Ragusin, Facundo, Elam, Ferrari among freestyle stars advancing to quarterfinals at UWW Junior Nationals
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Michigan’s Dylan Ragusin, a 2020 Senior Nationals runner-up, goes for a takedown in the UWW Junior Freestyle Nationals. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors.
OMAHA, Neb. - The UWW Junior Nationals in men’s freestyle is always an exciting event, as young college underclassmen and a few talented high school stars come together to make a name for themselves at the next level. Often, this event is a preview of top stars in future NCAA Championships and ultimately on the Senior level in freestyle.
The preliminary rounds of the UWW Junior Nationals were held on Saturday in Omaha, setting an exciting quarterfinals round on Sunday morning, starting at 9:00 a.m. Central Time
A number of well-known stars were able to reach the quarterfinals with victories on Friday. Many made a name in USA Wrestling’s age-group national program, and a few are already making waves at the Senior level.
The most prominent entry this year is Dylan Ragusin of the Cliff Keen WC, who competes for Michigan and is entered at 57 kg. Ragusin was second in freestyle at the 2020 Senior Nationals in Iowa a few weeks ago. He is the only returning UWW Junior National champion going back to 2019, but he won that title in Greco-Roman. Ragusin made U.S. Cadet and Junior World Teams back as an Illinois prep star.
Ragusin won three matches by technical fall on Friday, and will battle UNI wrestler Brody Teske of the Panther WC in the quarterfinals.
Another top star is Alex Facundo, 2018 and 2019 Cadet World bronze medalist, a Michigan native, a Penn State recruit who is entered at 74 kg. Facundo put together three straight technical falls on Friday, and has drawn Bernie Truax of the Central Coast RTC in the quarterfinals.
Another prominent entry is Rocky Elam, who competes now at Missouri. Elam was fifth in the 2020 Senior Nationals. A 2018 Cadet Nationals champion, Elam spent last year as a resident athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in USA Wrestling’s EAP program. Elam secured a pair of technical falls, and draws William Janzer of the Scarlet Knights Wrestling Club in the quarterfinals.
Also at 92 kg is 2018 Cadet World bronze medalist AJ Ferrari, who wrestles now at Oklahoma State. Ferrari got a technical fall in his only Saturday bout, and draws Christopher Smith of the Southeast RTC in the quarterfinals.
One of the 2020 UWW Junior National Greco-Roman champions, who won his title Friday night, has reached the quarterfinals in the freestyle draw, South Dakota State’s Spencer Trenary of the Jackrabbit Wrestling Club at 125 kg.
Among those of note who are also in the quarterfinals:
• 57 kg - Indiana high school star Jesse Mendez, a 2019 Cadet World Team member
• 61 kg – Nebraska’s Ridge Lovett, a 2017 Cadet World Greco-Roman team member
• 70 kg – Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole, a 2018 Junior Nationals champion
• 70 kg – Michigan’s Fidel Mayora, a 2017 Cadet Nationals champion
• 70 kg – Virginia Tech’s Clayton Ulrey, a 2019 Cadet World Team
• 74 kg – South Dakota State’s Cade Devos, a 2019 Junior Nationals Greco champion and freestyle runner-up
• 79 kg – Iowa’s Patrick Kennedy, a 2019 Junior Nationals champion
• 79 kg - Purdue’s Gerrit Nijenhuis, a 2019 Junior Nationals runner-up
• 85 kg – Iowa State’s Joel Shapiro, a 2018 Junior Nationals runner-up
• 125 kg – Virginia Tech’s Hunter Catka, a 2019 Cadet World Team member
Sunday morning’s session, which includes the quarterfinals in the UWW Junior Freestyle Nationals and the U23 Freestyle Nationals, begins at 9:00 a.m. CT, with the broadcast live on FloWrestling.
UWW JUNIOR NATIONALS
At Omaha, Neb., November 14, 2020
Men’s freestyle quarterfinal pairings
57 kg
Dylan Ragusin IL (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club) vs. Brody Teske IA (Panther Wrestling Club RTC)
Kyle Burwick ND (Wisconsin RTC) vs. Jesse Mendez IN (Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club)
Angelo Rini OH (New York City RTC) vs. Reece Witcraft OK (Cowboy RTC)
Jesse Ybarra AZ (Hawkeye Wrestling Club) vs. Noah Surtin IL (Tiger Style Wrestling Club)
61 kg
Isaiah Delgado UT (Brunson UVRTC) vs. Chris Kim PA (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club)
Carter Young OK (Team BIG) vs. Ridge Lovett ID (Nebraska Wrestling Training Center)
Cleveland Belton CA (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) vs. Trey Crawford MO (Tiger Style Wrestling Club)
Samuel Hillegas PA (Southeast RTC, Inc) vs. Cole Matthews PA (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club)
65 kg
Cobe Siebrecht IA (Hawkeye Wrestling Club) vs. Sammy Alvarez NJ (Scarlet Knights Wrestling Club)
Anthony Ferrari OK (Cowboy Wrestling Club) vs. Bryce Andonian VA (Southeast RTC, Inc)
Joshua Edmond MI (Tiger Style Wrestling Club) vs. Jesse Vasquez CA (Unattached)
Cameron Picklo OK (Unattached) vs. Victor Voinovich OH (Seasons Freestyle Club)
70 kg
Keegan O'toole WI (Tiger Style Wrestling Club) vs. Connor Brady VA (Southeast RTC, Inc)
Fidel Mayora IL (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club) vs. Justin Mccoy PA (Cavalier Wrestling Club)
Clayton Ulrey PA (Southeast RTC, Inc) vs. Joseph Roberts NC (Wolfpack Wrestling Club)
Tyler Badgett CA (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club) vs. Lucas Revano NJ (Pennsylvania RTC)
74 kg
Alex Facundo MI (Team Donahoe) vs. Bernie Truax CA (Central Coast RTC)
Donald Cates NC (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) vs. David Berkovich NY (New York City RTC)
Baylor Fernandes IL (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC) vs. Robert Kanniard NJ (Scarlet Knights Wrestling Club)
Isaiah Alford NE (Nebraska Wrestling Training Center) vs. Cade Devos IA (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club)
79 kg
Michael O'malley NJ (Pennsylvania RTC) vs. Albert Urias CA (Unattached)
Nick Incontrera NJ (Pennsylvania RTC) vs. Jaden Bullock MI (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club)
Gerrit Nijenhuis PA (Boilermaker RTC) vs. Jared Krattiger WI (Wisconsin RTC)
Jackson Turley VA (Scarlet Knights Wrestling Club) vs. Patrick Kennedy MN (Hawkeye Wrestling Club)
86 kg
Joel Shapiro IA (Cyclone RTC C-RTC) vs. Jack Kilner CA (Unattached)
Ethan Hatcher OH (Spartan Combat RTC) vs. Max Shaw PA (Unattached)
Parker Keckeisen IA (Panther Wrestling Club RTC) vs. Jake Hendricks PA (Pennsylvania RTC)
Layne Malczewski MI (Unattached) vs. John Poznanski NJ (Scarlet Knights WC)
92 kg
Rocky Elam MO (Tiger Style Wrestling Club) vs. William Janzer NJ (Scarlet Knights Wrestling Club)
Isaac Trumble NC (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) vs. Zach Glazier MN (Hawkeye Wrestling Club)
Christopher Smith VA (Southeast RTC, Inc) vs. Albert Ferrari OK (Cowboy RTC)
Nicholas Willham IN (Indiana RTC) vs. Gabe Christenson IA (Hawkeye Wrestling Club)
97 kg
Three athlete round-robin, which competition begins on Sunday morning
125 kg
Hunter Catka PA (Southeast RTC, Inc) vs. Blake Querio MI (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club)
Matthew Cover OH (Unattached) vs. Apollo Gothard IL (Izzy Style Wrestling)
Spencer Trenary IA (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club) vs. Jacob Sartorio CA (Unattached)
Josiah Hill CA (Arkansas RTC) vs. Joshua Heindselman OK (Oklahoma RTC)
OMAHA, Neb. - The UWW Junior Nationals in men’s freestyle is always an exciting event, as young college underclassmen and a few talented high school stars come together to make a name for themselves at the next level. Often, this event is a preview of top stars in future NCAA Championships and ultimately on the Senior level in freestyle.
The preliminary rounds of the UWW Junior Nationals were held on Saturday in Omaha, setting an exciting quarterfinals round on Sunday morning, starting at 9:00 a.m. Central Time
A number of well-known stars were able to reach the quarterfinals with victories on Friday. Many made a name in USA Wrestling’s age-group national program, and a few are already making waves at the Senior level.
The most prominent entry this year is Dylan Ragusin of the Cliff Keen WC, who competes for Michigan and is entered at 57 kg. Ragusin was second in freestyle at the 2020 Senior Nationals in Iowa a few weeks ago. He is the only returning UWW Junior National champion going back to 2019, but he won that title in Greco-Roman. Ragusin made U.S. Cadet and Junior World Teams back as an Illinois prep star.
Ragusin won three matches by technical fall on Friday, and will battle UNI wrestler Brody Teske of the Panther WC in the quarterfinals.
Another top star is Alex Facundo, 2018 and 2019 Cadet World bronze medalist, a Michigan native, a Penn State recruit who is entered at 74 kg. Facundo put together three straight technical falls on Friday, and has drawn Bernie Truax of the Central Coast RTC in the quarterfinals.
Another prominent entry is Rocky Elam, who competes now at Missouri. Elam was fifth in the 2020 Senior Nationals. A 2018 Cadet Nationals champion, Elam spent last year as a resident athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in USA Wrestling’s EAP program. Elam secured a pair of technical falls, and draws William Janzer of the Scarlet Knights Wrestling Club in the quarterfinals.
Also at 92 kg is 2018 Cadet World bronze medalist AJ Ferrari, who wrestles now at Oklahoma State. Ferrari got a technical fall in his only Saturday bout, and draws Christopher Smith of the Southeast RTC in the quarterfinals.
One of the 2020 UWW Junior National Greco-Roman champions, who won his title Friday night, has reached the quarterfinals in the freestyle draw, South Dakota State’s Spencer Trenary of the Jackrabbit Wrestling Club at 125 kg.
Among those of note who are also in the quarterfinals:
• 57 kg - Indiana high school star Jesse Mendez, a 2019 Cadet World Team member
• 61 kg – Nebraska’s Ridge Lovett, a 2017 Cadet World Greco-Roman team member
• 70 kg – Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole, a 2018 Junior Nationals champion
• 70 kg – Michigan’s Fidel Mayora, a 2017 Cadet Nationals champion
• 70 kg – Virginia Tech’s Clayton Ulrey, a 2019 Cadet World Team
• 74 kg – South Dakota State’s Cade Devos, a 2019 Junior Nationals Greco champion and freestyle runner-up
• 79 kg – Iowa’s Patrick Kennedy, a 2019 Junior Nationals champion
• 79 kg - Purdue’s Gerrit Nijenhuis, a 2019 Junior Nationals runner-up
• 85 kg – Iowa State’s Joel Shapiro, a 2018 Junior Nationals runner-up
• 125 kg – Virginia Tech’s Hunter Catka, a 2019 Cadet World Team member
Sunday morning’s session, which includes the quarterfinals in the UWW Junior Freestyle Nationals and the U23 Freestyle Nationals, begins at 9:00 a.m. CT, with the broadcast live on FloWrestling.
UWW JUNIOR NATIONALS
At Omaha, Neb., November 14, 2020
Men’s freestyle quarterfinal pairings
57 kg
Dylan Ragusin IL (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club) vs. Brody Teske IA (Panther Wrestling Club RTC)
Kyle Burwick ND (Wisconsin RTC) vs. Jesse Mendez IN (Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club)
Angelo Rini OH (New York City RTC) vs. Reece Witcraft OK (Cowboy RTC)
Jesse Ybarra AZ (Hawkeye Wrestling Club) vs. Noah Surtin IL (Tiger Style Wrestling Club)
61 kg
Isaiah Delgado UT (Brunson UVRTC) vs. Chris Kim PA (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club)
Carter Young OK (Team BIG) vs. Ridge Lovett ID (Nebraska Wrestling Training Center)
Cleveland Belton CA (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) vs. Trey Crawford MO (Tiger Style Wrestling Club)
Samuel Hillegas PA (Southeast RTC, Inc) vs. Cole Matthews PA (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club)
65 kg
Cobe Siebrecht IA (Hawkeye Wrestling Club) vs. Sammy Alvarez NJ (Scarlet Knights Wrestling Club)
Anthony Ferrari OK (Cowboy Wrestling Club) vs. Bryce Andonian VA (Southeast RTC, Inc)
Joshua Edmond MI (Tiger Style Wrestling Club) vs. Jesse Vasquez CA (Unattached)
Cameron Picklo OK (Unattached) vs. Victor Voinovich OH (Seasons Freestyle Club)
70 kg
Keegan O'toole WI (Tiger Style Wrestling Club) vs. Connor Brady VA (Southeast RTC, Inc)
Fidel Mayora IL (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club) vs. Justin Mccoy PA (Cavalier Wrestling Club)
Clayton Ulrey PA (Southeast RTC, Inc) vs. Joseph Roberts NC (Wolfpack Wrestling Club)
Tyler Badgett CA (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club) vs. Lucas Revano NJ (Pennsylvania RTC)
74 kg
Alex Facundo MI (Team Donahoe) vs. Bernie Truax CA (Central Coast RTC)
Donald Cates NC (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) vs. David Berkovich NY (New York City RTC)
Baylor Fernandes IL (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC) vs. Robert Kanniard NJ (Scarlet Knights Wrestling Club)
Isaiah Alford NE (Nebraska Wrestling Training Center) vs. Cade Devos IA (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club)
79 kg
Michael O'malley NJ (Pennsylvania RTC) vs. Albert Urias CA (Unattached)
Nick Incontrera NJ (Pennsylvania RTC) vs. Jaden Bullock MI (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club)
Gerrit Nijenhuis PA (Boilermaker RTC) vs. Jared Krattiger WI (Wisconsin RTC)
Jackson Turley VA (Scarlet Knights Wrestling Club) vs. Patrick Kennedy MN (Hawkeye Wrestling Club)
86 kg
Joel Shapiro IA (Cyclone RTC C-RTC) vs. Jack Kilner CA (Unattached)
Ethan Hatcher OH (Spartan Combat RTC) vs. Max Shaw PA (Unattached)
Parker Keckeisen IA (Panther Wrestling Club RTC) vs. Jake Hendricks PA (Pennsylvania RTC)
Layne Malczewski MI (Unattached) vs. John Poznanski NJ (Scarlet Knights WC)
92 kg
Rocky Elam MO (Tiger Style Wrestling Club) vs. William Janzer NJ (Scarlet Knights Wrestling Club)
Isaac Trumble NC (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) vs. Zach Glazier MN (Hawkeye Wrestling Club)
Christopher Smith VA (Southeast RTC, Inc) vs. Albert Ferrari OK (Cowboy RTC)
Nicholas Willham IN (Indiana RTC) vs. Gabe Christenson IA (Hawkeye Wrestling Club)
97 kg
Three athlete round-robin, which competition begins on Sunday morning
125 kg
Hunter Catka PA (Southeast RTC, Inc) vs. Blake Querio MI (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club)
Matthew Cover OH (Unattached) vs. Apollo Gothard IL (Izzy Style Wrestling)
Spencer Trenary IA (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club) vs. Jacob Sartorio CA (Unattached)
Josiah Hill CA (Arkansas RTC) vs. Joshua Heindselman OK (Oklahoma RTC)
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