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Down and Dirty Cadet Greco-Roman Nationals weight-by-weight preview

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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling

Jordan Hamden of Michigan tosses Reece Witcraft of Oklahoma in the 2016 Cadet National Greco-Roman finals at 113 pounds. Both return this year at 126 pounds. Photo by John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com


With half of #Fargo2017 in the books with the completion of men’s freestyle and the women’s Cadet divisions, we switch to the classic style, as Greco-Roman gets going on Wednesday morning. We start it off with Cadet Greco-Roman, and should expect to see some athletes put on an air-time show for fans to enjoy.


We will see some Cadet freestyle All-Americans looking for a double All-American week, as well as some different athletes who have specialized a bit in Greco-Roman during their careers.

88 – With none of last year’s Cadet Greco All-Americans back at this weight class, we look to other events for the top contenders. Tommy Curran of Illinois was third at the 2017 UWW Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman, added a Central Regional title and won the Cadet Pan American gold medal. Nathan Rubino of Nebraska and Joseph Couch of Maryland were also UWW Cadet Greco placewinners. Rubino comes off a tour to Europe, where he was fifth in Serbia and fourth in Croatia. Chance Lamer of South Dakota, second in the Cadet Freestyle a few days ago, made All-Tournament team in Greco at the Cadet National Duals.
Others separated – Cody Thompson (CO), Ronan Schuelke (IL), Brandon O’Brien (IA), Cael Lorentz (MN), Caleb Coyle (NE), Richard Treanor (NC), Mark Marum (WA)

94 – Case Mauger of Idaho won the UWW Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman at 42 kg, and was seventh in freestyle at the Cadet Nationals this year. Blaine Brenner of Wisconsin was sixth at the UWW Cadet Nationals, giving himself a nice separation tier. The top three finishers from the Cadet freestyle tournament are also entered in Greco-Roman, Jett Strickenberger of Colorado, Carter Young of Oklahoma and Sheldon Seymour of Pennsylvania. Seymour made All-Tournament Team at this year’s Cadet National Duals.
Others separated – Kagen Lawrence (OR), Brody Lee (WI)

100 – Dylan Ragusin of Illinois, last year’s Cadet Greco-Roman champion, added a Cadet freestyle title this year and goes for No. 2 in Cadet Greco. Ragusin was also second at the UWW Cadet Nationals this year in Greco. Parker Decker of Texas placed second behind Ragusin in the UWW Cadet Nationals this spring. Andrew Chambal of Michigan was second at Cadet Nationals last summer down at 88, and was second to Ragusin in the Cadet freestyle finals this year. Paxton Creese of Minnesota was third at the Cadet Nationals in Greco last year and was fourth at the UWW Cadet Nationals this season. Angelo Lozado of Colorado was sixth at the UWW Cadet Nationasl this year and Brody Norman of Illinois was eighth. Yusief Lillie of Washington was fourth at the Cadet Nationals in freestyle earlier this week.
Others separated – Landen Parent (MN), Dustin Norris (OH)

106 – Brendan Chaowanapibool of Washington won a pair of Greco-Roman silver medals last summer in Fargo, placing second in both the Cadet Nationals and the Junior Nationals. Other 2016 Cadet Nationals Greco-Roman All-Americans in the house include Timothy Levine of California and Matthew Ramos of Illinois. Ramos was second in Cadet Freestyle earlier this week. Michael Leveille of Illinois was a Fargo Greco All-American on the Junior level last summer, taking seventh. Add in the UWW Cadet Nationals this year, and placewinners include Caden McCrary of Georgia and Jackason Burks of Nebraska. Burks was a Cadet freestyle placer this year, as was Aizayah Yacapin of Washington, who was a strong third in freestyle Cadet.
Others separated – Christian Cabaug (CA), Luc Valdez (IL), Colton Drousias (IN), Billy Sullivan (NV), Wiley Kahler (PA), Cooper Flynn (TN), Dominic Chavez Jr (TX)

113 – Chayse LaJoie of Michigan was fourth at last year’s Cadet National in Greco, and Trey Crawford of Missouri was fifth. Crawford and Noah Surtin of Illinois were on the Cadet National Duals All-Tournament team in Greco this spring, and Surtin followed it up with a Cadet Nationals freestyle title this week. Placing second in Cadet Freestyle this week behind Surtin was Nick Masters of Georgia, who is also entered in Greco. Hunter Lewis of Wisconsin is a talented Greco wrestler, placing third at the UWW Cadet Nationals this year.
Others separated – Nathan Aguilar (CA), Cameron Johnson (IL), Caleb Rathjen (IA), Khyler Brewer (MO), Sterling Quinn (MT), Kaden Kuenzi (OR), Haiden Drury (WA),

120 – Jalen Spuhler of Wisconsin was a UWW Cadet Nationals champion in 2016 at 92.5 pounds, and was third at the Cadet Nationals last summer in Greco-Roman. Phillip Moomey of Nebraska was fifth at the 2016 Cadet Nationals in Greco and added a fourth place finish at the UWW Cadet Greco this spring. Other 2016 Cadet National Greco All-Americans back in the mix are Curtez Riley of Nebraska, Cameron Picklo of Oklahoma, Kellyn March of South Dakota. Aiden Nutter of Wisconsin was eighth at the UWW Cadets this year. Don’t overlook Dominic Serrano of Colorado, who was second in freestyle at the Cadet Natioanls this year.
Others separated – Isaac Salas (CA), Fabian Lopez (IL), Gavin Ayotte (UT), Terrell Barraclough (UT), Luke Mechler (WI)

126 – Jordan Hamdan of Michigan is a returning Cadet Greco-Roman champion and a favorite to repeat this year. He defeated Reece Witcraft of Oklahoma in last year’s 113 Greco finals, and Witcraft is back for another shot at the title. Ryan Ripplinger of North Dakota snagged a fourth place in last year’s Cadet Greco Nationals. Keep an eye on Ryan Franco of California, who was second in Cadet freestyle earlier this week.
Others separated – Jacob Peralta (CA), Justin McCoy (CO), Antonia Segura (CO), Paul Watkins (GA), Kyle Kantola (MI), Marc Shaeffer (MI), Gus Sutton (OH), Joshua Jones (PA), Chase Warden (TX)

132 – The big dog in this weight class is Carson Manville of Pennsylvania, who was the OW in Cadet freestyle earlier this week, and was third at the UWW Cadet Nationals earlier this year. Manville was a double champion at the Cadet Pan American Championships this year. Joshua Saunders of Missouri was a Cadet freestyle national champion at 126, and has moved up to 132 in Greco.
Others separated – Gabriel Hixenbaugh (AL), Dawson Sihavong (CA), Frankie Tal-Shahar (FL), Lucad Dasilva (GA), Torry Early (IL), Joshua Edmond (MI), Blake Ramos (OK), Marckis Branford (PA), Stockton O’Brien (UT), Ryan Wheeler (WA).

138 – 2017 Cadet National freestyle champion Fidel Mayora of Illinois also has a nice Greco-Roman pedigree, including sixth place in last summer’s Cadet Greco Nationals and a seventh place at the UWW Cadet Nationals this year. There a number of other top contenders with similar achievements. Kevon Davenport of Michigan was third at the UWW Cadet Nationals in Greco this year and was second to Mayora in the Cadet freestyle finals earlier this week. Davenport was also All-Tournament Team at Cadet National Duals. Carter Tuttle of Pennsylvania was a Cadet Nationals Greco-Roman runner-up last year and was a Cadet freestyle All-American this year. Colby Njos of Minnesota was fifth in Cadet Greco last year. Michael Kistler of Pennsylvania, fourth in Cadet freestyle this week, is a tough draw, as is another top Cadet freestyler, Alexander Mosconi of Indiana. Dominic Damon of Washington, who placed in the 2016 UWW Cadets in Greco, was also a Cadet freestyle All-American this year
Others separated – Nathan Paulson (CA), Cade DeVos (IA), Garrett Labell (MO), Marques McClorin (PA), Daniel Manibog (TX), Alex Rubio (WA)

145 – This weight is not as deep in Greco experience, and could have some surprises. 2017 Cadet Nationals freestyle champion Alex Facundo of Michigan is looking to double up this week. He defeated Michael Weber of Montana in the freestyle finals. Weber was sixth at the UWW Cadet Nationals in Greco earlier this year. Lance Runyan of Iowa was third in the Cadet freestyle at 138 pounds this week and jumps up in weight. Drew Eller of Georgia was fourth at 145 at the Cadet freestyle. Facundo and Eller made All-Tournament Team in Cadet Greco Duals in June. Jace Lachau of California was fourth in Cadet freestyle this year.
Others separated – Christian Hudson (ID), Jakob Murillo (ID), George Marre (IL), Cole Rees (PA)

152 – This is a wide open weight class, with the highest tiered wrestler at No. 6, Aaron Gandara of Arizona, who was second at the Cadet Nationals in freestyle earlier in the week. Gandara made the Cadet National Duals Greco-Roman All-Tournament Team, as did Angel Garcia of Pennsylvania, who did not even earn a tier ranking. This might be a weight were some 2016 Schoolboy athletes make a big mark on the Cadet level
Others separated – Cade Lindsey (KS), Jacob Edwards (NY), Brett McIntosh (OH), Mackay Foy (UT), Sione Halo (WA), Daniel Snedicker (WA), Gage Coppock (WI)

160 – Carter Starocci of Pennsylvania, a Cadet freestyle national champion this year at 152, moves up in weight. Starocci was eighth in Greco at last year’s Cadet Nationals. Scoring All-Tournament Team at the Cadet National Duals were Clay Fielden of Indiana and Dalton Andrist of Minnesota. Lots of chances here for some new blood up on the Cadet Nationals podium.
Others separated – Diego Chavez (AZ), James Cagnina (IL), Quinlan Nelson (IL), Jacob Nolan (NY), Tristan Tadeo (TX), Danny Reed (WA), Nathan Fuller (WI)

170 – Abe Assad of Illinois was second in Cadet Nationals Greco-Roman last year, and came away with the silver medal at the Cadet Nationals in freestyle this year. Isaiah Alford of Nebraska was seventh at the UWW Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman this year. Sam Fisher of Virginia was on the Cadet National Duals All-Tournament Team in June.
Others separated – Remington Winmill (ID), Anthony Geraci (IL), Kyle Haas (KS), Ryan Ringler (MI), Talan Borror (OK), Tyler Hannah (WI), D.J. Smith (WI)

182 – Jacob Logan of New York was fourth in the 2016 Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman. Other returning Cadet National Greco All-Americans include Grant Parrish of Minnesota and Devin Winston of Missouri. Winston won the Cadet Nationals in freestyle a few days ago. Jonathan Fagan of Idaho was fourth at the UWW Cadet Nationals in Greco this year. Coming out of the Cadet Freestyle Nationals this year, along with Winston, are Logan, Darrien Roberts of Pennsylvania (3rd), Fagan (4th), Connor Bourne of Nevada (5th), Parrish (6th) and Jeremiah Hollen of Arizona (7th). There could be a bunch of double All-Americans at this weight this year. Add in Drew Bowker of New Jersey, who was All-Tournament at the Cadet National Greco Duals this year.
Others separated – Gavin Carter (KS), Kasten Grape (NE), Trent Knight (TN)

195 – Ashton Sharp of Missouri won the 2017 UWW Cadet Nationals to earn a trip to the World Championships this year, and also won the Cadet Nationals in freestyle this year. Pushing Sharp again will be Peter Christensen of Illinois, who was second to Sharp at the UWW Cadets, and won the first match of their finals series before Sharp won the other two. Matthew Cover of Ohio was second behind Sharp at the Cadet Nationals in freestyle this week. Also watch Cadet Freestyle All-Americans Wyatt Hendrickson of Kansas (3rd) and Santos Cantu of Oregon (4th), who are also entered in Greco.
Others separated – Malcom Wiley (GA), Ethan Torres (IL), Cody Fisher (IA), Brayden Wolf (IA), Avery Jaramillo (OR), Aidan Conner (TX)

220 – Could Braxton Amos of West Virginia win his fourth Cadet Nationals title? Amos was a freestyle and Greco-Roman champion last year at Cadets, and won the freestyle again this year. In the finals of freestyle a few days back, he beat Luke Luffman of Illinois in the finals. Luffman was fourth in the UWW Cadet Nationals in Greco this year. A returning Cadet Nationals Greco All-American is Tarik Sutkovic of Arizona, who was fifth last year. Keep an eye on Cadet freestyle All-Americans Jacob Kaminsky of Illinois (3rd) and Victor Jaquez of California (4th).
Others separated – Nathaniel Deasey (AZ), Jacob Bullock (IL), Lewis Fernandez (NJ), Mason Maulding (NJ), Cabe Dickerson (OK), Micah Walker (OK), Jullian Stone (OR), Hunter Catka (PA), Kade Carlson (UT),

286 - Nash Hutmacher of South Dakota made big news with his Cadet Nationals freestyle title this week, and is also entered in Greco-Roman. Ronald Tucker of Illinois was fifth at last year’s Cadet Greco Nationals. Coming out of the Cadet National freestyle field are runner-up Louden Haga of Ohio. third place Eli Pokorney of Nebraska, and fourth place Chase Dockler of North Dakota. Add in fifth place Logan Zchernitz of Wisconsin, sixth place Nicholas Pierce of Minnesota, seventh place Colby Whitehill of Pennsylvania and eighth place Carlos Santos of Texas from the freestyle All-American podium, and we could see a bunch of double All-Americans.
Others separated – Justin Ramos (CA), Adam Sepan (CO), Jacob Edwards (PA). William Taylor (TN), Jerrod Osterkamp (WI)

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