April 15, 2008

Fourteen Tiger wrestlers competed in the University & FILA Cadet Nationals held in Akron, Ohio this past weekend, wrestling as part of the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club in the University Freestyle competition. Freshmen Willie Saxton (Rayland, Ohio) and Dorian Henderson (Columbus, Ga.), and junior Raymond Jordan (New Bern, N.C.) placed in the top eight of their respective weight classes.

After dropping his second match in the championship bracket, Saxton bounced back and won his next seven matches to finish in third place. The seven-match streak included a victory over Bryan Osuna (Do Work), who eliminated him from the championship round. Saxton also won two matches by fall on his way to the third-place match, where he defeated Mike Thorn (Minnesota Storm) by a 1-7, 3-2, 2-1 decision.

Jordan dropped his first match in the championship round, but dominated the wrestleback bracket, winning two matches by fall, two by technical fall, and swept his five matches with decisions in the first two periods of each bout. His 2-0, 6-0 victory of Micky Moran (Buffalo) gave Jordan third-place honors.

Henderson coasted to the semifinals of the championship bracket, using a pin in his first match and decisions in his next three before falling to eventual champion Jake Herbert (Wildcat Wrestling Club). Henderson battled his way into the fifth-place match, but fell to Dustin Kilgore (Golden Pride) by a 2-0, 5-1 decision, giving Henderson a sixth-place finish.

Freshman KC Pescaglia wrestled in the 60 kg/132.25-pound class, while Saxton and freshman Luke Cherep competed in the 63 kg/138.75-poundweight class. The 66 kg/145.5-pound weight class featured junior Marcus Hoehn, and freshman Brandon Weist wrestled in the 70 kg/154.25-pound class. Freshman Patrick Wright and juniors Andrew Sherry and Michael Chandler all wrestled in the 74 kg/163-pound bracket. Jordan, Henderson, and freshman Josh Skurnik grappled in the 84 kg/185 lbs class, and freshman Tyler Perry and Dom Bradley competed in the 120 kg/264.5 lb class.