Pennsylvania Wrestlers Compete For Spot on Cadet World Team

By Jeff Upson | June 1, 2017

AKRON – The road to Athens, Greece begins in Akron, Ohio when the 2017 UWW Cadet Nationals kick-off on Friday June 2nd. Champions of the UWW Cadet Nationals will represent Team USA at the 2017 Cadet World Championships in Athens come September. Pennsylvania Wrestlers will be in the mix for a World Team berth including stars Sammy Sasso and Gavin Hoffman

In the 46 kg/101 lbs. weight class two eighth graders are looking to get their high school careers started with a trip to the World Championships. Not since Gavin Teasdale in 2014 has a Keystone State grappler qualified for the Cadet World Championships prior to entering high school. Standing in the way is 2016 Cadet World Champion Kurt McHenry (Leesburg, VA). 2-time PJW State Champion Gary Steen (Hermitage) and 3-time PJW State Champion Ryan Crookham (Bethlehem Catholic) each are looking to make an impact on the 46 kg field. They are joined by freshman Blake Showers (Biglerville) who was a District 3 eighth place medalist in 2017.

At 50 kg/110 lbs. Pennsylvania will be represented by sophomore Andrew Brest (General McLane) and freshman Frederick Junko (North Allegheny).

In a loaded bracket at 58 kg/127 lbs. freshman stud Beau Bartlett (Wyoming Seminary), who was PA Power Wrestling’s #1 ranked Top Incoming Freshman of 2017, will look to make his first UWW Cadet World Team. The 2017 National Prep Champion will have his hands full with several Nationally acclaimed wrestlers including 2016 Fargo Cadet Double National Champion Nick Raimo (New Jersey), eighth grade stud Carson Manville (Minnesota), and 2016 Flo’s Who’s #1? winner Jordan Decatur (Ohio). Beau, who is an experienced Freestyle wrestler, will need to knock-off several of the biggest names in order to claim a spot on the World Team.

Pennsylvania’s best chance of a Cadet World Team berth may be at 63 kg/139 lbs. where junior Sammy Sasso (Nazareth Area) will be competing. The 2016 Super 32 Champion, Ironman Champion, and 2017 PIAA State Champion has been unstoppable since falling at Flo’s Who’s #1? to Penn State recruit Nick Lee (Indiana) back in October 2016. Sasso is a highly sought after recruit and qualifying for a Cadet World Team would only add to his growing resume. Sasso is not a lock here at 63 kg with several notable challengers listed. The biggest name is 4-time New York State Champion Jacori Teemer (New York) who was also a 2016 Fargo Cadet National Champion. Teemer is an Arizona State recruit who in April was a FloNationals Champion at 132 lbs. Sasso was the FloNationals Champion at 145 lbs. Also in the mix is Mason Phillips (Washington) who was 2016 Fargo Cadet runner-up in Freestyle. Joining Sammy are Pennsylvania wrestlers Carter Tuttle (Wyoming Seminary), a 2017 PAWF Cadet State Champion, and Matt Milbrand (Bloomsburg).

At 69 kg/152 lbs. PIAA State Champion Justin McCoy (Chestnut Ridge) is hoping to improve on his Freestyle wrestling after finishing third in the PAWF State Freestyle Championships in May. McCoy is joined by 2017 PIAA State Runner-up and 2-time PIAA State Medalist Carter Starocci (Cathedral Prep). Starocci is a sleeper here at 69 kg and could be in the mix for a World Team berth if he gets on a roll. Starocci has a long list of Freestyle accomplishments and last month was a PAWF Cadet Freestyle State Champion. In Fargo last summer Carter was a win away from earning a top eight finish. In the consolation round he fell to Danny Braunagel (Illinois) in a tight (6-6) match. Starocci avenged that defeat by upending Braunagel (3-2) in April at FloNationals. Braunagel will also be competing for a spot on the World Team in Akron. Illinois State Champion Will Lewan is a frontrunner at 69 kg also. In addition to McCoy and Starocci, Brookville’s 2-time PIAA State Medalist Caleb Hetrick will be competing at 69 kg.

One of the deepest weights of the Cadet Nationals is no doubt 76 kg/167 lbs. where Travis Wittlake Jr. (Oregon) is king. Wittlake is a 2016 UWW World Cadet Bronze Medalist and is the clear favorite to make his second Cadet World Team. The Penn State commit will have stiff competition including some from the Keystone State. PIAA State Champion Edmond Ruth (Susquehanna Twp.), PIAA State runner-up Josh Stillings (Pennridge), Cadet Pan-American Freestyle Champion Jake Hendricks (Wyoming Seminary), and freshman PIAA State Medalist Gerrit Nijenhuis (Canon-McMillan) are all slotted to compete at 76 kg. Although Wittlake is likely to win the spot it will be interesting to see how these Pennsylvania wrestlers match-up with the rest of the field.

2-time PIAA State Champion Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville) recently made a verbal commitment to The Ohio State Buckeyes and the junior has been eyeing a trip to the Cadet Nationals in Akron for a long time. Hoffman is considered to be a contender for a Cadet World Team berth at 85 kg and made it a point throughout his junior season that qualifying for the 2017 Cadet World Team in Akron was a priority for him. Hoffman will have stiff competition from the likes of Ryan Karoly (Malvern Prep) who in 2016 was a Cadet Fargo Double National Champion. The New Jersey native is also a 2-time National Prep Champion who is committed to Northwestern. New York’s Tyler Barnes is a State Champion who is committed to N.C. State and will provide depth at the weight. Joining Hoffman from Pennsylvania is Fort LeBoeuf wrestler Julian Goring.

Rounding out the Cadet Freestyle participants from Pennsylvania is Wyoming Seminary’s Michael Doggett at 100 kg/220 lbs. Doggett, like several Freestyle wrestlers, will also be competing in the Cadet Greco-Roman Nationals in hopes of earning a spot on the Greco World Team. Find below the Keystone State wrestlers competing this weekend in Akron. FloWrestling will be streaming it live.

Cadet Freestyle

46 kg/101 lbs.

Blake Showers (Haines Trained/Biglerville) Aspers, PA

Gary Steen (Bad Karma) Hermitage, PA

Ryan Crookham (Weaver Elite) Hellertown, PA

50 kg/110 lbs.

Andrew Brest (Bad Karma/General McLane) Edinboro, PA

Frederick Junko (North Allegheny) Wexford, PA

58 kg/127 lbs.

Beau Bartlett (Sunkist Kids/Wyoming Seminary) Wilkes-Barre, PA

63 kg/139 lbs.

Carter Tuttle (X-Calibur/Wyoming Seminary) New Ringgold, PA

Matthew Milbrand (Bison Legend/Bloomsburg) Bloomsburg, PA

Sammy Sasso (Dark Knights/Nazareth) Nazareth, PA

69 kg/152 lbs.

Caleb Hetrick Clarion RTC/Brookville) Brookville, PA

Carter Starocci (Bad Karma/Cathedral Prep) Erie, PA

Justin McCoy (Young Guns/Chestnut Ridge) New Paris, PA

76 kg/167 lbs.

Edmond Ruth (Iron Eagle/Susquehanna Twp.) Harrisburg, PA

Gerrit Nijenhuis (Quest/Canon-McMillan) Eighty Four, PA

Jake Hendricks (X-Calibur/Wyoming Seminary) New Ringgold, PA

Josh Stillings (LVWC/Pennridge) Green Lane, PA

85 kg/187 lbs.

Gavin Hoffman (Bison Legend/Montoursville) Cogan Station, PA

Julian Gorring (Bad Karma/Fort LeBoeuf) Erie, PA

100 kg/220 lbs.

Michael Doggett (X-Calibur/Wyoming Seminary) Shavertown, PA

Cadet Greco-Roman