Wittlake wins Triple Crown and OW at ASICS/Vaughan Cadet Freestyle Championships

Travis Wittlake, Jr. wins prestigious Triple Crown award. Photo: John Sachs, tech-fall.com.

FARGO, N.D. – Travis Wittlake, Jr. secured the coveted Triple Crown award on Friday as he won the Cadet Greco-Roman national title at 170 pounds. He was also named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.

En route to his third USA Wrestling national championship of the year, Wittlake, a 2016 Cadet World Team member, teched all six of his opponents, including New York’s Tyler Barnes, who he defeated 11-0 in the finals.

“I felt like I wrestled good,” Wittlake said. “I had some pretty decent kids in my bracket…I was just ready to go. I’ve been preparing for the World Championships so I’ve been wrestling a lot of freestyle and training all over. It’s really helped me. I was ready for this tournament 100 percent.”

Nick Raimo became the 14th wrestler to win Cadet freestyle and Greco-Roman national championships in back-to-back years, defeating California’s Jaden Abas, 3-1. Raimo scored early with a step out and followed it with a takedown in the first period, which ultimately sealed the win.

“It’s awesome,” Raimo said. “It’s preparing me to jump levels and do this on bigger stages and bigger tournaments to make my way up there like all those other guys. I’m really mentally strong, and when I’m in these tough battles I can pull through it and I can win matches over and over again.”

Ryan Karoly also won two championships for New Jersey this week, defeating Indiana’s Lucas Davison at 182 pounds with a 4-1 victory. Karoly is a four-time Cadet National finalist and three-time champion.

Other double champs include Maryland’s Aaron Brooks (160) and Ohio’s Braxton Amos (195).

Cadet Greco-Roman World team member Cohlton Schultz of Colorado earned his fourth tech fall of the tournament with three seconds left in his 16-4 defeat of Pennsylvania’s Gavin Hoffman. He outscored his opponents 55-9 and also earned a win by fall in the first round.

At 120 pounds, Jordan Decatur of Ohio earned his second-consecutive Cadet freestyle national championship, breezing through his finals against Iowa’s Brody Teske, 13-0. He was one of three champions for Ohio on the day.

Utah’s Brock Hardy captured his first stop sign in his fourth trip to the Cadet national finals, defeating Sam Sasso of Pennsylvania in an exciting 10-9 match at 138 pounds. This was a rematch of the 132-pound Cadet freestyle finals from last year, won by Sasso.

“It felt good to finally get him,” Hardy said. “I was thinking about it and knowing that I was probably going to meet him in the finals so I was not going to do what I did last year. Last year I was going out there a little timid, but this year I was going out there to win.”

Chase Koelzer of Kansas was stopped short of the Triple Crown in a hard-fought battle at 106 pounds. Corey Gamet, a 2016 Michigan state champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman, put the first points on the board and never looked back. Koelzer was able to score on counter exposure, but it was not enough as Gamet’s attacks were too much in the 11-2 win.

A wild finish at 132 pounds gave Jacori Teemer his first Cadet national title as he outlasted Mason Phillips of Washington, 12-10. The New Yorker trailed 9-8 with 30 seconds left, but a flurry of action saw Teemer earn two sets of exposure, while Phillips picked up a reversal. When the clock expired, it was Teemer who had the advantage.

Points were flying at 145 pounds, where Jared Franek edged out Markus Hartman of Illinois, 15-12 for the title. Franek became North Dakota’s third Cadet freestyle champion and first since 1993.

Montana Phillips of Oklahoma picked up a fall in the 285-pound finals over Ronald Tucker of Illinois with 32 seconds left in the match. He was the only wrestler to record a pin in the championship finals.

Other Cadet freestyle champions included Cullan Schriever of Iowa (88), Jeremiah Reno of Missouri (94), Julian Tagg of Ohio (100), Colton Yapoujian of Colorado (113) and Frankie Gissendanner of New York (152).

Illinois won the team race for the fourth-straight year with 82 points. New Jersey finished in second with 64 points. New York, Ohio and Iowa round out the top five teams in Cadet freestyle.

Action from the Fargodome will resume tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. (CT) with the Junior freestyle finals.

All matches from the 2016 ASICS/Vaughan Cadet and Junior National Championships can be viewed live on Flowrestling.com with a FLO PRO account. Complete brackets, results and team scores can be found on Trackwrestling.com.

ASICS/VAUGHAN CADET FREESTYLE NATIONALS
At Fargo, N.D., July 22

Championship Results
88 lbs. – Cullen Schriever (IA) dec. Sam Latona (AL), 8-5
94 lbs.– Jeremiah Reno (MO) tech. fall Justin Bierdumpfel (NJ), 10-0
100 lbs.– Julian Tagg (OH) dec. Ridge Lovett (ID), 8-2
106 lbs.– Corey Gamet (MI) dec. Jace Koelzer (KS), 11-2
113 lbs.– Colton Yapoujian (CO) dec. Travis Ford-Melton (IL), 3-1
120 lbs.– Jordan Decatur (OH) tech. fall Brody Teske (IA), 13-0
126 lbs.– Nicholas Raimo (NJ) dec. Jaden Abas (CA), 3-1
132 lbs.– Jacori Teemer (NY) dec. Mason Phillips (WA), 12-10
138 lbs.– Brock Hardy (UT) dec. Sam Sasso (PA), 10-9
145 lbs.– Jared Franek (ND) dec. Markus Hartman (IL), 15-12
152 lbs.– Frankie Gissendanner (NY) dec. Michael O’Malley (NJ), 9-2
160 lbs.– Aaron Brooks (MD) dec. Julian Ramirez (FL), 6-2
170 lbs.– Travis Wittlake (OR) tech. fall Tyler Barnes (NY), 10-0
182 lbs.– Ryan Karoly (NJ) dec. Lucas Davison (IN), 4-1
195 lbs.– Braxton Amos (OH) tech. fall Sergio Villalobos (IL), 17-7
220 lbs.– Cohlton Schultz (CO) tech. fall Gavin Hoffman (PA), 16-4
285 lbs.– Montana Phillips (OK) fall Ronald Tucker (IL), 5:28

Team Results
1. Illinois 82.0
2. New Jersey 64.0
3. New York 42.0
4. Ohio 39.0
5. Iowa 38.0
6. Colorado 37.0
7. Michigan 33.0
8. Pennsylvania 33.0
9. Oklahoma 26.0
10. Minnesota 24.0

Final Results
88 lbs.
1st Place - Cullan Schriever of Iowa
2nd Place - Sam Latona of Alabama
3rd Place - Andrew Chambal of Michigan
4th Place - Cole Skinner of Ohio
5th Place - Wyatt Yapoujian of Colorado
6th Place - Timothy Levine of California
7th Place - Paxton Creese of Minnesota
8th Place - Kase Mauger of Idaho
1st Place Match - Cullan Schriever (Iowa) won by decision over Sam Latona (Alabama) (Dec 8-5)
3rd Place Match - Andrew Chambal (Michigan) won by decision over Cole Skinner (Ohio) (Dec 2-1)
5th Place Match - Wyatt Yapoujian (Colorado) won by tech fall over Timothy Levine (California) (TF 13-2)
7th Place Match - Paxton Creese (Minnesota) won by tech fall over Kase Mauger (Idaho) (TF 10-0)

94 lbs.
1st Place - Jeremiah Reno of Missouri
2nd Place - Justin Bierdumpfel of New Jersey
3rd Place - Dylan Ragusin of Illinois
4th Place - Joshua Ogunsanya of Illinois
5th Place - Curtez Riley of Nebraska
6th Place - David Stepanian of Michigan
7th Place - Caden Mccrary of Georgia
8th Place - Braydon Mogle of Utah
1st Place Match - Jeremiah Reno (Missouri) won by tech fall over Justin Bierdumpfel (New Jersey) (TF 10-0)
3rd Place Match - Dylan Ragusin (Illinois) won by tech fall over Joshua Ogunsanya (Illinois) (TF 10-0)
5th Place Match - Curtez Riley (Nebraska) won by tech fall over David Stepanian (Michigan) (TF 12-2)
7th Place Match - Caden Mccrary (Georgia) won by tech fall over Braydon Mogle (Utah) (TF 10-0)

100 lbs.
1st Place - Julian Tagg of Ohio
2nd Place - Ridge Lovett of Idaho
3rd Place - Eric Faught of Iowa
4th Place - Matthew Ramos of Illinois
5th Place - Anthony Clark of New Jersey
6th Place - Eric Barnett of Wisconsin
7th Place - Kaden Kuenzi of Oregon
8th Place - Terry Adams of New York
1st Place Match - Julian Tagg (Ohio) won by decision over Ridge Lovett (Idaho) (Dec 8-2)
3rd Place Match - Eric Faught (Iowa) won by tech fall over Matthew Ramos (Illinois) (TF 10-0)
5th Place Match - Anthony Clark (New Jersey) won by decision over Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) (Dec 12-9)
7th Place Match - Kaden Kuenzi (Oregon) won by tech fall over Terry Adams (New York) (TF 16-6)

106 lbs.
1st Place - Corey Gamet of Michigan
2nd Place - Jace Koelzer of Kansas
3rd Place - Gregory Diakomihalis of New York
4th Place - Dylan Shawver of Ohio
5th Place - Angelo Rini of Ohio
6th Place - Joseph Heilmann of New Jersey
7th Place - Keegan O`toole of Wisconsin
8th Place - Dylan Ryder of New York
1st Place Match - Corey Gamet (Michigan) won by decision over Jace Koelzer (Kansas) (Dec 11-2)
3rd Place Match - Gregory Diakomihalis (New York) won by tech fall over Dylan Shawver (Ohio) (TF 16-6)
5th Place Match - Angelo Rini (Ohio) won by decision over Joseph Heilmann (New Jersey) (Dec 8-2)
7th Place Match - Keegan O`toole (Wisconsin) won by tech fall over Dylan Ryder (New York) (TF 12-2)

113 lbs.
1st Place - Colton Yapoujian of Colorado
2nd Place - Travis Ford-Melton of Illinois
3rd Place - Colt Newton of Oklahoma
4th Place - Malyke Hines of Florida
5th Place - Kyle Burwick of North Dakota
6th Place - Adam Busiello of New York
7th Place - Trevor Mastrogiovanni of New Jersey
8th Place - Benyamin Kamali of Michigan
1st Place Match - Colton Yapoujian (Colorado) won by decision over Travis Ford-Melton (Illinois) (Dec 3-1)
3rd Place Match - Colt Newton (Oklahoma) won by tech fall over Malyke Hines (Florida) (TF 12-2)
5th Place Match - Kyle Burwick (North Dakota) won by injury default over Adam Busiello (New York) (Inj. 0:00)
7th Place Match - Trevor Mastrogiovanni (New Jersey) won by decision over Benyamin Kamali (Michigan) (Dec 14-9)

120 lbs.
1st Place - Jordan Decatur of Ohio
2nd Place - Brody Teske of Iowa
3rd Place - Andrew Alirez of Colorado
4th Place - Theorius Robison of Colorado
5th Place - Alexander Cruz of Washington
6th Place - Joshua Saunders of Missouri
7th Place - Robert Precin of Illinois
8th Place - Aden Reeves of Iowa
1st Place Match - Jordan Decatur (Ohio) won by tech fall over Brody Teske (Iowa) (TF 13-0)
3rd Place Match - Andrew Alirez (Colorado) won by decision over Theorius Robison (Colorado) (Dec 5-4)
5th Place Match - Alexander Cruz (Washington) won by injury default over Joshua Saunders (Missouri) (Inj. 0:00)
7th Place Match - Robert Precin (Illinois) won by decision over Aden Reeves (Iowa) (Dec 13-6)

126 lbs.
1st Place - Nicholas Raimo of New Jersey
2nd Place - Jaden Abas of California
3rd Place - Malcolm Robinson of Virginia
4th Place - Chris Cannon of New Jersey
5th Place - Peyton Robb of Minnesota
6th Place - Job Greenwood of Colorado
7th Place - Ryan Moore of Kentucky
8th Place - Andrew Garr of Ohio
1st Place Match - Nicholas Raimo (New Jersey) won by decision over Jaden Abas (California) (Dec 3-1)
3rd Place Match - Malcolm Robinson (Virginia) won by decision over Chris Cannon (New Jersey) (Dec 5-2)
5th Place Match - Peyton Robb (Minnesota) won by tech fall over Job Greenwood (Colorado) (TF 10-0)
7th Place Match - Ryan Moore (Kentucky) won by decision over Andrew Garr (Ohio) (Dec 10-4)

132 lbs.
1st Place - Jacori Teemer of New York
2nd Place - Mason Phillips of Washington
3rd Place - Dustin Plott of Oklahoma
4th Place - Nick Freeman of Michigan
5th Place - Kevon Davenport of Michigan
6th Place - Rodrick Mosley of Oklahoma
7th Place - Tyler Eischens of Minnesota
8th Place - Jacob Dado of Illinois
1st Place Match - Jacori Teemer (New York) won by decision over Mason Phillips (Washington) (Dec 12-10)
3rd Place Match - Dustin Plott (Oklahoma) won by tech fall over Nick Freeman (Michigan) (TF 10-0)
5th Place Match - Kevon Davenport (Michigan) won by decision over Rodrick Mosley (Oklahoma) (Dec 7-2)
7th Place Match - Tyler Eischens (Minnesota) won by tech fall over Jacob Dado (Illinois) (TF 13-2)

138 lbs.
1st Place - Brock Hardy of Utah
2nd Place - Sam Sasso of Pennsylvania
3rd Place - Will Lewan of Illinois
4th Place - Gerard Angelo of New Jersey
5th Place - Cole Matthews of Pennsylvania
6th Place - Kiernan Shanahan of New York
7th Place - Cameron Amine of Michigan
8th Place - Jason Burchell of Idaho
1st Place Match - Brock Hardy (Utah) won by decision over Sam Sasso (Pennsylvania) (Dec 10-9)
3rd Place Match - Will Lewan (Illinois) won by tech fall over Gerard Angelo (New Jersey) (TF 10-0)
5th Place Match - Cole Matthews (Pennsylvania) won by injury default over Kiernan Shanahan (New York) (Inj. 0:00)
7th Place Match - Cameron Amine (Michigan) won by tech fall over Jason Burchell (Idaho) (TF 13-2)

145 lbs.
1st Place - Jared Franek of North Dakota
2nd Place - Markus Hartman of Illinois
3rd Place - Baylor Fernandes of Illinois
4th Place - Brian Meyer of New Jersey
5th Place - Justin Mccoy of Pennsylvania
6th Place - Abe Assad of Illinois
7th Place - Isaac Wilcox of Utah
8th Place - Dawon Andrews of Arizona
1st Place Match - Jared Franek (North Dakota) won by decision over Markus Hartman (Illinois) (Dec 15-12)
3rd Place Match - Baylor Fernandes (Illinois) won by tech fall over Brian Meyer (New Jersey) (TF 14-4)
5th Place Match - Justin Mccoy (Pennsylvania) won by tech fall over Abe Assad (Illinois) (TF 12-1)
7th Place Match - Isaac Wilcox (Utah) won by decision over Dawon Andrews (Arizona) (Dec 17-8)

152 lbs.
1st Place - Frankie Gissendanner of New York
2nd Place - Michael O`Malley of New Jersey
3rd Place - Tyler Dow of Wisconsin
4th Place - Anthony Jackson of Minnesota
5th Place - Danny Braunagel of Illinois
6th Place - Sean Harman of Oregon
7th Place - Mason Reiniche of Tennessee
8th Place - Hunter Jump of Oklahoma
1st Place Match - Frankie Gissendanner (New York) won by decision over Michael O`Malley (New Jersey) (Dec 9-2)
3rd Place Match - Tyler Dow (Wisconsin) won by tech fall over Anthony Jackson (Minnesota) (TF 12-2)
5th Place Match - Danny Braunagel (Illinois) won by injury default over Sean Harman (Oregon) (Inj. 0:00)
7th Place Match - Mason Reiniche (Tennessee) won by tech fall over Hunter Jump (Oklahoma) (TF 14-4)

160 lbs.
1st Place - Aaron Brooks of Maryland
2nd Place - Julian Ramirez of Florida
3rd Place - Jake Hendricks of Pennsylvania
4th Place - Joshua Stillings of Pennsylvania
5th Place - Christopher Foca of New Jersey
6th Place - Jacob Logan of New York
7th Place - Bryson Alsteen of Wisconsin
8th Place - Jeremiah Kent of Missouri
1st Place Match - Aaron Brooks (Maryland) won by decision over Julian Ramirez (Florida) (Dec 6-2)
3rd Place Match - Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania) won by decision over Joshua Stillings (Pennsylvania) (Dec 2-2)
5th Place Match - Christopher Foca (New Jersey) won by decision over Jacob Logan (New York) (Dec 8-6)
7th Place Match - Bryson Alsteen (Wisconsin) won by fall over Jeremiah Kent (Missouri) (Fall 1:17)

170 lbs.
1st Place - Travis Wittlake jr. of Oregon
2nd Place - Tyler Barnes of New York
3rd Place - William Janzer of New Jersey
4th Place - Nate Jimenez of Illinois
5th Place - Zachary Braunagel of Illinois
6th Place - Devin Winston of Missouri
7th Place - Joel Shapiro of Iowa
8th Place - Joey Ewalt of Kansas
1st Place Match - Travis Wittlake jr. (Oregon) won by tech fall over Tyler Barnes (New York) (TF 10-0)
3rd Place Match - William Janzer (New Jersey) won by decision over Nate Jimenez (Illinois) (Dec 11-2)
5th Place Match - Zachary Braunagel (Illinois) won by decision over Devin Winston (Missouri) (Dec 10-5)
7th Place Match - Joel Shapiro (Iowa) won by tech fall over Joey Ewalt (Kansas) (TF 10-0)

182 lbs.
1st Place - Ryan Karoly of New Jersey
2nd Place - Lucas Davison of Indiana
3rd Place - Nick Casperson of South Dakota
4th Place - Austin Cooley of Massachusetts
5th Place - Tyler Buesgens of Minnesota
6th Place - Drew Hennessey of Wisconsin
7th Place - Logan Schumacher of Iowa
8th Place - David Schultz of Maryland
1st Place Match - Ryan Karoly (New Jersey) won by decision over Lucas Davison (Indiana) (Dec 4-1)
3rd Place Match - Nick Casperson (South Dakota) won by tech fall over Austin Cooley (Massachusetts) (TF 13-0)
5th Place Match - Tyler Buesgens (Minnesota) won by fall over Drew Hennessey (Wisconsin) (Fall 0:42)
7th Place Match - Logan Schumacher (Iowa) won by fall over David Schultz (Maryland) (Fall 1:57)

195 lbs.
1st Place - Braxton Amos of Ohio
2nd Place - Sergio Villalobos of Illinois
3rd Place - Daniel Kerkvliet of Minnesota
4th Place - Eli Pokorney of Indiana
5th Place - Kaleb Reeves of Iowa
6th Place - Santos Cantu of Oregon
7th Place - Hunter Dejong of Iowa
8th Place - Cole Fibranz of Minnesota
1st Place Match - Braxton Amos (Ohio) won by tech fall over Sergio Villalobos (Illinois) (TF 17-7)
3rd Place Match - Daniel Kerkvliet (Minnesota) won by tech fall over Eli Pokorney (Indiana) (TF 10-0)
5th Place Match - Kaleb Reeves (Iowa) won by tech fall over Santos Cantu (Oregon) (TF 12-0)
7th Place Match - Hunter Dejong (Iowa) won by tech fall over Cole Fibranz (Minnesota) (TF 10-0)

220 lbs.
1st Place - Cohlton Schultz of Colorado
2nd Place - Gavin Hoffman of Pennsylvania
3rd Place - Tyler Curd of Missouri
4th Place - Chase Trussell of Utah
5th Place - Luke Luffman of Illinois
6th Place - Jace Punke of Illinois
7th Place - Cabe Dickerson of Oklahoma
8th Place - Kyle Cornwell of Indiana
1st Place Match - Cohlton Schultz (Colorado) won by tech fall over Gavin Hoffman (Pennsylvania) (TF 16-4)
3rd Place Match - Tyler Curd (Missouri) won by tech fall over Chase Trussell (Utah) (TF 16-0)
5th Place Match - Luke Luffman (Illinois) won by decision over Jace Punke (Illinois) (Dec 5-4)
7th Place Match - Cabe Dickerson (Oklahoma) won by decision over Kyle Cornwell (Indiana) (Dec 10-7)

285 lbs.
1st Place - Montana Phillips of Oklahoma
2nd Place - Ronald Tucker of Illinois
3rd Place - Spencer Trenary of Iowa
4th Place - Moses Jackson of Oregon
5th Place - Austin Emerson of Michigan
6th Place - Andy Garcia of Colorado
7th Place - Jayson Gomez of New York
8th Place - Payton Smith of South Dakota
1st Place Match - Montana Phillips (Oklahoma) won by fall over Ronald Tucker (Illinois) (Fall 5:28)
3rd Place Match - Spencer Trenary (Iowa) won by tech fall over Moses Jackson (Oregon) (TF 14-4)
5th Place Match - Austin Emerson (Michigan) won by decision over Andy Garcia (Colorado) (Dec 7-0)
7th Place Match - Jayson Gomez (New York) won by fall over Payton Smith (South Dakota) (Fall 2:03)