June 2, 2009
Wrestlers Finish on Top at Trials
Spenser Mango wins gold at 55 kg
MARQUETTE— Three United States Olympic Education Greco-Roman Wrestlers were crowned champions at the U.S. World Team Trials May 30-31 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Seventeen USOEC Greco-Roman wrestlers attended the tournament, which was used as a qualifier for the World Team competing in September’s World Championships in Herning, Denmark. The top two wrestlers in each weight class competed in a best-of-three match for first place.
First-place finishers include Spenser Mango at 55 kilograms, Harry Lester at 74 kg and Chas Betts at 84 kg.
Mango, a Northern Michigan University senior from St. Louis, Mo., defeated 2007 World Team member Lindsey Durlacher in two matches to take first. Two-time world bronze medalist Harry Lester (Akron, Ohio) earned gold at 74 kg after two wins against Jess Hargrave (Army). Lester, an NMU post-baccalaureate student, advanced directly into the best-of-three finals series because of his World medals. NMU senior Chas Betts (St. Michael, Minn.) won gold after defeating 2008 Olympian T.C. Dantzler in a 2-1 final series.
Top USOEC finishers also include post-baccalaureate student Jacob Curby (La Grange, Ill.) who earned third place at 66 kg; post-baccalaureate student Jake Fisher (Platte City, Mo.), third place at 74 kg; post-baccalaureate student Cheney Haight (Orem, Utah), fourth place at 74 kg; junior Pete Gounaridis (Leominster, Mass.),silver medalist, and sophomore Zac Nielson (Zimmerman, Minn.) fourth place at 96 kg.
Other USOEC Greco-Roman wrestlers who competed were post-baccalaureate student Nate Engle (St. Helena, Calif.), freshman Max Nowry (Wheeling, Ill.) at 55 kg; senior Kerry Regner (Darlington, Pa.), senior Ben Sanchez (Leominster, Mass.), and junior Bo Beckman (Orem, Utah) at 66 kg; senior Andy Bisek (Chaska, Minn.) and sophomore Aaron Briggs (Tucson, Ariz.) at 74 kg; junior Talan Knox (Salt Lake City, Utah) and freshman Chad Hemerson (Monterey, Calif.) at 84 kg; and sophomore David Arendt (Port Washington, Wis.) at 120 kg.
