Greco-Roman Challenge Tournaments completed at University and FILA Junior World Team Trials; Ruiz beats Wheeler in University showdown at 96 kg
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
The Challenge Tournament segment for two age-group World Team Trials events, the University World Team Trials and the FILA Junior World Team Trials, were completed Friday morning May 27 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The champions of each Challenge Tournament have advanced to the Championship Series, where they will meet the top seed in their division in a best-of-three series on Saturday.
The University World Team Trials was highlighted by competitive battle at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. between U.S. Senior Nationals champion Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) and U.S. Senior Nationals runner-up Adam Wheeler (San Diego, Calif./Gator WC).
Wheeler won the first period, 3-0, but Ruiz rebounded with 1-0, 1-0 wins in the second and third period to take the match and win the Challenge Tournament. Ruiz advances to the Championship Series on Saturday, where he faces University Nationals champion J.D. Bergman (Oak Harbor, Ohio/Ohio International) in the best-of-three series.
There was an upset in the Challenge Tournament finals at 74 kg/163 lbs., where Cheney Haight (Orem, Utah/USOEC) defeated U.S. Senior Nationals runner-up Jacob Volkmann (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm), 3-0, 1-0. Haight advances to Saturday’s Championship Series, where he will face Trent Paulson (Council Bluffs, Iowa/Sunkist Kids).
Taking the Challenge Tournament at 55 kg/121 lbs was Ricardo Osorio (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Air Force), who stopped Wesley Hartman (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marines), 3-0, 3-0. He advances to the Championship Series against top seed Spenser Mango (Flourissant, Mo./Gator WC) vs. Ricardo Osorio, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force).
Willie Madison (Metairie, La./USOEC/Gator WC) claimed the Challenge Tournament at 60 kg/132 lbs., when he defeated teammate Kerry Regner (Darlington, Pa./USOEC), 1-0, 1-0. Madison advances to Saturday’s finals series against another USOEC star Jeremiah Davis (El Cajon, Calif. (USOEC/Sunkist Kids).
The USOEC captured another Challenge Tournament victory at 66 kg/145.5. lbs., when Mervin Ford (Miami, Fla./USOEC/Gator WC) stopped Shannon Slack, Anaheim, Calif. (Embry-Riddle), 1-0, 1-0. Ford will face a USOEC teammate in Saturday’s Championship Series, 2005 U.S. Senior Nationals champion Harry Lester (Akron, Ohio/USOEC/Gator WC).
The 84 kg/185 lbs. Challenge Tournament was won by John Wechter (East Lansing, Mich./Michigan WC) with a tight 1-0, 1-0 victory over Brad Ahearn (Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S./Army). Wechter will face University Nationals Champion Justin Millard (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Air Force) in Saturday’s series.
There will be no competition in the University World Team Trials at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. where 2005 U.S. Senior Nationals runner-up Russ Davie (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) was the only entry, and will make the University World Team uncontested.
In the FILA Junior competition at 50 kg/110 lbs., Gabe Burak (Colorado Springs, Colo./USOTC) won the Challenge Tournament by pinning Terry Allison (Alabama/USOEC) in 1:32. Burak, a high school student from the host community, will face FILA Junior Nationals Champion Joey Martin (Weatogue, Conn./Team Smith) in the Championship Series on Saturday.
At 66 kg/145.5 lbs., the Challenge Tournament winner was Jade McCammon (Sullivan, Ind./USOEC) who defeated Matt Stuart (Niskayuna, N.Y./Sacred Heart), 6-0, 0-1, 7-0 in the finals. McCammon will face FILA Junior Nationals Champion Tyler Safratowich (Park Rapids, Minn./Minnesota Storm) in the Championship Series.
At 84 kg/185 lbs., Chas Betts (St. Michael, Minn./USOEC) won the Challenge Tournament by stopping Jeremy Pederson (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marine Corps), 3-0, 1-0. Betts advances to Saturday’s finals series against FILA Junior Nationals Champion Luke Hogle (Walterville, Ore./Cornell WC).
Advancing at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. was Challenge Tournament champion Justin Bronson (Princeton, Minn./Minnesota Storm), who stopped Quinton Pruett (Phoenix, Ariz./Arizona State), 3-0, 1-0. Bronson will battle FILA Junior Nationals Champion Robert Smith (San Ramon, Calif./CYC-Concord) in the Saturday Championship Series.
The final Challenge Tournament champion was Joe Wood (Clarkston, Mich./USOEC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs., who pinned Kenny Lester (Geneva, Fla./Florida Jets) in 24 seconds. Wood will face FILA Junior Nationals Champion Brandon Rupp (Pocatello, Idaho) in the finals series on Saturday.
There were no Challenge Tournaments in the FILA Junior division at 55 kg/121 lbs., 60 kg/132 lbs. and 74 kg/163 lbs. Two athletes weighed in at those divisions, and advance to Saturday’s Championship Series.
The 2005 University World Team Trials will determine who will represent the U.S. at the World University Games in Izmir, Turkey, August 1-7.
The FILA Junior World Team Trials will determine who will represent the U.S. at the FILA Junior World Championships in Vilnius, Lithuania, July 5-10.
USA Wrestling conducted a special training camp prior to the World Team Trials event. The athletes qualified through their national championships events, as well as other criteria.
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