Koontz beats Cronin, two matches to one, to win Special Wrestle-off for 55 kg spot on U23 Greco-Roman team
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Brady Koontz (right) and Liam Cronin battle in their Special Wrestle-off for the USA U23 World Team on Friday. Photo by John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com
FARGO, N.D. – It took three matches, but 2019 Final X runner-up Brady Koontz (Plover, Wis./Ohio Regional Training Center) defeated 2019 U23 World Team Trials champion Liam Cronin (Orange, Calif./Hoosier WC) for the 55 kg spot on the 2019 U.S. U23 World Greco-Roman Team.
The best-of-three series was held alongside the USMC 16U Greco-Roman National finals on the raised mat in the Fargodome on Friday afternoon.
In match one, Koontz came out strong, and Cronin was penalized for a passivity point and placed down in par terre. Koontz scored two gut wrenches for a 5-0 lead. In the second period, Koontz was hit for passivity, giving Cronin one point. Koontz did not allow Cronin to turn him, and no other points were scored, making the final score, 5-1.
In the second bout, it was Cronin who took the offensive early, with a four-point arm spin, followed by a two-point takedown for a 6-0 lead. Koontz closed the lead to 6-2 before the break, when Cronin was hit with a caution and two-point penalty. In the second period, Koontz countered a Cronin throw, adding four points and knotting the score at 6-6. Cronin still held the criteria, and Koontz was unable to score to break the tie.
In the third and deciding match, there was no scoring early on. Cronin was penalized for passivity, giving Koontz a point and the top position in par terre. Koontz was able to turn Cronin for a gut wrench and a 3-0 lead. After the break, Koontz was penalized for passivity to give Cronin a point and a chance on top. Koontz did not allow Cronin to turn him on the mat and there was no more scoring.
“Match two didn’t go my way, and obviously, I was pretty mad, mostly at myself, for getting caught in those arm throws in the beginning. I knew I shouldn’t have been reaching. After the match, I was just focusing on what I had to do. Between the matches, I was thinking about my game plan. I wasn’t planning exactly what I was going to do, but I was planning my attack,” said Koontz.
Koontz requested the wrestle-off against Cronin, meeting all the requirements needed to receive a delay based on the U23 World Team Trials procedures. Koontz will represent the United States at the 2019 U23 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Oct. 28-Nov. 2.
“I worked really hard for this, ever since Final X. My hard work is paying off. I want to thank my dad, even though I don’t always like what he put me through. He’s always helped me. And Dennis Hall, back home in Wisconsin, who has been my club coach since I was nine and probably the best Greco wrestler in the United States right now, when it comes to coaching. Agazi Manukian, rest his soul, used to live in my town and helped my brother and I growing up. We made some much progress working with him. I have got to thank the Ohio RTC. They have always helped my brother and I out when it comes to any tournaments we need to be at. I also want to thank Mike Moore of Wrestling Mindset,” said Koontz.
Koontz competes for Ohio State. He was a 2019 Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion, and has been a member of the 2015 Cadet World Team and the 2018 Junior World Team
Cronin competes for the University of Indiana. Cronin was third in the 2018 U23 World Team Trials in Greco-Roman and was also fourth in the 2017 UWW Junior Freestyle World Team Trials.
On Tuesday this week, 2019 Final X runner-up Bo Nickal (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) defeated U23 World Team Trials champion Jake Woodley (Pittsburgh, Pa./OKRTC) for a spot on the U.S. U23 Freestyle World Team, two matches to none.
U23 SPECIAL WRESTLE-OFF
At Fargo, N.D.
Greco-Roman
55 kg – Brady Koontz (Plover, Wis./Ohio Regional Training Center) dec. Liam Cronin (Orange, Calif./Hoosier WC), two matches to one
Bout one – Koontz dec. Cronin, 5-1
Bout two – Cronin dec. Koontz, 6-6
Bout three – Koontz dec. Cronin, 3-1
FARGO, N.D. – It took three matches, but 2019 Final X runner-up Brady Koontz (Plover, Wis./Ohio Regional Training Center) defeated 2019 U23 World Team Trials champion Liam Cronin (Orange, Calif./Hoosier WC) for the 55 kg spot on the 2019 U.S. U23 World Greco-Roman Team.
The best-of-three series was held alongside the USMC 16U Greco-Roman National finals on the raised mat in the Fargodome on Friday afternoon.
In match one, Koontz came out strong, and Cronin was penalized for a passivity point and placed down in par terre. Koontz scored two gut wrenches for a 5-0 lead. In the second period, Koontz was hit for passivity, giving Cronin one point. Koontz did not allow Cronin to turn him, and no other points were scored, making the final score, 5-1.
In the second bout, it was Cronin who took the offensive early, with a four-point arm spin, followed by a two-point takedown for a 6-0 lead. Koontz closed the lead to 6-2 before the break, when Cronin was hit with a caution and two-point penalty. In the second period, Koontz countered a Cronin throw, adding four points and knotting the score at 6-6. Cronin still held the criteria, and Koontz was unable to score to break the tie.
In the third and deciding match, there was no scoring early on. Cronin was penalized for passivity, giving Koontz a point and the top position in par terre. Koontz was able to turn Cronin for a gut wrench and a 3-0 lead. After the break, Koontz was penalized for passivity to give Cronin a point and a chance on top. Koontz did not allow Cronin to turn him on the mat and there was no more scoring.
“Match two didn’t go my way, and obviously, I was pretty mad, mostly at myself, for getting caught in those arm throws in the beginning. I knew I shouldn’t have been reaching. After the match, I was just focusing on what I had to do. Between the matches, I was thinking about my game plan. I wasn’t planning exactly what I was going to do, but I was planning my attack,” said Koontz.
Koontz requested the wrestle-off against Cronin, meeting all the requirements needed to receive a delay based on the U23 World Team Trials procedures. Koontz will represent the United States at the 2019 U23 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Oct. 28-Nov. 2.
“I worked really hard for this, ever since Final X. My hard work is paying off. I want to thank my dad, even though I don’t always like what he put me through. He’s always helped me. And Dennis Hall, back home in Wisconsin, who has been my club coach since I was nine and probably the best Greco wrestler in the United States right now, when it comes to coaching. Agazi Manukian, rest his soul, used to live in my town and helped my brother and I growing up. We made some much progress working with him. I have got to thank the Ohio RTC. They have always helped my brother and I out when it comes to any tournaments we need to be at. I also want to thank Mike Moore of Wrestling Mindset,” said Koontz.
Koontz competes for Ohio State. He was a 2019 Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion, and has been a member of the 2015 Cadet World Team and the 2018 Junior World Team
Cronin competes for the University of Indiana. Cronin was third in the 2018 U23 World Team Trials in Greco-Roman and was also fourth in the 2017 UWW Junior Freestyle World Team Trials.
On Tuesday this week, 2019 Final X runner-up Bo Nickal (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) defeated U23 World Team Trials champion Jake Woodley (Pittsburgh, Pa./OKRTC) for a spot on the U.S. U23 Freestyle World Team, two matches to none.
U23 SPECIAL WRESTLE-OFF
At Fargo, N.D.
Greco-Roman
55 kg – Brady Koontz (Plover, Wis./Ohio Regional Training Center) dec. Liam Cronin (Orange, Calif./Hoosier WC), two matches to one
Bout one – Koontz dec. Cronin, 5-1
Bout two – Cronin dec. Koontz, 6-6
Bout three – Koontz dec. Cronin, 3-1
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