High school stars Desmond, Dekraker, Duke reach men’s freestyle finals at Bill Farrell Memorial
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
NEW YORK, N.Y. – The United States dominated the first session of men’s freestyle at the Bill Farrell Memorial International at the New York Athletic Club on Saturday, winning 12 semifinal matches in the seven weight classes which have a direct elimination bracket.
The big news from the semifinals were the three high school stars who powered into the championship finals, Nathan Desmond at 57 kg, William Dekraker at 61 kg and PJ Duke at 70 kg.
Duke, a 2024 U20 World bronze medalist, attends Minisink Valley High School in New York and is a Penn State commit. He had the crowd buzzing with a pin over Bryce Andonian in the semifinals in 2:24. Duke was leading 10-2 at the time of the fall. Andonian was a 2021 U20 World bronze medalist and three-time All-American for Virginia Tech. Duke will face former Michigan star and a past U17 World champion Will Lewan in the finals.
Desmond, who attends Wyoming Seminary and is a Penn State commit, has drawn a past Senior National Team member, Daniel DeShazer in the finals. Desmond scored an impressive 10-0 technical fall over talented freestyler Liam Cronin in the semifinals.
Dekraker had a wild comeback in the semifinals. He fell behind 2022 Asian bronze medalist Nodirjon Safarov of Uzbekistan, who looked to have a 10-0 technical fall when Dekraker’s corner challenged. The score was changed in Dekraker’s favor, and he stormed back for a 10-8 victory. Dekraker, who attends Blair Academy and is a Northwestern commit, will face Toshihiro Hasegawa of Japan in the finals.
Among the prominent finalists for the USA is 2016 Olympic champion, three-time World champion and nine-time World and Olympic medalist Kyle Snyder, who will battle National Team member and past U.S. Open champion Michael Macchiavello in the finals at 97 kg.
Other all USA finals include Marcus Coleman against Clay Lautt at 86 kg and Jordan Wood against Trent Hillger at 125 kg.
There were three weight classes with round robin competition, 65 kg, 79 kg and 92 kg. One U.S. wrestler has already guaranteed a gold medal in his round robin, Eric Schultz, Jr. at 92 kg. Schultz scored technical falls over Jack Wehmeyer and Jack Darrah in the morning session. Wehmeyer and Darrah will wrestle for the silver medal in the final session. The other two weight classes will be determined in the final session.
The finals, which includes the championship matches, third-place matches and final round robin matches, will be held promptly at 4:00 p.m. ET, which is a change from the original schedule.
The competition is being broadcast live on FloWrestling. https://flosports.link/3Sx7Kuo Follow the results on FloArena.
BILL FARRELL MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL
At New York, N.Y., November 9, 2024
Men’s Freestyle finals pairings
57 kg - Nathan Desmond (USA) vs. Daniel Deshazer (USA)
61 kg - William Dekraker III (USA) vs. Toshihiro Hasegawa (JPN)
70 kg - William Lewan Jr (USA) vs. PJ Duke (USA)
74 kg - Adam Thomson (CAN) vs. Elroy Perkin II (USA)
86 kg - Marcus Coleman (USA) vs. Clay Lautt (USA)
97 kg - Kyle Snyder (USA) vs. Michael Macchiavello (USA)
125 kg - Jordan Wood (USA) vs. Trent Hillger (USA)
Men’s Freestyle semifinals results
57 kg
Nathan Desmond (USA) tech fall Liam Cronin (USA), 10-0 4:01
Daniel Deshazer (USA) tech fall Brandon Courtney (USA), 15-4 5:02
61 kg
William Dekraker III (USA) dec. Nodirjon Safarov (UZB), 10-8
Toshihiro Hasegawa (JPN) dec. Devan Turner (USA), 6-2
70 kg
William Lewan Jr (USA) tech. fall Jarrett Jacques (USA), 10-0 0:52
PJ Duke (USA) pin Bryce Andonian (USA), 2:24
74 kg
Adam Thomson (CAN) tech fall Daniel Sheen (USA), 10-0 4:37
Elroy Perkin II (USA) tech fall Diego Sandoval Zarco (MEX), 13-2 2:25
86 kg
Marcus Coleman (USA) tech fall Ahmed Shamiya (CAN), 10-0 5:20
Clay Lautt (USA) dec. Jasmit Phulka (CAN), 7-1
97 kg
Kyle Snyder (USA) tech. fall Gary Traub (USA), 10-0 3:24
Michael Macchiavello (USA) dec. Justin Rademacher (USA), 6-3
125 kg
Jordan Wood (USA) dec. Christian Lance (USA), 4-2
Trent Hillger (USA) dec. Coby Merrill (USA), 6-3
Men’s freestyle round-robins
65 kg
Final Round Robin bouts
Boburjon Berdiyorov (UZB) vs. Jason Luneau (CAN)
Ruben Calderon (USA) vs. Matthew Dimen (USA)
Completed bouts
Boburjon Berdiyorov (UZB) tech fall Ruben Calderon (USA), 10-0 2:41
Matthew Dimen (USA) tech fall Bryan Coll (USA), 16-4 4:51
Ruben Calderon (USA) dec. Jason Luneau (CAN), 12-10
Boburjon Berdiyorov (UZB) tech fall Bryan Coll (USA), 12-0 0:58
Boburjon Berdiyorov (UZB) tech fall Matthew Dimen (USA), 10-0 1:24
Jason Luneau (CAN) tech fall Bryan Coll (USA), 10-0 0:59
Jason Luneau (CAN) dec. Matthew Dimen (USA), 7-3
Ruben Calderon (USA) tech fall Bryan Coll (USA), 10-0 0:32
79 kg
Final Round Robin bouts
Kennedy Monday (USA) vs. Koen Poirier (CAN)
Evan Wick (USA) vs. Alfred Daniel (SLE)
Completed bouts
Kennedy Monday (USA) tech fall Alfred Daniel (SLE), 10-0 1:18
Evan Wick (USA) tech fall Joseph Lavallee (USA), 13-2 5:25
Alfred Daniel (SLE) tech fall Koen Poirier (CAN), 12-2 2:27
Kennedy Monday (USA) dec. Joseph Lavallee (USA), 8-3
Joseph Lavallee (USA) tech fall Koen Poirier (CAN), 10-0 0:21
Evan Wick (USA) tech fall Kennedy Monday (USA), 10-0 2:32
Evan Wick (USA) tech fall Koen Poirier (CAN), 10-0 0:50
Joseph Lavallee (USA) pin Alfred Daniel (SLE), 1:39
92 kg
Gold – Eric Schultz, Jr. (USA)
Second place match – Jack Wehmeyer (USA) vs. Jack Darrah (USA)
Completed bouts
Eric Schultz Jr (USA) tech fall Jack Wehmeyer (USA), 11-0 4:09
Eric Schultz Jr (USA) tech fall Jack Darrah (USA), 13-1 5:11
Read More#
Radecki and Mathers win U17 golds, Grimes adds U17 bronze at Klippan Lady Open in Sweden
Radecki and Mathers unbeaten on day one of U17 action at Klippan Lady Open
National Wrestling Media Association Announces 2023-24 Award Recipients
Cosme to go for Senior gold at Klippan Lady Open, with seven U.S. women going for bronze