April 20, 2007
Wrestlers at University Nationals
Mango throws an opponent at a tournament last fall
MARQUETTE—The United States Olympic Education Center will be represented by 28 freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers at the University National Championships April 20-22 in Colorado Springs, Colo.
This competition is a qualifier for World Team Trials and it gives both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers another chance to compete in the same venue this month. Most athletes wrestled at the Senior National Championships two weeks ago in Las Vegas, which was a men and women’s joint tournament.
“It’s always nice to be able to bring the competitions together,” said assistant Greco-Roman coach Jim Gruenwald. “People get to watch both Greco and freestyle. It’s like a package deal. It’s also nice having both teams there to support each other.”
Freestyle wrestlers competing include Northern Michigan University freshmen Amanda Breezley (Midland, Ohio.), Whitney Conder (Puyallup, Wash.), Cherae Pascua (Oahy, Hawaii) and Alyssa Lampe (Tomahawk, Wis.) at 51 kilograms; and Shyla Iokia (Maui, Hawaii) at 55 kg. Also competing are sophomore Nicole Darrow (Lanesboro, Mass.) at 55 kg; juniors Sadie Kaneda (Honolulu, Hawaii) at 48 kg and Dany Hedin (Kailua, Hawaii) at 53 kg; and graduate student Jenna Pavlik (Lewes, Del.) at 72 kg. Marquette Senior High School junior Erin Clodgo (Richmond, Vt.) will wrestle at 67 kg, while senior Paige Rife (Fowlerville) will hit the mat at 67 kg.
The Greco-Roman roster consists of NMU freshmen Chad Hemerson (Monterey, Calif.) and Talon Knox (Salt Lake City, Utah) at 79 kg; Mike Rossetti (Cranberry Township, Pa.) at 89 kg; and Peter Goundaridis (Leominster, Mass.) at 96 kg. Other competitors include sophomores Spencer Mango (St. Louis, Mo.) at 60 kg, John Dibala (Silverton, Ore.) at 66 kg and Marco Toledo (Miami, Fla.) at 74 kg; juniors Kerry Regner (Dalington, Pa.) at 63 kg, Tim Bleau (Ishpeming) at 66 kg, Andy Bisek (Chaska, Minn.) at 74 kg, Cheney Height (Drem, Utah) at 79 kg and Chas Betts (St. Michael, Minn.) at 84 kg; and seniors Jake Swenson (Moroni, Utah) at 60 kg, Marco Lara (Long Beach, Calif.) at 66 kg, Harry Lester (Akron, Ohio) at 70 kg and Jake Fisher (Platte City, Mo.) at 79 kg.
