Churella, Metcalf, Simmons among US national placers
Zeerip finishes 4th in FILA Junior Freestyle Nationals
4/26 - USA Wrestling's intense weekend of freestyle and greco roman action
wrapped up today in Las Vegas with the US Senior Freestyle Nationals. The
Senior National's were of extra importance this year, being an Olympic year, as
placewinners earned themselves a spot in the 2008 Olympic Trials and helped their
seeds going into to the trials.
The only wrestler with Michigan ties to make the finals was former University of
Michigan all-american Andy Hrovat who fell in the 84kg/185lb finals to Mo Lawal 1-1,
1-0. Hrovat, who still lives and trains in Ann Arbor, entered the tournament seeded
4th and beat BJ Padden in the semifinals. Padden upset World and Olympic
medallist Joe Williams in the opening round.
Another former Wolverine All-American, Ryan Churella, surprised many as he
strung together some big wins to finish 3rd at 74kg/163lbs. The Novi native entered
the tournament as the 7th seed and picked up big wins over former NCAA champs
Don Pritzlaff and Matt Lackey en route to his 3rd place finish. The third Wolverine to place was current junior and all-american Tyrel Todd who finished 8th at 84kg.
Former MSU 4x NCAA all-american Nick Simmons finished 4th at 55kgs, with both of his losses coming to former Arizona State star Danny Felix. Simmons, who has finished as high as 2nd at the US Nationals in the past, picked up a win over #2 seed Vic Moreno in the consolation semifinals 6-0, 4-2. Current MSU sophomore all-american Franklin Gomez finished 8th at 132lbs.
Former Davison 4x state champ and this year's 149 NCAA Champ and Hodge Award winner Brent Metcalf put together a solid performane in a loaded 66kg weight class. Metcalf, who had to wrestle through the qualification tournament yesterday and entered unseeded, lost both of his matches to former NCAA champ Jared Frayer. After losing in the opening round to Frayer, Metcalf picked up wins over two former NCAA champs in Jared Lawrence and Trent Paulson before falling again to Frayer in the consolation semifinals before finishing 5th.
Former CMU NCAA Champ and current Chippewa assistant coach Casey Cunningham entered the tournament as the top seed at 74kg, however, Cunnigham lost his opening round bout to former Iowa Hawkeye Eric Luedke. After picking up a win over another NCAA champ in Don Pritzlaff, Cunnigham fell to former EMU standout Ramico Blackmon to fall into the 7th place match, where he lost again to the gritty Luedke to finish 8th. Blackmon finished 5th after defeating Travis Paulson 1-0, 2-0.
The FILA Junior National Freestyle tournament wrapped up today as well with three Michigan
grapplers earning all-american status.
Currrent UM freshman and former 4x state champ Justin Zeerip of Hesperia won his consolation
semifinal match to advance to the 3rd place bout, but fell to Chris Henrich of Virginia in the
finals to finish fourth.
Former Davison standout Jon Reader, who was an NCAA all-american this year for Iowa State,
finished 5th at 74kg after a loss to Indiana prep phenom Andrew Howe and a win over reigning
Fargo Junior National Champ Kyle Deberry.
UM true freshman Kellen Russell won his final bout over Vincente Varela to finish 7th at 66kg.
Final Brackets
US Senior Freestyle Nationals Placers
55kg/121lbs - Nick Simmons (MSU, Williamston) - 4th
60kg/132lbs - Franklin Gomez (MSU) - 8th
66kg/145lbs - Brent Metcalf (Davison) - 5th
74kg/163lbs - Ryan Churella (UM, Novi) - 3rd
74kg/163lbs - Ramico Blackmon (EMU) - 5th
74kg/163lbs - Casey Cunnigham (CMU, Fulton) - 8th
84kg/185lbs - Andy Hrovat (UM) - 2nd
84kg/185lbs - Tyrel Todd (UM) - 8th
FILA Junior Freestyle National Placers
66kg/145lbs - Kellen Russell (UM) - 7th
74kg/163lbs - Jon Reader (Davison) - 5th
79kg/174lbs - Justin Zeerip (UM, Hesperia) - 4th
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