Oliver named Senior National freestyle Outstanding Wrestler; Bradley, Lee, Massa, Valencia, Zillmer also win titles
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Jordan Oliver gets a single leg in a battle with Joey McKenna at 65 kg. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors.
FORT WORTH, Texas – The men’s freestyle finals at the Senior Nationals was spectacular, a mix of veteran stars and flashy young talents who are ready to big-time in their international careers.
One shone a bit brighter than the others, the Outstanding Wrestler of the freestyle tournament, 65 kg champion Jordan Oliver of the Sunkist Kids.
Oliver scored a dominant 10-0 technical fall over 2018 Senior Nationals champion Joey McKenna of the Titan Mercury WC. McKenna came into the finals on a high after his last-second semifinal win over Yianni Diakomihalis of Titan Mercury WC, the 2019 Senior Nationals champion.
Off the whistle, Oliver blasted a four-point double leg for an early 4-0 lead, then kept his offense flowing. One after another, Oliver scored three more two-point takedowns for a 10-0 technical fall in 2:16.
A two-time NCAA champion at Oklahoma State, Oliver has great momentum going into the 2020 Olympic Trials at Penn State in April. McKenna was an All-American at Ohio State and Stanford in college. Both have been age-group World medalists.
A past Senior Nationals titlist on champions row was Dom Bradley of the Sunkist Kids, who won his third career Senior Nationals title when he edged Anthony Nelson of the Gopher WC RTC, 3-2 at 125 kg.
Bradley jumped out to a 2-0 lead at the break, with a point from Nelson not scoring on the shot clock, followed by a step out point. After Nelson closed it to 2-1, Bradley scored a key point on a stepout to lead 3-1, and Nelson was only able to score one more point.
Bradley was an All-American for Missouri, while Nelson, a Senior Nationals runner-up last year, won two NCAA titles for Minnesota.
The other four winners on Sunday afternoon were first-time Senior National champions, Spencer Lee of the Titan Mercury WC at 57 kg, Logan Massa of the NYAC at 74 kg, Zahid Valencia of the Sunkist Kids at 84 kg and Hayden Zillmer of the Gopher WC RTC at 97 kg.
Lee, a two-time NCAA champion for Iowa and three-time age-group World champion, was spectacular in his first major Senior Nationals event since going to college. He defeated top-seed Nathan Tomasello of the Titan Mercury WC, 8-2.
Lee led 5-0 at the break with two takedowns and a forced stepout. He added another second period takedown, giving up one scoring move to Tomasello for the 8-2 final score.
Lee won a pair of Junior World titles in 2015 and 2016, which were proceeded by a 2014 Cadet World title. Tomasello was an NCAA champion at Ohio State when in college.
Massa, an All-American from Michigan who has been a successful freestyler, came from behind to beat Virginia Tech’s 2019 NCAA champion Mekhi Lewis of the Titan Mercury WC, 6-4. Lewis, a 2018 Junior World champion, led 3-1 on a takedown and a stepout. However, Massa went upper body and hit a slick trip for four points to take a 5-3 lead. A forced stepout gave Massa a 6-3 lead, and Lewis could only force one stepout in the final moments.
In another match-up of talented young stars, Zahid Valencia of the Sunkist Kids stopped Myles Martin of the Titan Mercury WC, 7-5 at 85 kg. After Martin scored the first takedown, Valencia took control with two straight takedowns for a 4-2 lead at the break. In the second period, both athletes scored a takedown and forced a stepout, allowing Valencia to win by the two-point margin.
Valencia is a two-time NCAA champion for Arizona State competing in his Senior year. Martin won an NCAA title for Ohio State.
In one of the more active finals, Hayden Zillmer of the Gopher WC RTC edged Kollin Moore of the Ohio RTC by criteria, 10-10 at 97 kg. Moore led 4-2 at the break, then added a takedown and two ankle laces to stretch his lead to 10-2. Zillmer jumped back into the match with a four-point takedown, closing to 10-6. A Zillmer takedown and a gut wrench in the closing moments of the match tied it up at 10-10, with criteria to Zillmer.
Zillmer won his first Senior Nationals freestyle title. An All-American at North Dakota State, Zillmer has been on the Senior National Team in both freestyle and Greco-Roman, and has been a Final X runner-up.
The top five athletes in each weight class qualified for the U.S Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling at Penn State in April.
Titan Mercury WC won the team title, with Sunkist Kids earning second place honors.
SENIOR NATIONALS
At Fort Worth, Texas, December 22, 2019
Men’s freestyle medal results
57 kg
1st - Spencer Lee (TMWC) dec. Nathan Tomasello (TMWC), 8-2
3rd - Vitali Arujau (Titan Mercury WC) forfeit Nick Suriano (NYC RTC)
5th - Zach Sanders (Gopher WC - RTC) inj. dft. Nahshon Garrett (Titan Mercury WC)
7th - Frank Perrelli (Titan Mercury WC) forfeit Darian Cruz (New York AC)
65 kg
1st - Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Joey McKenna (TMWC), 10-0, 2:16
3rd - Nick Lee (Nittany Lion WC) inj. Yianni Diakomihalis (Titan Mercury WC)
5th - Frank Molinaro (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Bryce Meredith (New York Athletic Club), 7-6
7th - Evan Henderson (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Joshua Saunders (Titan Mercury WC), 10-0 3:25
74 kg
1st - Logan Massa (NYAC) dec. Mekhi Lewis (TMWC), 6-4
3rd -Thomas Gantt (Titan Mercury WC) forfeit Evan Wick (Titan Mercury WC)
5th - Anthony Valencia (Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Nazar Kulchytskyy (Titan Mercury WC), 11-1 2:51
7th - Joey Lavallee (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Alec Pantaleo (Titan Mercury WC), 7-2
86 kg
1st - Zahid Valencia (Sunkist Kids) dec. Myles Martin (TMWC), 7-5
3rd - Alex Dieringer (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Brett Pfarr (Gopher WC - RTC), 10-0 0:54
5th - Samuel Brooks (New York AC) tech. fall Aaron Brooks (Nittany Lion WC), 10-0 2:32
7th - Nathan Jackson (New York AC) inj. dft Nicholas Heflin (Titan Mercury WC)
97 kg
1st - Hayden Zillmer (Gopher WC RTC) dec. Kollin Moore (Ohio RTC), 10-10
3rd - Ty Walz (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Kyven Gadson (Sunkist Kids WC), 6-0
5th - Jacob Kasper (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Timmy Mccall (Titan Mercury WC), 8-4
7th - Kevin Beazley (New York Athletic Club) pin Derek White (Titan Mercury WC), 4-0 1:27
125 kg
1st – Dom Bradley (Sunkist Kids) dec. Anthony Nelson (Gopher WC RTC), 3-2
3rd - Daniel Kerkvliet (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Nick Nevills (Nittany Lion WC), 3-0
5th - Garrett Ryan (Sunkist Kids) inj dft Anthony Cassar (Nittany Lion WC)
7th - Tanner Hall (Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Zach Elam (Missouri RTC), 19-8 5:00
Team Standings – 1. Titan Mercury; 2. Sunkist Kids
FORT WORTH, Texas – The men’s freestyle finals at the Senior Nationals was spectacular, a mix of veteran stars and flashy young talents who are ready to big-time in their international careers.
One shone a bit brighter than the others, the Outstanding Wrestler of the freestyle tournament, 65 kg champion Jordan Oliver of the Sunkist Kids.
Oliver scored a dominant 10-0 technical fall over 2018 Senior Nationals champion Joey McKenna of the Titan Mercury WC. McKenna came into the finals on a high after his last-second semifinal win over Yianni Diakomihalis of Titan Mercury WC, the 2019 Senior Nationals champion.
Off the whistle, Oliver blasted a four-point double leg for an early 4-0 lead, then kept his offense flowing. One after another, Oliver scored three more two-point takedowns for a 10-0 technical fall in 2:16.
A two-time NCAA champion at Oklahoma State, Oliver has great momentum going into the 2020 Olympic Trials at Penn State in April. McKenna was an All-American at Ohio State and Stanford in college. Both have been age-group World medalists.
A past Senior Nationals titlist on champions row was Dom Bradley of the Sunkist Kids, who won his third career Senior Nationals title when he edged Anthony Nelson of the Gopher WC RTC, 3-2 at 125 kg.
Bradley jumped out to a 2-0 lead at the break, with a point from Nelson not scoring on the shot clock, followed by a step out point. After Nelson closed it to 2-1, Bradley scored a key point on a stepout to lead 3-1, and Nelson was only able to score one more point.
Bradley was an All-American for Missouri, while Nelson, a Senior Nationals runner-up last year, won two NCAA titles for Minnesota.
The other four winners on Sunday afternoon were first-time Senior National champions, Spencer Lee of the Titan Mercury WC at 57 kg, Logan Massa of the NYAC at 74 kg, Zahid Valencia of the Sunkist Kids at 84 kg and Hayden Zillmer of the Gopher WC RTC at 97 kg.
Lee, a two-time NCAA champion for Iowa and three-time age-group World champion, was spectacular in his first major Senior Nationals event since going to college. He defeated top-seed Nathan Tomasello of the Titan Mercury WC, 8-2.
Lee led 5-0 at the break with two takedowns and a forced stepout. He added another second period takedown, giving up one scoring move to Tomasello for the 8-2 final score.
Lee won a pair of Junior World titles in 2015 and 2016, which were proceeded by a 2014 Cadet World title. Tomasello was an NCAA champion at Ohio State when in college.
Massa, an All-American from Michigan who has been a successful freestyler, came from behind to beat Virginia Tech’s 2019 NCAA champion Mekhi Lewis of the Titan Mercury WC, 6-4. Lewis, a 2018 Junior World champion, led 3-1 on a takedown and a stepout. However, Massa went upper body and hit a slick trip for four points to take a 5-3 lead. A forced stepout gave Massa a 6-3 lead, and Lewis could only force one stepout in the final moments.
In another match-up of talented young stars, Zahid Valencia of the Sunkist Kids stopped Myles Martin of the Titan Mercury WC, 7-5 at 85 kg. After Martin scored the first takedown, Valencia took control with two straight takedowns for a 4-2 lead at the break. In the second period, both athletes scored a takedown and forced a stepout, allowing Valencia to win by the two-point margin.
Valencia is a two-time NCAA champion for Arizona State competing in his Senior year. Martin won an NCAA title for Ohio State.
In one of the more active finals, Hayden Zillmer of the Gopher WC RTC edged Kollin Moore of the Ohio RTC by criteria, 10-10 at 97 kg. Moore led 4-2 at the break, then added a takedown and two ankle laces to stretch his lead to 10-2. Zillmer jumped back into the match with a four-point takedown, closing to 10-6. A Zillmer takedown and a gut wrench in the closing moments of the match tied it up at 10-10, with criteria to Zillmer.
Zillmer won his first Senior Nationals freestyle title. An All-American at North Dakota State, Zillmer has been on the Senior National Team in both freestyle and Greco-Roman, and has been a Final X runner-up.
The top five athletes in each weight class qualified for the U.S Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling at Penn State in April.
Titan Mercury WC won the team title, with Sunkist Kids earning second place honors.
SENIOR NATIONALS
At Fort Worth, Texas, December 22, 2019
Men’s freestyle medal results
57 kg
1st - Spencer Lee (TMWC) dec. Nathan Tomasello (TMWC), 8-2
3rd - Vitali Arujau (Titan Mercury WC) forfeit Nick Suriano (NYC RTC)
5th - Zach Sanders (Gopher WC - RTC) inj. dft. Nahshon Garrett (Titan Mercury WC)
7th - Frank Perrelli (Titan Mercury WC) forfeit Darian Cruz (New York AC)
65 kg
1st - Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Joey McKenna (TMWC), 10-0, 2:16
3rd - Nick Lee (Nittany Lion WC) inj. Yianni Diakomihalis (Titan Mercury WC)
5th - Frank Molinaro (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Bryce Meredith (New York Athletic Club), 7-6
7th - Evan Henderson (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Joshua Saunders (Titan Mercury WC), 10-0 3:25
74 kg
1st - Logan Massa (NYAC) dec. Mekhi Lewis (TMWC), 6-4
3rd -Thomas Gantt (Titan Mercury WC) forfeit Evan Wick (Titan Mercury WC)
5th - Anthony Valencia (Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Nazar Kulchytskyy (Titan Mercury WC), 11-1 2:51
7th - Joey Lavallee (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Alec Pantaleo (Titan Mercury WC), 7-2
86 kg
1st - Zahid Valencia (Sunkist Kids) dec. Myles Martin (TMWC), 7-5
3rd - Alex Dieringer (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Brett Pfarr (Gopher WC - RTC), 10-0 0:54
5th - Samuel Brooks (New York AC) tech. fall Aaron Brooks (Nittany Lion WC), 10-0 2:32
7th - Nathan Jackson (New York AC) inj. dft Nicholas Heflin (Titan Mercury WC)
97 kg
1st - Hayden Zillmer (Gopher WC RTC) dec. Kollin Moore (Ohio RTC), 10-10
3rd - Ty Walz (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Kyven Gadson (Sunkist Kids WC), 6-0
5th - Jacob Kasper (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Timmy Mccall (Titan Mercury WC), 8-4
7th - Kevin Beazley (New York Athletic Club) pin Derek White (Titan Mercury WC), 4-0 1:27
125 kg
1st – Dom Bradley (Sunkist Kids) dec. Anthony Nelson (Gopher WC RTC), 3-2
3rd - Daniel Kerkvliet (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Nick Nevills (Nittany Lion WC), 3-0
5th - Garrett Ryan (Sunkist Kids) inj dft Anthony Cassar (Nittany Lion WC)
7th - Tanner Hall (Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Zach Elam (Missouri RTC), 19-8 5:00
Team Standings – 1. Titan Mercury; 2. Sunkist Kids
