Rendina wins Western Junior Freestyle Regional Title
Youtsey, Morse, Thomas finish runner-up


4/10 - Joe Rendina opened some eyes this weekend in
Vegas. 

The Dundee sophomore went a combined 12-2 in the past
three days of wrestling at the Western Junior Freestyle and
Greco Regionals, including a three period win in today's
freestyle finals over Jesse Hillhouse of Wyoming to win the
125lb title.  Rendina finished runner-up in Greco
Roman two days ago.

Three other Michiganders advanced to today's championship finals, but fell in the final round. 

Conor Youtsey of Mason went down in the 119lb finals to New York State Champ and Harvard-bound Steven Keith.  Youtsey lost the 1st period 2-0 and then, trailing 4-2 in the 2nd period, he was victim of a gut-wrench touch fall to lose the finals bout.

Lowell freshman Andrew Morse lost in the 135lb finals to Iowa state champ Jake Ballweg 5-0, 4-1.  Fellow freshman Jordan Thomas lost as well today, falling 1-0, 5-0 to reigning Cadet Freestyle National Champion and nationally ranked Destin McCauley of Minnesota in the 145lb finals.  McCauley knocked off St Johns freshman Taylor Massa to win his pool.  Massa won his final round match via 1st period fall over Brady Schrupp of Minnesota to finish 3rd at 145lbs.

Thomas, Massa, and Andrew Morse all finished up impressive weekends that saw them place in both styles.  All three of these athletes are still Cadets in USA Wrestling, which makes their performances even more astonishing as they were wrestling up an age group this weekend against many of the nation's top high school juniors and seniors.

Juniors Jackson Morse of Lowell and John Rizgallah of Allegan both won their final matches to finish up 5th today.  Morse downed 2x California state placer Tyler Sheridan 1-1, 4-1 at 152lbs while Rizgallah edged Taylor Schuck of Illinois in a three period battle at 171lbs.

Click below for full brackets of the Western Junior Freestyle tournament.


Western Junior Regional Freestyle Brackets





















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