PA Sends 23 Wrestlers to UWW Junior Freestyle Nationals in Vegas

Pennsylvania Wrestling will see 23 wrestlers compete in Las Vegas, NV at the 2016 UWW Junior Freestyle Nationals. Made up of high school and college aged wrestlers the winners of the Junior Nationals receive an automatic birth into the Junior World Team Trial Finals held on May 20-22 in Irving, Texas.

3x undefeated PIAA State Champion Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional) was a UWW Junior World Champion last season when he competed up a division. Lee competed in the 2015 UWW Cadet Freestyle Nationals but fell to Oklahoma’s Daton Fix in a best-of-three finals. Despite not competing in the 2015 UWW Junior Freestyle Nationals Spencer received a spot in the 2015 Junior World Team Trials where he dominated the field at 50 KG. After winning a Cadet World Championship in 2014 Spencer won his second World Team title this time in the UWW Junior Division.

Two other former World Team Members will be competing with 2x undefeated PIAA State Champion Gavin Teasdale (Jefferson Morgan) at 55 KG and Jarod Verkleeren (Belle Vernon Area) at 66 KG. Teasdale was a Cadet World Team member at 50 KG in 2015 while Verkleeren was a UWW Cadet World Champion at 63 KG. Both will be competing in their first Junior Freestyle Nationals.

Many Pennsylvania wrestlers now in college will put their skills to the test against the Nation’s best. The WPIAL’s stronghold consisting of Franklin Regional trio Michael Kemerer, Josh Maruca, and Josh Shields, in addition to 2x PIAA State Champion Sam Krivus (Hempfield Area) and Vincenzo Joseph (Central Catholic), will all be in search of UWW Junior National Titles after redshirt seasons at their respective schools.

Below is a look at all the Keystone State grapplers who will compete throughout Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas. View full brackets and information at TrackWrestling here.

 

Men 50 KG / 110.25 lbs

Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional / Young Guns)

 

Men 55 KG / 121.25 lbs

Gavin Teasdale (Jefferson Morgan / Young Guns)

 

Men 60 KG / 132.25 lbs.

Scott Parker (Pennridge / Lehigh / Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club)

Justin Patrick (Kiski Prep / Buffalo / BWC)

 

Men 63 KG / 138.75 lbs

Triston Law (Forest Hills / Penn State / Nittany Lion Wrestling Club)

 

Men 66 KG / 145.5 lbs

Luke Gardner (Pottsville Area / Tide Mat Club)

Josh Giorgio (Schuylkill Valley / Air Force)

Sam Krivus (Hempfield Area / Virginia / Cavalier Wrestling Club)

Cortlandt Schuyler (Manheim Township / Lehigh / Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club)

Jarod Verkleeren (Belle Vernon Area / Young Guns)

 

Men 70 KG / 154.25 lbs

Zach Kelly (Kiski Prep / Bucknell / Buffalo Valley RTC)

Miachael Kemerer (Franklin Regional / University of Iowa)

Kent Lane (Southern Columbia Area / Lehigh / Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club)

Josh Maruca (Franklin Regional / Arizona State / Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)

 

Men 74 KG / 163 lbs

Ian Brown (Hanover / Lehigh / Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club)

David Hollingshead (Altoona Area / Bucknell / Buffalo Valley RTC)

Vincenzo Joseph (Central Catholic / Penn State / Nittany Lion Wrestling Club)

Josh Shields (Franklin Regional / Arizona State / Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)

Cole Walter (Mifflinburg Area / Lehigh / Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club)

 

Men 79 KG / 174 lbs

Idris White (Father Judge / Maryland)

 

Men 84 KG / 185 lbs

Nick Stephani (Troy Area / Bucknell / Buffalo Valley RTC)

 

Men 120 KG / 264.5 lbs

Joey Goodhart (Hempfield / Drexel)

Jake Gunning (Liberty / Buffalo / Buffalo RTC)

 

Event Schedule

Friday, April 29

Session I

UWW Junior Freestyle Nationals – Preliminaries and Consolation

4:00PM – 8:00PM

 

Saturday, April 30

Session II

UWW Junior Freestyle Nationals – Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Consolation

9:00AM – 1:00PM

 

Session III

UWW Junior Freestyle Nationals – Semifinals, Consolation, Consolation Semifinals, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th Place Matches

3:00PM – 7:00PM