Northwestern University Athletics
NU Contingent Wrestles at 2012 FILA Junior National Championships
4/16/2012 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
April 16, 2012
TheMat.TV: Watch Complete Matches & Interviews from FILA Junior National Championships
TheMat.com Coverage of FILA Junior National Championships
Complete FILA Junior National Championships Results/Brackets
MADISON, Wis. – A group of seven current and future Wildcats wrestled at the 2012 FILA Junior National Championships this past weekend in Madison, Wis. True freshman Jameson Oster, sophomore Kaleb Friedley and incoming freshman Jason Tsirtsis were placewinners for their respective weight classes and qualified for the U.S. Junior World Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo., from May 25-26.
Competing in the 138.75 lbs./63 kg weight class, Oster won four-straight matches to earn a spot in the championship bout against Steven Rodrigues from the Illini Wrestling Club. Despite a final score of 2-2, 1-1, Oster finished as a FILA Junior National Runner-Up because Rodrigues had a two-point move in the first period and scored the last point. Since the 138.75 lbs./63 kg weight class is not a FILA international weight, Oster will compete at 132.25 lbs./60 kg at the world team trials.
Friedley made an impressive run in the wrestlebacks to finish sixth at 145.5 lbs./66 kg. He dropped his first match against Ohio State's Hunter Stieber (Ohio RTC), but came back to win five-straight bouts to reach the consolation semifinals. Included in those five wins was a victory over 2012 ACC Champion at 149 lbs., Nick Brascetta of Virginia Tech where Friedley advanced with a 5-1, 3-2 score. He ended up placing sixth after meeting Minnesota's Dylan Ness, a 2012 NCAA finalist at 149 lbs., in the fifth-place match.
Tsirtsis also competed at 145.5 lbs./66 kg and took third. His lone loss came in a close 2-0, 4-2 decision against eventual champion Destin McCauley. In total, Tsirtsis won six matches, including one by fall and one by technical fall, en route to his third-place finish.
Redshirt freshmen Pat Greco (145.5 lbs./66 kg), Dylan Marriott (154.25 lbs./70 kg) and Pierce Harger (163 lbs./74 kg) along with incoming freshman Garrison White (132.25 lbs./60 kg) also competed at the junior national championships.
Last year, redshirt freshman Lee Munster won his second junior national title in freestyle while Harger and redshirt freshman Alex Polizzi also qualified for the world team trials. Wrestlers that were born between 1992-94 were eligible to compete in this year's FILA Junior National Championships.
The Wildcats now turn their attention to supporting NU two-time NCAA champion Jake Herbert and three-time All-American Brandon Precin this weekend as the two look to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team. Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, plays host to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, which run from Saturday, April 21-Sunday, April 22.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook! and subscribe to the NU Sports Express e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and video and to interact with NU. For more information on following specific Northwestern teams online, visit our Social Media page!
