Freestyle WTT Challenge Tournament previews at 57 kg men and 50 kg women
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Competition portraits of Tony Ramos from 2018 U.S. Open and Victoria Anthony from 2017 World Championships by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors
For 10 straight days, TheMat.com will post two previews each day for the Freestyle World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, set for Rochester, Minn., May 18-20. One of the previews will be in men’s freestyle, with the other in women’s freestyle.
This is a closed tournament, in which the athletes in the field must have qualified, based upon approved Team Selection Procedures in each style. The winners of each of the 20 weight classes advance to one of the three Final X series events in June.
In weight classes in which there was a 2017 World medalist, the 2018 U.S. Open champion advances directly to the best-of-three Championships Series in Rochester. In the weight classes without a 2017 World medalist, the U.S. Open champion has advanced directly to Final X and nobody sits out to the finals series in Rochester.
We start on Monday, May 8, with previews in men’s freestyle at 57 kg and women’s freestyle at 50 kg.
MEN’S FREESTYLE 57 KG
As a weight class with a returning World medalist, U.S. Open champion Tony Ramos advances directly to the Best-of-Three Championship Series in Rochester, and waits for the winner of the morning Challenge Tournament to emerge. Ramos is a two-time World Team member, who was considering a move to 61 kg, but came down to 57 kg for the Open and had an impressive effort.
Ramos stopped 2017 Junior World champion Daton Fix by criteria, 2-2, in the U.S. Open finals. In his first big test on the Senior level, Fix proved to be more than ready. He had two technical falls and a win by passivity on the road to the finals. Fix has great freestyle technique, an ability to score points in bunches and is very confident in his abilities.
2017 NCAA champion Spencer Lee of Iowa did not enter the open, but many believe he is also ready for prime time at the Trials if he enters. A two-time Junior World champion and one-time Cadet World champion, Lee is also a freestyle specialist. He had not yet tested the Senior field yet, but if he shows up in Rochester, many think he will be just as ready as Fix was at this year’s Open.
Placing third and fourth at the U.S. Open were experienced freestylers Zach Sanders and Frank Perrelli. Sanders lost to Ramos in Vegas, and wrestled back to beat Perrelli, 4-3 for the bronze. Perrelli lost a one-point match in the second round to Skyler Petry at Open, who finished eighth and did not qualify. Perrelli won five straight consolation bouts in Vegas before losing the close one to Sanders. Both of these guys have lots of experience on international tours and will be capable of moving up with a strong effort at the Trials.
The other qualifiers from the U.S. Open are not as nearly experienced. David Terao, who wrestled at American, placed fifth, getting a technical fall in the fifth-place bout over Brent Fleetwood, the North Dakota State athlete who wrestled three years at Central Michigan. Qualifying for Rochester by taking seventh was former Oklahoma State star Edward Klimara, who competed in France and Cuba earlier this season.
Two other wrestlers earned the right to compete in Rochester with placements at other events. Tim Lambert, who wrestled at Nebraska and now coaches there, won a silver medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial in November. Former Illinois star Zane Richards won a bronze at the Bill Farrell International in late March. Both fell short at the Open, with Lambert going 1-2 (with losses to Perrelli and Terao, both qualifiers) and Richards was 0-2 (losing to Austin Assad and Josh Rodriguez, both who did not qualify). Based on their Vegas efforts, both would be considered longshots to advance to Final X.
The winner of this weight advances to Final X in Lincoln, Neb. on June 9, to face 2017 World silver medalist Thomas Gilman of the Titan Mercury WC for the World Team spot.
Men’s Freestyle 57 kg
Directly to best-of-three series - 2018 U.S. Open champion – Tony Ramos, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Sunkist Kids)
Other Challenge Tournament entries
Nov. 17 Dave Schultz Memorial silver medalist – Tim Lambert, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)
2018 NCAA champion – Spencer Lee, Murrysville, Pa. (Iowa)
2018 Bill Farrell Memorial bronze medalist – Zane Richards, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC)
2018 U.S. Open runner-up – Daton Fix, Sand Springs, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC)
2018 U.S. Open third place – Zach Sanders, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
2018 U.S. Open fourth place – Frank Perrelli, Charlottesville, Va. (Titan Mercury WC)
2018 U.S. Open fifth place – David Terao, Washington, D.C. (DCAC)
2018 U.S. Open sixth place – Brent Fleetwood, Smyrna, Del. (Bison WC)
2018 U.S. Open seventh place - Edward Klimara, Joliet, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC)
Note: Winner in Rochester advances to Final X in Lincoln on June 9, to face World medalist Thomas Gilman (Titan Mercury)
WOMEN’S FREESTYLE 50 KG
As a weight class without a World medalist, U.S. Open champion Whitney Conder advanced directly to Final X, and nobody gets to sit out in Rochester. Conder, a three-time World Team member who has dropped in weight, won the U.S. Open finals showdown with two-time World Team member Victoria Anthony. Conder’s 7-3 win over Anthony was hard to predict, as both have had tremendous success but are often at different weights.
Anthony becomes a strong favorite in Rochester, as she has extensive success over the rest of the expected field. A two-time Junior World champion and multiple medalist at major Senior events, Anthony has ruled this roost in recent seasons domestically.
Taking third at the U.S. Open, after already qualifying with a bronze at November’s Dave Schultz Memorial, is three-time Junior World medalist Erin Golston. She gave Anthony a tough bout in the Open semifinals, where she lost 5-2. To beat Anthony, Golston will need to take it up another notch.
Amy Fearnside, a National Team member at 53 kg last year, has dropped down and took fourth at the U.S. Open, forfeiting by injury default to regular workout partner Golston in the bronze-medal match. Fearnside also had a very close loss in the semifinals in Vegas, falling to Conder, 6-5. A past University World medalist, Fearnside has looked strong on international tours at her new weight class and is capable of a strong run in Rochester.
Another experienced talent is WCWA national champion Cody Pfau of Emmanuel, who has made multiple age-group World teams and won three WCWA college titles. Pfau went up to 53 kg for the U.S. Open and took third, losing only to national champion Sarah Hildebrandt. Pfau made the 2018 U23 World Team down at 50 kg, so she is expected to drop in Rochester. She has had a long rivalry with Golston over the years, with both getting victories at times. Like Golston, Pfau still has to find a way to get past Anthony, something she has yet to do.
Placing fifth at the U.S. Open was Alesha Zappitella, who is a full-time MMA fighter who still shows up for major women’s wrestling events and does an excellent job. She was a Junior National folkstyle champion from Ohio in high school. Zappitella, who also qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials, pinned talented college wrestler Sarah Allen in the fifth-place match at the Open to punch her ticket to Rochester.
One qualifier who is not expected to compete is WCWA 101-pound national champion Regina Doi of King. She and her twin sister Marina, who she beat by forfeit in the WCWA finals, are multiple age-group World medalists for the USA. With the weight class now up to 110 pounds, the Doi sisters are considerably smaller than many at this weight, and they reportedly are done wrestling. However, Regina is qualified for Rochester and if she enters, she would be capable of winning bouts.
One other entry could emerge from the UWW Junior World Team Trials at the Women's Nationals in Irving, Texas this weekend.
The winner in Rochester books a ticket to Final X at Lehigh on June 23, where she gets a shot at Conder, with a World Team spot up for grabs.
Women’s Freestyle 50 kg
Challenge Tournament entries
2017 Senior World Team member – Victoria Anthony, Tempe, Ariz., (Sunkist Kids)
Nov. 17 Dave Schultz Memorial bronze medalist – Erin Golston, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
2018 WCWA champion at 101 – Regina Doi, Kingsburg, Calif. (King Univ).
2018 WCWA champion at 109 – Cody Pfau, Brush, Colo., (Emmanuel)
2018 U.S. Open fourth place – Amy Fearnside Colorado Springs, Colo, (Titan Mercury WC)
2018 U.S. Open fifth place – Alesha Zappitella, Conneaut, Ohio (Scorpion Fighting System)
2018 UWW Junior World Team member -
Note: Winner in Rochester advances to Final X at Lehigh on June 23, to face U.S. Open champ Whitney Conder (U.S. Army WCAP)
For 10 straight days, TheMat.com will post two previews each day for the Freestyle World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, set for Rochester, Minn., May 18-20. One of the previews will be in men’s freestyle, with the other in women’s freestyle.
This is a closed tournament, in which the athletes in the field must have qualified, based upon approved Team Selection Procedures in each style. The winners of each of the 20 weight classes advance to one of the three Final X series events in June.
In weight classes in which there was a 2017 World medalist, the 2018 U.S. Open champion advances directly to the best-of-three Championships Series in Rochester. In the weight classes without a 2017 World medalist, the U.S. Open champion has advanced directly to Final X and nobody sits out to the finals series in Rochester.
We start on Monday, May 8, with previews in men’s freestyle at 57 kg and women’s freestyle at 50 kg.
MEN’S FREESTYLE 57 KG
As a weight class with a returning World medalist, U.S. Open champion Tony Ramos advances directly to the Best-of-Three Championship Series in Rochester, and waits for the winner of the morning Challenge Tournament to emerge. Ramos is a two-time World Team member, who was considering a move to 61 kg, but came down to 57 kg for the Open and had an impressive effort.
Ramos stopped 2017 Junior World champion Daton Fix by criteria, 2-2, in the U.S. Open finals. In his first big test on the Senior level, Fix proved to be more than ready. He had two technical falls and a win by passivity on the road to the finals. Fix has great freestyle technique, an ability to score points in bunches and is very confident in his abilities.
2017 NCAA champion Spencer Lee of Iowa did not enter the open, but many believe he is also ready for prime time at the Trials if he enters. A two-time Junior World champion and one-time Cadet World champion, Lee is also a freestyle specialist. He had not yet tested the Senior field yet, but if he shows up in Rochester, many think he will be just as ready as Fix was at this year’s Open.
Placing third and fourth at the U.S. Open were experienced freestylers Zach Sanders and Frank Perrelli. Sanders lost to Ramos in Vegas, and wrestled back to beat Perrelli, 4-3 for the bronze. Perrelli lost a one-point match in the second round to Skyler Petry at Open, who finished eighth and did not qualify. Perrelli won five straight consolation bouts in Vegas before losing the close one to Sanders. Both of these guys have lots of experience on international tours and will be capable of moving up with a strong effort at the Trials.
The other qualifiers from the U.S. Open are not as nearly experienced. David Terao, who wrestled at American, placed fifth, getting a technical fall in the fifth-place bout over Brent Fleetwood, the North Dakota State athlete who wrestled three years at Central Michigan. Qualifying for Rochester by taking seventh was former Oklahoma State star Edward Klimara, who competed in France and Cuba earlier this season.
Two other wrestlers earned the right to compete in Rochester with placements at other events. Tim Lambert, who wrestled at Nebraska and now coaches there, won a silver medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial in November. Former Illinois star Zane Richards won a bronze at the Bill Farrell International in late March. Both fell short at the Open, with Lambert going 1-2 (with losses to Perrelli and Terao, both qualifiers) and Richards was 0-2 (losing to Austin Assad and Josh Rodriguez, both who did not qualify). Based on their Vegas efforts, both would be considered longshots to advance to Final X.
The winner of this weight advances to Final X in Lincoln, Neb. on June 9, to face 2017 World silver medalist Thomas Gilman of the Titan Mercury WC for the World Team spot.
Men’s Freestyle 57 kg
Directly to best-of-three series - 2018 U.S. Open champion – Tony Ramos, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Sunkist Kids)
Other Challenge Tournament entries
Nov. 17 Dave Schultz Memorial silver medalist – Tim Lambert, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)
2018 NCAA champion – Spencer Lee, Murrysville, Pa. (Iowa)
2018 Bill Farrell Memorial bronze medalist – Zane Richards, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC)
2018 U.S. Open runner-up – Daton Fix, Sand Springs, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC)
2018 U.S. Open third place – Zach Sanders, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
2018 U.S. Open fourth place – Frank Perrelli, Charlottesville, Va. (Titan Mercury WC)
2018 U.S. Open fifth place – David Terao, Washington, D.C. (DCAC)
2018 U.S. Open sixth place – Brent Fleetwood, Smyrna, Del. (Bison WC)
2018 U.S. Open seventh place - Edward Klimara, Joliet, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC)
Note: Winner in Rochester advances to Final X in Lincoln on June 9, to face World medalist Thomas Gilman (Titan Mercury)
WOMEN’S FREESTYLE 50 KG
As a weight class without a World medalist, U.S. Open champion Whitney Conder advanced directly to Final X, and nobody gets to sit out in Rochester. Conder, a three-time World Team member who has dropped in weight, won the U.S. Open finals showdown with two-time World Team member Victoria Anthony. Conder’s 7-3 win over Anthony was hard to predict, as both have had tremendous success but are often at different weights.
Anthony becomes a strong favorite in Rochester, as she has extensive success over the rest of the expected field. A two-time Junior World champion and multiple medalist at major Senior events, Anthony has ruled this roost in recent seasons domestically.
Taking third at the U.S. Open, after already qualifying with a bronze at November’s Dave Schultz Memorial, is three-time Junior World medalist Erin Golston. She gave Anthony a tough bout in the Open semifinals, where she lost 5-2. To beat Anthony, Golston will need to take it up another notch.
Amy Fearnside, a National Team member at 53 kg last year, has dropped down and took fourth at the U.S. Open, forfeiting by injury default to regular workout partner Golston in the bronze-medal match. Fearnside also had a very close loss in the semifinals in Vegas, falling to Conder, 6-5. A past University World medalist, Fearnside has looked strong on international tours at her new weight class and is capable of a strong run in Rochester.
Another experienced talent is WCWA national champion Cody Pfau of Emmanuel, who has made multiple age-group World teams and won three WCWA college titles. Pfau went up to 53 kg for the U.S. Open and took third, losing only to national champion Sarah Hildebrandt. Pfau made the 2018 U23 World Team down at 50 kg, so she is expected to drop in Rochester. She has had a long rivalry with Golston over the years, with both getting victories at times. Like Golston, Pfau still has to find a way to get past Anthony, something she has yet to do.
Placing fifth at the U.S. Open was Alesha Zappitella, who is a full-time MMA fighter who still shows up for major women’s wrestling events and does an excellent job. She was a Junior National folkstyle champion from Ohio in high school. Zappitella, who also qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials, pinned talented college wrestler Sarah Allen in the fifth-place match at the Open to punch her ticket to Rochester.
One qualifier who is not expected to compete is WCWA 101-pound national champion Regina Doi of King. She and her twin sister Marina, who she beat by forfeit in the WCWA finals, are multiple age-group World medalists for the USA. With the weight class now up to 110 pounds, the Doi sisters are considerably smaller than many at this weight, and they reportedly are done wrestling. However, Regina is qualified for Rochester and if she enters, she would be capable of winning bouts.
One other entry could emerge from the UWW Junior World Team Trials at the Women's Nationals in Irving, Texas this weekend.
The winner in Rochester books a ticket to Final X at Lehigh on June 23, where she gets a shot at Conder, with a World Team spot up for grabs.
Women’s Freestyle 50 kg
Challenge Tournament entries
2017 Senior World Team member – Victoria Anthony, Tempe, Ariz., (Sunkist Kids)
Nov. 17 Dave Schultz Memorial bronze medalist – Erin Golston, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
2018 WCWA champion at 101 – Regina Doi, Kingsburg, Calif. (King Univ).
2018 WCWA champion at 109 – Cody Pfau, Brush, Colo., (Emmanuel)
2018 U.S. Open fourth place – Amy Fearnside Colorado Springs, Colo, (Titan Mercury WC)
2018 U.S. Open fifth place – Alesha Zappitella, Conneaut, Ohio (Scorpion Fighting System)
2018 UWW Junior World Team member -
Note: Winner in Rochester advances to Final X at Lehigh on June 23, to face U.S. Open champ Whitney Conder (U.S. Army WCAP)
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