Grappler Fall Classic Recap & Results

DOYLE TROUT WINS OW AFTER CLAIMING STACKED 119LB TITLE

RECAP

Battle Creek, Michigan – Grappler Fall Classic tournament director Tony Greathouse had another successful year in gathering the best grapplers around the nation under one roof and running a great event for all fans to enjoy.

Nebraska 3x State Champ and recent Wyoming commit Doyle Trout, ranked #16 at 120lbs, won the marquee weight class at 119lbs and was named Outstanding Wrestler.  Trout knocked off Michigan State Champ Benny Gomez (#20 at 113) 2-0 in the semifinals before scoring a 5-2 win over Junior Freestyle All-American Ian Parker of Michigan (#10 at 113) in the finals.

Winning titles once again in the Grappler Fall Classic were – Caleb Smith (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) 112 pounds, Kanen Storr (Leslie, Mich.) 125 pounds, Lincoln Olson (Davison, Mich.) 130 pounds, and Joshua Heil (Brunswick, Ohio.) 135 pounds. All brackets were full of state place winners and many had numerous national ranked wrestlers in them.

No. 7 seed at 105 pounds, Austin Boone (Flat River, Mich.), showed the nation why he will be someone to keep an eye as the season progresses. In the finals of the 105 pound bracket, he defeated ASICS FILA Cadet Freestyle runner-up, Louis Hayes (Carl Sandburg, Ill.) 4-2 in the finals. Hayes was the champion of the Grappler Fall Classic in 2013, and the runner-up in 2012 at 98 pounds.

Florida’s class 2A state runner-up, Caleb Smith (Lake Highland Prep H.S.) won his second Grappler Fall Classic at 112 pounds by defeating Fargo Freestyle National champion, Paul Konrath (Mt. Vernon, Ind.) 7-2 in the finals. A great technician on the mat, he displayed confidence and was in control of Konrath the entire match. In the semifinals of the tournament he defeated fellow Florida state champion, Joseph Silva (Lake Highland Prep) 5-2.

Fargo All-American, Kanen Storr (Leslie, Mich.), put a dominant performance in the finals of the 125 pound weight class, as he defeated two-time Michigan place winner, Noah Gonser (Grand Blanc) 6-2. This was Storr third appearance in the finals.

Two-time Michigan state champion and future Oklahoma State wrestler, Lincoln Olson (Davison H.S), put a clinic as he easily defeated Florida state champion, Franco Valdez (Southwest H.S.) 11-3 in the finals. Olson’s only close match of the tournament came in the quarterfinals when he defeated Florida’s state runner-up, Sa’Deria Perry (Lake Gibson H.S.) 9-5. It was Olson’s second Grappler Fall Classic wrestling title.

Buckeye state wrestler, Joshua Heil (Brunswick H.S.) won his second Grappler Fall Classic title at 135 pounds by pinning, Noah Hanau (Stevensville-Lakeshore, Mich.) in the third round of their championship match. Noah Hanau had the biggest upset of the tournament as he defeated the No. 1 seed and ASICS Fila Cadet national champion, Carter Happel (Lisbon, Iowa.) 2-1 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Hanau defeated Michigan state champion, Grant Turnmire (Almont H.S.) 6-2 to make the finals. This was Hanau’s first time medaling in this event after failing to do so in 2013 and 2012.

Two-time Michigan state champion and FloNationals champion, Nate Limmex (Grand Rapids-Catholic Central H.S.) won a Grappler Fall title for the first time after placing third and second in previous years. In the finals he put a show by defeating Michigan Division II state champion, Austin Thompson (Marysville H.S.) 8-0 in the finals.

Seeded No 6 in the tournament at 145 pounds, Jake Tucker (Mt. Carmel, Ind.), put a performance for all fans to enjoy as he defeated the No. 3, 2 and 1 seeded wrestlers in the tournament. In the semifinals, Tucker defeated Michigan place winner, Logan Parks (Southgate Anderson) 3-0 to advance to the finals. In the finals he defeated the No. 1 seed and Michigan state champion Foster Karmon (Allegan H.S.) 7-2 to win the event for the first time.

Minnesota state champion, Dayton Racer (Bettendorf, Iowa), didn’t have a close match until the finals of the 160 pound weight class. During the tournament, he defeated two opponents by technical fall and two by fall before defeating Florida state champion, Elijah Clearly (Cardinal Gibbons H.S.) 5-0. This was Racer’s first Grappler Fall Classic title.

Michigan state runner-up, Devon Pingel (North Branch, Mich.) was all smiles after winning the Grappler Fall Classic for the first time. Last year he was third in the tournament at 189 pounds. During the tournament he pinned four of his opponents in a combined time of 3:32. In the finals he defeated ASICS FILA Cadet All-American, Andrew McNally (Uniontown, Ohio) 12-6.

Michigan state champion, Jacob Cooper (Springport H.S.), put a show for all fans to enjoy throughout the tournament at 215 pounds. In the finals he pinned the No. 3 seed, George Lahar (Birch Run, Mich.) in 1:18 of their match to claim a Grappler Fall Classic title for the first time after being a runner-up last year at 189 pounds.

Other champions included –Michael Mars (Warriors Elite, Mich.) 98 pounds, Zach Carson (Uniontown, Ohio.) 152 pounds, Jack Harris (Urbana, Ohio) 189 pounds and Cole Antcliff (Greenville, Mich.) 285 pounds.

Harris, ranked #14 at 195lbs, was dominant in the 189lb finals with a 12-2 major decision of Florida State Champ Adolfo Sotolongo.

The Middle School and Elementary divisions were loaded with studs from all over the country.  Among those who stood out was Elementary Outstanding Wrestler Braeden Davis of Michigan, who knocked off Tulsa Champ Sammy Hayes of IL in the 60lb finals.  In the Middle School division, Illinois' BJ Bailey stormed through a monster 145lb bracket that included Brian Case of Michigan, who was undefeated at Schoolboy Duals last year and is a returning GFC Champ, and MI State Youth Champ McCallister McCavoy.

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