Bey, Sancho, Fuenffinger, Miller, Schultz and Anderson win Senior National titles in Greco-Roman

FORT WORTH, Texas – Six Greco-Roman wrestlers were crowned champions on Saturday night at the Senior Nationals - Olympic Trials Qualifier in Fort Worth, Texas.

Highlighted as the night’s finale was the 77 kg gold-medal bout, where 2017 Junior World champion and 2018 Senior World Team member Kamal Bey bested 2010 World Team member Jake Fisher.

Bey and Fisher exchanged passivity points but were both unable to convert anything in par terre. With less than a minute left in the match, Bey secured a body lock and threw Fisher for four points to claim a 5-1 victory.

In his post-match interview, Bey dedicated his performance to the late James “J.J.” Johnson, his personal coach who passed away earlier this year.

KAMAL BEY INTERVIEW

Alejandro Sancho picked up his second gold of the season, winning the 67 kg bracket. Fresh off a title-performance at the Bill Farrell International, Sancho held off Calvin Germinaro who has been on a roll the past two days.

Germinaro scored first on a takedown, but in the second period, Sancho got a shot on top in par terre, producing a gut wrench and a four-point lift to take over the lead. Despite a strong effort from Germinaro, Sancho clinched the bout, 7-5.

At 60 kg, Leslie Fuenffinger won his second national title of 2019, defeating National Team member Sam Jones in the finals, 5-1.

While Jones carried a 1-0 lead into the break, Fuenffinger, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, used a pair of second-period takedowns and a step out to get ahead for a 5-1 decision.

In their sixth meeting of the year, Lucas Sheridan of the Army and Daniel Miller of the Marines faced off for the 97 kg crown.

Sheridan held a 3-0 lead at the break, thanks to drawing a passivity point and scoring a gut wrench in par terre. In the second period, Miller got his chance on top, scoring a correct throw and taking a lead on criteria. Miller held on for a 3-3 win and the 97 kg title.

At 130 kg, National Team member and 19-year-old Cohlton Schultz outlasted fellow National Teamer Jacob Mitchell, drawing two passivity points for a 2-0 win.

Schultz is a 2017 Cadet World champion and two-time Junior World medalist, with his most recent coming at the 2019 Junior Worlds, where he won silver.

2015 Pan Am Games champion Jon Anderson was awarded the trophy at 87 kg, winning by injury default over three-time World Team member Patrick Martinez.

Overall, the top-five athletes in each weight class earned bids to the Olympic Team Trials, set for April 4-5 at Penn State.

The tournament continues Sunday at 10 a.m. CT with men’s and women’s action live on FloWrestling.org.

SENIOR NATIONALS – OLYMPIC TRIALS QUALIFIER

at Fort Worth, Texas

60 kg
1st - Leslie Fuenffinger (Army WCAP) dec. Sam Jones (New York AC), 5-1
3rd - Taylor Lamont (Sunkist Kids) dec. Joseph Palmer (Cyclone Regional Training Center), 3-1
5th - Dalton Roberts (New York AC) inj. dft. Ryan Mango (Army WCAP), 0-0 0:00
7th - Lillashawn Coleman (Army WCAP) forfeit Travis Rice (New York AC)

67 kg
1st - Alejandro Sancho (Army WCAP) dec. Calvin Germinaro (Minnesota Storm), 7-5
3rd - Xavier Johnson (Marines) dec. Nolan Baker (New York AC), 13-13
5th - Jamel Johnson (Marines) dec. Michael Hooker (Army WCAP), 2-1
8th - Lenny Merkin (New York AC)
8th - Peyton Omania (New York AC)

77 kg
1st - Kamal Bey (Sunkist Kids) dec. Jake Fisher (Curby 3 Style WC), 5-1
3rd - RaVaughn Perkins (New York AC) tech. fall Peyton Walsh (Marines), 11-0 1:49
5th - Corey Hope (New York AC) dec. Andrew Berreyesa (New York AC), 5-3
7th - Burke Paddock (New York Athletic Club) forfeit Brandon Mueller (Air Force Regional Training Center)

87 kg
1st - Jonathan Anderson (Army WCAP/West Point) df. Patrick Martinez (New York AC), injury default
3rd - Carter Nielsen (Minnesota Storm) tech. fall Richard Carlson (Minnesota Storm), 8-0 0:52
5th - Barrett Stanghill (Minnesota Storm) forfeit Chandler Rogers (Titan Mercury WC)
7th - Marcus Finau (New York AC) dec. Dan Olsen (Unattached), 6-1

97 kg
1st - Daniel Miller (Marines) dec. Lucas Sheridan (Army WCAP), 3-3
3rd - Eric Twohey (Minnesota Storm) dec. Nicholas Boykin (Sunkist Kids WC), 5-1
5th - Khymba Johnson (New York AC) dec. Orry Elor (New York AC), 3-0
7th - Chad Porter (Unattached) dec. Roy Nash (NMU-OTS), 4-3

130 kg
1st - Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) dec. Jacob Mitchell (Army WCAP), 2-0
3rd - Toby Erickson (Army WCAP) forfeit West Cathcart (New York Athletic Club)
5th - Donny Longendyke (Minnesota Storm) pin Thomas Helton (Southern IL RTC), 1:55
7th - Bryson Mcgowan (Unattached) dec. Conor Karwath (Rise Wrestling), 10-6