BREAKING: 14U Going for Gold... Again!

Team Maryland certainly showed there was no downswing in their momentum during after winning the 14U Greco Roman National Title on Wednesday. In fact, they literally dominated their opening Pool B in the Freestyle Competition that began on Thursday morning.

BEAT DOWN TIME!

Kansas was seeded number one in the pool and got dealt an outright butt whipping in the finals, where Maryland won 13 of the 17 matches to trounce the perceived favorites, 56-18. Alabama could only secure two wins in their 71-9 quarterfinal loss.

Illinois gave them their fiercest fight during the semifinals, but the final score is not indicative of how badly it went for Illinois. Maryland won ten consecutive matches to go up 37-0 before Illinois put up a win. From there the Illini Kids reeled off their only four wins of the dual before Maryland closed it with three more “Ws”.

“I think the kids are wrestling outstanding,” 14U Head Coach Jason Kiessling said. “Many of them feel more comfortable in Freestyle and its showing. I think our kids believe they are the best team and are wrestling with full confidence, so it’s been fun.”

MANY, MANY WINS

Going 3-0 during the pool rounds were Ethan Encarnacion (84 pounds), Korbin Kiessling (88), Luke Briggs (92 pounds), Caleb Tsikerdanos (96), Logan Brickley (105), Leo Wheeler (115), Esaias Perez (120), Justin Wildy, Jr. (126), and Luca Wynn (225).

A big win was gained by Ethan Encarnacion in the Kansas dual when he took out Andrew Taussig (No. 9 at 75 pounds in MatScouts MS Rankings), 5-1. Encarnacion was leading 3-0 after the first period and never let up.

Putting forth 2-1 tallies were Carter Townsend (75 pounds), Edward Encarnacion (100), Logan Noonan (110), Brody Clemons (132), and Logan Hartzell (140). Adding one win to the cause were Billy Tracey (80 pounds), Declan Solito (80), Jayden Carter (155), and Nate Hart (175).

Tracey was close to making it two wins as he showed big heart in battling back from a 6-1 deficit versus Kansas’ Grant Lottman, before falling 7-5.

GOING FOR GOLD AGAIN…

Like the Greco Roman format, winning your pool places you in the Freestyle Gold/Silver Bracket. Maryland was dropped into Pool B and faced the team it beat in the Greco Finals, Minnesota, in its opener.

“I am excited for it,” remarked Kiessling ahead of the match. “The kids seem very confident. I like where they are at.”

And oh man, was there a lot to like! This one kept the mudsliding theme of the earlier pool round going as Maryland hammered Minnesota early and often, winning seven in a row after dropping the first bout to take a commanding 25-7 lead.

After one more hiccup another winning streak sealed the team win. Justin Wildy, Jr., who has been jacking people up, turned the lights out on Minnesota and Chael Johnson 10 seconds into their 126-pound match. After Wildy, Jr.’s work, Maryland was holding a 39-10 advantage. With only five bouts left on the card, victory was Maryland’s.

That initial run began after No. 5 at 70 pounds, Jacob Graber shutout Townsend, 5-0, at 75 pounds, Solito (80) and Ethan Encarnacion handled the same foes as they did in Greco, Easton Schut and Eli Richter (respectively), with similar results – a decision and a tech.

Kiessling (No. 2) found a new foe to torment, Jaxon Anderberg, an did so with a chin hook 28 seconds into the 88-pounders time on the mat. Briggs faced an unfamiliar rival in Cameron Rodgers, who Kiessling pinned yesterday, and earned a wild 12-6 decision with too much craziness to describe.

Tsikerdanos shellacked Jett Foster with a 1:30 tech on a 13-2 count that saw Tsikerdanos bulldog a double chicken wing multiple times. After those exchanges, it was comical to see Foster do all he could to keep his arms from Tsikerdanos’ grasp in another exchange. Briggs handled Foster last night.

Minnesota’s Gabriel Jasso (No. 8 at 85 pounds) beat Tsikerdanos (No.9 at 85) yesterday and toed the line with Edward Encarnacion on this day. Jasso was likely expecting a win, but Encarnacion wasn’t having it and took a 2-0 lead and grew it to 5-0 at 100 pounds.

Brickley’s win at 105 pounds was the end of the first stretch and it would not have been possible had Brickley not reversed last night’s negative outcome versus Hunter Houle into an 8-7 win today. Wheeler also avenged a previous loss to Johnny Salas when he rang up a 10-0 tech fall at 115 pounds to kick off the final run of wins.

Perez, No. 7 nationally at 105, added a quick tech at 120 pounds before Wildy’s pin, and then Clemons rolled to a 10-0 tech of Chase Van Hill at 132 pounds to leave the count at 43-10 for MD.

Minnesota swept the next three to make the score seem closer than it was then chose to forfeit to Wynn at 225 pounds to arrive at the 48-22 final.

“I think the kids are wrestling extremely well,” Kiessling added. “Minnesota had to adjust their lineup due to their 100lb wrestler getting DQ'd the dual prior. So, they had to make adjustments and bump guys up to fill the spots and that backfired.

“Luke Briggs got redemption from last year when we met Minnesota in the 9th-10th place match and beat the kid who pinned him last year in our dual. Then at 96 Caleb got a big win and at 100 Ed beat a really tough Jasso. Brickley at 105 got revenge from Greco against his opponent and Leo Wheeler did the same. Proud of the team. I think they are favored to win these next two duals as well to set us back up for another finals appearance.”

NEXT…

At this point, it’s super simple for Maryland, win your next two and you will be in the Freestyle National Championship match. They don’t need any help on the second day as they did in Greco. They control their own fate tomorrow…a pretty comforting place to be given the havoc they caused today.

Maryland will see Michigan Blue in their first match on Thursday morning. They follow up with a showdown against Pool C Champs, Iowa. Michigan Blue beat Iowa, 43-30, in their Gold Pool opener. Michigan Blue was second to Pennsylvania Blue in their initial pool.

California Gold, who beat Minnesota to win their first pool, lurks in the pool opposite Maryland. PA Blue is in that pool, too.

14U Freestyle Duals - Pool B: Kansas vs. Maryland

Weight Summary

92

Luke Briggs, MARY over Brooks Blevins, KANS (Dec 19-12 )

96

Caleb Tsikerdanos, MARY over Forfeit, KANS (FF)

100

Edward Encarnacion III, MARY over Dakin Patterson, KANS (F 1:01 )

105

Logan Brickley, MARY over Jude Miller, KANS (TF 10-0 (2:50) )

110

Tobias Martinez, KANS over Logan Noonan, MARY (Dec 7-2 )

115

Leo Wheeler, MARY over Abel Rusk, KANS (TF 10-0 (0:38) )

120

Esaias Perez, MARY over Bryce Carlson, KANS (TF 10-0 (0:20) )

126

Justin Wildy, Jr., MARY over Pierson Burgess, KANS (F 0:10 )

132

Brody Clemons, MARY over Tyler Kelly, KANS (F 1:14 )

140

Logan Hartzell, MARY over Liam Jones, KANS (TF 10-0 (1:33) )

155

Cragen Smith, KANS over Jayden Carter, MARY (TF 16-6 (2:21) )

175

Nate Hart, MARY over Cooper Huhman, KANS (Dec 8-3 )

225

Luca Wynn, MARY over Noah Reyes-Ballard, KANS (TF 10-0 (1:15) )

75

Luke Taussig, KANS over Carter Townsend, MARY (TF 10-0 (0:44) )

80

Grant Lottmann, KANS over Billy Tracey, MARY (Dec 7-5 )

84

Ethan Encarnacion, MARY over Andrew Taussig, KANS (Dec 5-1 )

88

Korbin Kiessling, MARY over Waylon Miller, KANS (TF 15-4 (2:45) )

Final Score 56-18

14U Freestyle Duals - Pool B: Maryland vs. Illinois

Weight Summary

84

Ethan Encarnacion, MARY over Makai Steele, ILLI (Dec 4-2 )

88

Korbin Kiessling, MARY over Caden St Angelo, ILLI (F 0:38 )

92

Luke Briggs, MARY over Luke Sponsel, ILLI (TF 10-0 (2:19) )

96

Caleb Tsikerdanos, MARY over Kaden Joustra, ILLI (TF 10-0 (1:09) )

100

Edward Encarnacion III, MARY over Caleb Callaghan, ILLI (Dec 8-8 )

105

Logan Brickley, MARY over Zephaniah Powell, ILLI (Dec 11-2 )

110

Logan Noonan, MARY over Brendan Glynn, ILLI (Dec 4-3 )

115

Leo Wheeler, MARY over Collin Haake, ILLI (TF 10-0 (1:01) )

120

Esaias Perez, MARY over Liam Bissman, ILLI (TF 10-0 (1:49) )

126

Justin Wildy, Jr., MARY over William Zapf, ILLI (TF 10-0 (0:34) )

132

Kardiais Richardson, ILLI over Brody Clemons, MARY (TF 10-0 (0:31) )

140

Josiah Holmes, ILLI over Logan Hartzell, MARY (TF 13-3 (2:29) )

155

Dominic Englese, ILLI over Jayden Carter, MARY (TF 10-0 (1:21) )

175

Macklin Holford, ILLI over Nate Hart, MARY (TF 10-0 (1:49) )

225

Luca Wynn, MARY over Cailyn Robinson, ILLI (Dec 7-3 )

75

Carter Townsend, MARY over Greyson Goodwin, ILLI (Dec 7-0 )

80

Declan Solito, MARY over Joshua Strode, ILLI (F 1:39 )

Final Score 49-21

14U Freestyle Duals - Pool B: Maryland vs. Alabama

Weight Summary

75

Carter Townsend, MARY over Forfeit, ALAB (FF)

80

Billy Tracey, MARY over Marcelo Simon, ALAB (TF 11-0 (0:41) )

84

Ethan Encarnacion, MARY over Easton Pridmore, ALAB (TF 10-0 (0:39) )

88

Korbin Kiessling, MARY over Sawyer Howard, ALAB (F 0:50 )

92

Luke Briggs, MARY over Forfeit, ALAB (FF)

96

Caleb Tsikerdanos, MARY over Patrick Kirk, ALAB (F 0:56 )

100

Justin Wells, ALAB over Edward Encarnacion III, MARY (Dec 6-3 )

105

Logan Brickley, MARY over Forfeit, ALAB (FF)

110

Logan Noonan, MARY over Forfeit, ALAB (FF)

115

Leo Wheeler, MARY over Forfeit, ALAB (FF)

120

Esaias Perez, MARY over Waid Caetano, ALAB (TF 11-0 (0:43) )

126

Justin Wildy, Jr., MARY over Forfeit, ALAB (FF)

132

Brody Clemons, MARY over Forfeit, ALAB (FF)

140

Logan Hartzell, MARY over Chase Ayres, ALAB (F 1:16 )

155

Jayden Carter, MARY over Rylan Fachko, ALAB (Dec 6-3 )

175

Luke Wilson, ALAB over Nate Hart, MARY (F 1:20 )

225

Luca Wynn, MARY over Colt Kimbrel, ALAB (F 0:28 )

Final Score 71-9

14U Freestyle Duals - Gold/Silver: Maryland vs. Minnesota

Weight Summary

75

Jacob Graber, MINN over Carter Townsend, MARY (Dec 5-0 )

80

Declan Solito, MARY over Easton Schut, MINN (Dec 9-4 )

84

Ethan Encarnacion, MARY over Eli Richter, MINN (TF 10-0 (1:22) )

88

Korbin Kiessling, MARY over Jaxon Anderberg, MINN (F 0:28 )

92

Luke Briggs, MARY over Cameron Rodgers, MINN (Dec 12-6 )

96

Caleb Tsikerdanos, MARY over Jett Foster, MINN (TF 13-2 (1:30) )

100

Edward Encarnacion III, MARY over Gabriel Jasso, MINN (Dec 5-0 )

105

Logan Brickley, MARY over Hunter Houle, MINN (Dec 8-7 )

110

Bryce Siem, MINN over Logan Noonan, MARY (Dec 7-2 )

115

Leo Wheeler, MARY over Johnny Salas, MINN (TF 10-0 (2:14) )

120

Esaias Perez, MARY over Micah Donahue, MINN (TF 10-0 (2:49) )

126

Justin Wildy, Jr., MARY over Chael Johnson, MINN (F 0:10)

132

Brody Clemons, MARY over Chase Van Hill, MINN (TF 10-0 (2:41) )

140

Nolan Meisch, MINN over Logan Hartzell, MARY (TF 10-0 (1:32) )

155

Thomas Snyder, MINN over Jayden Carter, MARY (TF 11-0 (1:26) )

175

Luke Kelly, MINN over Nate Hart, MARY (TF 10-0 (0:54) )

225

Luca Wynn, MARY over Forfeit, MINN (FF)

Final Score 48-22