UPDATE: Dow upsets Allar, Artalona edges Sasso in wild Junior National freestyle semifinals in Fargo
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Tyler Dow of Wisconsin defends a shot by Jake Allar of Minnesota in the closing seconds of his big semifinal win at 160 pounds. Photo by Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine.
FARGO, N.D. – The Junior freestyle semifinals are a fan favorite, as the nation’s top high school stars battle to earn a spot in the national finals. This year’s competition met all expectations, with numerous intense battles on the FargoDome floor.
Two returning Junior Nationals freestyle champions came into the semifinals. Only one reached the finals.
Returning Junior National freestyle champions Anthony Artalona of Florida (145) came from behind to win an exciting 10-10 criteria decision over 2015 Cadet Nationals champion Sammy Sasso of Pennsylvania in the semifinals.
Artalona led early, but Sasso hit a four pointer and strung a few takedowns to take a 10-4 lead into the second period. Artalona rebounded with a four-point counter throw to make the score 10-8, then scored a takedown with 28 seconds left to tie it at 10-10 and receive the win by criteria.
The other returning Junior Nationals freestyle champion, Jake Allar of Minnesota (160), got a big early lead, but was edged by Wisconsin’s Tyler Dow in their semifinal, 12-11.
Allar put Dow on his back for about a minute in the first period, and at one point, the score had Allar winning by technical fall. A challenge by Dow was approved, changing the score but keeping Allar with a healthy lead.
“It really just took guts and knowing that I’m a dangerous wrestler that can come back from anything. This match just proves it. It was back and forth. I wrestled him in folkstyle, and his headlock is good. I knew that was there. He got me in a headlock and had me on my back for a while, but I knew that if I could get off my back, I was still in the match, no matter what the score is. It went back and forth and I ended up winning,” said Dow.
Dow hit a pair of four-point moves to take a 10-9 lead, but Allar secured a takedown for an 11-10 lead. With about 30 seconds left, Dow countered an Allar move to score a two-point exposure to lead 12-11, then defended a late Allar shot to secure the win.
“He had a good lead and I had to come up strong. I don’t think he expected that, and I got two fours back-to-back. I think the second kind of shut him down and shocked him a little bit. I don’t think he expected me to come out that strong. After that throw, I could just tell that he started wearing down. He didn’t hit as many attacks and he didn’t tie up as much. Those four-point moves really helped,” said Dow.
Anthony Artalona will battle Kaden Gfeller of Oklahoma in the championship bout, while Dow will battle David Carr of Ohio in the championship finals. The Junior freestyle finals are set for 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
Two 2016 Junior National Greco-Roman champions reached the finals, Haydn Maley of Oregon (195) and Brandon Metz of North Dakota (285). Maley will face Zach Elam of Missouri in the finals, while Metz has drawn 2016 Junior Nationals freestyle runner-up Anthony Cassioppi of Illinois for the gold medal.
Three 2017 Junior Folkstyle National champions advanced to the finals, keeping alive their hopes for a Junior Triple Crown, Cassioppi, Paul Konrath of Indiana (126) and Max Lyon of Iowa (182).
Konrath, a 2016 Junior Nationals runner-up, scored a 10-0 technical fall over Jared Van Vleet of Illinois in the semifinals, and will face Drew Mattin of Ohio in the finals.
Lyon stopped Lucas Davison of Indiana in his semifinal battle, and has drawn Jack Jessen of Illinois in the championship match.
There were some great semifinal matches, including the 120-pound bout where Patrick McKee edged 2016 Junior Nationals runner-up Rayvon Foley of Michigan, 19-17. McKee scored a number of four-point moves in the bout, taking a 9-5 lead in the first period, and continuing to hold the lead as Foley came back with big moves of his own. McKee will battle Joey Melendez of Illinois in the finals match.
Two 2016 Cadet National freestyle champions won in the semifinals, Jared Franek of North Dakota (152) and Aaron Brooks of Maryland (170).
Franek defeated Markus Hartman of Illinois, 7-3, and will battle Will Lewan of Illinois in the finals. Brooks dominated Andrew Berreyesa of Nevada with an 11-1 semifinal technical fall, and will face Trent Hidlay of Pennsylvania in the finals.
Samuel Latona of Alabama became only the second wrestler in his state to reach a Junior freestyle finals, after a 16-6 technical fall win over Talamonti Manteno of Illinois in the semifinals. The only previous Alabama semifinalist was Henry Lavender in 1980, who finished second. Latona will seek his state’s first Junior Nationals freestyle title when he races Christopher Trelli of Connecticut for the gold.
Illinois, which was second behind Minnesota in the 2017 Junior National Freestyle Duals, took a commanding lead in the team race, placing five in the finals to score 74 points at this point. Ohio, with two finalists, is in second with 32 points, followed closely by Minnesota with 31 points, Pennsylvania with 30 points and Iowa with 29 points.
See all of the action in Fargo live on Flowrestling.
USMC JUNIOR NATIONALS
At Fargo, N.D.
Men’s Freestyle Finals pairings
100 pounds - Jackson Cockrell (Oklahoma) vs. Wil Guida (New Jersey)
106 pounds - Christopher Trelli (Connecticut) vs. Samuel Latona (Alabama)
113 pounds - Brandon Kaylor (Washington) vs. Ty Smith (Nevada)
120 pounds - Joey Melendez (Illinois) vs. Patrick McKee (Minnesota)
126 pounds - Paul Konrath (Indiana) vs. Drew Mattin (Ohio)
132 pounds - Atilano Escobar (Arizona) vs. Alexander Cruz (Washington)
138 pounds - Ben Freeman (Michigan) vs. Jeremy Schoenherr (Wisconsin)
145 pounds - Anthony Artalona (Florida) vs. Kaden Gfeller (Oklahoma)
152 pounds - Will Lewan (Illinois) vs. Jared Franek (North Dakota)
160 pounds - Tyler Dow (Wisconsin) vs. David Carr (Ohio)
170 pounds - Trent Hidlay (Pennsylvania) vs. Aaron Brooks (Maryland)
182 pounds - Jack Jessen (Illinois) vs. Max Lyon (Iowa)
195 pounds - Jacob Warner (Illinois) vs. Miles Lee (Pennsylvania)
220 pounds - Zach Elam (Missouri) vs. Haydn Maley (Oregon)
285 pounds - Anthony Cassioppi (Illinois) vs. Brandon Metz (North Dakota)
Semifinal results
100 pounds
Jackson Cockrell (Oklahoma) dec. Daniel Kimball (Iowa), 3-2
Wil Guida (New Jersey) tech. fall Timothy Levine (California), 10-0, 0:59
106 pounds
Christopher Trelli (Connecticut) dec. Brendon Garcia (Colorado), 7-5
Samuel Latona (Alabama) tech. fall Talamonti Manteno (Illinois), 16-6 5:44
113 pounds
Brandon Kaylor (Washington) VPO1 Aden Reeves (Iowa), 15-12
Ty Smith (Nevada) tech. fall Jace Koelzer (Kansas), 13-2 1:19
120
Joey Melendez (Illinois) dec. Ridge Lovett (Idaho), 6-4
Patrick McKee (Minnesota) dec. Rayvon Foley (Michigan), 19-17
126 pounds
Paul Konrath (Indiana) tech. fall Jared Van Vleet (Illinois), 10-0 4:42
Drew Mattin (Ohio) dec. Alex Thomsen (Iowa), 12-11
132 pounds
Atilano Escobar (Arizona) pin Chase Zollmann (California), 0:56
Alexander Cruz (Washington) dec. Tyler Deen (California), 8-7
138 pounds
Ben Freeman (Michigan) pin Jaden Enriquez (California), 2:18
Jeremy Schoenherr (Wisconsin) tech. fall Michael Millage Cresco, IA (Iowa), 13-3 4:59
145 pounds
Anthony Artalona (Florida) dec. Sam Sasso (Pennsylvania), 10-10
Kaden Gfeller (Oklahoma) tech. fall Alexander Lloyd (Minnesota), 15-5 4:32
152 pounds
Will Lewan (Illinois) dec. Peyton Robb (Minnesota), 7-4
Jared Franek (North Dakota) dec. Markus Hartman (Illinois), 7-3
160 pounds
Tyler Dow (Wisconsin) dec. Jake Allar MN (Minnesota), 12-11
David Carr (Ohio) dec. Joe Lee (Indiana), 8-6
170 pounds
Trent Hidlay (Pennsylvania) tech. fall Zachary Braunagel (Illinois), 11-0 2:19
Aaron Brooks (Maryland) tech. fall Andrew Berreyesa (Nevada), 11-1 4:50
182 pounds
Jack Jessen (Illinois) tech. fall Christian Knop (Alabama), 10-0 1:35
Max Lyon (Iowa) dec. Lucas Davison (Indiana), 12-4
195 pounds
Jacob Warner (Illinois) tech. fall Jakob Woodley (Pennsylvania), 10-0 4:09
Miles Lee (Pennsylvania) dec. Matthew Waddell (Georgia), 6-2
220 pounds
Zach Elam (Missouri) dec. Francis Duggan (Iowa), 8-5
Haydn Maley (Oregon) pin Jace Punke (Illinois), 0:44
285 pounds
Anthony Cassioppi (Illinois) tech. fall Samson Evans (Tennessee), 10-0 1:54
Brandon Metz (North Dakota) tech. fall Zach Muller (Illinois), 10-0 0:39
Brandon Metz (North Dakota) tech. fall Zach Muller (Illinois), 10-0 0:39
FARGO, N.D. – The Junior freestyle semifinals are a fan favorite, as the nation’s top high school stars battle to earn a spot in the national finals. This year’s competition met all expectations, with numerous intense battles on the FargoDome floor.
Two returning Junior Nationals freestyle champions came into the semifinals. Only one reached the finals.
Returning Junior National freestyle champions Anthony Artalona of Florida (145) came from behind to win an exciting 10-10 criteria decision over 2015 Cadet Nationals champion Sammy Sasso of Pennsylvania in the semifinals.
Artalona led early, but Sasso hit a four pointer and strung a few takedowns to take a 10-4 lead into the second period. Artalona rebounded with a four-point counter throw to make the score 10-8, then scored a takedown with 28 seconds left to tie it at 10-10 and receive the win by criteria.
The other returning Junior Nationals freestyle champion, Jake Allar of Minnesota (160), got a big early lead, but was edged by Wisconsin’s Tyler Dow in their semifinal, 12-11.
Allar put Dow on his back for about a minute in the first period, and at one point, the score had Allar winning by technical fall. A challenge by Dow was approved, changing the score but keeping Allar with a healthy lead.
“It really just took guts and knowing that I’m a dangerous wrestler that can come back from anything. This match just proves it. It was back and forth. I wrestled him in folkstyle, and his headlock is good. I knew that was there. He got me in a headlock and had me on my back for a while, but I knew that if I could get off my back, I was still in the match, no matter what the score is. It went back and forth and I ended up winning,” said Dow.
Dow hit a pair of four-point moves to take a 10-9 lead, but Allar secured a takedown for an 11-10 lead. With about 30 seconds left, Dow countered an Allar move to score a two-point exposure to lead 12-11, then defended a late Allar shot to secure the win.
“He had a good lead and I had to come up strong. I don’t think he expected that, and I got two fours back-to-back. I think the second kind of shut him down and shocked him a little bit. I don’t think he expected me to come out that strong. After that throw, I could just tell that he started wearing down. He didn’t hit as many attacks and he didn’t tie up as much. Those four-point moves really helped,” said Dow.
Anthony Artalona will battle Kaden Gfeller of Oklahoma in the championship bout, while Dow will battle David Carr of Ohio in the championship finals. The Junior freestyle finals are set for 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
Two 2016 Junior National Greco-Roman champions reached the finals, Haydn Maley of Oregon (195) and Brandon Metz of North Dakota (285). Maley will face Zach Elam of Missouri in the finals, while Metz has drawn 2016 Junior Nationals freestyle runner-up Anthony Cassioppi of Illinois for the gold medal.
Three 2017 Junior Folkstyle National champions advanced to the finals, keeping alive their hopes for a Junior Triple Crown, Cassioppi, Paul Konrath of Indiana (126) and Max Lyon of Iowa (182).
Konrath, a 2016 Junior Nationals runner-up, scored a 10-0 technical fall over Jared Van Vleet of Illinois in the semifinals, and will face Drew Mattin of Ohio in the finals.
Lyon stopped Lucas Davison of Indiana in his semifinal battle, and has drawn Jack Jessen of Illinois in the championship match.
There were some great semifinal matches, including the 120-pound bout where Patrick McKee edged 2016 Junior Nationals runner-up Rayvon Foley of Michigan, 19-17. McKee scored a number of four-point moves in the bout, taking a 9-5 lead in the first period, and continuing to hold the lead as Foley came back with big moves of his own. McKee will battle Joey Melendez of Illinois in the finals match.
Two 2016 Cadet National freestyle champions won in the semifinals, Jared Franek of North Dakota (152) and Aaron Brooks of Maryland (170).
Franek defeated Markus Hartman of Illinois, 7-3, and will battle Will Lewan of Illinois in the finals. Brooks dominated Andrew Berreyesa of Nevada with an 11-1 semifinal technical fall, and will face Trent Hidlay of Pennsylvania in the finals.
Samuel Latona of Alabama became only the second wrestler in his state to reach a Junior freestyle finals, after a 16-6 technical fall win over Talamonti Manteno of Illinois in the semifinals. The only previous Alabama semifinalist was Henry Lavender in 1980, who finished second. Latona will seek his state’s first Junior Nationals freestyle title when he races Christopher Trelli of Connecticut for the gold.
Illinois, which was second behind Minnesota in the 2017 Junior National Freestyle Duals, took a commanding lead in the team race, placing five in the finals to score 74 points at this point. Ohio, with two finalists, is in second with 32 points, followed closely by Minnesota with 31 points, Pennsylvania with 30 points and Iowa with 29 points.
See all of the action in Fargo live on Flowrestling.
USMC JUNIOR NATIONALS
At Fargo, N.D.
Men’s Freestyle Finals pairings
100 pounds - Jackson Cockrell (Oklahoma) vs. Wil Guida (New Jersey)
106 pounds - Christopher Trelli (Connecticut) vs. Samuel Latona (Alabama)
113 pounds - Brandon Kaylor (Washington) vs. Ty Smith (Nevada)
120 pounds - Joey Melendez (Illinois) vs. Patrick McKee (Minnesota)
126 pounds - Paul Konrath (Indiana) vs. Drew Mattin (Ohio)
132 pounds - Atilano Escobar (Arizona) vs. Alexander Cruz (Washington)
138 pounds - Ben Freeman (Michigan) vs. Jeremy Schoenherr (Wisconsin)
145 pounds - Anthony Artalona (Florida) vs. Kaden Gfeller (Oklahoma)
152 pounds - Will Lewan (Illinois) vs. Jared Franek (North Dakota)
160 pounds - Tyler Dow (Wisconsin) vs. David Carr (Ohio)
170 pounds - Trent Hidlay (Pennsylvania) vs. Aaron Brooks (Maryland)
182 pounds - Jack Jessen (Illinois) vs. Max Lyon (Iowa)
195 pounds - Jacob Warner (Illinois) vs. Miles Lee (Pennsylvania)
220 pounds - Zach Elam (Missouri) vs. Haydn Maley (Oregon)
285 pounds - Anthony Cassioppi (Illinois) vs. Brandon Metz (North Dakota)
Semifinal results
100 pounds
Jackson Cockrell (Oklahoma) dec. Daniel Kimball (Iowa), 3-2
Wil Guida (New Jersey) tech. fall Timothy Levine (California), 10-0, 0:59
106 pounds
Christopher Trelli (Connecticut) dec. Brendon Garcia (Colorado), 7-5
Samuel Latona (Alabama) tech. fall Talamonti Manteno (Illinois), 16-6 5:44
113 pounds
Brandon Kaylor (Washington) VPO1 Aden Reeves (Iowa), 15-12
Ty Smith (Nevada) tech. fall Jace Koelzer (Kansas), 13-2 1:19
120
Joey Melendez (Illinois) dec. Ridge Lovett (Idaho), 6-4
Patrick McKee (Minnesota) dec. Rayvon Foley (Michigan), 19-17
126 pounds
Paul Konrath (Indiana) tech. fall Jared Van Vleet (Illinois), 10-0 4:42
Drew Mattin (Ohio) dec. Alex Thomsen (Iowa), 12-11
132 pounds
Atilano Escobar (Arizona) pin Chase Zollmann (California), 0:56
Alexander Cruz (Washington) dec. Tyler Deen (California), 8-7
138 pounds
Ben Freeman (Michigan) pin Jaden Enriquez (California), 2:18
Jeremy Schoenherr (Wisconsin) tech. fall Michael Millage Cresco, IA (Iowa), 13-3 4:59
145 pounds
Anthony Artalona (Florida) dec. Sam Sasso (Pennsylvania), 10-10
Kaden Gfeller (Oklahoma) tech. fall Alexander Lloyd (Minnesota), 15-5 4:32
152 pounds
Will Lewan (Illinois) dec. Peyton Robb (Minnesota), 7-4
Jared Franek (North Dakota) dec. Markus Hartman (Illinois), 7-3
160 pounds
Tyler Dow (Wisconsin) dec. Jake Allar MN (Minnesota), 12-11
David Carr (Ohio) dec. Joe Lee (Indiana), 8-6
170 pounds
Trent Hidlay (Pennsylvania) tech. fall Zachary Braunagel (Illinois), 11-0 2:19
Aaron Brooks (Maryland) tech. fall Andrew Berreyesa (Nevada), 11-1 4:50
182 pounds
Jack Jessen (Illinois) tech. fall Christian Knop (Alabama), 10-0 1:35
Max Lyon (Iowa) dec. Lucas Davison (Indiana), 12-4
195 pounds
Jacob Warner (Illinois) tech. fall Jakob Woodley (Pennsylvania), 10-0 4:09
Miles Lee (Pennsylvania) dec. Matthew Waddell (Georgia), 6-2
220 pounds
Zach Elam (Missouri) dec. Francis Duggan (Iowa), 8-5
Haydn Maley (Oregon) pin Jace Punke (Illinois), 0:44
285 pounds
Anthony Cassioppi (Illinois) tech. fall Samson Evans (Tennessee), 10-0 1:54
Brandon Metz (North Dakota) tech. fall Zach Muller (Illinois), 10-0 0:39
Brandon Metz (North Dakota) tech. fall Zach Muller (Illinois), 10-0 0:39
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