Cliff Keen Journeymen Freestyle Classic a success, featuring top U.S. and international high school stars

Hammer award winners Ian Parker of Massa’s Maniacs and Aleksey Kopylov of Russia receive their honors.

This past weekend, a new freestyle competition for top American and international wrestlers was hosted in the Albany, N.Y. area, the Cliff Keen Journeymen Freestyle Classic held at Achilles Rink at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y.

The event was created and organized by Frank Popolizio, who heads up the respected Journeymen Wrestling Club and has developed a number of popular event properties for young athletes. This was a USA Wrestling sanctioned event. It was broadcast live by Flowrestling.

The tournament also included a special training camp from April 7-18, where the U.S. and international wrestlers were able to train together and learn from top coaches. Leading the camp was 2008 Olympic champion Andrea Minguzzi of Italy.

“I was really exciting. It will grow from here. Many of the athletes, including the foreign teams, want to come back. It was very positive feedback. The event was unique and special for those who attended,” said Popolizio.

A total of 225 athletes attended, including competitors from all over the United States as well as Russia, Lithuania, Korea, Italy and Tajikistan. Every weight class had a round robin format, and in many weight classes, there were more than one division. In many cases, the A bracket included many of the top rated athletes, but all of the divisions featured talented athletes with top credentials.

There were three Hammer Awards given to Oustanding Wrestlers in the event. Bringing them home were Aleksey Kopylov of Russia (120A), Ian Parker of Massa’s Maniacs (132 A) and Mikey Labriola of Bethlehem Catholic (170A).

“For year one, the level was extremely good. Anything that you do for the first time, it is hard to achieve the vision you have for the event. It almost got there. It was very strong. My vision is always way up there. You shoot for the moon, and we got very close,” said Popolizio.

CLIFF KEEN JOURNEYMEN FREESTYLE CLASSIC
At Schenectady, N.Y., April 17

Results

100A
1st place (5-0) Sergei Egorov (Russia)
2nd place (4-1) Brock Delsignore (Journeymen)
3rd place (3-2) Zachary Redding (Barn Brothers)
4th place (2-3) Wil Guida (Coop Trained)
5th place (1-4) Christopher Trelli
6th place (0-5) Drew Munch (Dark Knights)

100B
1st place (4-1) Logan Dubuque (ATWA)
2nd place (4-1) Dillon Murphy (Peak)
3rd place (3-2) Ronan Marino (KT Kidz)
4th place (3-2) Ryan Burgos
5th place (1-4) Thomas Fischer (Apex)

106A
1st place (5-0) MahovedBadrudinov-(Russia)
2nd place (4-1) Corey Gamet (Western
3rd place (3-2) Joe Heilmann (South Plainfield)
4th place (2-3) Greg Diakomihalis (NY)
5th place (1-4) Jarod Kosman (KT Kidz)

106B
1st place (3-0) Keegan Otoole (Askren)
2nd place (2-1) Mark Montgomery (Apex)
3rd place (1-2) Dylan Earl (Apex)
4th place (0-3) Gregory Hotaling (Journeymen)

113A
1st: AlexsiKopylov, Russia tf. Dylan D’Emilio, BTW 11-0
3rd: Adam Busiello, Barn Brothers fall Kurt McHenry, St. Paul’s 2:14
5th: Brakan Mead, Olentangy Liberty fall Davide Amato, Italy 0:40
7th: Zach Glenn BECAHI tech. fall Michael Kelly, St. Peter’s Prep

113B
1st: Patrick Gould, Dark Knights dec. Nick Bauer, PA 11-11 by criteria
3rd: Joe Klock, BTW tech. fall Michael Gonyea, Journeymen 14-4
5th: Alex Samson, G2 tech. fall Dove Bonjean-Alpart, Elite 14-2
7th: Tyler Albis, ISW tech. fall Dominic Grant, Eagle WC 10-0

120A
1st: Petr Kopylov, Russia dec.RamazanAttasauov, Russia 7-2
3rd: Andrew Alirez, Northern Colorado RTC tech. fall Riley Gurr, Tri Cities 18-8
5th: Tommy Hoskins, Southwest Ohio RTC dec. Julian Chlebove, Dark Knight 6-4
7th: Joshua Saunders, Wrestling Prep tech. fall SvajunesSakys, LTU 11-0

120B
1st place (5-0) Orion Anderson (Titan)
2nd place (4-1) Vadim Babushkin (Lithuania)
3rd place (3-2) Joey Bianchi (Askren)
4th place (2-3) Nicholas Arborio (KT Kidz)
5th place (1-4) Felice Matrullo (Italy)

120C
1st place (5-0) Tristan Haviland (lsw)
2nd place (3-2) Connor Kievman (PA)
3rd place (3-2) Gino Esposito (Team Tugman)
4th place (3-2) Jacob Falleni (Lenape Valley)
5th place (1-4) Charles Barrale (Rhino)

126A
1st: Nicholas Raimo, Apex dec. Joe Silva, Lake Highland Prep 4-2
3rd: KJ Fenstermacher, Dark Knight dec.Guarino Virgilio, ITA 10-4
5th: Anthony Argentieri, Kenmore West dec. Chase Zollmann 8-6
7th: Austin Hertel, G2 tf. Benny Baker, PA 11-0

126B
1st place (3-0) Michael Kistler (PA)
2nd place (2-1) Mel Ortiz (KT Kidz)
3rd place (1-2) NeikoScarano (Journeymen)
4th place (0-3) Thomas Mountain (Ri National)

132A
1st: Ian Parker, Massa’s Maniacs tech. fall InalbekSheriev, Russia
3rd: Vito Arujau, VHW tech. fall Malcom Robinson, St. John’s 10-0
5th: Brian Courtney, Athens tech. fall Jack Davis, PA 10-0
7th: Nick Freeman, Walled Lake Central fall Hunter Dusold, Locust Valley 4:35

132B
1st: Aiden Medora, Askrendec. John Devine, Columbia HS 6-6 by criteria
3rd: Miernan Shanahan, Journeymen dec. Seth Brown, Top Flight WA 10-6
5th: Eric Halverson, Askren tech. fall Randy Earl, ISW 14-3
7th: Carter Tuttle, PA forfeit Dillan Palazewski, Journeymen

132C
1st place (5-0) TyeVarndell
2nd place (4-1) Deshawn Herbert (Elite Wrestling Academy)
3rd place (3-2) Joe Zargo (Rhino)
4th place (2-3) Justin Gaudiana (Ri National)
5th place (1-4) Trevor Villanova (Gold Medal WC)

138A
1st: YianniDiakomihalis, G2 dec. Sammy Sasso, Dark Knight 11-4
3rd: Ben Freeman, Walled Lake Central tech. fall Corey Shie, Cincinnati La Salle 10-0
5th: Peter Tedesco, Belmont Hill dec. Imran Heard, St. John’s 9-6
7th: Ryan Angers, KtKidz tech fall Lukas Lipnickas, Lithuania 18-8

138B
1st: Ethan Krause, High 5 tech. fall Matthew Kolonia, Del Val 10-0
3rd: GytisJovaisa, LTU dec. Christian Gramuglia, Journeymen 4-3
5th: Zachery Lawrence, Journeymen dec. Elijah Murphy, High 5, 7-7 by criteria
7th: Shaun Wagner, KtKidz forfeit Nevan Snodgrass, Catalyst WC

138C
1st place (5-0) Nick Lombard (Rhino)
2nd place (4-1) Devin Rivet (Top Flight Wrestling Academy)
3rd place (3-2) Noah Carpenter (Elmira HS)
4th place (2-3) Ray Cotto (lsw)
5th place (1-4) Jason Ashline II

145A
1st place (5-0) IyriiArakelyn (Russia)
2nd place (4-1) Philip Conigliaro (Belmont Hill)
3rd place (3-2) KanenStorr (MI)
4th place (2-3) Charlie Kane (KT Kidz)
5th place (1-4) Will Kaldes (Cumberland Valley)

145B
1st place (5-0) Evan Barczak (Apex)
2nd place (3-2) Jake Hinkson (North Allegheny)
3rd place (3-2) Josh Bressette
4th place (2-3) Paul Calo (KT Kidz)
5th place (2-3) Patrick Munn (PA)

145C
1st place (5-0) Dajun Johnson
2nd place (4-1) Matthew Saville (South Glens Falls)
3rd place (3-2) Daniel Bogie (Eagle WC)
4th place (2-3) Blake Stamas (Clark Wrestling)
5th place (1-4) Judd Kinney (Wrestlers Way)

152A
1st: Wyatt Sheets, Stilwell dec. Frankie Gissendanner, Penfield 10-5
3rd: Jarod Verkleeren, Young Guns fall Michael O’Malley, Apex 3:34
5th: Cael McCormick, Yorktown WC dec. Choi Byun Geun, Korea 11-6
7th: Nicholas Palumbo, Lenape Valley fft. Abubakri James, TAJ

152B
1st: Andrew Munn, PA tech. fall Joseph Clemente, PA 14-4
3rd: Matt Grippi, ISW dec. Joshua Otto, Askren 18-11
5th: Will Lawrence, New River WC dec. Michael Angers, KtKidz 8-6
7th: Ross McFarland, Pin2win tech. fall Mikey Barrett, KtKidz 10-0

152C
1st place (5-0) Sammy Deprez (Hilton)
2nd place (4-1) Kelvin Yde (Askren)
3rd place (3-2) Jake Stefanowicz (PA)
4th place (2-3) Anthony Aquilano (Rhino)
5th place (1-4) Noah Robidoux (Wrestlers Way)

160A
1st: ArslanGarazhiev, Russia dec. Hayden Hidlay, Mifflin County 8-2
3rd: Trent Hidlay, Mifflin County techlfall Nick Carr, ECWC 10-0
5th: Grant Cuomo, ISW dec. Noah Curreri, SIR 7-3
7th: Kyle Jasenski, Journeymen def. Jake Hendricks, PA 0:00

160B
1st place (5-0) Trevaughn Craig (Askren)
2nd place (4-1) Anthony Laniewski (Journeymen)
3rd place (3-2) Dillon Warner (Journeymen)
4th place (2-3) Mack Berkowitz (Vhw)
5th place (1-4) Grayson Adler (KT Kidz)

160C
1st place (5-0) Terrance Parks (NYC)
2nd place (4-1) Bailey Obrien (Locust Valley)
3rd place (3-2) Ryan Martin (Journeymen)
4th place (2-3) Parker Brooks (Journeymen)
5th place (1-4) Alex Leone (lsw)

170A
1st - Mikey Labriola, Bethlehem Catholic, tech. fall AJ Pedro,Pedros Wrestling Club, 12-1, 3:23
3rd - Louie Deprez, Hilton pin Shane Sosinsky, Apex, 0:30
5th - Feliks Dulaev Russia, tech. fall Ty Bagoly, Exeter Township HS, 12-2
7th - Tyler Barnes Journeymen dec.DominykasViliusis, Lithuania

170 B
1st place (5-0) Trent Goodman (Wrestlers Way)
2nd place (4-1) Stanley Smeltzer (PWA)
3rd place (2-3) Seth Gilbert (Phoenix)
4th place (2-3) Zachary Zebrowski (Journeymen)
5th place (2-3) Serjey Thomas

182A
1st - AlikShebzyhov, Russia, tech. fall Jake Woodley, North Allegheny, 10-0
3rd - Kim Sung Bog, Korea, dec. James Handwerk, Lutheran West, 5-3
5th - Mantas Adomaitis, Lithuania dec. Anthony Falbo.Newtown HS, 9-5
7th - Kendall Elfstrum, Apex dec. Young Jun Joen, Korea
(L)

182B
1st - Matt Mcgillick, Young Guns dec.Cliffton Wang, lsw, 9-5
3rd - Christopher Francis, Ri National, tech. fall Zachary Kornberg, Ascend, 12-2, 5:24
5th - Kyle Lightner, Del Val, pin David Schultz, High 5, 2:08
7th- Mike Doggett, PA tech. fall Ethan Hartlage, 16-6, 3:09

200 A
1st place (7-0) Ben Darmstadt (Flwc)
2nd place (6-1) Jacob Raschka (Askren)
3rd place (5-2) Gavin Hoffman (Bison)
4th place (4-3) Sean Omalley (Apex)
5th place (3-4) Dante Delbonis (Ri National)
6th place (2-5) Jake Cook (Journeymen)
7th place (1-6) Colton Dean (Journeymen)

285 A
1st place (7-0) Niko Camacho (Bethlehem Catholic)
2nd place (6-1) Adam Beterbiev (Russia)
3rd place (5-2) Mansur Abdul-Malik (Terrapin WC)
4th place (3-4) Khaled Dassan (lsw)
5th place (3-4) Seong Woo (Korea)
6th place (2-5) Jacob Karandy (Journeymen)
7th place (2-5) Jayson Gomez (Eagle WC)