InterMat: Inside info from the N.W.C.A
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Cadet Freestyle Notebook (running)
By Jason Bryant
jbryant@intermatwrestle.com
WEDNESDAY
SESSION III
Let's play two
No, Ernie Banks isn't in the Fargodome, but we'll have re-matches of the Cadet Greco-Roman finals at 84 and 91 pounds. Hayden Zillmer of Minnesota will take on Montana's Jade Rauser at 84 pounds, while another Rauser, Vaylen, will take on Utah's Carson Kuhn at 91 pounds.
Keeping with the brother theme
With twins Vaylen and Jade Rauser in the finals, Ohio's brother duo of Hunter Stieber (98) and Logan (112) also reached the finals. Both are unbeaten, but Hunter's got the only blemish -- he lost a 1-0 period in the round robins to Nico Megaludis of Pennsylvania. And joining the other set of brothers and making the finals with the Rauser's for the second time this year is the Pennsylvania duo of Dylan (130) and Andrew (135) Alton.
Ramos tops Villalonga
Tony Ramos stepped to the raised platform and topped New Jersey's Chris Villalonga to advance to the finals at 119 pounds. The two met in the finals of the Walsh Ironman during the high school season at 112 pounds.
Preserverance
Oregon's Brock Gutches took a second round loss, but battled back and made the finals at 135 pounds. He made the round robins and picked up a second period fall over Iowa's Nick Moore to advance.
Updated 11:24 a.m. CDT
SESSION II
White beats McCauley
Ohio's Sam White picked up a three-period victory in round four in the B Pool at 112 pounds over Minnesota's Destin McCauley. McCauley won the first period 1-0, getting a takedown from the leg clinch position after the two wrestled to a virtual stalemate in the first two minutes. In the second and third, White controlled the ties, hit a three point move, stopping McCauley's throw attempt and getting the points. He added two more points, putting McCauley to his back late in the second to win 5-0. In the third, it was a slick passby on a sloppy McCauley shot that gave White the easy takedown and the 1-0 third period win.
Stieber on fire
White wasn't the only Ohio 112 to look good in the early going. Logan Stieber hasn't surrendered a ponit in the A Pool at 112 pounds. He first ousted Nick Schenk of Maryland 5-0, 5-0 and has since teched every opponent in two periods. The most recent was an impressive 8-0, 7-0 win over Illinois' Kent Williams.
Another dandy
Two of last year's top freshman hit up at 130 pounds in round four and it was Illinois' Lee Munster picking up a hard-fought three-period victory over New York's Steve Dutton. Munster was a state champion last season, Dutton a runner-up in two traditionally tough states. Munster scored a takedown 30 seconds into the period and added his last point countering a Dutton headlock attempt to win the third 2-0.
Monster weight
112 pounds, much like the Greco-Roman tournament, is the most loaded. In last round alone, Simon Kitzis of Massachussets beat Patrick Mucha of Washington 5-0, 4-1; Frank Cagnina of New Jersey topped Damonte Riley of Illinois 6-0, 5-0 and Minnesota's Dylan Ness beat Utah's Kade Moss 8-0, 4-4. That's just nasty.
Ramos drops period, wins match
Round four saw Illinois Tony Ramos meet another tough opponent at 119 pounds -- Nebraska's RaVaughan Perkins. Ramos had two tight periods, winning 1-0, and losing 3-3 before winning the decisive third 6-0.
More updates at 112
Frank Cagnina of New Jersey eliminated Utah's Kade Moss 2-0, 5-0; Destin McCauley of Minnesota topped Iowa champ Joe Colon 8-1, 3-1, Casey Lanave of New York spanked Kansas' Allen Callahan 7-0, 7-0. It's gettin' good as McCauley faced Jerome Robinson of Ohio and came away with a 3-0, 4-3 win. Now Robinson has to face Ohio teammate Sam White.
Let's rally
A pair of Pennsylvania kids met early in round five and it was Joe Waltko lost the first period 5-1 then picked up the second period fall in a defeat over Nicky Gordon. Also at 125 pounds, Alex Bridgeford of Nebraska picked up a 4-4, 1-0 victory over Minnesota's Luke Vaith. Vaith then put out Gordon with a 41-second fall in round six. Waltko then scored a victory over New York's Paul Liguori 3-0, 2-1.
Gunned up
A third period takedown was the difference as Ohio's David Habat knocked off Maryland's Shane Milam in three periods at 145 pounds.
Just nuts
Within the span of about 20 seconds on Mats 22 and 23, Ohio's Logan Stieber and Sam White advanced with quality wins. Stieber, who coming into his match with Minnesota's Dylan Ness, had not given up a point. That streak is over, as Ness countered a Stieber double-leg for a quick turn for three, which Stieber promptly came back and scored two as he rolled through. Then Stieber barred up Ness and turned him, nearly pinning him in the first. In the second period, it was four takedowns -- slick takedowns -- and another bar that put Ness away. One mat over, Ohio's Sam White knocked out teammate Jerome Robinson in a very scrappy three-period go.
Round Robins set, here's what's worth watching
At 119 pounds, it will be a re-match of the Ironman final as Illinois' Tony Ramos will take on New Jersey's Chris Villalonga in the B Pool, with the winner reaching the final. Andrew Alton (135) won't have to wrestle a round robin, he's already in the finals out of the B Pool. The same can be said for fellow Greco champion Dirk Cowburn of Pennsylvania. Cowburn's set to look for a double after running through the B Pool at 145 pounds.
Updated 8:59 p.m. CDT -- End Day 1
TUESDAY
SESSION I
By the numbers
There are 1073 wrestlers in the Cadet Freestyle tournament, representing 46 states, the Armed Forces and Puerto Rico.
Early action
New Jersey's Rob Deutsch of New Jersey picked up an early victory over Ohio's Johnni DiJulius at 98 pounds. Deutsch didn't yield a point in a 3-0, 7-0 victory.
Giving back
There's a handful of college wrestlers coaching for various Cadet & Junior National Teams for their respective states. Idaho's benefitting from Boise State's presence as the state has Adam Hall, Nate Lee and Cory Fish on staff, while Ohio's got Leo Saniuk (Brown) and J.D. Bergman (Ohio State). Brent Jones (Virginia) is coaching with Team Virginia and Kaylen Baxter (Old Dominion) is coaching with his native Team Alaska. Maryland assistant coach Todd Beckerman let us know about a pair of Duke wrestlers helping out -- Dan Shvartsman with Massachussets and Philip Wightman with North Carolina. Penn's Rollie Peterkin's also coaching with Mass.
Strength in numbers?
Ohio's seemingly off to a hot start in Cadet Freestyle. In the first 150 minutes of the tournament, the state's picked up 20 falls. Why so many? Well, when you bring 67 Cadets... that gives you a better shot, eh? Gus Sako's got two second-period falls at 98 pounds.
Alton's off to strong start
Pennsylvania twins Dylan (130) and Andrew (135) Alton are both off to 2-0 starts with Andrew picking up two falls in his first two matches. The first came in the opening round against Adam Morrell of Maryland in 19 seconds.
Steeley picks up early win
Oklahoma's Derek Steeley picked up a solid opening round win over returning All-American Tracy Huffman of Idaho. Steeley won the first period 2-1, then lost the second 6-0 before getting a fall with 10 seconds to go in the third period.
Ramos solid at 119
Illinois' Tony Ramos had to battle a bit, but he came away with a 4-0, 6-0 win over Iowa's Brett Baumbach at 119 pounds. Ramos was in deep on low singles throughout, but Baumbach kept Ramos at bay with a solid crotch-lift defense. Eventually, it broke and Ramos moved on.
Procter shows off
Stepping to the raised mat can be a chance to show the folks in the stands at the Fargodome what you've got. Illinois' Nick Procter decided to spend as little time as possible on the raised platform, picking up an eight-second fall at 140 pounds against Kody Hopwood of Oklahoma. It was so quick that Penn State assistant coach John Hughes turned and said, "Man, that was quick. Just boom, eight seconds." That's basically how you sum it up.
Early upsets
Oregon's Brock Gutches, an All-American in freestyle a year ago, was upended in the second round by South Dakota's Robert Kokesh 1-2, 5-2, 1-1 at 135 pounds. At 152 pounds, Michigan's Mike Curby won't make a return trip to the finals after finishing second in Greco-Roman. Curby was eliminated in two rounds by New York's Austin Meys and Washington's Taylor Meeks.
Coming up
One solid match coming up when the second session starts at 5 p.m. CDT is at 145 pounds where Brandon Rolnick of New Jersey will face Shawn Thomas of Oklahoma.
Session Over: Updated 2:34 p.m. CDT
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