Greco-Roman standouts Speiller, Martinez shine at University Nationals in Akron, Ohio
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by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
| Geordan Speiller (Florida Jets) named Outstanding Wrestler at the 2016 Greco-Roman University Nationals on Friday. Photo: Sam Janicki. |
AKRON, Ohio – Redemption was the theme for Geordan Speiller as he crushed the University Nationals field in Akron, Ohio on Friday.
Competing for the first time since finishing in second place at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at 75 kg/165 lbs., Speiller won all six of his matches by technical fall, going unscored upon to clinch a University World Team berth in Greco-Roman at 80 kg/176 lbs.
“I felt good. It’s what I expected. I didn’t want anybody to score a point on me. I wanted to tech everybody and I did it, so I did my thing,” said Speiller.
In the championship series Speiller downed a feisty Barrett Stanghill in two straight matches 9-0 and 8-0. Speiller outscored his opponents 49-0 on the day.
“I like to battle and I have great conditioning. I just used it to my advantage. I’m a brawler,” Speiller continued. “I’m training to be the best, not just the best in the U.S., in the world eventually.”
Speiller was named outstanding wrestler of the Greco-Roman University Nationals.
At 85 kg/187 lbs., 2015 U.S. World Team member Patrick Martinez found himself a place on the University World Team after an impressive showing.
Martinez navigated to the finals by way of three technical fall victories. He edged Khymbakhy Johnson 2-1 in the first round of the 85 kg championship series. Martinez followed with a dominating 8-0 technical fall of Johnson to clinch the victory.
“I wrestled well. That first match of the finals I came out a little slow. Some calls didn’t go my way. I got the win. It was an ugly win, but I got the job done in the second match and was able to score some more points and open up,” said Martinez.
Champions in every weight class except 63 kg qualified for the U.S. University Greco-Roman World Team that will compete at the World University Championships in Corum, Turkey, Oct. 25-30.
The Northern Michigan contingent crowned champions in the first five weight classes with Dalton Roberts (59 kg), Dmitry Ryabchinskiy (63 kg), Austin Morrow (66 kg), Alejandro Sancho (71 kg) and Jesse Porter (75 kg) all earning top prize.
In total, 12 of the 18 finalists were products of the Northern Michigan OTS program. Wrestlers interested in wrestling Greco-Roman full-time at Northern Michigan can contact head coach Rob Hermann via email at rhermann@nmu.edu.
In the lone championship series to go three matches, Patriot Elite RTC’s Matt Voss upended defending 130 kg/186 lbs. champion Parker Betts two matches to one. Betts took match one by a 3-0 score. Voss returned to win match two, 7-5, and match three, 4-0, to earn his first University World Team berth.
Wrestlers eligible to compete in the University age group range from ages 17-28 and must have graduated from high school.
The University Nationals will resume on Saturday with day one of the men’s freestyle competition. This event will be held alongside the UWW Cadet Nationals. Both tournaments are U.S. World Team qualifiers.
The remaining action from Akron can be viewed live on Flowrestling.com tomorrow at 9 a.m. (ET).
For complete brackets and results from the UWW Cadet and University Nationals visit Trackwrestling.com.
University Nationals Greco-Roman Results
Best-of-Three Championship Finals
59 kg/130 lbs.
Dalton Roberts (NMU-OTS) tech. fall Trey Andrews (Grit Athletics), 10-2
Dalton Roberts (NMU-OTS) dec. Trey Andrews (Grit Athletics), 6-3
Roberts wins series 2-0
63 kg/138 lbs.*Non-World Team Weight, one match wrestled
Dmitry Ryabchinskiy (New York AC) dec. Sammy Jones (New York AC/NMU), 6-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Austin Morrow (New York AC/NMU) tech. fall Jessy Williams (New York AC/NMU), 12-2
Austin Morrow (New York AC/NMU) tech. fall Jessy Williams (New York AC/NMU), 9-0
Morrow wins series 2-0
71 kg/156.5 lbs.
Alejandro Sancho (New York AC/NMU) dec. Anthonie Linares (New York AC/NMU), 4-0
Alejandro Sancho (New York AC/NMU) dec. Anthonie Linares (New York AC/NMU), 5-4
Sancho wins series 2-0
75 kg/165 lbs.
Jesse Porter (New York AC/NMU) tech. fall Colin Schubert (NMU-OTS), 10-0
Jesse Porter (New York AC/NMU) tech. fall Colin Schubert (NMU-OTS), 8-0
Porter wins series 2-0
80 kg/176 lbs.
Geordan Speiller (Florida Jets) tech. fall Barrett Stanghill (New York AC/NMU), 9-0
Geordan Speiller (Florida Jets) tech. fall Barrett Stanghill (New York AC/NMU), 8-0
Speiller wins series 2-0
85 kg/187 lbs.
Patrick Martinez (New York AC) dec. Khymbakhy Johnson (New York AC/NMU), 2-1
Patrick Martinez (New York AC) tech. fall Khymbakhy Johnson (New York AC/NMU), 8-0
Martinez wins series 2-0
98 kg/216 lbs.
G’Angelo Hancock (New York AC) tech. fall Orry Elor (New York AC/NMU), 8-0
G’Angelo Hancock (New York AC) fall Orry Elor (New York AC/NMU), 3:32
Hancock wins series 2-0
130 kg/286 lbs.
Parker Betts (Minnesota Storm) dec. Matt Voss (Patriot Elite RTC), 3-0
Matt Voss (Patriot Elite RTC) dec. Parker Betts (Minnesota Storm), 7-5
Matt Voss (Patriot Elite RTC) dec. Parker Betts (Minnesota Storm), 4-0
Voss wins series 2-1
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