Two Michigan Grapplers won the U23 Freestyle Nationals tournament over the weekend in Geneva, Ohio. Beau Mantanona (Michigan) compiled a 7-1 record with six tech falls and a pin. He beat Nicco Ruiz (ASU) in the best 2-of-3 series, including an 11-0 tech in the series rubber match. At 70kg, Josh Edmond (Mizzou, Detroit CC HS) was impressive, winning the mini tournament before beating Drew Roberts of Minnesota in two straight matches. Edmond went 8-0 on the tournament, with a pin and a tech, never scoring fewer than 7 points.

On the U20 side, the tournament served as the World Team Trials. Winners of the tournament will represent Team USA in Bulgaria later this year. Brock Mantanona was the closest any Michigan Grappler came to making the team. He would win the mini tournament before dropping the best 2-of-3 series to William Henckel (Penn State, Blair Academy).

In all, there were 12 placers across freestyle and greco in both divisions.

Placers

U20 Freestyle

79kg – Brock Mantanona (Michigan) – 2nd

U23 Freestyle

57kg – Drew Heethuis (Princeton, Detroit CC HS) – 7th
70kg – Josh Edmond (Missouri, Detroit CC HS) – 1st
74kg – Stoney Buell (Purdue, Dundee HS) – 6th
79kg – Beau Mantanona (Michigan) – 1st
92kg – Hayden Walters (Michigan) – 3rd
92kg – Kael Wisler (Michigan State, New Boston Huron HS) – 4th

U20 Greco

60kg – Aaron Lucio (Southeastern, Lakeshore HS) – 4th
82kg – Michael Baldwin (Saginaw United HS) – 4th

U23 Greco

60kg – Marcell Milani (Cornell, Orchard Lake St. Mary HS) – 6th
67kg – Evan Herriman (Michigan State, Davison HS) – 5th
87kg – Ryan Boucher (Michigan State) – 5th