Spencer Lee Bounces Back to Make World Junior Team as Zacherl Joins Him

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Overall 14 Pennsylvania wrestlers competed in the Junior World Team Trials with a total of five (5) Keystone State wrestlers advancing into the best-of-three Championship finals. Of those five finalist two earned a spot on the Junior World Team.

Spencer Lee did not allow his two match defeat to Daton Fix in the Cadet World Team Trials hinder his aspirations of competing for Team USA. “The Kid” simply went up a division and down a weight-class.

The 2014 Cadet World Champion elected to compete up in the UWW Junior Division and dropped to 50 kg/110 lbs. for the Junior World Team Trials. At the Trials Spencer did not just win – he destroyed the competition winning the challenge tournament with two straight tech-fall victories (10-0) in both matches. In the best-of-three finals “The Kid” faced Danny Vega, a junior from Arizona, who was the UWW Junior Nationals Champion in May at 50 kg. Interestingly in the Junior National Finals Danny Vega downed Lee’s teammate Devin Brown by fall in (1:41). Lee would not be stopped continuing his shut-out performances racking up two (10-0) tech-falls over Vega to punch his ticket to Brazil and the Junior World Championships.

In total Lee outscored his opponents (40-0) in four straight tech-fall wins at the Junior World Team Trials. On a side note, Daton Fix (Oklahoma) who defeated Lee in the Cadet World Team Trials, finished as the runner-up at the Junior World Team Trials at 55 kg. Fix was the UWW Junior Nationals Champion in May earning a bye into the best-of-three finals. There he faced Northwestern freshman Steve Micic who Fix defeated by tech-fall last month (10-0). Fix was unable to make both Cadet and Junior World Teams falling to Micic in two matches.

At 55 kg/121 lbs. Lehigh’s Darian Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic) finished third in the challenge tournament falling in the semifinals to Wyoming Seminary’s Jack Mueller (Texas) score (7-7). The second Pennsylvania wrestler to qualify for the Junior World Team was Clarion’s freshman Brock Zacherl (Brookville Area) at 60 kg/132 lbs. who stormed into the best-of-three finals. There he faced Junior National Champion Gary Harding (Oklahoma State). Zacherl, who did not compete at the Junior Nationals in May, went on a frenzy picking up two straight wins by tech-fall (11-0) and (10-0). The former PIAA State Champion will join Spencer Lee in Salvador, Brazil for the Junior World Championships.

At 66 KG/145 lbs. NCAA All-American and former PIAA State Champion Zain Retherford faced his rival Aaron Pico for the third time this year and sixth time over the last two years. Pico, a Cadet World Champion and Junior World Silver Medalist, continued his winning streak against Retherford picking up two straight wins in the best-of-three finals (5-2) and (6-2). At the Junior Nationals in May Pico held off Zain in the finals (8-5). It was the second season in a row Pico denied Retherford a spot on the Junior World Team at 66 kg. Also competing at 66 kg was 2x PIAA State Champion and Penn State recruit Vincenzo Joseph (Central Catholic) who advanced into the challenge tournament finals. The #1 recruit from PA was impressive picking up a decision over Rutger’s highly touted Anthony Ashnault (4-2) and two tech-falls where he faced future teammate Retherford falling (5-0).

The most impressive weight of the Tournament was arguably 74 kg/163 lbs. and Pennsylvania was well represented. The leader of the pack was the unbelievably talented Mark Hall (Minnesota) who earned an automatic spot in the Championship finals after winning the Junior Nationals in May. There Hall defeated Penn State’s Jason Nolf (Kittanning) winning (13-8) over the 3x PIAA State Champion. The two would not meet at the Junior World Team Trials as Nolf fell in the semifinals to Michigan’s Logan Massa (9-8). Nolf would rebound defeating teammate Cody Law (Forest Hills/Penn State) in the consolation semifinals (3-2). 4x undefeated PIAA State Champion Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale/Oklahoma State) placed third at the Junior Nationals behind Mark Hall and Jason Nolf. At the Junior World Team Trials Chance stormed into the challenge tournament finals picking up two straight technical falls including a (10-0) win over 2x PIAA State Champion Garett Hammond (Chambersburg Area/Penn State). The re-match between Marsteller and Nolf would not occur as Nolf fell to Logan Massa (Michigan) in the semifinals. In the challenge tournament finals Marsteller outlasted Logan Massa by a score (8-8) earning the victory having scored last.

In the Championship best-of-three finals Marsteller took on soon to be high school senior Mark Hall of Apple Valley Minnesota. Chance was blown away in the finals falling (10-0) in the first match and losing by fall in the second match (3:44). Despite being outmatched by Mark Hall it was still an impressive Tournament for Marsteller having finished ahead of Jason Nolf and Logan Massa. It is a testament to how talented Mark Hall truly is.

Former Bethlehem Liberty star Jake Gunning (Buffalo University) advanced into the Championship best-of-three finals where he fell in two straight matches to Nathan Butler of Stanford.

Final results can be found at TrackWrestling

 

 

MFS 50 KG – Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional) – Champion

Semifinal – Spencer Lee (Young Guns) won by tech fall over Liam Cronin (Servite) (TF 10-0)
1st Place Match – Spencer Lee (Young Guns) won by tech fall over Brandon Courtney (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) (TF 10-0)

Championship Finals (Best-of-Three)
Round 1 – Spencer Lee (Young Guns) won by tech fall over Danny Vega (Tucson Cyclones) (TF 10-0)
Round 2 – Spencer Lee (Young Guns) won by tech fall over Danny Vega (Tucson Cyclones) (TF 10-0)

 

MFS 55 KG – Darian Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic/Lehigh) – Third Place

Quarterfinal – Darian Cruz (LVAC) won by decision over Skyler Petry (Minnesota Storm) (Dec 7-1)
Semifinal – Jack Mueller (Dallas Dynamite) won by decision over Darian Cruz (LVAC) (Dec 7-7)
Cons. Semi – Darian Cruz (LVAC) won by forfeit over Kyle Akins (Buffalo RTC) (FF)
3rd Place Match – Darian Cruz (LVAC) won by decision over Ronnie Rios (NWRTC) (Dec 5-4)

 

MFS 60 KG – Brock Zacherl (Brookville Area/Clarion) – Champion

Quarterfinal – Brock Zacherl (Clarion Wrestling Club) won by decision over David Zemenak (Husky Wrestling Club) (Dec 10-3)
Semifinal – Brock Zacherl (Clarion Wrestling Club) won by decision over Colton Mccrystal (NWTC) (Dec 8-2)
1st Place Match – Brock Zacherl (Clarion Wrestling Club) won by decision over Mitchell McKee (Minnesota Storm) (Dec 6-0)

Championship Finals (Best-of-Three)
Round 1 – Brock Zacherl (Clarion Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Gary Harding (Collinsville Cardinal Wrestlin) (TF 11-0)
Round 2 – Brock Zacherl (Clarion Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Gary Harding (Collinsville Cardinal Wrestlin) (TF 10-0)

 

MFS 60 KG – David Zemenak (Nazareth Area/Bloomsburg)

Champ. Round 1 – David Zemenak (Husky Wrestling Club) won by decision over Michael Cook (Bronco Wrestling Club) (Dec 9-2)
Quarterfinal – Brock Zacherl (Clarion Wrestling Club) won by decision over David Zemenak (Husky Wrestling Club) (Dec 10-3)
Cons. Round 3 – Anthony Giraldo (Scarlet Knights Wrestling Club) won by decision over David Zemenak (Husky Wrestling Club) (Dec 6-5)

 

MFS 66 KG – Zain Retherford (Benton Area/Penn State) – Runner-Up

Champ. Round 1 – Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Max Thomsen (DC Elite) (TF 10-0)
Quarterfinal – Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Matthew Kolodzik (Unattached) (TF 12-2)
Semifinal – Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by fall over Fredy Stroker (Minnesota Storm) (Fall 5:01)
1st Place Match – Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by decision over Vincenzo Joseph (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) (Dec 5-0)

Championship Finals (Best of Three)
Round 1 – Aaron Pico (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won by decision over Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) (Dec 5-2)
Round 2 – Aaron Pico (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won by decision over Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) (Dec 6-2)

 

MFS 66 KG – Vincenzo Joseph (Central Catholic/Penn State) – Third Place

Champ. Round 1 – Vincenzo Joseph (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by decision over Anthony Ashnault (Scarlet Knights Wrestling Club) (Dec 4-2)
Quarterfinal – Vincenzo Joseph (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Dom Forys (PWC RTC) (TF 10-0)
Semifinal – Vincenzo Joseph (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Andrew Crone (Wisconsin) (TF 12-2)
1st Place Match – Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by decision over Vincenzo Joseph (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) (Dec 5-0)

 

MFS 66 KG – Dom Forys (North Allegheny/Pittsburgh)

Quarterfinal – Vincenzo Joseph (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Dom Forys (PWC RTC) (TF 10-0)
Cons. Round 2 – Samuel Crane (Missouri Wrestling Foundation) won by tech fall over Dom Forys (PWC RTC) (TF 10-0)

 

MFS 66 KG – Nick Zanetta (Keystone Oaks/Pittsburgh)

Champ. Round 1 – Matthew Kolodzik (Unattached) won by decision over Nick Zanetta (PWC RTC) (Dec 17-9)
Cons. Round 1 – Max Thomsen (DC Elite) won by tech fall over Nick Zanetta (PWC RTC) (TF 11-0)

 

MFS 74 KG – Jason Nolf (Kittanning/Penn State) – Third Place

Quarterfinal – Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Keilan Torres (Northern Colorado Wrestling Cl) (TF 10-0)
Semifinal – Logan Massa (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club) won by decision over Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) (Dec 9-8)
Cons. Semi – Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by decision over Cody Law (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) (Dec 3-2)
3rd Place Match – Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by decision over Joe Smith (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) (Dec 12-7)

 

MFS 74 KG – Cody Law (Forest Hills/Penn State)

Champ. Round 1 – Logan Massa (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Cody Law (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) (TF 13-2)
Cons. Round 1 – Cody Law (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Luke Norland (Flat Earth Wrestling Club) (TF 10-0)
Cons. Round 2 – Cody Law (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by decision over Mason Manville (NLWC) (Dec 6-0)
Cons. Round 3 – Cody Law (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by decision over Nick Reenan (Unattached) (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Semi – Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by decision over Cody Law (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) (Dec 3-2)

 

MFS 74 KG – Garett Hammond (Chambersburg Area/Penn State)

Champ. Round 1 – Garett Hammond (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by decision over Markus Scheidel (NYRTC) (Dec 12-9)
Quarterfinal – Garett Hammond (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by decision over Mason Manville (NLWC) (Dec 8-0)
Semifinal – Chance Marsteller (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Garett Hammond (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) (TF 10-0)
Cons. Semi – Joe Smith (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won by decision over Garett Hammond (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) (Dec 7-1)

 

MFS 74 KG – Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale/Oklahoma State) – Runner-Up

Quarterfinal – Chance Marsteller (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Nick Reenan (Unattached) (TF 12-2)
Semifinal – Chance Marsteller (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Garett Hammond (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) (TF 10-0)
1st Place Match – Chance Marsteller (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won by decision over Logan Massa (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club) (Dec 8-8)

Championship Finals (Best-of-Three)

Round 1 – Mark Hall (Minnesota Strom) won by tech fall over Chance Marsteller (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) (TF 10-0)
Round 2 – Mark Hall (Minnesota Strom) won by fall over Chance Marsteller (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) (Fall 3:44)

 

MFS 84 KG – Peter Renda (Brandywine Heights Area/N.C. State)

Quarterfinal – Chandler Rogers (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won by decision over Peter Renda (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) (Dec 12-4)
Cons. Round 2 – Peter Renda (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Ryder Newman (OTC) (TF 16-6)
Cons. Round 3 – Ryan Christensen (Wisconsin) won by fall over Peter Renda (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) (Fall 4:06)

 

MFS 120 KG – Jake Gunning (Bethlehem Liberty/Buffalo) – Runner-Up

Quarterfinal – Jake Gunning (Buffalo RTC) won by decision over Jacob Scanlan (OTC) (Dec 6-0)
Semifinal – Jake Gunning (Buffalo RTC) won by decision over Cory Daniel (Carolina Wrestling Club) (Dec 5-2)
1st Place Match – Jake Gunning (Buffalo RTC) won by decision over Garrett Ryan (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) (Dec 5-0)

Championship Finals (Best-of-Three)

Round 1 – Nathan Butler (California RTC) won by tech fall over Jake Gunning (Buffalo RTC) (TF 11-0)
Round 2 – Nathan Butler (California RTC) won by tech fall over Jake Gunning (Buffalo RTC) (TF 11-0)

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