Michigan Grappler - Everything wrestling in Michigan

Home | Contact Us | Advertise

Wildmo wins Flo National Title, three finish runner-up

Senior National/FloNational Coverage Page

4/4 - The 2011 FloNationals concluded at Walsh Jesuit High School and the

state of Michigan was 1 for the 4 in the Championship Finals as Durand senior

Roger Wildmo was the only Michigan finalist to win a FloNational Title.

Wildmo, who beat Ohio state champ Kyle Burns in the 140lb Semifinals 4-1,

was the first match of the Championship finals in what ended up being one of the

most exciting matches of day against California State Champ Isiah Martinez.

After giving up two early takedowns, Wildmo battled back from a 4-1 deficit in

the first period to win after a crazy exchange of takedowns and scrambles in the

third period. In the end Wildmo won 9-8 over Martinez, who is ranked 13th in the

country by InterMat.

The state of Michigan would not win again, however, as the other three finalists

all finished runner-up. Coming off a huge semifinal win over returning double

Fargo All-American Devin Peterson of Wisconsin, Lowell junior Gabe Dean was

unable to muster enough offense to knock off the top ranked wrestler in the

country as he fell 11-6 to Morgan McIntosh of California in the 189lb finals.

Dean, ranked 8th nationally, should move up in the polls after beating 5th ranked

Peterson.

Despite hanging around and pushing the pace throughout, Detroit Catholic Central's Kevin Beazley was also unable to score the upset as he lost 4-2 to 13th ranked Geordan Speiller of Florida in the 160lb finals.

The final Michigan finalist was Conor Youtsey of Mason who fell victim to the other side of an upset as the 4th ranked Youtsey gave up a takedown late in the third period to #16 ranked Dean Heil of Ohio in the 119lb finals, losing 3-2. Heil, a 2x State Champ from St Edwards, Ohio, was the #3 seed coming in to the tournament in a weight that featured 4 Top 20 wrestlers according to InterMat. Youtsey scored a convincing semifinal win over 2x Wisconsin State champ and #18 ranked Ryan McQuade,10-5.

Lowell state champ Andrew Morse lost his first match of the tournament yesterday, however, the Red Arrow junior battled back in a major way, rattling off 8 straight wins over the last two days to come all the way back to finish 3rd at 140lbs. Morse's last two wins were particulary impressive as he knocked off returning Fargo All-American and 17th ranked Matt Cimato of PA in the finals 5-4 and also scored a sound win over 2x Missouri State Champ Ethan Davis in the consolation semifinals.

Davison freshman Jordan Cooks made some noise on the national stage as the Division 1 state placer (3rd at 145lbs) finished 5th at 152lbs to earn All-American status. For Cooks, this weekend marks his first time placing at a major national event, but will likely not be the last.

Alex Calandrino got over the hump after falling just short of placing at last year's FloNationals the Howell junior finished 6th this year at 125lbs. Calandrino was bumped from the Championship and consolation bracket by the same guy - Alfredo Gray of Ohio, but scored two notable wins over Ohio All-Stater Tim Wiseman and New Jersey All-Stater Chad Walsh.

Detroit Catholic Central state champ Ken Bade put together a solid performance at 119lbs, finishing 7th in the stacked weight class. Bade knocked off California State Runner Up Steven Knoblach 10-9, 2x North Carolina State champ Garrison White, and 3x Ohio State Placer Vinnie Pizzuto en route to his 7th place finish.

Three other state champs earned All-American status with 8th place finishes - Mitch Rogaliner (103), Stephen Ireland (112), and Gabe Morse (135). Rogaliner lost 2-1 to Maryland State Champ Coy Ozias, the #20 ranked wrestler in the country, to finish 8th. Morse lost 3-0 to Robbie Garbinsky of PA, a returning Fargo Double All-American. Ireland scored a notable win over D1 state champ Justin Oliver of Davison in the round of 12 to earn All-American status.

For full results click below. Go to the Michigan Grappler Video Page to watch matches and interviews from the weekend.

Flo National Video Coverage

Full Results

Michigan's FloNational All-Americans

103 - Mitch Rogaliner, Bedford, 8th L 2-1 to #20 Coy Ozias MD State Champ

112 - Stephen Ireland, Richmond - 8th pinned Oliver in blood round

119 - Conor Youtsey, Mason - 2nd

119 - Ken Bade, Detroit CC - 7th

125 - Alex Calandrino, Howell - 6th

135 - Gabe Morse, Lowell - 8th lost 3-0 to Robbie Garbinsky (4x PA Placer, Fargo Double AA) lost to OH Runner Up Ruben Burrows

140 - Roger Wildmo, Durand - 1st

140 - Andrew Morse, Lowell - 3rd