7th Place Match - Michael McKitrick (Team Utah) won by fall over Kaylynn Crocker (St. James Tiger Wrestling) (Fall 2:52)

Junior - 106
1st Place Match - Jonathan Prata (Team California) won by decision over Destin Summers (Delchev Trained Academy) (Dec 9-4)
3rd Place Match - Anthony King (East St. Louis Wrestling Club) won by decision over Juan Isaiah Tapia (Moline Wrestling Club) (Dec 7-3)
5th Place Match - Zac Miller (Pinnacle) won by fall over Mckay Bush (Team Utah) (Fall 4:19)

Junior - 113
1st Place Match - Cody Phippen (East Kansas Wrestling Club) won by major decision over Blake Mateu (Gator Wrestling Club) (Maj 10-0)
3rd Place Match - Kyle Biscoglia (Waukee) won by decision over Eric Barnett (X-Factor Elite) (Dec 3-2)
5th Place Match - Garrett Ricks (BE Utah) won by decision over Darrick Stacey (Eastern Idaho Elite Wrestling) (Dec 8-6)
7th Place Match - Dalton Stutzman (Empire) won by decision over Michael Spangler (Wichita Wrestling Club) (Dec 7-2)

Junior - 120
1st Place Match - Christian Nunez (Team California) won by decision over Eddie Flores (Team California) (Dec 7-6)
3rd Place Match - Roland Dominguez (Dog Pound) won by decision over Jason Valencia (Team California) (Dec 4-2)
5th Place Match - Cristian Duron (Arizona Grapplers Wrestling Cl) won by decision over Clayton Glendy (Broken Bow Wrestling Club) (Dec 4-2)
7th Place Match - Rehan Uribe (Region Wrestling Academy) won by decision over Oscar Nellis (Team California) (Dec 7-2)

Junior - 126
1st Place Match - Jake Gliva (Pinnacle) won by decision over Jackson Stauffacher (Scott West Panther Cubs) (Dec 7-3)
3rd Place Match - Marcus Castillo (Tucson Cyclones) won by decision over Chance Rich (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club () (Dec 3-2)
5th Place Match - Antonio Saldate (TEAM NEVADA) won by fall over Blaine Rodolf (Pleasant Hill Wrestling) (Fall 4:17)
7th Place Match - Sidney Flores (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club () won by decision over Zachary Thompson (Perry Blue Jays) (Dec 5-1)

Junior - 132
1st Place Match - Paul Konrath (Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club) won by decision over Chris Deloza (Team California) (Dec 5-1)
3rd Place Match - clayton currier (Colt wrestling) won by fall over Dylan Droegemueller (Pinnacle) (Fall 1:49)
5th Place Match - ANGELO MARTINONI (Apex Wrestling Academy) won by decision over Adam Brown (Southeast Polk) (Dec 5-2)
7th Place Match - Sawyer Degen (Big Game Wrestling) won by decision over Sebas Swiggum (Apple Valley) (Dec 9-2)

Junior - 138
1st Place Match - Parker Filius (havre) won by decision over Jakob Bergeland (Pinnacle) (Dec 5-3)
3rd Place Match - Jaden Enriquez (Mission Oaks High School Wrest) won by decision over Drew Scharenbrock (Advance School Of Wrestling L) (Dec 7-4)
5th Place Match - Bernard Truax (Rancho Buena Vista High School) won by decision over Nick Freeman (WLC BLAST) (Dec 5-1)
7th Place Match - Noah Hermosillo (Bald Eagle Wrestling Club) won by fall over Kolbe O`Brien (Izzy Style Wrestling) (Fall 2:55)

Junior - 145
1st Place Match - Zachary Barnes (Ubasa Wrestling Academy) won by decision over Brock Mauller (Eierman Elite) (Dec 4-3)
3rd Place Match - Jack Ramalia (Unattached) won by decision over Tyler Shilson (Pinnacle) (Dec 3-0)
5th Place Match - Jake Watters (high altitude wrestling club) won by decision over Ezekial Williamson (Delchev Trained Academy) (Dec 3-1)
7th Place Match - Lawrence Saenz (Vacaville Wrestling Club) won by fall over Joseph Eads (Illinois) (Fall 3:36)

Junior - 152
1st Place Match - Alexander Lloyd (Pinnacle) won by major decision over Harlan Steffensmeier (Eastern Iowa Wrestling Club) (Maj 11-3)
3rd Place Match - Jed Loveless (Payson Pride Wrestling) won by tech fall over Calvin Germinaro (Hannibal Youth Wrestling Club) (TF 20-3)
5th Place Match - Isaac Wilcox (BE Utah) won by medical forfeit over Nathan Trepanier (X-Factor Elite) (MFF)
7th Place Match - Austin Braun (Woodbury) won by decision over Steven Rando (Bayou Elite) (Dec 6-3)

Junior - 160
1st Place Match - Austin Yant (Waverly Area Wrestling Club) won by decision over Hunter Mullin (Team Kansas) (Dec 3-2)
3rd Place Match - Joshua Kim (Team California) won in the ultimate tie breaker over Jaron Chavez (Suples Wrestling Club) (UTB 3-2)
5th Place Match - Luke Clark (Pinnacle) won in sudden victory - 1 over Noah Jackson (Toss Em Up) (SV-1 5-3)
7th Place Match - Isaac Judge (Team Intensity) won by forfeit over Austin Brenner (Pinnacle) (FF)

Junior - 170
1st Place Match - Anthony Mantanona (Team California) won by tech fall over Josh Ramirez (Gator Wrestling Club) (TF 17-1)
3rd Place Match - Bailee O`reilly (Cannon Falls Mat Rats) won by decision over Jacob Mintzmyer (Marysville High School) (Dec 9-5)
5th Place Match - Brandyn Van Tassell (Champions Wrestling Club) won by medical forfeit over Marcus Coleman (Cyclone Regional Training Cent) (MFF)
7th Place Match - Jose Acosta (X-Factor Elite) won by decision over Brock Jennings (Osage) (Dec 6-5)

Junior - 182
1st Place Match - Max Lyon (Western Dubuque Bobcats) won by decision over Jack Jessen (Izzy Style Wrestling) (Dec 7-5)
3rd Place Match - Owen Pentz (Team Utah) won by decision over RYAN YARNELL (Thoroughbred Wrestling Academy) (Dec 4-3)
5th Place Match - Cameron Caffey (Carbondale WC) won by major decision over Caden Steffen (Zumbrota-Mazeppa Wrestling) (Maj 15-5)
7th Place Match - Gavin Babcock (Southeast Polk) won by medical forfeit over Alec McDowell (Maquoketa Valley) (MFF)

Junior - 195
1st Place Match - Andrew Wenger (Dakota Wrestling Club) won by decision over Tyler Buesgens (Minnesota) (Dec 9-5)
3rd Place Match - Jake Boyd (Smithville High School) won by decision over Chad Porter (TEAM ARIZONA) (Dec 5-3)
5th Place Match - Anthony Gaona (Team Kansas) won by decision over Bobby Striggow (Pinnacle) (Dec 3-1)
7th Place Match - Joseph Miller (TEAM NEVADA) won by decision over Lance Killgore (Cyclones Wrestling & Fitness) (Dec 9-2)

Junior - 220
1st Place Match - Cade Belshay (Buchanan Wrestling) won by decision over Zach Elam (Team Central Wrestling Club) (Dec 2-1)
3rd Place Match - Cale Davidson (Team Kansas) won by decision over Casey Jumps (Platte County Youth Wrestling) (Dec 5-0)
5th Place Match - Maverick McPeek (Dakota Wrestling Club) won by decision over Cole Fibranz (Central Minnesota) (Dec 11-6)
7th Place Match - Tony Rogers (Chester) won by fall over Cordel Duhart (Southwest Timberwolves) (Fall 2:44)

Junior - 285
1st Place Match - Anthony Cassioppi (Hononegah Wrestling Club) won by fall over Aaron Costello (Basement Boys Wrestling Club) (Fall 5:19)
3rd Place Match - Gavin Nye (PRODIGY) won by fall over Jackson Serna (Team California) (Fall 2:24)
5th Place Match - BRADY Briskey (Team Utah) won in tie breaker - 1 over Zachery Nemec (Bushido Storm) (TB-1 4-2)
7th Place Match - Nathaniel Holloway (Team California) won in sudden victory - 1 over Bill Blaser (Geneseo Spider Wrestling Club) (SV-1 3-1)