This Sunday’s episode of Real Pro Wrestling, which will air on PAX TV at 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), will feature competition in the 163-pound weight class. Action from the quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be shown, with the finals set to air in episode eight on May 15th.
This weight class is filled with a talented and experienced mix of freestyle and Greco-Roman stars. It includes the top three freestyle wrestlers in the U.S. in this weight class, as well as two of the top
three Greco-Roman wrestlers, according to the latest U.S. Senior Rankings.
In the first quarterfinal match, top-seeded Joe Williams of the Chicago Groove will take on eighth-seeded Tyrone Lewis of the Oklahoma Slam.
Williams has been the dominant force in the U.S. at this weight class for many years. He has won the U.S. Nationals five times and placed fifth at the 2004 Olympic Games. Williams has placed second andfourth at the World Championships and is also a four-time World Cup champion. Before making his mark on the senior level, Williams was a four-time All-American and three-time NCAA Champion for the University of Iowa.
Whatever the 25-year-old Lewis lacks in international experience, he makes up for in talent. He was a three-time NCAA All-American and national runner-up for Oklahoma State. Lewis placed fifth at the 2004 Sunkist Open and was runner-up at the 2005 Dave Schultz Memorial.
What to expect: This is a match-up between two quick, explosive wrestlers who can strike at any moment. On paper, Williams should dominate this match, as he is the much more accomplished and seasoned wrestler. He is markedly better than Lewis both on his feet and in the par terre position. Lewis, however, with his long arms, is tough on his feet with his double leg and ankle pick, so don’t be surprised if he’s able to put some points on the scoreboard in this match and stay competitive.
Fourth-seeded T.C. Dantzler of the Minnesota Freeze will battle fifth-seeded Donny Pritzlaff of the Pennsylvania Hammer in the second of four quarterfinal matches.
Dantzler is a seasoned veteran in Greco-Roman with an impressive resume. He has placed in nearly every U.S. and international tournament in which he has competed in since graduating from Northern Illinois in 1993. Dantzler was member of the 2002 World Team and has placed at the U.S. Nationals seven times, finishing runner-up three times. He won the NYAC Christmas International twice (2000 and 2001) and finished third at the 2003 Concord Cup.
Pritzlaff has had success at every level of wrestling. A native of Lyndhurst New Jersey, Pritzlaff was a Junior World Champion in 1998. In college, he became a four-time All-Americana and two-time NCAA Champion at the University of Wisconsin. Since college, Pritzlaff has placed at the U.S. Nationals three times and had an impressive third place finish at the 2002 U.S. World Team Trials. Most recently, he claimed a gold medal at the 2005 Dave Schultz Memorial.
What to expect: This is an intriguing styles clash pitting a talented Greco-Roman wrestler against a talented freestyle wrestler. Dantzler is a big-move wrestler who has the ability to throw from virtually anywhere. He is also tough in the par terre position with his reverse body lift and gut wrench. Pritzlaff has an aggressive style with solid leg attacks on his feet. If Pritzlaff can get to Dantzler’s legs and stay away from the big moves, he should be able to win this match. However, that is much easier said than done against a wrestler as talented and explosive as Dantzler.
In the bottom bracket, third-seeded Ramico Blackmon of the New York Outrage will take on sixth-seeded Darryl Christian of the California Claw.
The 32-year-old Blackmon is a freestyle veteran who has found success not only in the country, but also overseas. He was a 2001 U.S. National Champion and has finished third at the last two Olympic Team Trials. Blackmon also placed at the Yasar Dogu International in Turkey in 2001. He claimed the championship at the Henri Deglane in France in 1999 in France, in addition to finishing fourth the same year at the Clansmen International in Canada.
Christian, a Greco-Roman specialist, is a resident athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. He is a three-time place winner at the U.S. Nationals, winning the title in 2004. He also boasts a runner-up and third place finish at the U.S. World Team Trials, as well as a silver medal at the 2002 World Cup.
What to expect: This is another freestyle versus Greco-Roman match-up. The veteran Blackmon is solid from all positions and will likely try to expose Christian’s weakness, which could be defending leg attacks, which he hasn’t had to do since his college days at Oregon. Christian will likely try to use his solid pummeling skills, while hoping to set up a throw or big move. He is very tough with his straight body lift, so expect him to try for the six point throw early and often in this match.
The final quarterfinal match will pit second-seeded Joe Heskett of the Iowa Stalkers against seventh-seeded Sean Harrington of the Texas Shooters.
Heskett was a four-time All-American and an NCAA Champion whilecompeting for Iowa State University. He was runner-up at the 2004Olympic Team Trials, as well as the last two U.S. Nationals. Hesketthas won the Sunkist International three times (2000, 2002, and 2003), and also won the NYAC Christmas International in 2002 and the Dave Schultz International in 2004. He finished third in the Henri Deglane Challenge in France and sixth in the Takhti Cup held in Iran. Heskett also competed in the Cerro Pelado Tournament in Cuba in February of2005.
Harrington, unlike many of the wrestlers in RPW, didn’t compete for a Division I school. He was a two-time D-II All-American who never won a national title for the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Harrington, however, is a freestyle veteran. He finished eighth at the 2004 U.S. Nationals.
What to expect: Heskett is the much more skilled wrestler, so he should cruise in his one. Look for Heskett to force the action early and use his well-rounded scoring repertoire to score bonus points in this match. Harrington’s only chance of winning this match is by trying to slow the pace, keep it close, and steal it at the end with a takedown.
Sunday’s Pairings (163 Pounds):
Quarterfinals:
#1 Joe Williams (Chicago Groove) vs. #8 Tyrone Lewis (Oklahoma Slam)
#4 T.C. Dantzler (Minnesota Freeze) vs. #5 Donny Pritzlaff (Pennsylvania
Hammer)
#3 Ramico Blackmon (New York Outrage) vs. #6 Darryl Christian (California
Claw)
#2 Joe Heskett (Iowa Stalkers) vs. #7 Sean Harrington (Texas Shooters)
Semifinals:
Williams/Lewis winner vs. Dantzler/Pritzlaff winner
Blackmon/Christian winner vs. Heskett/Harrington winner
Finals match will air in episode eight.
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