2017 Junior World Team (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)LINCOLN, Neb. -- On Friday, Mark Hall moved one step closer in his quest to repeat as a junior world champion.
The 20-year-old Penn State wrestler dominated Alex Marinelli in the best-of-three finals at the UWW Junior World Team Trials at 74 kilograms. Hall, an NCAA champion as a true freshman, took the opening match 10-0 and the second match 8-3.
Mark Hall defeated Alex Marineilli in two consecutive matches (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)He will now look to join former junior world teammate Spencer Lee as a two-time junior world champion. The Junior World Championships will take August 1-6 in Tampere, Finland.
Daton Fix handled Brandon Courtney in the finals at 55 kilograms (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Another returning junior world medalist, Daton Fix, earned a spot on this year's Junior World Team at 55 kilograms with two technical falls over Brandon Courtney. Fix, a bronze medalist at last year's Junior Worlds, was unscored upon in the first match, winning 12-0, before going on to win the second match 15-4.
Two-time cadet world champion Gable Steveson, the nation's top wrestler in the Class of 2018, will get his first crack at a junior world title after beating past cadet world silver medalist Jordan Wood in two straight matches to earn a spot on the Junior World Team at 120 kilograms.
Zahid Valencia gets his hand raised after defeating Nick Reenan in the finals at 84 kilograms (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Zahid Valencia made his third straight Junior World Team by topping NC State wrestler Nick Reenan in consecutive matches at 84 kilograms. Valencia, an All-American for Arizona State, outscored Reenan 23-1.
Mitchell McKee won a hard-fought, three-match battle over Austin Gomez to claim the title at 60 kilograms. McKee, a runner-up at last year's Junior World Team Trials, cruised to a technical fall shutout over Gomez in the opening match. But Gomez came out strong in the second match and scored eight points in the first period to grab an 8-3 lead. McKee battled back in the second period, but Gomez held on for an 8-3 victory to force a third and deciding match. In the third match, Gomez once again jumped out early, scoring with a headlock and putting McKee in serious danger. McKee would fight off his back, but Gomez grabbed a 5-2 lead. McKee battled back, scoring five unanswered points to win 7-5.
Kollin Moore was dominant en route to winning the title at 96 kilograms (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Kollin Moore, an All-American for Ohio State, made his second straight Junior World team at 96 kilograms. He punched his ticket to Finland by claiming two straight technical falls over Andrew Marsden.
Ohio State commit Malik Heinselman, who will be entering his senior year of high school, captured the title at 50 kilograms, beating Cevion Severado, 7-4 and 10-0. Heinselman was twice a member of the Cadet World Team.
Northwestern wrestler Ryan Deakin earned a spot on the Junior World Team at 66 kilograms, beating Patricio Lugo in two consecutive matches, 9-2 and 10-0.
Finals Results
50 kilograms: Malik Heinselman defeated Cevion Severado, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Heinselman dec. Severado, 7-4
Match 2: Heinselman tech. fall Severado, 10-0
55 kilograms: Daton Fix defeated Brandon Courtney, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Fix tech. fall Courtney, 12-0
Match 2: Fix tech. fall Courtney, 15-4
60 kilograms: Mitchell McKee defeated Austin Gomez, 2 matches to 1
Match 1: McKee tech. fall Gomez, 10-0
Match 2: Gomez dec. McKee, 11-8
Match 3: McKee dec. Gomez, 6-5
66 kilograms: Ryan Deakin defeated Patricio Lugo, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Deakin dec. Lugo, 9-2
Match 2: Deakin tech. fall Lugo, 10-0
74 kilograms: Mark Hall defeated Alex Marinelli, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Hall tech. fall Marinelli, 10-0
Match 2: Hall dec. Marinelli, 8-3
84 kilograms: Zahid Valencia defeated Nick Reenan, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Valencia tech. fall Reenan, 11-0
Match 2: Valencia tech. fall Reenan, 12-1
96 kilograms: Kollin Moore defeated Andrew Marsden, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Moore tech. fall Marsden, 13-2
Match 2: Moore tech. fall Marsden, 20-8
120 kilograms: Gable Steveson defeated Jordan Wood, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Steveson tech. fall Wood, 10-0
Match 2: Steveson tech. fall Woods, 13-2
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