National Duals

Minnesota Gold places seventh

TULSA, Okla. An unstoppable Iowa team with several top college commits dominated the 2022 freestyle National Duals for the second year in a row after defeating Ohio 44-14 in the finals. In the 13 matches wrestled, Iowa won 10 with five technical falls, one pin, and four decisions.

Ryder Block (Iowa) got things started for Iowa with a swift technical fall over Ismael Ayoub (Ohio) at 138 pounds. Block scored on two takedowns, a duck, a turn and ended the match with a back exposure for a perfect 10-0 score.

After a forfeit at 145 pounds, Iowa led 9-0 and won the next two matches by technical fall. Hunter Garvin, who will compete at the 2022 U20 World Championships in both styles, wrapped the match up quickly, scoring on a go-behind and another takedown to three turns for the 10-0 technical fall. Aiden Riggins (Iowa) kept the momentum going at 160 pounds with another dominant win over Antwuan Burns (Ohio), 10-0. He had two takedowns, a four-point move and two turns. Continue reading at teamusa.org →

Minnesota places fifth

TULSA, Okla. – The 14U Girls National Dual final was a meeting between the returning champion, Pennsylvania, and Washington, who had an incredible run to overpower Wisconsin for a spot in the finals on Saturday.

Pennsylvania, who swept all six opponents in pool competition, continues a winning tradition after defeating Washington 39-20 for the national title. Morgan Hyland (Pennsylvania) set the tone of the dual at 79 pounds with a technical fall over Alyse Gudde (Washington). Hyland had two four-point moves in the match and finished with a perfect 13-0 score.

Alysiana Ierley (Pennsylvania) followed up Hyland with a pin over Bailee Wagner (Washington) at 85 pounds. Ierley controlled the match, scoring two takedowns to lead 4-0. She took Wagner to her back with 20 seconds left in the period for the fall to put Pennsylvania up 9-0. Continue reading at teamusa.org →

TULSA, Okla. — A thunderous throw near the edge of the mat triggered a roar of celebration.

Iowa’s Ryker Graff scored a technical fall over Michael Olson of Minnesota Gold at 106 pounds to clinch a national championship 34-31, in the Greco-Roman Junior National Duals in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Graff stepped on the mat for the last match with his team trailing by a point. He carried a 5-0 lead into the break and continued to work on Olson. Thirty seconds into the second period, Graff locked his hands around Olson and unloaded. A five-point throw caused Graff to scream towards his teammates on the bench after clinching the dual.

Minnesota Gold opened the dual with three straight bonus-point wins from Brandon Morvari (113), Alan Koehler (120) and AJ Smith (126). Gable Porter put Iowa in the win column at 132. He threw Minnesota Gold’s Tyson Charmoli to solidify a 9-4 win. Continue reading at teamusa.org →

Minnesota Storm goes 4-3

TULSA, Okla. Two of the top favorites, California and Michigan Blue, powered their way into the finals of the Gold/Silver pool at the Junior Women’s National Duals on Thursday.

California, which has won this event many times, including most recently in 2021, has a history of wrestling well at because of its amazing team depth. Michigan brought a star-studded lineup to Tulsa, looking to show off its rise on the national scene. California was strong in the light weights, with Michigan powerful up top.

California established itself right off the bat, with an upset win over a ranked wrestler. Mikayla Garcia was aggressive on her feet early for a big early lead, then hold off No. 6 Gigi Bragg for a 12-7 victory at 106. Bragg scored first on a stepout. Garcia took a lead on a counter tilt and a takedown, 4-1. Garcia came out the back on a scramble for a 6-1 lead. Garcia got two more tilts, with Bragg getting a two-point reversal, to lead 10-3 at the break. In the second period, Bragg scored a pair of early takedowns, but Garcia answered with one of her own and held position the rest of the way. Continue reading at teamusa.org →

Minnesota Storm places seventh

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – It was a great week for the Jersey Boys, who came to Indianapolis with a loaded lineup, and finished the weekend with a pair of 14U National Duals championship trophies.

New Jersey finished it off on Sunday with four dual meet victories, including a lopsided 49-29 victory in the Gold/Silver freestyle finals over Iowa. The key to the finals triumph was nine bonus-point wins in their 12 victories. Iowa, which mustered six wins, including four bonus-point victories, could not keep up with the Jersey onslaught.

Iowa got off to a 5-0 lead with a forfeit win by Gavin Landers at 92 pounds. New Jersey bounced back with two straight wins for its first lead of the day. Continue reading at teamusa.org →

Minnesota Blue places 10th

LOVES PARK, Ill. — In a dual meet rich with momentum shifts, the heavyweights decided a national champion team. Win probability fluctuated on opposite sides of the spectrum Saturday afternoon. The outcome remained in question until the final buzzer.

Ohio defeated Wisconsin Red 35-35 on criteria to win a freestyle national championship in the 16U National Duals in Loves Park, Illinois. With the win, Ohio repeated as 16U freestyle champions.

Ohio heavyweight Aaron Reis squashed a deep deficit against Wisconsin Red’s Evan Gratz to win 11-8 and give his team enough points to secure a national title. Continue reading at teamusa.org →

Minnesota teams place 9th and 14th

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind — In a span of minutes, multiple bodies flipped, and hands slapped the mat. One fall after another.

New Jersey used multiple falls in a row to crush Indiana Gold 49-29 to win a Greco-Roman national championship in the 14U National Duals in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Each team traded technical falls before the falls piled up. At 136 pounds, Indiana Gold’s Lucas Boe drove New Jersey’s Ryan Gavrish into a cement mixer for a fall. But the next four belonged to New Jersey. Continue reading at teamusa.org →