Raimo, Wittlake repeat as Cadet Greco-Roman champs; Illinois takes team title

Nick Raimo (New Jersey) looks for a par terre lift int he 126-pound finals of the Cadet Greco-Roman Nationals in Fargo, N.D. Photo: John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com.

VIDEO: Cadet Greco-Roman Champion Interviews

FARGO, N. D. – High school sensations Nicholas Raimo and Travis Wittlake earned Cadet Greco-Roman national titles for the second-consecutive year on Monday at the 2016 ASICS/Vaughan Cadet National Championships at the Fargodome.

Raimo of New Jersey provided perhaps the most entertaining bout of the night at 126 pounds. Challenging the defending champ was Pennsylvania’s Carter Tuttle, who jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the finals bout. It wasn’t long until Raimo took control of the match, leading 9-4 after the first period. A four-point move and takedown put Tuttle back in front, 10-9. With the clock winding down, Raimo managed to earn a step out and a takedown in the final 20 seconds to claim his second Cadet Greco-Roman national championship.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” Raimo said. “I haven’t really studied him. I didn’t know who he was until the finals match and he came out, he knew my style, defended it really well and it made me open up and do different things I’m not used to.”

Wittlake of Oregon was the second wrestler to earn back-to-back Cadet Greco-Roman national titles as he put on a dominating performance at 170 pounds over New York’s Tyler Barnes, 9-2. Wittlake jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first period and notched three step-out points in the second to secure the win. The 2016 Cadet World team member has an opportunity to capture his fifth USA Wrestling Triple Crown award later this week.

Missouri’s Tyler Curd won the 195-pound finals by technical fall over Jace Punke of Illinois, 14-3. Curd struck first, but Punke kept it close as Curd led 4-3 at the break. Curd let the points fly in the second period, scoring 10 in less than two minutes to bring home the lone title for Missouri.

“I thought I wrestled pretty good,” Curd said. “Going through the finals match, nothing was really working. I know that some of my stuff I usually hit constantly and people catch on to it real quick. I just had to mix it up a little bit and go to the basics.”

Curd went on to be named the Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.

The finals started at 88 pounds, where Sam Latona became the first Cadet Greco-Roman national champion from Alabama when he defeated 2016 USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals champion Andrew Chambal of Michigan, 6-1. Latona made his way to the finals after a 9-6 semifinals win over Paxton Creese of Minnesota.

“I’m just excited right now,” Latona said. “I’m probably the smallest one on the team, but I try to bring everybody up and stay positive. My coaches were all positive. They believed in me. I believe in them.”

Dylan Ragusin took the Cadet crown at 94 pounds in just over two minutes with a 10-0 tech fall over Washington’s Brenden Chaowanapibool, who earlier defeated Cadet World Team member Jalen Spuhler to earn a spot in the finals. It was Ragusin’s second tech fall of the day after he dominated teammate Christian Goin in the semifinals, 13-3.

Idaho’s Ridge Lovett created a lot of action in the 100-pound finals, scoring 13 points on Lucas Byrd of Ohio for a 13-3 tech fall. Lovett outscored his opponents 24-3 on the day.

Jace Koelzer of Kansas put himself in the hunt for the prestigious Triple Crown award after taking the 106-pound title, outlasting Colorado’s Patrick Allis, 4-1. Earlier this year, Koelzer won Folkstyle Nationals at 106 pounds.

Jordan Hamdan of Michigan stormed back from an 8-0 deficit against Reece Witcraft of Oklahoma in the 113-pound finals to win, 11-8. Witcraft pulled out to an early lead with two four-point moves, and Hamdan closed out the period with a takedown to trail 8-2 at the break. In the second period, Hamdan turned it on, scoring nine unanswered points for the win.

Theorius Robison of Colorado put on a show at 120 pounds, finishing off Arizona’s Atilano Escobar in 1:47. Robison took a 7-0 lead in the first 30 seconds with a five-point throw, followed by another takedown 13 seconds later. He scored two more takedowns to wrap it up with an 11-0 win.

Washington’s Mason Phillips and Minnesota’s Tyler Eischens spent six minutes exchanging points, but it was Phillips who came out on top with a 16-9 win in the 132-pound finals. In his championship performance, Phillips recorded three four-point moves as well as two other takedowns.

Illinois picked up its second Cadet Greco champion with a solid performance from Will Lewan at 138 pounds. Lewan faced Folkstyle Nationals champion Brock Hardy of Utah. Hardy shut out Lewan in the first period with a 3-0 lead but the tables turned as Lewan outscored Hardy 6-0 in the second period to earn his first Cadet Greco-Roman national title.

At 145 pounds, Arizona’s Dawon Andrews defeated Abe Assad of Illinois with a decisive 3-0 victory, scoring a takedown 30 seconds left in the match. Andrews had a good showing at the tournament, picking up three tech falls and a pin to earn a spot in the finals.

Another Folkstyle Nationals champion went down in the 152-pound finals as Washington’s James Rogers defeated Tyler Dow of Wisconsin by technical fall. Rogers opened with a takedown that led into two gut wrenches. He had a 7-0 lead after the first and finished off the match with a four-point move early in the second period. Dow’s corner challenged the call, but after the review, the call stood, giving Rogers another point and a 12-0 win.

Aaron Brooks of Maryland won the title at 160 pounds, edging out Pennsylvania’s Jake Hendricks, 2-1. Brooks scored both points on step outs. Overall, the champ outscored his opponents 50-6 and earned four wins by technical fall.

At 182 pounds, Ryan Karoly gave New Jersey another individual title with his 6-3 win over Caden Steffen of Minnesota. Two slide-by takedowns for Karoly gave him a 4-2 lead heading into the second period. The New Jersey native hit a duck under late in the second to clinch the match.

Braxton Amos, representing Ohio, cruised to a championship at 195 pounds, rolling over Kaleb Reeves in 45 seconds with a 10-0 technical fall. Amos executed a takedown with exposure before hitting a four-point move to go up 8-0. He sealed the deal with another set of exposure points. It was his fourth tech fall of the tournament.

Spencer Trenary closed out the tournament with an exciting match against Oklahoma’s Montana Phillips. The Oklahoman had a quick 4-0 lead but Trenary responded with a takedown and five gut wrenches to get the points going. A four-point move later in the period earned Trenary the tech fall, 17-4.

Illinois earned its fourth-consecutive team title and sixth overall, putting the squad second all-time behind Pennsylvania.

The Cadet Nationals will resume on Wednesday morning with the freestyle competition, while Junior Greco and Junior women’s freestyle will continue wrestling tonight.

A live stream for all matches at the ASICS/Vaughan Cadet and Junior National Championships can be viewed on Flowrestling.org with a FLO PRO membership.

For complete brackets, results and team scores visit trackwrestling.com.

Follow @USAWrestling on Twitter for live updates from the Fargodome and join the tournament conversation online using the hashtag #Fargo2016.

ASICS/VAUGHAN CADET GRECO-ROMAN NATIONALS
At Fargo, N.D., July 18

Team Results
1. Illinois 70.0
T2. Michigan 45.0
T2. Pennsylvania 45.0
4. Minnesota 34.0
5. Arizona 29.0
6. Washington 27.0
7. Colorado 26.0
8. Ohio 26.0
9. Iowa 25.0
10. New Jersey 25.0

88 pounds
1st Place - Sam Latona of Alabama
2nd Place - Andrew Chambal of Michigan
3rd Place - Paxton Creese of Minnesota
4th Place - Pope Rivers of Alabama
5th Place - Timothy Levine of California
6th Place - Brody Norman of Illinois
7th Place - Preston Blotter of Utah
8th Place - Jackson Cockrell of Oklahoma
1st Place Match - Sam Latona (Alabama) won by decision over Andrew Chambal (Michigan) (Dec 6-1)
3rd Place Match - Paxton Creese (Minnesota) won by tech fall over Pope Rivers (Alabama) (TF 10-0)
5th Place Match - Timothy Levine (California) won by decision over Brody Norman (Illinois) (Dec 11-4)
7th Place Match - Preston Blotter (Utah) won by tech fall over Jackson Cockrell (Oklahoma) (TF 13-2)

94 pounds
1st Place - Dylan Ragusin of Illinois
2nd Place - Brenden Chaowanapibool of Washington
3rd Place - Jalen Spuhler of Wisconsin
4th Place - Destin Summers of Idaho
5th Place - David Stepanian of Michigan
6th Place - Christian Goin of Illinois
7th Place - Braydon Mogle of Utah
8th Place - Curtez Riley of Nebraska
1st Place Match - Dylan Ragusin (Illinois) won by tech fall over Brenden Chaowanapibool (Washington) (TF 10-0)
3rd Place Match - Jalen Spuhler (Wisconsin) won by decision over Destin Summers (Idaho) (Dec 10-8)
5th Place Match - David Stepanian (Michigan) won by decision over Christian Goin (Illinois) (Dec 2-2)
7th Place Match - Braydon Mogle (Utah) won by tech fall over Curtez Riley (Nebraska) (TF 14-4)

100 pounds
1st Place - Ridge Lovett of Idaho
2nd Place - Lucas Byrd of Ohio
3rd Place - Chayse La joie of Michigan
4th Place - Steele Dias of Nevada
5th Place - Trey Crawford of Missouri
6th Place - Kellyn March of South Dakota
7th Place - Matthew Ramos of Illinois
8th Place - Hunter Lewis of Wisconsin
1st Place Match - Ridge Lovett (Idaho) won by tech fall over Lucas Byrd (Ohio) (TF 13-3)
3rd Place Match - Chayse La joie (Michigan) won by fall over Steele Dias (Nevada) (Fall 4:53)
5th Place Match - Trey Crawford (Missouri) won by decision over Kellyn March (South Dakota) (Dec 14-12)
7th Place Match - Matthew Ramos (Illinois) won by decision over Hunter Lewis (Wisconsin) (Dec 11-6)

106 pounds
1st Place - Jace Koelzer of Kansas
2nd Place - Patrick Allis of Colorado
3rd Place - Anthony Molton of Illinois
4th Place - Alex Thomas of Alabama
5th Place - Dove Bonjean-alpart of New York
6th Place - Leif Schroeder of Montana
7th Place - Logan Agin of Ohio
8th Place - Cameron Picklo of Oklahoma
1st Place Match - Jace Koelzer (Kansas) won by decision over Patrick Allis (Colorado) (Dec 4-1)
3rd Place Match - Anthony Molton (Illinois) won by decision over Alex Thomas (Alabama) (Dec 13-7)
5th Place Match - Dove Bonjean-alpart (New York) won by decision over Leif Schroeder (Montana) (Dec 16-11)
7th Place Match - Logan Agin (Ohio) won by fall over Cameron Picklo (Oklahoma) (Fall 4:12)

113 pounds
1st Place - Jordan Hamdan of Michigan
2nd Place - Reece Witcraft of Oklahoma
3rd Place - King Sandoval of Maryland
4th Place - Malyke Hines of Florida
5th Place - Colby Njos of Minnesota
6th Place - Benyamin Kamali of Michigan
7th Place - Antonio Saldate of Nevada
8th Place - Joseph Klock of Pennsylvania
1st Place Match - Jordan Hamdan (Michigan) won by decision over Reece Witcraft (Oklahoma) (Dec 11-8)
3rd Place Match - King Sandoval (Maryland) won by tech fall over Malyke Hines (Florida) (TF 12-0)
5th Place Match - Colby Njos (Minnesota) won by decision over Benyamin Kamali (Michigan) (Dec 10-9)
7th Place Match - Antonio Saldate (Nevada) won by fall over Joseph Klock (Pennsylvania) (Fall 4:02)

120 pounds
1st Place - Theorius Robison of Colorado
2nd Place - Atilano Escobar of Arizona
3rd Place - Benji Peak of Wisconsin
4th Place - Ryan Ripplinger of North Dakota
5th Place - Phillip Moomey of Nebraska
6th Place - Curtis Lemair of Minnesota
7th Place - Connor Manderfeld of Texas
8th Place - Braeden Dickinson of Idaho
1st Place Match - Theorius Robison (Colorado) won by tech fall over Atilano Escobar (Arizona) (TF 11-0)
3rd Place Match - Benji Peak (Wisconsin) won by tech fall over Ryan Ripplinger (North Dakota) (TF 14-1)
5th Place Match - Phillip Moomey (Nebraska) won by fall over Curtis Lemair (Minnesota) (Fall 3:56)
7th Place Match - Connor Manderfeld (Texas) won by decision over Braeden Dickinson (Idaho) (Dec 2-1)

126 pounds
1st Place - Nicholas Raimo of New Jersey
2nd Place - Carter Tuttle of Pennsylvania
3rd Place - Jacob Garcia of Arizona
4th Place - Bernie Truax of California
5th Place - Peyton Robb of Minnesota
6th Place - Joshua Steele of Missouri
7th Place - Michael Mello of California
8th Place - Marcus Castillo of Arizona
1st Place Match - Nicholas Raimo (New Jersey) won by decision over Carter Tuttle (Pennsylvania) (Dec 13-10)
3rd Place Match - Jacob Garcia (Arizona) won by tech fall over Bernie Truax (California) (TF 12-0)
5th Place Match - Peyton Robb (Minnesota) won by tech fall over Joshua Steele (Missouri) (TF 10-0)
7th Place Match - Michael Mello (California) won by injury default over Marcus Castillo (Arizona) (Inj. 0:00)

132 pounds
1st Place - Mason Phillips of Washington
2nd Place - Tyler Eischens of Minnesota
3rd Place - Carnell Andrews of Pennsylvania
4th Place - Desmond Bowers of Nevada
5th Place - Nick Freeman of Michigan
6th Place - Zakery Kohler of Utah
7th Place - River Curtis of Virginia
8th Place - Trevor Mansfield of South Carolina
1st Place Match - Mason Phillips (Washington) won by decision over Tyler Eischens (Minnesota) (Dec 16-9)
3rd Place Match - Carnell Andrews (Pennsylvania) won by decision over Desmond Bowers (Nevada) (Dec 8-5)
5th Place Match - Nick Freeman (Michigan) won by tech fall over Zakery Kohler (Utah) (TF 14-2)
7th Place Match - River Curtis (Virginia) won by fall over Trevor Mansfield (South Carolina) (Fall 2:49)

138 pounds
1st Place - Will Lewan of Illinois
2nd Place - Brock Hardy of Utah
3rd Place - Sam Sasso of Pennsylvania
4th Place - Cameron Amine of Michigan
5th Place - Peter Enos of Nevada
6th Place - Fidel Mayora of Illinois
7th Place - Ezekial Williamson of Idaho
8th Place - Brody Lamb of Colorado
1st Place Match - Will Lewan (Illinois) won by decision over Brock Hardy (Utah) (Dec 6-3)
3rd Place Match - Sam Sasso (Pennsylvania) won by decision over Cameron Amine (Michigan) (Dec 7-3)
5th Place Match - Peter Enos (Nevada) won by tech fall over Fidel Mayora (Illinois) (TF 13-2)
7th Place Match - Ezekial Williamson (Idaho) won by decision over Brody Lamb (Colorado) (Dec 13-7)

145 pounds
1st Place - Dawon Andrews of Arizona
2nd Place - Abe Assad of Illinois
3rd Place - Markus Hartman of Illinois
4th Place - Logan Jensen of Utah
5th Place - Dalton Jensen of Illinois
6th Place - Alex Escudero of California
7th Place - Nathan Moore of Washington
8th Place - Jake Stiles of Illinois
1st Place Match - Dawon Andrews (Arizona) won by decision over Abe Assad (Illinois) (Dec 3-0)
3rd Place Match - Markus Hartman (Illinois) won by fall over Logan Jensen (Utah) (Fall 4:19)
5th Place Match - Dalton Jensen (Illinois) won by tech fall over Alex Escudero (California) (TF 10-0)
7th Place Match - Nathan Moore (Washington) won by decision over Jake Stiles (Illinois) (Dec 11-3)

152 pounds
1st Place - James Rogers of Washington
2nd Place - Tyler Dow of Wisconsin
3rd Place - Michael O`malley of New Jersey
4th Place - Samuel Mora of Texas
5th Place - Matthew Ortiz of Illinois
6th Place - Mason Reiniche of Tennessee
7th Place - Sean Harman of Oregon
8th Place - Carter Starocci of Pennsylvania
1st Place Match - James Rogers (Washington) won by tech fall over Tyler Dow (Wisconsin) (TF 12-0)
3rd Place Match - Michael O`malley (New Jersey) won by fall over Samuel Mora (Texas) (Fall 4:28)
5th Place Match - Matthew Ortiz (Illinois) won by decision over Mason Reiniche (Tennessee) (Dec 14-6)
7th Place Match - Sean Harman (Oregon) won by decision over Carter Starocci (Pennsylvania) (Dec 2-2)

160 pounds
1st Place - Aaron Brooks of Maryland
2nd Place - Jake Hendricks of Pennsylvania
3rd Place - Joshua Stillings of Pennsylvania
4th Place - Jacob Logan of New York
5th Place - Cornell Beachem of Ohio
6th Place - Grant Parrish of Minnesota
7th Place - Drew Hoselton of Illinois
8th Place - Lennox Wolak of Ohio
1st Place Match - Aaron Brooks (Maryland) won by decision over Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania) (Dec 2-1)
3rd Place Match - Joshua Stillings (Pennsylvania) won by decision over Jacob Logan (New York) (Dec 2-0)
5th Place Match - Cornell Beachem (Ohio) won by fall over Grant Parrish (Minnesota) (Fall 0:28)
7th Place Match - Drew Hoselton (Illinois) won by decision over Lennox Wolak (Ohio) (Dec 21-14)

170 pounds
1st Place - Travis Wittlake jr. of Oregon
2nd Place - Tyler Barnes of New York
3rd Place - Nick Casperson of South Dakota
4th Place - Benjamin Root of Pennsylvania
5th Place - Shane Flandermeyer of Oklahoma
6th Place - Faustin Lopez of Colorado
7th Place - Michael Waggoner of Kansas
8th Place - Devin Winston of Missouri
1st Place Match - Travis Wittlake jr. (Oregon) won by decision over Tyler Barnes (New York) (Dec 9-2)
3rd Place Match - Nick Casperson (South Dakota) won by tech fall over Benjamin Root (Pennsylvania) (TF 12-1)
5th Place Match - Shane Flandermeyer (Oklahoma) won by tech fall over Faustin Lopez (Colorado) (TF 17-7)
7th Place Match - Michael Waggoner (Kansas) won by decision over Devin Winston (Missouri) (Dec 5-4)

182 pounds
1st Place - Ryan Karoly of New Jersey
2nd Place - Caden Steffen of Minnesota
3rd Place - Julian Gorring of Pennsylvania
4th Place - Logan Schumacher of Iowa
5th Place - Lucas Davison of Indiana
6th Place - Drake Barbee of Oklahoma
7th Place - Jackson Mckinney of Washington
8th Place - Keegan Feenstra of Colorado
1st Place Match - Ryan Karoly (New Jersey) won by decision over Caden Steffen (Minnesota) (Dec 6-3)
3rd Place Match - Julian Gorring (Pennsylvania) won by decision over Logan Schumacher (Iowa) (Dec 9-8)
5th Place Match - Lucas Davison (Indiana) won by tech fall over Drake Barbee (Oklahoma) (TF 12-2)
7th Place Match - Jackson Mckinney (Washington) won by decision over Keegan Feenstra (Colorado) (Dec 6-4)

195 pounds
1st Place - Braxton Amos of Ohio
2nd Place - Kaleb Reeves of Iowa
3rd Place - Trent Ragland of Virginia
4th Place - Hunter Dejong of Iowa
5th Place - Cameron Sauerwein of Ohio
6th Place - Kyle Lightner of New Jersey
7th Place - Sergio Villalobos of Illinois
8th Place - Matt Kaylor of North Dakota
1st Place Match - Braxton Amos (Ohio) won by tech fall over Kaleb Reeves (Iowa) (TF 11-0)
3rd Place Match - Trent Ragland (Virginia) won by decision over Hunter Dejong (Iowa) (Dec 6-1)
5th Place Match - Cameron Sauerwein (Ohio) won by fall over Kyle Lightner (New Jersey) (Fall 0:35)
7th Place Match - Sergio Villalobos (Illinois) won by tech fall over Matt Kaylor (North Dakota) (TF 11-0)

220 pounds
1st Place - Tyler Curd of Missouri
2nd Place - Jace Punke of Illinois
3rd Place - Cohlton Schultz of Colorado
4th Place - Chase Trussell of Utah
5th Place - Tarik Sutkovic of Arizona
6th Place - Chase Umphres of Arizona
7th Place - Tyler Moore of Michigan
8th Place - Mason Lancaster of Oklahoma
1st Place Match - Tyler Curd (Missouri) won by tech fall over Jace Punke (Illinois) (TF 14-3)
3rd Place Match - Cohlton Schultz (Colorado) won by tech fall over Chase Trussell (Utah) (TF 10-0)
5th Place Match - Tarik Sutkovic (Arizona) won by tech fall over Chase Umphres (Arizona) (TF 11-0)
7th Place Match - Tyler Moore (Michigan) won by decision over Mason Lancaster (Oklahoma) (Dec 10-6)

285 pounds
1st Place - Spencer Trenary of Iowa
2nd Place - Montana Phillips of Oklahoma
3rd Place - Austin Emerson of Michigan
4th Place - Wade Wheeler of Virginia
5th Place - Ronald Tucker of Illinois
6th Place - Jeff Queer of Montana
7th Place - Moses Jackson of Oregon
8th Place - Payton Smith of South Dakota
1st Place Match - Spencer Trenary (Iowa) won by tech fall over Montana Phillips (Oklahoma) (TF 17-4)
3rd Place Match - Austin Emerson (Michigan) won by decision over Wade Wheeler (Virginia) (Dec 5-1)
5th Place Match - Ronald Tucker (Illinois) won by decision over Jeff Queer (Montana) (Dec 4-2)
7th Place Match - Moses Jackson (Oregon) won by fall over Payton Smith (South Dakota) (Fall 1:15)