Maryland Impresses @ US Open

A large group of Marylanders traveled to Vegas last week to compete at the U.S. Open at The Expo in Las Vegas. In what is believed to be a first, Maryland placed one member on each of the U17 World Teams (Freestyle, Greco Roman, and Girls - which was already acquired).

Salah Tsarni will handle the Freestyle honors at 92 kilograms, Corey Brown is our Greco man at 55 kilograms, and to no one’s surprise, the girl is Taina Fernandez, who claimed her third U17 crown in a row a few weeks ago.

FERNANDEZ WINS SHOWCASE

Fernandez will make the U17 trek to Azerbaijan with an eye on a third consecutive U17 World Championship. For Brown and Tsarni, this will be their first such trip. Fernandez punched her ticket to the world championships at the Women’s Nationals in Spokane, Washington. The junior also claimed an U20 crown in Washington and will compete on that world stage this summer as well.

The girls had a “Showcase” at the Open with one division and the standard weight classes in pounds. Fernandez, who we thought was migrating up to 155 pounds after being at roughly 150 and 152 pounds at nationals, came out at 145 pounds and ran the table culminating in a 10-0 technical fall in 2:32 of her final bout with No. 9 Alexsandra Bastaic (Highland Wrestling Club, IN).

“Overall, I feel proud of my performance and how I represented myself out there in Las Vegas, especially after going straight into it from Nationals,” Fernandez said. “The title of High School Showcase means a lot, especially this year, as I consider it one more milestone on the path to worlds. But also, in the sense that next year, God willing, I’ll also be able to contend for a senior title."

“Every time I step on the mat is an opportunity to have fun and wrestle my best. Although there may not have been any world team births or extra weigh-ins to deal with, when it’s all said and done, it’s another opportunity to go out there and glorify my God to the very best of my ability. So really, in a way, yes, it was fun to be out there in the bright lights of Las Vegas, but as far as wrestling goes, nothing changed, and I was honestly just so grateful to be able to do what I love again.”

TSARNI ACHIEVES GOLDEN QUEST

Tsarni, who is ranked sixth at 215 pounds in the latest national rankings from High School on SI, came up short here a year ago after reaching the finals and going down to the wire in a best of three showdown with Illinois’ Aaron Stewart. The former Bullis grappler, who is now at New Jersey’s Blair Academy used up all the eligible time again this year in another thrilling final, this time versus No. 9 Mario Hutcherson (Young Guns Wrestling Club, PA).

Tsarni jumped out to a 4-0 advantage in the first meeting with Hutcherson but watched as his rival powered back to tie it up and win on criteria, 4-4. In the Olympic Styles there are no ties. Typically, the last person to score will be declared the winner by criteria.

The junior left little doubt in the middle match as he launched Hutcherson with a powerful lift for a big five-point move to pave the way for a 6-1 decision. Tsarni kept the momentum in their rubber match and earned his world team spot with a 5-2 outcome.

“It feels good,” remarked Tsarni. “Last year I was close and it didn’t work out, so coming back this year and making the world team shows I’m improving and getting better. I put in the work all year and it paid off. I did what I needed to do. I wrestled with good technique and performed how I wanted to. "

“In the finals, I overestimated myself in the first match. Respect to Hutcherson as he keeps improving every time I wrestle him. I’m feeling confident. If I keep putting in the work at Blair and at the OTC camps, I believe I can be a world champ.”

To gain access to the finals, Tsarni slayed foes from all across the country including a round of 16 technical fall of No. 24 Decker Bechtold (Stellar Trained, PA), 14-4 in 3:47. Texas’ Cody Savage (Ranger 47 WC) was also disposed of with a 14-4 tally in the semis in 1:56. Two 10-0 techs were also added to the bracket with one coming in 52 seconds of a quarterfinal meeting with Michael Garcia (Bear Cave Wrestling Club, CO).

BROWN’S TIME IS HERE

Corey Brown has had a tumultuous year to say the least. If anyone needed some glory from the mats, it was this fine young man who shined on the Greco Roman platform. Brown came into Vegas ranked 19th in the nation at 120 pounds and reinforced that standing by taking out No. 26 MJ Rundell (The Wrestling Academy, IL) in the finals.

Like Brown, Rundell fancies himself a deft Greco competitor, and was therefore no slouch to square off with as the first of their two meetings exhibited this with its 4-3 final in favor of Brown. The Chesapeake by way of Mt. St. Joseph grappler found himself in a 3-0 hole as the second matchup got underway. Brown focused and took over the scoring, putting up ten unanswered points for a 10-3 win and the sweep of Rundell.

A very familiar face greeted Brown in the semis when his Headhunters Clubmate, Tyler Verceles (Loyola-Blakefield), upset No. 27 Jeremy Carver (Contenders Wrestling Academy, IN) with a 9-1 tech in 2:59 of their quarterfinal. Brown found Verceles to be quite a formidable force this time as they battled to a 7-4 outcome.

In Greco, an eight-point margin is needed for a technical fall as opposed to the ten needed in Freestyle. Brown collected three of them prior to facing Verceles. Team Idaho’s Greysen Packer fell 9-0 in 2:55 of their quarterfinal. Aiden Jalajel (Threestyle Wrestling of Oklahoma), who used to be nationally ranked, was dismissed 10-2 in 2:36. A 10-0 tech in 30 seconds opened it for Brown.

VERCELES’ BRONZE TRIP

Verceles bounced back from the loss to Brown to claim the Greco Bronze by sticking Spenser McCammon (Maurer Coughlin) in 16 seconds. In the consolation semis, Verceles dished a loss to California’s No. 20 Thiago Silva (SilvaBack Training Center) for the second time with a 3:01 pin. Verceles teched Silva in the round of 16, 9-1 in 2:59. Two techs came in the early going for Verceles.

“I thought I wrestled a very technically sound Greco tournament,” offered Verceles. “My game plan for the weekend was to focus on winning the positional battles and capitalizing on my opponent’s mistakes to generate my offense. And I feel that strategy worked in my favor, as I pinned or teched all but one of my opponents en route to securing my third-place finish."

“While it is true that my match with Corey was much closer than prior, that was never my goal. I felt that I had trained and prepared as much as I possibly could have for the tournament, and I told myself that I would wrestle Corey just as if he were any other opponent. I erased any prior matches we have had from my memory and went out there and let it fly. "

“It was a hard fought and intense match through the whole four minutes. Corey wrestled an incredible match and capitalized on my mistake to secure the win. While I thought I wrestled well, I know if I had wrestled mistake-free that match might have had a different outcome.”

Brown was slated to compete in Freestyle as well but chose to skip that and focus on his upcoming world endeavors as a Greco Roman Artist. Verceles came back for more and reached the blood round before being edged out. One of Verceles Freestyle losses came at the hands of Silva, who got him back with a 5-2 quarterfinal decision. The sophomore shocked No. 18 Mateo Gallegos (M2 Training Center, PA), 5-4, in the FS brackets. Gallegos beat Brown last year at Fargo.

“My freestyle tournament was all about finding my rhythm and offensive attacks,” Verceles continued. “During my first three matches, in which I beat a former Fargo finalist (Gallegos), I found my offense and kept on the attack. During my final two matches, finding my offense proved more challenging."

“I don’t think I necessarily made many mistakes during those matches; however, I felt my offense was telegraphed and led to many counter attacks by my opponents. I wrestled well, but I need to focus on different setups to make my offense less predictable. I appreciate the opportunity and I’m ready to compete for stop signs at Fargo.”

MUTSCHLER GAINS MORE NATIONAL ATTENTION

In the high school realm, one more girl stepped on the U.S. Open podium, No. 8 Summer Mutschler (Cavalier Wrestling Club), who placed fifth at 105 pounds. In the time we’ve been tracking girls wrestling, we have noticed a lot more inconsistency amongst the ranked ladies than you typically see with the boys.

A prime example of this was served up by Mutschler as she suffered losses to two ladies she beat at the recent Women’s Nationals. In the fifth-place match at the nationals, Mutschler got by No. 16 Peggy Susan Dean (Betterman Elite, CO), 5-5. Dean stopped Mutschler, 6-2, in the semifinals here.

Directly after that loss, Mutschler was decked by No. 11 Alicia Kenfack (MATPAC, ND) after previously teching Kenfack, 12-2. The sophomore used a 13-3 tech of No. 12 Kyrstan Perez (Westmoore Wrestling Club, OK) in her placement match. Another quality win was added in the quarters over California’s Bailey Hoard (No. 19 at 100 pounds), by fall, 4:28.

KIESSLING KEEPS COLLECTING HARDWARE

Rampage Wrestling’s Korbin Kiessling is currently ranked 2nd by Mat Scouts in their 85-pound national middle school rankings but competed at 41 kilograms (roughly 90 pounds) in Vegas. Two others ranked at 85 pounds joined him in the U15 bracket and the top dog, No. 1 Jace Rooney (KD Training Center, NY), would be Kiessling’s Greco Roman title opposition.

Kiessling was able to get the best of Rooney with a 4-1 count and also dropped the hammer on No. 8 Gabriel Jasson (No Nonsense Wrestling, MN) with a 3:39 semifinal fall. An 8-0 tech in 1:27 of Jersey’s Georgie Dipsey (Ruthless Wrestling Club) came in the quarters. Kiessling was slightly challenged in his first match with Cayden Mango (Team Missouri Select), 4-0. Mango did not reach the podium.

Kiessling was back in action at 41 kilos for Freestyle but couldn’t replicate his title run and instead was upended by Rooney, 3-0, as Rooney went on to claim the Freestyle Gold and Kiessling came back through to take third after posting a 23 second 10-0 tech of California’s Seth Sebaje.

NATIONALLY RANKED YOUNGSTERS

Two of Maryland’s toughest Middle School kids hit paydirt in both styles while in Vegas as No. 4 Terriel Cooke (75 kilograms) and No. 7 Esaias Perez (52 kilograms) had successful excursions with both faring better in Greco Roman.

Cooke wrestled under the Spartan RTC @ LHP umbrella and reached the U15 75-kilogram Greco Roman Finals before tasting defeat from a Jersey boy, Julian Smith (Ascender Elite), 6-4. Cooke pitched a 5-0 shutout against No. 2 at 145 pounds, Lincoln James (Burnett Trained Wrestling, OH) in the semis and teched his first two opponents by 9-0 and 8-0 counts.

James returned the favor in Freestyle with a 4-2 outcome and Cooke was dropped into the consolation rounds by Kentucky’s Thomas Brauer in a quarterfinal loss. Cooke landed in seventh in the 75-kilogram Freestyle field beating Montana’s Cooper Kovnesky with a 13-3 tech in 3:34.

Perez was fourth in Greco and fifth in FS at 52 kilograms but strangely did not encounter any other ranked foes in his Greco path. Perez lost to Alaska’s Manny Novelli, 8-0, in the bronze bout after beating Novelli, 3-3, in the quarters.

Perez’s Freestyle route included an encounter with No. 1 at 112 pounds, Spencer Lee of New York, who edged Perez, 5-4, in the semis. Perez won his fifth-place match on a medical forfeit from Florida’s Leonydes Peraza.

On the outside looking in at the national rankings are two more of our finest that placed eighth in U15 Freestyle, Seahawks Wrestling Club’s Declan Solito (38 kilograms) and Headhunters’ Justin Wildy, Jr. (57).

NOGLE GETS GRECO BRONZE

Former Heahunter, Carter Nogle shocked the wrestling world in March, when as an Air Force Grappler, he dropped his first match of the NCAA Tournament and then did the most difficult thing to do in wrestling, successfully navigate the NCAA wrestle backs.

Nogle peeled off five straight wins to gain All-American status, including pinning the number six seed, Cornell’s Vince Cornella in the blood round. Nogle’s fifth place finish came with forfeit in his final match from Iowa State’s Anthony Echemendia.

Nogle was marching towards the 63-kilogram U20 Greco finals on the strength of two tech falls when he met Colorado’s Landon Drury and suffered a tough last second loss on criteria, 3-3. Nogle buckled up and used a tech fall to reach the consolation finals where he stuck Pierson Manville (Southwest Wrestling, AZ) in 2:27.

Another collegiate wrestler with Maryland ties that placed third in Greco is the Naval Academy’s Zachary Braunagel, originally of Illinois, who put his work in at the Senior 87-kilogram set.

SZKOTNICKI LANDS IN 4th

McKendree University’s Alexandra Skotnicki, formerly of South River, landed in fourth in the Senior 59-kilogram brackets. Previously, Skotnicki defeated Alexis Janiak (Aurora University) in the finals to win Women’s Nationals.

The multiple rematches at the Open went Janiak’s way as she sent Skotnicki out of championship contention with a quarterfinal fall. It was much closer when they squared off for the bronze but still went the way of Janiak, 3-1.

BLAKE MASTERS BOTH STYLES

Fromer Linganore state champion, Earl Blake, is now eligible for the Masters Division and sat in the “A” section at 62 kilograms in both disciplines.

In the Freestyle finals, Blake kept California’s Conner Diamond off the board in a 5-0 decision. Blake won on criteria, 2-2, in the semis versus Jason Padilla (Storm RTC), who tumbled to sixth after the loss. Blake teched Cali’s Robert Pinto, 15-4, in his first match. Pinto beat Padilla in the fifth-place match (go figure?).

The Greco Gold came on the back of a 4-3 win over California’s Akhmadjon Khasanjonou in a round robin three way with Pinto, whom Blake teched, 10-1.

A TRUE MASTER CLASS

We had two Masters Division guys reach the finals, both at 70-kilograms but in different classifications. Marcus Priola was in with the “B” Boys and Gaetano DiZebba was hanging with the “F” Crew.

Our final two Masters awardees double down on their hardware, showing fluency in both styles were Outsiders Wrestling Club’s Rob Sullivan and MM Grant Sullivan was settled in the “C” Mats at 78 kilograms and placed fourth in FS. After winning his FS opener, Sullivan fell to the eventual runner-up and then battled back. The field was filled with different names when it came to Greco, but the landing spot was the same with a fourth-place finish.

Grant was toppled in the “B” Brackets at 130 kilograms by the silver medalist and then rolled to four straight wins to take third in FS. In Greco, Grant reached the semis and lost to the champ then fell one final time to take fourth.