11 Pennsylvania Wrestlers Medal at Freestyle Junior Nationals

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

In one of the more unique off-season events of the year the UWW Junior Nationals consists of wrestlers aged 17-20 and combines high school and college opponents together.

The event, which was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, saw an exciting group of current and former PIAA State wrestling legends compete with the Nation’s top wrestlers. A year ago at the 2014 Junior Nationals a total of eight (8) Pennsylvania native wrestlers walked away with medals while 2015 saw an increase to 11 total medalists from PA.

At 50 KG/110 lbs. 3x PIAA State Champion Devin Brown (Franklin Regional) advanced into the National Finals but was unable to get past high school junior Danny Vega of Arizona. Brown, a West Virginia recruit, fell to Vega by fall in the finals (1:41).

At 55 kg/121 lbs. NCAA qualifier and former 2x PIAA State Champion Ethan Lizak (Parkland) finished in sixth place having injury defaulted in the medal round match. In the quarterfinals Lizak, who was a true freshman starter for Minnesota this past season, defeated his former District 11 rival and North Carolina wrestler Tyrone Klump (Nazareth Area) score (9-2).

Two Keystone State wrestlers found their way to the medal stand at 60 kg/132 lbs. with 2x PIAA State Champion Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe) finishing in fifth place and former PIAA State Finalist Chase Zemenak (Nazareth Area) placing eighth. Pletcher, a high school junior, is the #1 ranked recruit from the Pennsylvania Class of 2016 and competed in one of his first major freestyle events of his high school career. In the semifinals Luke fell to fellow high school junior Mitch McKee of Minnesota by tech-fall (12-1) and finished in fifth place. Zemenak, a freshman at Bloomsburg, is coming of a successful redshirt season and added a Junior Nationals medal to his resume finishing in eighth.

For Penn State’s NCAA All-American Zain Retherford the gap is closing on Aaron Pico but the result was the same. In a re-match of the 2014 Junior National Finals at 66 kg/145 lbs. Retherford and Pico again met in an epic National Finals. Last season, at the same weight, Pico scored a (7-0) decision in the finals but this time around Pico was victorious (8-5). Retherford and Pico were miles ahead of the field as Zain earned three technical-falls and two falls en route to the finals.

Former PIAA State Champion and Penn State grappler Cody Law captured his second straight Junior Nationals medal at 70 kg/154 lbs. improving on his eighth place finish a season ago. Law had an impressive showing advancing into the semifinals with an early round victory over talented wrestler Tyler Berger, a Nebraska redshirt freshman from Oregon, score (4-1). After falling in the semifinals Law again defeated Berger in the consolation round (6-3) and ended up in third place.

The most anticipated weight of the Junior Nationals was no doubt 74 kg/163 lbs. which featured a ton of talent. Three Pennsylvania wrestlers would find themselves on the medal stand with Jason Nolf (Kittanning) leading the way. Nolf, a freshman at Penn State, proved he should be considered an NCAA threat next season finishing in second place. Nolf met fellow PA legend Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale) in the quarterfinals and came out victorious (8-5). Combined these two have seven (7) PIAA State Championships and a total career record of (342-1). Marsteller was a 4x Undefeated PIAA State Champion with a record of (166-0) and Nolf was a 3x PIAA State Champion with a record of (176-1). They were also the #1 and #2 ranked recruits of the Pennsylvania Class of 2014. The two redshirt freshmen clashed early with Nolf winning (8-5) in the quarters. Nolf advanced into the finals where he fell to phenomenal high school junior Mark Hall of Apple Valley, Minnesota. Hall stopped Jason Nolf in his tracks with a (13-8) decision in the finals which earned him the “Outstanding Wrestler” award. Chance Marsteller would bounce back to finish in third place in a loaded consolation bracket while former 2x PIAA State Champion and Penn State wrestler Garett Hammond (Chambersburg Area) finished in seventh place. It was Hammond’s second straight Junior Nationals medal at the weight as he placed eighth a season ago.

Surprise Junior National finalist Dom Scalise (Greater Latrobe) has put on significant weight in his freshman year at Virginia and is apparently benefiting from the Cavalier’s coaching staff and work-out partners. Scalise competed at 79 kg/174 lbs. and finished as the runner-up to Oklahoma State freshman Chandler Rogers.

The final Pennsylvania medalist of the Junior Nationals was Peter Renda (Brandywine Heights Area) at 84 kg/185 lbs. A season ago the 2x NCAA National Qualifier for N.C. State won the 79 kg/174 lbs. Junior National Championship in Las Vegas. Moving up to 84 kg this season Renda finished in fifth place. After falling to eventual Champion Zahid Valencia (California) in the second round the former PIAA State Champion won five (5) matches in the consolation round to finish in fifth place.

Full brackets and results can be found at Track Wrestling.

 

Men – 50 KG / 110.25 lbs
1st Place – Danny Vega of Tucson Cyclones
2nd Place – Devin Brown of Young Guns
3rd Place – Brandon Courtney of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
4th Place – Brock George of Wyoming Wrestling RTC
5th Place – Liam Cronin of Servite
6th Place – Jordan Martinez of Front Range Wrestling Club
7th Place – Kevin Nash of Panther Wrestling Club
1st Place Match – Danny Vega (Tucson Cyclones) won by fall over Devin Brown (Young Guns) (Fall 1:41)
3rd Place Match – Brandon Courtney (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over Brock George (Wyoming Wrestling RTC) (Dec 18-10)
5th Place Match – Liam Cronin (Servite) won by forfeit over Jordan Martinez (Front Range Wrestling Club) (FF)
7th Place Match – Kevin Nash (Panther Wrestling Club) received a bye

 

Men – 55 KG / 121.25 lbs
1st Place – Daton Fix of Team Big
2nd Place – Stevan Micic of Chicago RTC
3rd Place – Barlow Mcghee of Missouri Wrestling Foundation
4th Place – Austin Gomez of Gomez wrestling academy
5th Place – Jack Mueller of Seasons Freestyle Club
6th Place – Ethan Lizak of Minnesota Storm
7th Place – Ronnie Rios-Bresser of NWRTC
8th Place – Ian Parker of St. Johns High School Wrestling
1st Place Match – Daton Fix (Team Big) won by tech fall over Stevan Micic (Chicago RTC) (TF 10-0)
3rd Place Match – Barlow Mcghee (Missouri Wrestling Foundation) won by decision over Austin Gomez (Gomez wrestling academy) (Dec 6-3)
5th Place Match – Jack Mueller (Seasons Freestyle Club) won by injury default over Ethan Lizak (Minnesota Storm) (Inj. 0:00)
7th Place Match – Ronnie Rios-Bresser (NWRTC) won by tech fall over Ian Parker (St. Johns High School Wrestlin) (TF 11-0)

 

Men – 60 KG / 132.25 lbs
1st Place – Gary Harding of Cowboy wrestling club
2nd Place – Mitchell McKee of Pinnacle
3rd Place – Colton McCrystal of Nebraska Wrestling Training Ce
4th Place – Josh Terao of DCAC
5th Place – Luke Pletcher of Latrobe
6th Place – William Erneste of Missouri Wrestling Foundation
7th Place – Joshua Alber of Panther Wrestling Club RTC
8th Place – David Zemenak of Husky Wrestling Club
1st Place Match – Gary Harding (Cowboy wrestling club) won by decision over Mitchell McKee (Pinnacle) (Dec 10-7)
3rd Place Match – Colton McCrystal (Nebraska Wrestling Training Ce) won by decision over Josh Terao (DCAC) (Dec 9-0)
5th Place Match – Luke Pletcher (Latrobe) won by decision over William Erneste (Missouri Wrestling Foundation) (Dec 13-8)
7th Place Match – Joshua Alber (Panther Wrestling Club RTC) won by tech fall over David Zemenak (Husky Wrestling Club) (TF 10-0)

 

 

Men – 63 KG / 138.75 lbs
1st Place – Thomas Thorn of Minnesota Storm
2nd Place – Samuel Crane of Missouri Wrestling Foundation
3rd Place – Tristan Moran of Cowboy wrestling club
4th Place – Matthew Kolodzik of Unattached
5th Place – William Koll of Titian Mercery Wrestling Club
6th Place – Michael Magaldo of Cowboy wrestling club
7th Place – Jens Lantz of Badger Wrestling Club
8th Place – Zech Bresser of USA Henley Wrestling Academy
1st Place Match – Thomas Thorn (Minnesota Storm) won by decision over Samuel Crane (Missouri Wrestling Foundation) (Dec 14-11)
3rd Place Match – Tristan Moran (Cowboy wrestling club) won by decision over Matthew Kolodzik (Unattached) (Dec 3-2)
5th Place Match – William Koll (Titian Mercery Wrestling Club) won by decision over Michael Magaldo (Cowboy wrestling club) (Dec 12-4)
7th Place Match – Jens Lantz (Badger Wrestling Club) won by injury default over Zech Bresser (USA Henley Wrestling Academy) (Inj. 0:00)

 

Men – 66 KG / 145.5 lbs
1st Place – Aaron Pico of Titian Mercery Wrestling Club
2nd Place – Zain Retherford of Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
3rd Place – Griffin Parriott of Pinnacle
4th Place – Alfred Bannister of Terrapin Wrestling Club
5th Place – Andrew Crone of Badger Wrestling Club
6th Place – Chandler Pyke of Wolfpack Wrestling Club
7th Place – Jake DeAngelo of Wolfpack Wrestling Club
8th Place – Dante Rodriguez of Iowa State
1st Place Match – Aaron Pico (Titian Mercery Wrestling Club) won by decision over Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) (Dec 8-5)
3rd Place Match – Griffin Parriott (Pinnacle) won by decision over Alfred Bannister (Terrapin Wrestling Club) (Dec 9-5)
5th Place Match – Andrew Crone (Badger Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Chandler Pyke (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) (TF 13-2)
7th Place Match – Jake DeAngelo (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) won by forfeit over Dante Rodriguez (Iowa State) (FF)

 

Men – 70 KG / 154.25 lbs
1st Place – Archie Colgan of Wyoming Wrestling RTC
2nd Place – Alec Pantaleo of Michigan – CKWC
3rd Place – Cody Law of Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
4th Place – Micah Jordan of Titian Mercery Wrestling Club
5th Place – Tyler Berger of Nebraska Wrestling Training Center
6th Place – Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer of Iowa State
7th Place – Cameron Harrell of McDonogh Wrestling Club
8th Place – Austin Kraisser of Centennial
1st Place Match – Archie Colgan (Wyoming Wrestling RTC) won by decision over Alec Pantaleo (Michigan – CKWC) (Dec 7-0)
3rd Place Match – Cody Law (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by forfeit over Micah Jordan (Titian Mercery Wrestling Club) (FF)
5th Place Match – Tyler Berger (Nebraska Wrestling Training Center) won by forfeit over Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer (Iowa State) (FF)
7th Place Match – Cameron Harrell (McDonogh Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Austin Kraisser (Centennial) (TF 10-0)

 

Men – 74 KG / 163 lbs
1st Place – Mark Hall of Minnesota Storm
2nd Place – Jason Nolf of Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
3rd Place – Chance Marsteller of Cowboy Wrestling Club
4th Place – Jon Jay Chavez of Titian Mercery Wrestling Club
5th Place – Joe Smith of Cowboy Wrestling Club
6th Place – Austin Reese of Bobcat Wrestling Club
7th Place – Garett Hammond of Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
8th Place – Jacen Petersen of Arizona State
1st Place Match – Mark Hall (Minnesota Storm) won by decision over Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) (Dec 13-8)
3rd Place Match – Chance Marsteller (Cowboy Wrestling Club) won by decision over Jon Jay Chavez (Titian Mercery Wrestling Club) (Dec 7-3)
5th Place Match – Joe Smith (Cowboy Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Austin Reese (Bobcat Wrestling Club) (TF 12-2)
7th Place Match – Garett Hammond (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by injury default over Jacen Petersen (Arizona State) (Inj. 0:00)

 

Men – 79 KG / 174 lbs
1st Place – Chandler Rogers of Cowboy wrestling club
2nd Place – Dominic Scalise of Unattached
3rd Place – Kimball Bastian of Wolverine Wrestling Club
4th Place – Ryan Christensen of Badger Wrestling Club
5th Place – Keaton Subjeck of Stanford Wrestling Club
6th Place – Lawton Benna of Viking Wrestling Club (IA)
7th Place – Colin Carr of Minnesota Storm
8th Place – Christian Smith of CBU
1st Place Match – Chandler Rogers (Cowboy wrestling club) won by fall over Dominic Scalise (Unattached) (Fall 1:20)
3rd Place Match – Kimball Bastian (Wolverine Wrestling Club) won by decision over Ryan Christensen (Badger Wrestling Club) (Dec 4-2)
5th Place Match – Keaton Subjeck (Stanford Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Lawton Benna (Viking Wrestling Club (IA)) (TF 10-0)
7th Place Match – Colin Carr (Minnesota Storm) won by tech fall over Christian Smith (CBU) (TF 17-6)

 

Men – 84 KG / 185 lbs
1st Place – Zahid Valencia of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
2nd Place – Myles Martin of McDonogh Wrestling Club
3rd Place – Riley Lefever of Titian Mercery Wrestling Club
4th Place – Jadaen Bernstein of Navy-Marine Corps Mat Club
5th Place – Peter Renda of Wolfpack Wrestling Club
6th Place – Corey Griego of NWRTC
7th Place – Ryder Newman of OTC
8th Place – Chris Pfarr of Minnesota Storm
1st Place Match – Zahid Valencia (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over Myles Martin (McDonogh Wrestling Club) (Dec 7-0)
3rd Place Match – Riley Lefever (Titian Mercery Wrestling Club) won by decision over Jadaen Bernstein (Navy-Marine Corps Mat Club) (Dec 12-9)
5th Place Match – Peter Renda (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) won by decision over Corey Griego (NWRTC) (Dec 12-8)
7th Place Match – Ryder Newman (OTC) won by decision over Chris Pfarr (Minnesota Storm) (Dec 10-5)

 

Men – 96 KG / 211.5 lbs
1st Place – Anthony Cassar of Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
2nd Place – Jacob Seely of Unattached
3rd Place – Marcus Harrington of Iowa State
4th Place – Ben Honis of Titian Mercery Wrestling Club
5th Place – Preston Weigel of Cowboy wrestling club
6th Place – Chip Ness of Carolina Wrestling Club
7th Place – Malik McDonald of Wolfpack Wrestling Club
8th Place – Chance McClure of Unattached
1st Place Match – Anthony Cassar (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) won by decision over Jacob Seely (Unattached) (Dec 8-3)
3rd Place Match – Marcus Harrington (Iowa State) won by tech fall over Ben Honis (Titian Mercery Wrestling Club) (TF 12-2)
5th Place Match – Preston Weigel (Cowboy wrestling club) won by tech fall over Chip Ness (Carolina Wrestling Club) (TF 12-2)
7th Place Match – Malik McDonald (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) won by decision over Chance McClure (Unattached) (Dec 3-2)

 

Men – 120 KG / 264.5 lbs
1st Place – Nathan Butler of Stanford Wrestling Club
2nd Place – Jeramy Sweany of Titian Mercery Wrestling Club
3rd Place – Jake Scanlan of Iowa
4th Place – Jesse Webb of Bobcat Wrestling Club
5th Place – Jacob Aven of Boiler Elite Wrestling Club
6th Place – Tate Orndorff of Pigdog Wrestling club
7th Place – Cory Daniel of Carolina Wrestling Club
8th Place – Sam Eagan of Wyoming Wrestling RTC
1st Place Match – Nathan Butler (Stanford Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Jeramy Sweany (Titian Mercery Wrestling Club) (TF 11-0)
3rd Place Match – Jake Scanlan (Iowa) won by decision over Jesse Webb (Bobcat Wrestling Club) (Dec 2-1)
5th Place Match – Jacob Aven (Boiler Elite Wrestling Club) won by decision over Tate Orndorff (Pigdog Wrestling Club) (Dec 14-6)
7th Place Match – Cory Daniel (Carolina Wrestling Club) won by decision over Sam Eagan (Wyoming Wrestling RTC) (Dec 4-2)

 [/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]