AKRON, Ohio -- The freestyle competition came to a conclusion on Saturday afternoon at the FILA Cadet and University Nationals on the campus of the University of Akron. Eleven young men were crowned as champions, with each (but for the one at 275 pounds) earning the right to compete for the United States in late August at the FILA Cadet World Championships -- which will be held in Hungary.
"I'm always seeking out the best competition, constantly trying to get better," said Rogers when asked about how he has become such a dominant force. "All the experience has enabled me to get to this point, though there's always room for improvement."
This came in follow up to the Greco-Roman championship on Thursday in which he was also named Outstanding Wrestler, when he only gave up a single point over the course of six matches.
Black, who is ranked No. 4 in the Class of 2013, added this title at 275.5 pounds to a robust resume that includes a Cadet National Greco-Roman title in 2009 and sweeping both styles at the FILA Cadet Nationals and Cadet Nationals in 2010. For the sixth time in thirteen months, his opponent in a championship final match was Doug Vollaro (Oviedo, Florida), who is ranked No. 20 in the Class of 2012. As with the other five matches, it was a nip-and-tuck affair for the duration with Black coming out on top, this time in a 1-0, 0-1, 3-0 three period decision.
Black won the first period in the leg clinch, while Vollaro responded back scoring on a leg attack in the second period to send the match to the third and deciding period. In that period, Black scored first as he drove Vollaro out of bounds off a body lock starting from an underhook tie. "I went out hard in that third period with a strong attack, and felt confident that I could wear him down," said Black.
In addition to Rogers, a pair of other wrestlers also swept titles in the Greco-Roman and freestyle competition this weekend -- Sam Brooks (Oak Park River Forest, Illinois) and Adam Coon (Fowlerville, Michigan). Brooks, ranked No. 47 in the Class of 2012, had three runner-up finishes among his four Cadet National All-American finishes. He also brings to the table another runner-up finish, having finished second during this scholastic season at 171 pounds. In the championship final, it was a battle of 171-pound state runner-up, when Brooks outlasted Jack Dechow (Richmond, Illinois) 2-1, 1-0.
After the high school season ended, Brooks has spent a lot of time focusing on the Olympic styles, and it showed in sweeping the titles this weekend and winning medals in both styles at the FILA Junior Nationals two weekends ago. "Freestyle and Greco-Roman are a lot easier for me to have fun in," he said, "and I wrestle a lot better with that laid back demeanor."
Already winning state titles in both years of his high school career, Coon is ranked No. 18 in the Class of 2013, and faced a rematch of last summer's Cadet National freestyle final this afternoon. He added to his Greco-Roman title, and avenged that loss in Fargo, with a 1-1, 2-0 victory over Ty Walz (St. Edward, Ohio).
"I've worked on some more sprawls, stronger hip defense, and stronger high-crotch defense," he said in response to what the difference was in this match compared to the meeting in Fargo. "I knew I'd see Ty again somewhere, and had to stop that lethal high-crotch of his." In fact it was that ability that enabled him to score the match sealing takedown in the second period.
Joining Brooks as a champion from the state of Illinois, was Zane Richards (Carbondale) at 127.75 pounds. Richards, ranked No. 22 in the Class of 2012, adds this title to the pair of Cadet National Greco-Roman titles that he earned in 2009 and 2010. The championship was earned with a 1-0, 6-0 victory over Sam Brancale (Eden Prairie, Minnesota); though a very critical victory came in his last preliminary match against Hayden Tuma (Centennial, Idaho).
Tuma had upended Richards in Thursday evening's Greco-Roman final; however, on Saturday morning, Richards earned the 2-1, 3-0 victory over the No. 17 wrestler in the Class of 2014. "It was all about mentality," Richards responded to the question about what was different between the two matches. "I knew that I had to make it happen, to wrestle my match, and with a lot of confidence."
Richards' tournament performance earned him Outstanding Wrestler honors, and provides great confidence for him as the path to Fargo (Junior Nationals) continues. "I've just got to keep working hard, keep getting the matches, and keep learning so I can thrive in Fargo," said Richards.
Along with the two champs from Illinois, a pair of Minnesota wrestlers also won championships. In fact, it was a second national title this month for each wrestler, as both won the Cadet National folkstyle tournament three weekends ago in Cedar Falls, Iowa. This pair of Class of 2014 members won titles at 92.5 and 101.25 pounds.
Gannon Volk (Apple Valley, Minnesota) upended the Greco-Roman champion from earlier in the week Lincoln Olson (a freshman-to-be at Davison, Michigan) by a 3-2, 1-0 decision in the final. Hoping to be the starting 103-pound wrestler for Apple Valley in 2011-12, Volk sees this tournament as a building block. "I just want to keep doing well until Fargo, and keep getting better," stated the 2010 Cadet National double All-American, who also won the Cadet folkstyle championship at the beginning of this month.
Like Volk, Tommy Thorn (St. Michael-Albertville, Minnesota) added to his title winning resume with a championship finals victory over a national champion. His victory came over 2010 Junior National freestyle champion Matt Garelli (Oak Park Fenwick, Illinois) by a 3-2, 4-2 score. Thorn was one of two finalists from the PINnacle Wrestling School in the FILA Cadet National freestyle competition. (Brancale at 127.75 pounds was the other PINnacle finalist.) Thorn, a state champion during the high school season at 103 pounds, comes from a strong wrestling lineage. His oldest brother Mike earned a second NCAA All-American finish this year, older brother David went 2-2 at the NCAA tournament, losing a pair of overtime matches as a redshirt freshman, and father John finished fourth at the NCAAs (for Iowa State) in 1983.
"They've shown me how to wrestle and win through by their words and actions," was how Tommy assessed having a pair of older brothers and a father with such accomplished wrestling backgrounds. "In that match, I just kept working and didn't stop, even when I was trailing."
At 110.25 pounds, Dalton Brady (Chandler, Arizona) -- who finished third in this event last year -- beat a pair of national champions to earn his championship. In yesterday's preliminary rounds, he upended returning event champion Nathan Tomasello (CVCA, Ohio) in a three period match, 3-0, 0-2, 4-0. Then, in the championship match, it was with a first period fall in 1:34 over 2010 Cadet National freestyle champion Phillip Laux (Iowa City West); Laux also won the Greco-Roman tournament contested earlier in the week.
"I just had much more experience (this year versus last year)," said Brady. "My dad took me to more tournaments, and I was able to work on more and better technique. Just to get a better feel, understanding for strategy, and more confidence."
Making the move up from second to first in this event at 119 pounds was Thomas Gilman (Skutt Catholic, Nebraska). Gilman -- ranked No. 17 in the Class of 2012 -- lost a three period match in the final last year before going on to win Cadet Nationals in Fargo last summer. In six preliminary matches to the final, Gilman had dominated all comers -- giving up two just points and ending five matches early (three technical falls and two pins).
The championship final was a battle of returning runners-up, as Jacob Schmitt (St. John's, Michigan) -- ranked No. 37 in the Class of 2013 -- finished second at 101 pounds to Tomasello in this event last year. In two mirror image periods, Gilman emerged with a 2-1, 2-1 victory. Both periods opened up with a Gilman takedown, which was followed up by a Schmitt takedown, and then Gilman scored a period winning takedown on each occasion.
"If things stayed the way they were, I was going to lose the period," said Gilman when asked about his late period scoring. "I just laid it all on the line with everything I had. Even though I could, I didn't want to wrestle a third period; just wanted to dominate in two."
Rounding out the tournament champions were a pair of nationally ranked Class of 2013 wrestlers in Joey Lavallee (Reno, Nevada) at 138.75 pounds and Oliver Pierce (Allen, Texas) at 152 pounds. In a battle of sophomores, who earned All-American honors in both styles last summer at Cadet Nationals, it was Lavallee who upended Josh Pennell (St. John's, Michigan) 3-0, 3-2. Ranked No. 29 in his grade, Lavallee set the tone for the match when he was able to score an exposure in countering Pennell's advantage situation in the first period leg clinch.
"I wanted to get to the boot scoot position," said Lavallee in discussing his leg clinch defense strategy. "I got to that point right when (Pennell) lifted up slightly, and I was able to pounce in with a crotch lift."
"I feel real happy to win (this national title)," he continued. "I've been going all over the place to get ready for this, and I feel blessed for the training opportunities I've gotten."
Pierce -- ranked No. 14 in his grade -- earned this title with a 2-1, 2-1 victory over Gabriel Moreno (Urbandale, Iowa). The "stop sign" will go on his mantle with those earned in Cadet National freestyle last summer and Greco-Roman in the summer of 2009; while Moreno was third in Cadet freestyle in 2009, and runner-up at the Junior National folkstyle tournament three weekends ago.
Not only is Pierce a very talented wrestler, he's also a key contributor to one of the nation's best high school football programs. As a sophomore this past fall, Oliver was the second-string quarterback, a starter as an inside wide receiver, and the primary kickoff and punt returner. His team lost in the second round of the state playoffs to the number one team in the nation by a 37-35 score, the game was played in front of 50,000 people at the new Cowboys Stadium.
Finals Results:
42 kg/92.5 pounds: Gannon Volk (Minnesota) dec. Lincoln Olson (Michigan), 3-2, 1-0
46 kg/101.25 pounds: Tommy Thorn (Minnesota) dec. Matthew Garelli (Illinois), 3-2, 4-2
50 kg/110.25 pounds: Dalton Brady (Arizona) pinned Phillip Laux (Iowa), 1:34
54 kg/119 pounds: Thomas Gilman (Nebraska) dec. Jacob Schmitt (Michigan), 2-1, 2-1
58 kg/127.75 pounds: Zane Richards (Illinois) dec. Sam Brancale (Minnesota), 1-0, 6-0
63 kg/138.75 pounds: Joey Lavallee (Nevada) dec. Joshua Pennell (Michigan), 3-0, 3-2
69 kg/152 pounds: Oliver Pierce (Texas) dec. Gabriel Moreno (Iowa), 2-1, 3-1
76 kg/167.5 pounds: Jordan Rogers (Washington) dec. Jason Grimes (Georgia), 7-0, 8-0
85 kg/187.25 pounds: Sam Brooks (Illinois) dec. Jack Dechow (Illinois), 2-1, 1-0
100 kg/220.5 pounds: Adam Coon (Michigan) dec. Ty Walz (Ohio) Dec 1-1, 2-0
125 kg/275.5 pounds: Brooks Black (Pennsylvania) dec. Doug Vollaro (Florida), 1-0, 0-1, 3-0
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