Seven freestyle wrestlers qualify for World Team Trials at Northern Plains Regionals in Waterloo, Iowa, the “last chance qualifier
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Seven freestyle wrestlers won titles at the Northern Plains Senior Regional Championships in Waterloo, Iowa, May 14. This is the “last chance qualifier” for the World Team Trials, with each of the winners at the Northern Plains earning a spot in the field there.
Among the individual champions was Mike Zadick (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC), who captured the 60 kg/132 lbs. Title with a 7-0, 6-0 win over Tyler Bjustrom (Ames, Iowa/Cyclone WC) in the finals. Zadick was second in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. He was injured and could not compete at the 2005 U.S. Nationals, and had not yet qualified to compete in the World Team Trials.
A pair of 2005 NCAA Div. I runners-up claimed title, Ben Askren (Columbia, Mo./U of Missouri) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Sean Stender (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Panther WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Askren wrestles for the Univ. of Missouri, while Stender competes for the Univ. of Northern Iowa
Askren defeated Tony Gansen (Colorado Springs, Colo./USOTC) in the finals, 1-1, 1-3, 4-3. Stender stopped Sean Salmon (Columbus, Ohio/Ohio International) in the finals, by pin in 30 seconds.
All NCAA Div. I finalists automatically qualify for the World Team Trials, so the victories by Askren and Stender mean that no new entry will qualify for these weight divisions at the World Team Trials.
Another top college star, Trent Paulson (Ames, Iowa/Cyclone WC) won the title at 74 kg/163 lbs., with a 6-3, 1-0 decision over Michael Chandler (Columbia, Mo./U of Missouri) in the finals. Paulson wrestles for Iowa State Univ.
Two athletes who competed at the Univ. of Iowa in the past were also individual champions: past NCAA champion Cliff Moore (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., along with Ryan Fuller (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Claiming the title at 55 kg/121 lbs. uncontested was Jess Zobeck (Colorado).
The World Team Trials will be held in at Iowa State Univ. in Ames, Iowa, June 18-19.
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