Myles Martin gets in on a double leg against Taylor Lujan in the finals (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com)AUSTIN, Texas -- Myles Martin put together a dominant performance at the Flo 8-Man Challenge on Saturday night in Austin, Texas.
Martin, a four-time NCAA All-American and 2019 Senior Nationals finalist, rolled through a strong field of eight competitors at 195 pounds. He outscored his three opponents by a combined score of 23-2 en route to capturing the title.
In the championship match, Martin met surprise finalist Taylor Lujan, a four-time NCAA qualifier for Northern Iowa. Martin cruised to a 10-0 technical superiority over Lujan on the strength of five takedowns, ending the match just over a minute into the second period. By winning the tournament, Miles earned $20,000, while Lujan left with $10,000.
"I felt good," Martin said in his post-match interview with FloWrestling's Mike Malinconico. "My weight was under control. I feel like I can jump more levels. I don't think this was my best performance, but I wrestled really well, so who cares?"
Martin's road to the finals included a quarterfinal win over Drew Foster and semifinal victory over Nate Jackson.
Martin shut out Foster, a 2019 NCAA champion, 8-0. Martin scored a pair of takedowns in the first period off counter attacks and added two more takedowns in the final period.
In the semifinals, Martin controlled Jackson from the opening whistle, picking up a 5-2 victory. Martin scored the only point in the opening period off a step out. In the second period, Martin earned a takedown off a reattack to go up 3-0. He added another takedown midway through the second period to extend his lead to 5-0. Jackson would score a takedown at the buzzer, but it was too little too late.
Nate Jackson placed third and claimed $5,000 (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com)Jackson rebounded from his semifinal loss to place third, beating Pitt head wrestling coach Keith Gavin 6-2. Jackson scored a pair of takedowns off single legs in the opening period to go up 4-0. He added another takedown in the second period. Gavin would add a couple points off a caution and step out. By placing third, Jackson earned $5,000.
Jackson looked strong in his opening match, scoring five takedowns, along with a step out, to beat Sammy Brooks by technical superiority, 11-1. Prior to the victory, Jackson was 0-3 against Brooks in freestyle matches.
Lujan advanced to the championship match with victories over Gabe Dean and Gavin.
Taylor Lujan won by fall over Gabe Dean in the quarterfinals (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com)Lujan stunned the two-time NCAA champion Dean in the opening round, earning a second-period fall and avenging a 10-0 loss from this year's Senior Nationals. Dean was impressive throughout the match and appeared to be on his way to a technical superiority. The Cornell assistant coach scored an early takedown with a double leg and used two turns to build his lead to 6-0. In the second period, Dean countered an attack from Lujan to go up 8-0. Dean then attempted a gut wrench, but Lujan countered by stepping over and secured the fall.
In the semifinals, Lujan cruised to a 9-2 victory over Gavin. Lujan scored an early takedown off a high crotch to go up 2-0. Later in the period, Lujan scored an exposure from a scramble to go up 4-0. In the second period, Lujan came out of a scramble for a takedown and added a point off a failed challenge to extend his lead to 7-0. Gavin would get on the scoreboard with a two-point exposure off a chest wrap to cut the deficit to five. But Lujan would close out the match with another takedown as time expired.
Keith Gavin came from behind to defeat Shakur Rasheed in the quarterfinals (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com)The 35-year-old Gavin overcame a slow start to beat Shakur Rasheed 9-7 in the quarterfinals. Rasheed, an All-American for Penn State, wrestled well in the first period and took a 5-2 lead into the break. Gavin came out strong in the second period, scoring with an exposure before getting on top and scoring with multiple gut wrenches, which helped pace him to the victory.
The event also included a pair of women's wrestling matches.
Emily Shilson defeated Stefana Jelacic in the first women's wrestling match (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com)Emily Shilson, a 2018 Youth Olympic Games gold medalist, topped Desiree Zavalta 7-2 in the first women's wrestling match. Shilson, a Minnesota native, scored a point off the activity clock in the opening period to take a 1-0 lead. She extended her lead to 4-0 in the second period after scoring a step out and takedown. Jelacic, a native of Arizona, inched closer with a takedown to make the score 4-2. But Shilson would add a step out and late exposure to win by five.
Macey Kilty locks up a lace in her match against Desiree Zavalta (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com)In the second women's wrestling match, Macey Kilty, a five-time age group world medalist, rolled to a 10-0 technical superiority over Desiree Zavalta. Kilty used three takedown and turn off a lace to go up 8-0 at the break. She then closed out the match early in the second period with her fourth takedown of the match.
Women's wrestling match results
Emily Shilson dec. Stefana Jelacic, 7-2
Macey Kilty tech. Desiree Zavalta, 10-0 3:39
Flo 8-Man Challenge results
Quarterfinals:
Keith Gavin dec. Shakur Rasheed, 9-7
Taylor Lujan pinned Gabe Dean, 3:53
Nate Jackson tech. Sammy Brooks, 11-1 2:57
Myles Martin dec. Drew Foster, 8-0
Semifinals:
Taylor Lujan dec. Keith Gavin, 9-2
Myles Martin dec. Nate Jackson, 5-2
Championships match:
Myles Martin tech. Taylor Lujan, 10-0 4:08
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