Michigan wrestling on display at Dapper Dan this weekend
3/25/11
It is usually a big deal when a Michigan wrestler gets
invited to wrestle at the Dapper Dan Classic, and it still is.
This is a special year, however, as 14 wrestlers from the
state of Michigan will compete at the annual High School
showcase event this weekend in Pennsylvania.
3x State Champ Conor Youtsey of Mason was the lone
Michigander named to Team USA, which will compete
against Team Pennsylvania in the Main Event. Youtsey,
ranked #4 in the nation at 119lbs, will square off at 125lbs
against the top ranked 125lber in the country, Nico
Megaludis of PA. Although Youtsey is considered an
underdog by many, he is no stranger to big time, big
stage national competetion. The Mason senior won the
FloNationals last spring, went 11-1 at the Junior Freestyle
Duals last summer with a few wins over Top 10 nationally
ranked wrestlers, and earned Freestyle All-American
honors in Fargo last summer. If Youtsey can deal with
what could be a size difference against the slightly larger
Megaludis, the West-Point bound grappler could surprise
some folks.
13 other top Michigan seniors will get the Dapper Dan mats and crowd warmed up prior to Youtsey and Team USA hitting the stage as Team Michigan will compete against the WPIAL All-Stars. Team Michigan features State Champs at 9 of the 13 weight classes and they will meet up with a team that consists of 11 PA State Champions.
Among the big time matchups to watch in the Michigan-WPIAL Dual will be a pair of nationally ranked wrestlers from the PA squad,#5 Geoffrey Alexander at 125lbs and #20 Travis Schaffer at 140lbs. Division 3 State Champ Joey White of Dundee will have an opportunity to make a name for himself against Alexander and Division 1 State Runner-Up Brian Gibbs will be wrestling Schaffer. Both White and Gibbs have had a good amount of national exposure. White did well in Disney last year and Gibbs has been all around the Freestlye/Greco circuit,competing at the Junior Duals and Fargo last summer.
Below is the full list of the Michigan matchups this weekend at the Dapper Dan. Check back to Michigan Grappler over the weekend for coverage of the Dapper Dan, including interviews and more video coverage.
Team USA vs Team Pennsylvania
125 - #4 Conor Youtsey (Mason) vs #1 Nico Megaludis (PA)
Team Michigan vs WPIAL All-Stars
112: Devane Dodgens (Chippewa Hills) vs. Paul Bewak (Hempfield Area)
119: Brandon Fifield (Leslie) vs. Derrick Nelson (Waynesburg)
125: Joey White (Dundee) vs. #5 Geoff Alexander (Shady Side Academy)
130: Terry Turner (Davison) vs. Dave Makara (Burrell)
135: Camryn Jackson (Lansing Eastern) vs. Jeremy Landowski (Burrell)
140: Brian Gibbs (Bedford) vs. #20Travis Shaffer (Derry)
145: Matt Frisch (Oxford) vs. Nick Catalano (Canon-McMillan)
152: Dan Fleet (Lowell) vs. Nick Carr (South Fayette)
160: Matt Vandermeer (Clarkston) vs. Lorenzo Thomas (Pittsburgh Central Catholic)
171: Ben Ralston (Oxford) vs. Nick Bonaccorsi (Bethel Park)
189: Anthony Abro (Canton) vs. Kyle McWreath (Trinity)
215: Jacob Hampton (Haslett) vs. Brian Beattie (Burrell)
285: Cody Wolever (Hespiera) vs. Jeff Tarley (Beth-Center)
* Rankings reflect InterMat's most recent High School National Rankings
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Youtsey, shown here in the state finals, will take on top ranked Nico Megaludis this weekend in Pittsburgh.
Photo/Jeff McGinthy,Town Square Photo
2011 Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic
March 27th - Pittsburgh, PA
4pm - Team Michigan vs WPIAL All-Stars
6pm - Team USA vs Team Pennsylvania
