Of the 14 weight class champions, only two were seniors, eight were juniors, and four sophomores won FloNationals championships. In post-match interviews with the champions, all but three stated their intention of competing in freestyle and/or Greco-Roman heading towards Fargo in July.
Michigan underclassmen, and a few seniors, traveled to this event in droves -- and it turned into a showcase for many of their prominent underclassmen. Foremost among those is the No. 1 sophomore in the nation Taylor Massa (152) from St John's, MI. Massa -- third nationally in his weight -- won two matches by fall on Saturday heading into a Sunday where he would face two ranked opponents. He outlasted Steven Keogh (Apple Valley, MN) in the semifinals by a 7-5 score, which set up a match of the top two sophomores in the nation -- and the last match of the first annual FloNationals.
In that match, Jason Luster (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club/Kiski Prep, PA) -- ranked sixth nationally in the weight class -- opened up like a ball of fire with two early takedowns to take a 4-2 lead after the end of one period. However, Massa was able to weather that storm, as he almost scored a takedown right at the end of the first period, but time had run out.
Luster opened the second period with an escape, but Massa countered with a takedown after Luster had been warned for his first stalling. A Luster escape before the end of the period gave him a 6-4 lead through two periods. However, the third period would be the "Taylor Massa Show." Massa scored an early escape, a penalty point when Luster was hit for a second stalling, and then got a takedown with around one minute to go.
After Luster's second injury time, Massa chose down, and scored a late escape to make the final score 9-6 in favor of Massa. "I just kept it going, and thought that I could win the match if I continued to press the pace," commented Massa. "Though we had been in many of the same tournaments, we had never wrestled each other before."
Fellow sophomore Freddie Rodriguez (Holt, MI) bookended his scholastic-style season with major tournament titles at 103 pounds, having also won the preseason Super 32 in this weight class. However, Rodriguez wrestled the in-season at 112 pounds. "My coach wanted to get a teammate into the lineup at 103 pounds," said Rodriguez. "However, towards the end of the year, I was planning to make the cut down to 103, but I was wrestling much better than I expected at 112, so it was like why bother (cutting weight)."
Rodriguez won matches by technical fall and a pair of pins on Saturday. In the morning semifinal round on Sunday, Rodriguez defeated 18th-ranked Kevon Powell (Montini Catholic, IL) by 15-6 major decision. Then in the championship final, Rodriguez won a key scramble to score the opening takedown, and the dominance started from there against the number one ranked Cody Phillips (Union County, IN). Already ahead by enough to score a major decision, Rodriguez secured the fall in 5:10.
"I always want to pound, pound, pound; attack, attack, attack; no matter the score," commented Rodriguez about his exciting and dynamic style of wrestling.
A pair of junior two-time state champions from Michigan also won weight class titles -- Connor Youtsey (119) from Mason and Devin Pommerenke (285) of Rogers City.
Youtsey avenged a loss to fellow junior Josh Fisher (Roane County, WV) at the preseason Super 32 Challenge in the FloNationals final with a 3-2 victory, which was keyed by a first period takedown. "I learned a little bit about his style and what to expect," said Youtsey when asked about his prior match with Fisher.
Pommerenke capped off a tournament in which he pinned all three of his opponents with a second period fall over Jeff Tarley (Bethlehem Center, PA) off of a big throw. "I normally work off of a high single leg, which I learned from wrestling at Jeff Jordan's camps," commented Pommerenke. "However, when the big throws are there, my Greco-Roman experience and big shoulders make me confident and comfortable in the upper-body ties."
The Pittsburgh Wrestling Club traveled a very strong delegation to the FloNationals, from approximately two hours to the east. Three of its wrestlers won championships -- Jimmy Gulibon (112) and Travis Shaffer (135) from Derry Area, as well as Tyler Wilps (171) from Chartiers Valley.
Gulibon, a sophomore and two-time state champion, is ranked second in the nation at 112 pounds. Prior to the finals, he won by a 17-0 technical fall and three matches by major decision. In the final against 18th ranked Joey Dance (Christiansburg, VA) -- Gulibon secured a first period takedown and second period reversal to score enough points for a 4-2 victory.
"I was a little bit nervous, but Joey really wrestled a great match against me," Gulibon commented. "I battled hard to win the match, and I'll keep working hard and continue practicing during the off-season."
The junior Shaffer, coming off a fourth place finish in the Pennsylvania state tournament scored two victories against state champion wrestlers ranked nationally in the top ten on Sunday at the FloNationals. That came after a Saturday evening 5-1 quarterfinal victory against last year's NHSCA Junior National champion Vinny Fava (Elmwood Park, NJ).
Shaffer opened the semifinal against fourth-ranked Jake Sueflohn (Arrowhead, WI) with a takedown and then had a barrage of tilts to take a 13-0 lead after one period. A takedown early in the second period secured a 15-0 technical fall victory.
In the final against eight-ranked Chris Dardanes (Oak Park River Forest, IL) -- Shaffer scored a second period takedown and early third period takedown to take a 4-0 lead. After a Dardanes escape and takedown, Shaffer was cut loose and fended off a very deep shot by Dardanes to secure the 5-3 decision.
"I didn't get much respect, but I didn't always wrestle my best," stated Shaffer about where he stood coming into the tournament. "I worked on the little things to get better; also I wrestled the opponent and the match instead of the name and credential."
One of two seniors to win a FloNationals championship was the University of Pittsburgh bound Wilps, who upended top seed Ryan Olep (Lowell, MI) 5-2 on Saturday night to advance to the semifinal round against Jackson Bratcher (Eastbrook, IN).
In that semifinal match, Wilps used a third period rideout -- along with a second period escape -- to score a 2-0 victory when adding in the point for accruing a greater than one minute riding time advantage. Trailing 3-2 in the third period against two-time state runner-up Devin Peterson (Wisconsin Rapids, WI), Wilps was able to score a takedown relatively early in the period. He then rode Peterson out until the last few seconds of the match, and used the riding time advantage point for a 5-4 victory.
"That's usually how it happens when I ride my opponents for a significant length of time," Wilps observed when asked about his tendency to let opponents based up to their feet, and then taking them back down to the mat. "My opponent gets more tired and frustrated, and then it just becomes easier for me."
Another pair of teammates also emerged as champions at the inaugural FloNationals. Jason Tsirtsis (130) and Eric Roach (145) both won titles from Crown Point, IN. Tsirtsis won a finals matchup involving a pair of sophomores, which was one of the four matches placing nationally ranked wrestlers head-to-head. The sixth-ranked Tsirtsis, a two-time state champion, had won one match by technical fall and three matches by major decision prior to the final against 17th ranked Nate Skonieczny (Walsh Jesuit, OH).
Tsirtsis won by 2-1 decision, with a second period penalty point while Skonieczny was riding in the top position serving as the difference. However, he had to fend off a very deep single-leg attack from Skonieczny that led to a prolonged scramble -- one in which Skonieczny had multiple chances to score -- and ended in a stalemate with under 20 seconds left.
"I just had to keep scrambling, or probably lose the match," observed Tsirtsis. "It was an intense and nerve-wracking situation."
The pair of teammates has been partners going back to their days in youth wrestling. Tsirtsis commented that "they push each other, and help to make one another better."
Outstanding Wrestler honors went to the champion of the 189-pound weight class, Morgan McIntosh from Calvary Chapel, CA. The two-time state champion is ranked third nationally in his weight class and third among all members of the Class of 2011 regardless of weight class. McIntosh won two matches by fall on Saturday before dominating his way to a 13-7 victory over state runner-up Gabe Dean (Lowell, MI) in the semifinal round. Then in the final, he turned it up even more for a match against state champ and three time state placer Nick Miller (Centerville, OH).
McIntosh was on the verge of securing a technical fall when he pinned Miller off of a beautiful shot that set up a toss to the back. "My coaches prepared me great for the opponent, and the match was fun," McIntosh said in assessing the finals match. "It's awesome to be named Outstanding Wrestler (at the first ever FloNationals)."
However, teammate Tank Knowles -- ranked eighth nationally -- was upset in the finals at 215 pounds by Nick Gwiazdowski (Duanesburg, NY). Gwiazdowski, who came into the tournament unranked secured two crucial "ride outs" in short time situations in order to win the match 4-3 in the tiebreaker. After Knowles scored a go-ahead reversal in the third period, Gwiazdowski responded with one of his own inside the last 30 seconds to go up 3-2. However, he was called for locking hands, which tied up the match. Gwiazdowski did not let Knowles escape late in the third, or in the tiebreaker after Gwiazdowski had escaped in the first portion of the :30-:30.
"My goal was to come here and win it, to get some recognition in the rankings," commented Gwiazdowski about the tournament. "I just had it in my mind to get the job done."
A pair of wrestlers from the Gopher State won titles at the FloNationals. Matt Kelliher (Apple Valley, MN) -- ranked 17th nationally - won the 125 pound weight class, as he dominated both of his matches on Sunday winning by fall against Jenkins Monzey (Georgetown Prep, MD) and Steven Rodrigues (Fox Lane, NY).
"I got a better warm-up in today, my (older) brothers got me motivated today after watching yesterday's matches online," said Kelliher. "Other people were looking for a little more, and I tried to dominate today."
The other senior to win a championship was Zak Coates (Henry Sibley, MN) -- who came back from a 9-4 deficit at the start of the third period against fellow senior Damien Perry (Mentor, OH). Coates scored two takedowns and a two-point near fall, along with an additional point for riding time advantage to tie the score at 11-11 heading into overtime. The two-time state champion, ranked 20th nationally, secured the overtime takedown to win 13-11.
"I knew I had to stay confident," said Coates about the comeback. "I was in better shape, so I knew if I kept after it, I would be able to win the match."
Rounding out the weight class champions was the winner of the opening match, one that paired nationally ranked junior wrestlers at 140 pounds against one another. James Green (Willingboro, NJ) -- ranked 10th nationally -- came back to beat No. 18 Pete Baldwin (Osceola, FL) by a 6-5 score.
Trailing 3-2, and with his opponent having greater than one minute of riding time, Green rallied back to win the match with two blast double takedowns during the third period. "I work on that attack a lot in practice," said Green. "By repetition, I keep getting better at that attack. Precise practice makes perfect."
Finals Results:
103: Freddie Rodriguez (Holt, MI) pinned No. 1 Cody Phillips (Union County, IN), 5:10
112: No. 2 Jimmy Gulibon (Pitt. WC/Derry Area, PA) dec. No. 18 Joey Dance (Christiansburg, VA), 4-2
119: Connor Youtsey (Mason, MI) dec. Josh Fisher (Roane County, WV), 5-2
125: No. 17 Matt Kelliher (Apple Valley, MN) tech. fall Steven Rodrigues (Fox Lane, NY), 15-0
130: No. 6 Jason Tsirtsis (Crown Point, IN) dec. No. 17 Nate Skonieczny (Walsh Jesuit, OH), 2-1
135: Travis Shaffer (Pitt. WC/Derry Area, PA) dec. No. 8 Chris Dardanes (Oak Park River Forest, IL), 5-3
140: No. 10 James Green (Willingboro, NJ) dec. No. 18 Pete Baldwin (Osceola, FL), 6-5
145: Eric Roach (Crown Point, IN) dec. Jordan Wohlfert (St. John's, MI), 3-1
152: No. 3 Taylor Massa (St. John's, MI) dec. No. 6 Jason Luster (Pitt. WC/Kiski Prep, PA), 9-6
160: No. 20 @ 171 Zak Coates (Henry Sibley, MN) dec. Damien Perry (Mentor, OH), 13-11
171: Ty Wilps (Pitt. WC/Chartiers Valley, PA) dec. Devin Peterson (Wisconsin Rapids, WI), 5-4
189: No. 3 Morgan McIntosh (Calvary Chapel, CA) pinned Nick Miller (Centerville, OH), 4:43
215: Nick Gwiazdowski (Duanesburg, NY) dec. No. 8 Tank Knowles (Calvary Chapel, CA), 5-3
285: Devin Pommerenke (Rogers City, MI) pinned Jeff Tarley (Bethlehem Center, PA), 3:29
View Brackets
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now