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Help break the Smith vs. Simmons tie on last day of Round of 16 voting for 50th Junior Nationals fantasy bracket
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Today is the final day of voting for the Round of 16 pairings for USA Wrestling’s interactive 32-athlete bracket featuring the best Men’s Junior Freestyle competitors of the last 50 years of the Junior Nationals.
This voting is based upon their Junior National freestyle careers only, and should not reflect their successes in Greco-Roman, nor how well they did in college and the international levels.
Fans will have the ability to help break a virtual tie in one of the most compelling pairings in the round, with three-time Junior Nationals freestyle champion Nick Simmons of Michigan and two-time Junior Nationals freestyle champion Lee Roy Smith both at 50% of the vote in their pairing as of 1:30 p.m. MT.
Smith, who hailed from Del City, Okla. and is from the world-famous Smith wrestling family, won his Junior National freestyle titles in 1975 and 1976. Simmons, a native of Williamston, Mich., won Junior National crowns in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
USA Wrestling fans will be able cast their vote for each round by going to:
50th Junior Freestyle Nationals - Fantasy Bracket
There are a few other close battles which still could be determined by voters, who have until midnight tonight to cast their ballot. Others up for grabs include:
Johny Hendricks (OK, 2x) vs. Teague Moore (PA, 3x) – Hendricks leads 54%-46%
Teyon Ware (OK, 2x) vs. T.J. Hill (MO, 2x) – Ware leads 56%- 44%
Coleman Scott (PA, 2x) vs. Adam Coon (MI, 2x) – Scott leads 57%-43%
Brent Metcalf (MI, 3x) vs. Alex Dieringer (WI, 2x) – Metcalf leads 59%-41%
The other Round of 16 parings to vote upon include:
Alan Fried (OH, 4x) vs. Sean Hage (GA, 3x)
Mark Schwab (IA, 3x) vs. Steve Mocco (NJ, 3x)
Steve Knight (IA, 1x) vs. Pat Smith (OK, 2x)
The rest of the voting schedule follows:
• Voting on the Quarterfinals will begin on Saturday, May 15
• Voting on the Semifinals will begin on Wednesday, May 19
• Voting on the Finals will begin on Sunday, May 23
The first USA Wrestling Junior Nationals was held in the Fieldhouse at the University of Iowa in 1971, and contested only in men’s freestyle. With the 2020 event cancelled due to the pandemic, this year’s version will be the 50th time our nation’s best high school wrestlers have come together to battle for national titles and All-American honors. Numerous World and Olympic champions and medalists have competed in this prestigious event.
The 2021 USA Wrestling USMC Junior and 16U National Championships will be held at the FargoDome in Fargo, N.D., July 16-23, with competition in men’s freestyle, Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle.
HOW TO VOTE
50th Junior Freestyle Nationals - Fantasy Bracket
When you click, you will see the bracket. To vote, click the “Cast Vote Now” button on the top of the bracket. You will be taken to a screen where you see each pairing and you can click a box to vote on the winner. You must enter your email to vote. If you need some additional information on any athlete, click the link for each athlete’s name and a graphic with a photo of the athlete and additional data on their Junior National freestyle career will appear.
This voting is based upon their Junior National freestyle careers only, and should not reflect their successes in Greco-Roman, nor how well they did in college and the international levels.
Fans will have the ability to help break a virtual tie in one of the most compelling pairings in the round, with three-time Junior Nationals freestyle champion Nick Simmons of Michigan and two-time Junior Nationals freestyle champion Lee Roy Smith both at 50% of the vote in their pairing as of 1:30 p.m. MT.
Smith, who hailed from Del City, Okla. and is from the world-famous Smith wrestling family, won his Junior National freestyle titles in 1975 and 1976. Simmons, a native of Williamston, Mich., won Junior National crowns in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
USA Wrestling fans will be able cast their vote for each round by going to:
50th Junior Freestyle Nationals - Fantasy Bracket
There are a few other close battles which still could be determined by voters, who have until midnight tonight to cast their ballot. Others up for grabs include:
Johny Hendricks (OK, 2x) vs. Teague Moore (PA, 3x) – Hendricks leads 54%-46%
Teyon Ware (OK, 2x) vs. T.J. Hill (MO, 2x) – Ware leads 56%- 44%
Coleman Scott (PA, 2x) vs. Adam Coon (MI, 2x) – Scott leads 57%-43%
Brent Metcalf (MI, 3x) vs. Alex Dieringer (WI, 2x) – Metcalf leads 59%-41%
The other Round of 16 parings to vote upon include:
Alan Fried (OH, 4x) vs. Sean Hage (GA, 3x)
Mark Schwab (IA, 3x) vs. Steve Mocco (NJ, 3x)
Steve Knight (IA, 1x) vs. Pat Smith (OK, 2x)
The rest of the voting schedule follows:
• Voting on the Quarterfinals will begin on Saturday, May 15
• Voting on the Semifinals will begin on Wednesday, May 19
• Voting on the Finals will begin on Sunday, May 23
The first USA Wrestling Junior Nationals was held in the Fieldhouse at the University of Iowa in 1971, and contested only in men’s freestyle. With the 2020 event cancelled due to the pandemic, this year’s version will be the 50th time our nation’s best high school wrestlers have come together to battle for national titles and All-American honors. Numerous World and Olympic champions and medalists have competed in this prestigious event.
The 2021 USA Wrestling USMC Junior and 16U National Championships will be held at the FargoDome in Fargo, N.D., July 16-23, with competition in men’s freestyle, Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle.
HOW TO VOTE
50th Junior Freestyle Nationals - Fantasy Bracket
When you click, you will see the bracket. To vote, click the “Cast Vote Now” button on the top of the bracket. You will be taken to a screen where you see each pairing and you can click a box to vote on the winner. You must enter your email to vote. If you need some additional information on any athlete, click the link for each athlete’s name and a graphic with a photo of the athlete and additional data on their Junior National freestyle career will appear.