LaMont, Grimes, Porter, Caffey among big winners in U23 Greco-Roman Nationals finals
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Zachary Grimes and Calvin Germinaro are airborne during their wild 72 kg finals. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors.
OMAHA, Neb. – The first finals at USA Wrestling’s U23 Nationals and UWW Junior Nationals was in the U23 Greco-Roman division, where 10 champions were crowned in Friday’s first session.
One of the highlight battles of the finals was in the round robin finals at 60 kg, where multiple U.S. age group World team members Taylor LaMont of the Sunkist Kids battled Randon Miranda of the New York AC at 60 kg.
Miranda was hit for passivity to trail 1-0, but when he was put down, he scored a reversal to tie it at 1-1, which was the score at the break. Early in the second period, during a scramble, LaMont scored a two-point hip toss tilt to lead 3-1. The score held, as Miranda was unable to crack LaMont’s defense.
NMU-OTS athlete Miranda was the defending U23 champion, having beaten LaMont in the 2019 finals series. LaMont, who attends Utah Valley University, has competed on U.S. age-group World teams on the Cadet, Junior and U23 levels.
One of the big surprises of the finals came at 72 kg, where Zachary Grimes scored a comeback pin over 2020 Senior Nationals runner-up Calvin Germinaro. Early on, Germinaro opened a 4-0 lead. It appeared he scored again, but a challenge gave Grimes a stepout point to make it 4-1. It was all Grimes from there. After a four-point throw and a gut wrench, Grimes scored a takedown and was able to secure the pin.
In a big battle at 77 kg, Jesse Porter of the New York AC repeated as U23 National champion, defeating past Junior World Team member Tyler Dow of the Wisconsin RTC in an 11-1 technical fall. Dow scored first on a passive call against Porter to lead 1-0. Later in the first period, Porter hit a four-point headlock to lead 4-1 which was the score at the break. In the second period, Porter scored a takedown, then a two-point lift and throw to lead 8-1. He closed it out with a takedown on the edge. When Dow’s corner challenged, it was refused, giving an extra point to Porter for the 11-1 win. Porter was named Outstanding Wrestler in the tournament.
Cameron Caffey, a Michigan State wrestler competing unattached, who scored a 10-2 finals win over Guy Patron of the Dubuque WC at 87 kg. Caffey fell behind 2-0, but rallied with 10 straight points for the win. It started with a step over from the bottom for two points, followed by a leg foul by Patron. After a stepout point, Caffey added a takedown on a shrug, then a gut wrench to close it down. Caffey was a 2019 UWW Junior Nationals champion, and competed in the 2019 UWW Junior Worlds.
Another Michigan State wrestler was also a champion, Peyton Omania at 67 kg, winning his second straight U23 National crown. He won in the finals by injury default over Benji Peak of the Sunkist Kids. Omania won a 2019 Junior World bronze medal in Greco-Roman.
At 55 kg, Mason Hartshorn of CYC, a member of the 2019 UWW Junior World Team, won by technical fall over Brendon Garcia of the Wyoming Wrestling RTC with a first-period technical fall, 9-0. Garcia was hit for passivity and when he was put down, Hartshorn hit four straight gut wrenches to close the match.
Dylan Gregorson of the Brunson UVRTC won a quick finals bout at 63 kg, scoring a 9-0 technical fall over Erik Spence in the first period. Gregorson scored a takedown, then nailed a five-point throw then finished it off with a gut wrench.
At 82 kg, unattached Tommy Brackett won the key positions to secure a 4-0 victory over Jake Hendricks of the Pennsylvania RTC, 4-0.
At 97 kg, George Hooker defeated Michael Loyola in the finals, 6-2, with a big four-point throw in the first period the deciding move.
The heavyweight title went to 2019 UWW Junior Nationals Trials runner-up, Lee Herrington, who competes for Nebraska-Kearney. Herrington scored a first-period pin over Zach Shrader.
U23 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Omaha, Neb., November 13
Greco-Roman results
55 kg –
1st - Mason Carzino-Hartshorn (Community Youth Center - Concord) tech. fall Brendon Garcia (Wyoming Wrestling Reg Training Ctr), 9-0, 1:46
3rd - Samuel Braswell IV (Cougar Wrestling Club) tech. fall Gabriel Gray (Texas Panhandle Wrestling Club), 12-1 5:50
5th - Michael Spangler (Beaver Wrestling Club) tech. fall Aria Mazroy (San Francisco Wrestling Club), 10-2 3:28
7th - Andrew Willi (Bobcat WC)
60 kg
1st - Taylor Lamont (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Randon Miranda (New York Athletic Club), 3-1
3rd - Corbin Nirschl (MWC Wrestling Academy)
4th - Thomas Hicks (unattached)
5th - Cordney Chairs (unattached)
63 kg
1st - Dylan Gregerson (Brunson UVRTC) tech. fall Erik Spence (Battle Born Wrestling Club), 9-0, 0:59
3rd - Rylee Molitor (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club) tech fall Jackson Renicker (Unattached), 8-0 0:36
5th - Clay Carlson (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club) tech. fall Jarod Maes (X-Factor Elite Wrestling), 8-0 2:40
7th - Matt Santos MI (Unattached) forfeit Nicholas Segura TX (Unattached),
67 kg –
1st - Peyton Omania (Unattached) won by forfeit over Benjamin Peak (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
3rd - Lenny Merkin (NYAC/NJRTC) tech fall Nolan Baker (New York Athletic Club), 11-0 1:58
5th - Jasiah Williams (CSU Pueblo Wrestling RTC) pin Thomas Lisher AR (Arkansas Regional Training Center), 1:06
7th - Jake Drexler (CrassTrained: Weigh In Club) dec. Duncan Nelson (Unattached), 7-1
72 kg
1st - Zachary Grimes (Unattached) pin Calvin Germinaro (Unattached), 4:57
3rd - Dracius Mckee (Spartan Mat Club) tech. fall Riley Briggs (Community Youth Center - Concord Campus), 14-6 5:55
5th - Seth Vosters (Wisconsin Regional Training Center) dec. Zachary Tolver (Interior Grappling Academy), 8-4
7th - Ryan Ojeda (Unattached) pin Michael Petersen (Unattached), 4:39
77 kg
1st - Jesse Porter (New York Athletic Club) tech. fall Tyler Dow (Wisconsin Regional Training Center), 11-1, 3:48
3rd - Eddie Smith (Dubuque Wrestling Club) tech. fall Augustine Garcia (Unattached), 8-0 1:59
5th - Fritz Schierl (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) forfeit Ryan Epps (Unattached)
7th - Jack Ervien, Jr. (unattached)
82 kg
1st - Tommy Brackett (Unattached) dec. Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania RTC), 4-0
3rd - Gabriel Rangel (Viking Wrestling Club (IA)) pin Kacper Piskorz IL (Unattached), 0:25
5th - DM Hallett (Unattached) tech. fall William Smith (Unattached), 10-1 0:58
87 kg
1st - Cameron Caffey (Unattached) tech. fall Guy Patron (Dubuque Wrestling Club), 10-2, 2:52
3rd - George Sikes (New York Athletic Club) dec. Bear Hughes (Unattached), 3-2
5th - Joseph Williams(Shenandoah RTC) dec Chase Mccleish (Team Valley Wrestling Club), 5-1
7th - Chris Droege (Compound Wrestling- Great Lakes Regional Training Center) tech. fall Brodey Beckman (Hill Country Wrestling Club), 11-0 1:42
97 kg
1st- George Hooker (Unattached) dec. Michael Loyola (Unattached), 6-2
3rd - Timothy Eubanks (Unattached) pin Brady Vogel IA (Dubuque Wrestling Club), 0:57
5th - Dylan Buschow (MWC Wrestling Academy) forfeit Rylan Bonds TX (Spartan Mat Club)
130 kg –
1st - Lee Herrington (Nebraska Golden Eagles Wrestling Club) pin Zach Schrader (Unattached), 1:18
3rd - Trent Ragland (Cougar Wrestling Club) dec. Octavio Alejandre WA (Unattached), 5-2
5th - Cameron Dubose (Unattached) tech. fall Luke Zaiser MN (Unattached), 10-0 5:05
Semifinals
55 kg
Brendon Garcia (Wyoming Wrestling Reg Training Ctr) tech. fall Michael Spangler (Beaver Wrestling Club), 12-4 4:29
Mason Carzino-Hartshorn (Community Youth Center - Concord) tech fall Aria Mazroy (San Francisco Wrestling Club), 8-0 1:02
63 kg
Dylan Gregerson (Brunson UVRTC) tech. fall Jarod Maes (X-Factor Elite Wrestling), 10-0 2:27
Erik Spence (Battle Born Wrestling Club) tech. fall Rylee Molitor (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club), 8-0 2:03
67 kg
Benjamin Peak (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Lenny Merkin (NYAC/NJRTC), 8-5
Peyton Omania (Unattached) tech. fall Nolan Baker (New York Athletic Club), 9-1 3:36
72 kg
Zachary Grimes (Unattached) dec. Riley Briggs (Community Youth Center - Concord Campus), 10-3
Calvin Germinaro (Unattached) dec. Zachary Tolver (Interior Grappling Academy), 13-10
77 kg
Tyler Dow (Wisconsin Regional Training Center) pin Ryan Epps (Unattached), 2:12
Jesse Porter (New York Athletic Club) tech. fall Fritz Schierl (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)), 11-0 3:25
82 kg
Tommy Brackett (Unattached) pin Kacper Piskorz (Unattached), 0:48
Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania RTC) tech. fall William Smith VA (Unattached), 8-0 0:35
87 kg
Guy Patron (Dubuque Wrestling Club) tech. fall Bear Hughes (Unattached), 9-0 2:02
Cameron Caffey (Unattached) tech. fall Chase Mccleish (Team Valley Wrestling Club), 13-2 4:08
97 kg
Michael Loyola (Unattached) tech. fall Brady Vogel (Dubuque Wrestling Club), 9-0 1:25
George Hooker (Unattached) pin Timothy Eubanks (Unattached), 0:40
130 kg
Zach Schrader (Unattached) tech fall Cameron Dubose (Unattached), 11-1 3:59
Lee Herrington (Nebraska Golden Eagles Wrestling Club) tech. fall Luke Zaiser(Unattached), 9-0 0:22
OMAHA, Neb. – The first finals at USA Wrestling’s U23 Nationals and UWW Junior Nationals was in the U23 Greco-Roman division, where 10 champions were crowned in Friday’s first session.
One of the highlight battles of the finals was in the round robin finals at 60 kg, where multiple U.S. age group World team members Taylor LaMont of the Sunkist Kids battled Randon Miranda of the New York AC at 60 kg.
Miranda was hit for passivity to trail 1-0, but when he was put down, he scored a reversal to tie it at 1-1, which was the score at the break. Early in the second period, during a scramble, LaMont scored a two-point hip toss tilt to lead 3-1. The score held, as Miranda was unable to crack LaMont’s defense.
NMU-OTS athlete Miranda was the defending U23 champion, having beaten LaMont in the 2019 finals series. LaMont, who attends Utah Valley University, has competed on U.S. age-group World teams on the Cadet, Junior and U23 levels.
One of the big surprises of the finals came at 72 kg, where Zachary Grimes scored a comeback pin over 2020 Senior Nationals runner-up Calvin Germinaro. Early on, Germinaro opened a 4-0 lead. It appeared he scored again, but a challenge gave Grimes a stepout point to make it 4-1. It was all Grimes from there. After a four-point throw and a gut wrench, Grimes scored a takedown and was able to secure the pin.
In a big battle at 77 kg, Jesse Porter of the New York AC repeated as U23 National champion, defeating past Junior World Team member Tyler Dow of the Wisconsin RTC in an 11-1 technical fall. Dow scored first on a passive call against Porter to lead 1-0. Later in the first period, Porter hit a four-point headlock to lead 4-1 which was the score at the break. In the second period, Porter scored a takedown, then a two-point lift and throw to lead 8-1. He closed it out with a takedown on the edge. When Dow’s corner challenged, it was refused, giving an extra point to Porter for the 11-1 win. Porter was named Outstanding Wrestler in the tournament.
Cameron Caffey, a Michigan State wrestler competing unattached, who scored a 10-2 finals win over Guy Patron of the Dubuque WC at 87 kg. Caffey fell behind 2-0, but rallied with 10 straight points for the win. It started with a step over from the bottom for two points, followed by a leg foul by Patron. After a stepout point, Caffey added a takedown on a shrug, then a gut wrench to close it down. Caffey was a 2019 UWW Junior Nationals champion, and competed in the 2019 UWW Junior Worlds.
Another Michigan State wrestler was also a champion, Peyton Omania at 67 kg, winning his second straight U23 National crown. He won in the finals by injury default over Benji Peak of the Sunkist Kids. Omania won a 2019 Junior World bronze medal in Greco-Roman.
At 55 kg, Mason Hartshorn of CYC, a member of the 2019 UWW Junior World Team, won by technical fall over Brendon Garcia of the Wyoming Wrestling RTC with a first-period technical fall, 9-0. Garcia was hit for passivity and when he was put down, Hartshorn hit four straight gut wrenches to close the match.
Dylan Gregorson of the Brunson UVRTC won a quick finals bout at 63 kg, scoring a 9-0 technical fall over Erik Spence in the first period. Gregorson scored a takedown, then nailed a five-point throw then finished it off with a gut wrench.
At 82 kg, unattached Tommy Brackett won the key positions to secure a 4-0 victory over Jake Hendricks of the Pennsylvania RTC, 4-0.
At 97 kg, George Hooker defeated Michael Loyola in the finals, 6-2, with a big four-point throw in the first period the deciding move.
The heavyweight title went to 2019 UWW Junior Nationals Trials runner-up, Lee Herrington, who competes for Nebraska-Kearney. Herrington scored a first-period pin over Zach Shrader.
U23 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Omaha, Neb., November 13
Greco-Roman results
55 kg –
1st - Mason Carzino-Hartshorn (Community Youth Center - Concord) tech. fall Brendon Garcia (Wyoming Wrestling Reg Training Ctr), 9-0, 1:46
3rd - Samuel Braswell IV (Cougar Wrestling Club) tech. fall Gabriel Gray (Texas Panhandle Wrestling Club), 12-1 5:50
5th - Michael Spangler (Beaver Wrestling Club) tech. fall Aria Mazroy (San Francisco Wrestling Club), 10-2 3:28
7th - Andrew Willi (Bobcat WC)
60 kg
1st - Taylor Lamont (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Randon Miranda (New York Athletic Club), 3-1
3rd - Corbin Nirschl (MWC Wrestling Academy)
4th - Thomas Hicks (unattached)
5th - Cordney Chairs (unattached)
63 kg
1st - Dylan Gregerson (Brunson UVRTC) tech. fall Erik Spence (Battle Born Wrestling Club), 9-0, 0:59
3rd - Rylee Molitor (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club) tech fall Jackson Renicker (Unattached), 8-0 0:36
5th - Clay Carlson (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club) tech. fall Jarod Maes (X-Factor Elite Wrestling), 8-0 2:40
7th - Matt Santos MI (Unattached) forfeit Nicholas Segura TX (Unattached),
67 kg –
1st - Peyton Omania (Unattached) won by forfeit over Benjamin Peak (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
3rd - Lenny Merkin (NYAC/NJRTC) tech fall Nolan Baker (New York Athletic Club), 11-0 1:58
5th - Jasiah Williams (CSU Pueblo Wrestling RTC) pin Thomas Lisher AR (Arkansas Regional Training Center), 1:06
7th - Jake Drexler (CrassTrained: Weigh In Club) dec. Duncan Nelson (Unattached), 7-1
72 kg
1st - Zachary Grimes (Unattached) pin Calvin Germinaro (Unattached), 4:57
3rd - Dracius Mckee (Spartan Mat Club) tech. fall Riley Briggs (Community Youth Center - Concord Campus), 14-6 5:55
5th - Seth Vosters (Wisconsin Regional Training Center) dec. Zachary Tolver (Interior Grappling Academy), 8-4
7th - Ryan Ojeda (Unattached) pin Michael Petersen (Unattached), 4:39
77 kg
1st - Jesse Porter (New York Athletic Club) tech. fall Tyler Dow (Wisconsin Regional Training Center), 11-1, 3:48
3rd - Eddie Smith (Dubuque Wrestling Club) tech. fall Augustine Garcia (Unattached), 8-0 1:59
5th - Fritz Schierl (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) forfeit Ryan Epps (Unattached)
7th - Jack Ervien, Jr. (unattached)
82 kg
1st - Tommy Brackett (Unattached) dec. Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania RTC), 4-0
3rd - Gabriel Rangel (Viking Wrestling Club (IA)) pin Kacper Piskorz IL (Unattached), 0:25
5th - DM Hallett (Unattached) tech. fall William Smith (Unattached), 10-1 0:58
87 kg
1st - Cameron Caffey (Unattached) tech. fall Guy Patron (Dubuque Wrestling Club), 10-2, 2:52
3rd - George Sikes (New York Athletic Club) dec. Bear Hughes (Unattached), 3-2
5th - Joseph Williams(Shenandoah RTC) dec Chase Mccleish (Team Valley Wrestling Club), 5-1
7th - Chris Droege (Compound Wrestling- Great Lakes Regional Training Center) tech. fall Brodey Beckman (Hill Country Wrestling Club), 11-0 1:42
97 kg
1st- George Hooker (Unattached) dec. Michael Loyola (Unattached), 6-2
3rd - Timothy Eubanks (Unattached) pin Brady Vogel IA (Dubuque Wrestling Club), 0:57
5th - Dylan Buschow (MWC Wrestling Academy) forfeit Rylan Bonds TX (Spartan Mat Club)
130 kg –
1st - Lee Herrington (Nebraska Golden Eagles Wrestling Club) pin Zach Schrader (Unattached), 1:18
3rd - Trent Ragland (Cougar Wrestling Club) dec. Octavio Alejandre WA (Unattached), 5-2
5th - Cameron Dubose (Unattached) tech. fall Luke Zaiser MN (Unattached), 10-0 5:05
Semifinals
55 kg
Brendon Garcia (Wyoming Wrestling Reg Training Ctr) tech. fall Michael Spangler (Beaver Wrestling Club), 12-4 4:29
Mason Carzino-Hartshorn (Community Youth Center - Concord) tech fall Aria Mazroy (San Francisco Wrestling Club), 8-0 1:02
63 kg
Dylan Gregerson (Brunson UVRTC) tech. fall Jarod Maes (X-Factor Elite Wrestling), 10-0 2:27
Erik Spence (Battle Born Wrestling Club) tech. fall Rylee Molitor (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club), 8-0 2:03
67 kg
Benjamin Peak (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Lenny Merkin (NYAC/NJRTC), 8-5
Peyton Omania (Unattached) tech. fall Nolan Baker (New York Athletic Club), 9-1 3:36
72 kg
Zachary Grimes (Unattached) dec. Riley Briggs (Community Youth Center - Concord Campus), 10-3
Calvin Germinaro (Unattached) dec. Zachary Tolver (Interior Grappling Academy), 13-10
77 kg
Tyler Dow (Wisconsin Regional Training Center) pin Ryan Epps (Unattached), 2:12
Jesse Porter (New York Athletic Club) tech. fall Fritz Schierl (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)), 11-0 3:25
82 kg
Tommy Brackett (Unattached) pin Kacper Piskorz (Unattached), 0:48
Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania RTC) tech. fall William Smith VA (Unattached), 8-0 0:35
87 kg
Guy Patron (Dubuque Wrestling Club) tech. fall Bear Hughes (Unattached), 9-0 2:02
Cameron Caffey (Unattached) tech. fall Chase Mccleish (Team Valley Wrestling Club), 13-2 4:08
97 kg
Michael Loyola (Unattached) tech. fall Brady Vogel (Dubuque Wrestling Club), 9-0 1:25
George Hooker (Unattached) pin Timothy Eubanks (Unattached), 0:40
130 kg
Zach Schrader (Unattached) tech fall Cameron Dubose (Unattached), 11-1 3:59
Lee Herrington (Nebraska Golden Eagles Wrestling Club) tech. fall Luke Zaiser(Unattached), 9-0 0:22
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