MICHIGAN BLUE WRAP
Fresh off of a Greco Roman National championship, Michigan Blue came into Freestyle competition surging with momentum. They started day 1 strong by cruising to their respective pool final with a dominant 48-8 semifinal victory over Maryland, a team that went on to finish 9th overall. However, to end day 1 they dropped a tough one against New Jersey in the pool finals by a score of 30-24. Among the team’s top performers on the opening day of competition was Richmond graduate Jake McKiernan who came in with minimal FS competition experience, but still managed to notch wins over a National Prep AA and Fargo Cadet AA. St Johns junior Ian Parker also had a big day, dominating highly regarded NJ state champ Ty Agaisse to the tune of a 12-2 TF.
Michigan opened day 2 against a stacked Minnesota squad in the first of 3 championship round robin duals. The two squads went back and forth in a heated battle, but it was ultimately Minnesota who emerged as winners by a score of 35-31. Michigan Blue had little time to contemplate the loss as they were forced to immediately turn around and wrestle defending champion Illinois. In what was their best overall team performance in Freestyle, the team rallied to soundly defeat Illinois, 40-24. They went on to handily beat Missouri, 45-20, in their final round robin dual.
Still alive for a team title, Illinois went on to beat Minnesota, creating a 3-way tie with Michigan. Between the 3-duals Michigan scored the most points with 71 to Minnesota’s 66, and Illinois’ 58. However, due to USA Wrestling’s tiebreaker criteria, Illinois was automatically placed in the 5th place dual due to having the least overall points. From there, criteria shifted to head-to-head outcome, and Minnesota earned a spot in the finals while Michigan was slotted to wrestle New Jersey in a rematch from 3rd place.
Despite the disappointing tiebreaker outcome, Michigan Blue rallied to end the weekend on a positive note and beat New Jersey 33-29 to avenge their previous loss. The dual was highlighted by the breakout performance of Alec Pantaleo, who culminated a phenomenal tournament by defeating multi-time FS national champion Mason Manville.
Pool C Bracket
Team Results
Pool Quarters – MI Blue over Arkansas 63-4
Pool Semis – MI Blue over Maryland 48-8
Pool Finals – New Jersey over MI Blue 30-24
Notable Individual Wins (All Fargo/FILA accolades are FS only)
113 – Ian Parker 12-2 TF over Ty Agaisse, NJ (State Champ)
120 – Logan Griffin 9-6 over Ryan Friedman, MD (3X National Prep AA)
120 – Kanen Storr 9-6 over Nick Noel, AR (2X State Champ)
120 – Kanen Storr 10-0 TF over Michael Russo, NJ (State Runner-Up)
126 – Lincoln Olson 20-10 TF over Aaron Grigsby, AR (2X State Champ)
132 – Cole Weaver 8-4 over Marty Margolis, MD (2X State Champ)
145 – Zac Hall 8-3 over Jordan Kutler, NJ (State Champ)
145 – Justin Oliver 8-2 over Matt Pente, MD (2X National Prep AA)
152 – Myles Amine 14-5 over Toby Hague, MD (4X National Prep AA)
160 – Logan Massa 13-2 TF over Christian Stackhouse, NJ (Fargo Junior AA)
160 – Alec Pantaelo 14-12 over Logan Breitenbach, MD (3X National Prep AA)
195 – Jake McKiernan 12-1 TF over Matthew Olauson, MD (Fargo Cadet AA)
195 – Jake McKiernan 6-2 over Neil Putnam, NJ (National Prep AA)
Championship Round Robin
Team Results
RR1 – Minnesota Blue over MI Blue 35-31
RR2 – MI Blue over Illinois 40-24
RR3 – MI Blue over Missouri 45-20
3rd Place Championship – MI Blue over New Jersey 33-29
Notable Individual Wins
100 – Dom Lajoie 16-15 over Louie Hayes, IL (FILA Cadet Runner-Up)
100 – Dom Lajoie 10-0 TF over Jett Tyron, MO (Fargo Cadet AA)
113 – Ben Freeman 12-2 TF over Brent Jones, MN (State Champ)
113 – Ian Parker 7-4 over Ty Agaisse, NJ (State Champ)
113 – Ian Parker 12-1 TF over Carlos Fuentez, IL (2X Fargo Junior AA)
120 – Kanen Storr 10-0 TF over Michael Russo, NJ (State Runner-Up)
126 – Lincoln Olson 10-0 TF over Michael Cullen, IL (Fargo Junior 3rd)
132 – Cole Weaver 9-9 over Tommy Thorn, MN (Fargo Junior Champ)
132 – Cole Weaver 2-1 over Stephen Polakowski, IL (Fargo Junior AA)
138 – Zehlin Storr 10-0 TF over Blake Clevenger, MO (3X State Finalist)
138 – Zehlin Storr 8-0 over Blane Tschida, MN (2X State 3rd)
145 – Justin Oliver 13-3 TF over Jordan Kutler, NJ (State Champ)
152 – Alec Pantaleo 9-1 over Larry Early, IL (State Champ)
152 – Alec Pantaleo 6-1 over Mason Maville, NJ (FILA Cadet Champ)
160 – Myles Amine 15-2 TF over Christian Stackhouse, NJ (Fargo Junior 3rd)
160 – Logan Massa 6-0 over Bryce Brill, IL (3X State Champ)
160 – Logan Massa 10-0 TF over Paden Moore, MN (State Runner-Up)
182 – Ty Wildmo 33-22 TF over Kamal Bey, IL (State Champ)
195 – Jake McKiernan FALL over Nathan Traxler, IL (FILA Cadet AA)
195 – Jake McKiernan FALL over Levi Turley, MO (State Champ)
220 – Landon Pelham 9-8 over Andrew Marsden, IL (2X FILA Cadet AA)
285 – Ryan Prescott FALL over Collin Braun, MO (Fargo Cadet AA)
MICHIGAN RED WRAP
Pool A Bracket
Team Results
Pool Quarters – Iowa Blue over MI Red 62-6
Pool Cons R2 – Kansas Blue over MI Red 51-18
Pool 7th Place – MI Red over South Carolina 46-20
Notable Individual Wins
113 – Grant Morrison 19-8 TF over Davon Powell, SC (2X State Champ)
138 – Connor McDill 10-0 TF over Anthony Scantlin, KS (State Runner-Up)
152 – Logan Parks 12-1 TF over Talon Seitz, SC (State 3rd)
Green/Yellow Round Robin
Team Results
RR1 – MI Red over New Mexico 38-23
RR2 – MI Red over Ohio Blue 41-23
RR3 – MI Red over North Carolina 45-22
1st Place Green/Yellow – Nebraska over MI Red 39-26
Notable Individual Wins
106 – Aaron Rehfeldt 14-12 over Austin Neal, NC (State 3rd)
120 – Cam Bertucci 10-0 TF over Sam Sandoval, MN (State Champ)
138 – Connor McDill 11-0 TF over Damon Rodriguez, NE (State Runner-Up)
152 – Logan Parks 15-4 TF over Ben Heyob, OH (2X State Qualifier)
285 – Ramon Correa FALL over Tanner Hircock, NE (State 3rd)
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Sad to see the team barely lose to Minnesota, dominate Illinois, then put the biggest beat down on Missouri out of the three tie-breaker teams and finally not make the finals. Personally I feel our boys were in the heads of the Oklahoma kids and had the best chance from their side to defeat the eventual champions. To put the hings we can't change aside, OUTSTANDING JOB by these young men, They have a great future ahead. Best of luck to the seniors headed out to college and lets see the younger … Read More
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