USOEC wrestlers win championships

Courtesy of the USOEC

MARQUETTE, Mich. – United States Olympic Education Center Greco-Roman wrestlers won two national champion titles at the ASICS Junior Nationals in Las Vegas Friday (March 19). Three other wrestlers took silver and four earned bronze.

In the 55-kilogram weight class, Isaiah Varona of Miami won his third national champion title. Varona pinned Nickolas Gaither of Suples Wrestling Club at 31 seconds into the second period of the quarterfinals. He also pinned Kyndall Rutz of Colorado USA Wrestling in the second period of the semifinals, ending the match at 45 seconds. Varona then faced Cameron Perry of Gilmer Bobcat Wrestling, winning 7-0, 1-0. In the gold-medal match, Varona faced Trey Andrews of the Bear Cave team, winning 4-2, 4-0.

Also earning a national champion title was Alejandro Sancho of Miami, competing at 66 kg. After pinning Timmy Box of the Dave Schulz Elite team in the quarterfinals at 1:19 in the first period, Sancho defeated Sahid Kargbo of Patriot Elite Wrestling 7-0, 1-3, 3-0, in the semifinals. In the championship match, Sancho defeated Rylan Lubeck of Badger wrestling 2-0, 3-3.

Earning a silver medal was Barrett Stanghill at 74 kg. Stanghill of Philipsburg, Mont., didn’t give up a point through the semifinals, but fell to Geordan Speiller of the Florida Jets 0-2, 1-0, 0-1 in the gold-medal match.

Zeke Honegger of Lake Zurich, Ill., won silver at 79 kg. Honegger defeated his opponents in the quarter and semifinals by pin before meeting William Baker of Rocky Mountain Training in the finals. Baker came out on top 3-1, 5-1.

Recruit and current guest athlete Orry Elor of Walnut Creek, Calif., entered his first competition under the guidance of USOEC coach Rob Hermann. Elor faced Adam Coon of Fowlerville wrestling in the 120-kg finals, falling 2-4, 0-1 to capture the silver medal.
The champions will earn the No. 1 seed for the 2013 ASICS U.S. Junior World Team Trials in Stillwater, Okla., June 20-23. Other place winners also qualify to compete in that event.