More USOEC Wrestlers off to World Juniors

Courtesy of the USOEC

Marquette, Mich.- Two United States Olympic Education Center Greco-Roman wrestlers grappled their way to the top during Saturday’s FILA Junior World Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Co. Their victories earned them a trip to the FILA Junior World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, in September.

Nick Alvarez of Miami and Marcus Finau of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, won gold in the 66-kilogram and 96-kg weight classes, respectively. Because Alvarez and Finau are both 2012 FILA Junior National champions, they were automatically advanced to the championship series, where they wrestled the best of three matches.

Alvarez stopped Ronnie Garbinsky of the Pittsburgh Wrestling Club in two straight matches. He stopped Garbinsky 0-1, 6-0, 1-0 in bout one and 3-0, 0-1, 1-0 in bout two.

Finau secured his return trip to the FILA Junior World Championships in two consecutive matches. Finau stopped USOEC recruit Brandon Rivera of Team Overtime, 2-0, 1-0 in the opening bout and 5-0, 2-0 in the second bout. Third periods were negated in both matches.

USOEC athletes Lee Wildes of Oviedo, Fla., and Parker Betts of St. Michael, Minn., also competed in the championship series, but fell short of earning spots on the FILA Junior World Team.

Wildes fell to Lucas Sheridan of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club 2-0, 1-0 in bout one and 3-0, 2-0 in bout two at 84 kg. Betts faced Wyatt Baker of the New York Athletic Club at 120 kg. He lost 1-0, 1-1 in the first match and 1-0, 0-4, 1-0 in the second.