Action packed day concludes in Las Vegas
Metcalf, Weber, Reader, Zeerip headline Michigan's friday performances
4/26 - Michiganders were in action at all levels today in Las Vegas as the Western Freestyle Regional wrapped up, the Jr Fila Freestyle got started, Senior Greco went to completion, and the Senior Freestyle qualification tournament went down.
In the freestyle division of the Western Junior Regional Mark Weber won his final bout at 145lbs to finish third. Dan Osterman went 1-2 on the day after going perfect 6-0 on thursday to finish 5th at 125lbs. Jackson Morse rounded out Michigan's placers as he ended 6th at 140lbs.
A handful of Michigan grapplers competed in the FILA Junior Freestyle Nationals, which got started today as well, but only three advanced to day and the placing rounds. Former Davison standout Jon Reader who earned all-american honors this year as a freshman for Iowa State advanced to the semifinals at 163lbs but fell 1-0, 1-0 to current high school senior Quentin Wright of Pennsylvania. Also advancing to the semifinals but falling short was UM freshman and former 4x state champ Justin Zeerip at 174lbs. Zeerip and Reader will both wrestle out their consolation matches tommorow and could finish from 3rd-6th. U of M true freshman phenom Kellen Russell went 5-2 and will wrestle for 7th tommorow at 145.5lbs.
While the Senior Freestyle Tournament is slated for tommorow, all wrestlers who did not earn seeds had to wrestle today to earn a birth into the 16-man US National Tournament. NCAA Champ and Hodge Winner Brent Metcalf of Davison/U of Iowa went 3-0 at 145.5lbs without losing a period to advance, while Mike Watts and Tyrell Todd of U of M also went perfect to get through the qualification tournament. MSU all-american Franklin Gomez lost to former NCAA runner up Dylan Long, but came back to advance to Day 2.
The final 16-man brackets are now set and will be wrestled out today. Check back for updates on how the Michigan grapplers fare.
Western Junior Regional Placers (Freestyle)
125lbs - Dan Osterman (Carson City) - 5th
140lbs - Jackson Morse (Lowell) - 6th
145lbs - Mark Weber (Goodrich) - 3rd
FILA Junior's advanced to Day 2 (Freestyle)
145.5lbs - Kellen Russell (Michigan)
163lbs - Jon Reader (Iowa State, Davison)
174lbs - Justin Zeerip (Michigan, Hesperia)
Senior Freestyle advanced through Qual Tourn
121lbs - Matt Steintrager (Central Michigan, DCC)
121lbs - Mike Watts (Michigan)
132lbs - Franklin Gomez (Michigan State)
145.5lbs - Brent Metcalf (Iowa)
185lbs - Tyrell Todd (Michigan)
Senior Greco Roman placers
185lbs - Nathaniel Mesyn (Michigan State, Fraser) - 8th
Copyright 2007-08 Michigan Grappler, LLC
May not be reproduced with expressed written consent
Contact via email: admin@michigangrpapler.com
