Month: April 2012

FILA Junior Nationals – Freestyle

New York’s Steven Rodrigues Wins 63KG!

2011 Fox Lane (Section 1) graduate Steven Rodrigues took top honors at 63KG (138.75 lbs.) at the 2012 FILA Junior Nationals in the freestyle division on Saturday.  Rodrigues, a 2011 NYS Champion and 3X state placewinner, will be wrestling for the University of Illinois next year.  Before then, however, Rodrigues has his sights set on another freestyle tournament….the World Team Trials on May 25th at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. Great job Steven and good luck next month!!!

                              2012 FILA Junior Nationals
                          Article & Brackets from themat.com

 

Weekend Coverage

SectionIXWrestling.com will be providing updates for the MAWA East Regional (Bethlehem, PA) as well as the 2012 FILA Junior Nationals – Freestyle (Madison, WI).  There are several local wrestlers who are scheduled to wrestle in the MAWA regionals and I will post results as they become available.  To my knowledge there are no S9 wrestlers competing in the junior nationals however there are several New Yorkers registered including Brian Realbuto (S1), Steven Rodrigues (S1), Quinton Murphy (S5), Renaldo Rodriquez-Spencer (S6), Owen Scott (S5), Craig Scott (S5), as well as a handful of Army wrestlers. 

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Popolizio Leaves Binghamton for NC State

NY native Pat Popolizio has resigned as the head wrestling coach for Binghamton University and will become the new head coach for North Carolina State.  Popolizio graduated from Niskayuna High School (Section 2) and was a NYS Champion in 1996.  After high school Popolizio wrestled for John Smith at Oklahoma State where he was a 3X national qualifier.  New York’s loss is North Carolina’s gain….few people have done more to promote wrestling in New York than Coach Popolizio.  There is no word yet on his replacement at Binghamton.  SectionIXWrestling.com would like to wish Pat the best of luck in his new position. 

NC State website story

Scott Casber’s interview with Popolizio on TDR

MAWA Regional Results

The Middle Atlantic Wrestling Association (MAWA) North Regional tournament was held this weekend at Shamokin High School in Coal Township, PA.  As soon as www.sectionixwrestling.com gets the completed brackets, they will be posted.  For the time being, I will post any individual results that I receive. 

MAWA North Regional Results

Michael Raccioppi – Minisink Valley – 1st Place
Travis Edwards – Port Jervis – 1st Place
Jalen Palmer – Delaware Valley – 1st Place
PJ Smoot – Monroe Woodbury – 2nd Place
Sam Weinger – Washingtonville – 2nd Place
Frankie Carrozza – Delaware Valley – 3rd Place
Mason Rambarose – Minisink Valley – 4th Place
Nicky Wentland – Minisink Valley – 6th Place

CADET CONNOLLY

Warwick senior Shane Connolly has recently learned that he has received appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point.  Connolly is one of only four wrestlers to win five Section 9 titles; he plans on joining the Army Black Knights wrestling squad as a walk-on.  On behalf of the entire Section 9 wrestling community …. congratulations and good luck Shane!!! 

Sanderson Decides Not To Compete In Olympic Team Trials

According to Intermat, 2004 Olympic gold medalist Cael Sanderson has decided not to make a run at another medal at the 2012 London Olympics.  Sanderson, who is also the head coach of the 2X defending NCAA champion Penn State Nittany Lions, was a 2011 World Team member.  He finished 5th at the World Championships in Turkey and has not competed since.  Click here for the Intermat story.

US Olympic Team qualifiers (updates 4/2/2012)

 

SENIOR NATIONALS RESULTS

Eastern States Classic champs Dylan Palacio and Tony Lock claim Senior National Titles!!!

New York wrestlers Dylan Palacio and Tony Lock claimed individual titles at this weekend’s NHSCA Senior Nationals Wrestling Championships held in Virginia Beach.  Not surprising….both wrestlers were also 2012 Eastern States Classic champions.  A third New Yorker, Sean McCabe of Connetquot (Section 11), was able to make it to the finals before dropping a 7-4 decision to Josh Rodriguez of California. 

Long Beach High School’s (Section 8 ) Dylan Palacio capped off on incredible, undefeated season by claiming the national title at 152 pounds.  Palacio’s magical season has included victories over nationally-ranked wrestlers Brian Realbuto (NY), Raamiah Bethea (NJ), and Austin Trott (GA). 

Pioneer High School’s (Section 6) Tony Lock was crowned national champion at 182 pounds.  Lock also finished the year undefeated and was able to finish on top of a podium that included nationally-ranked wrestlers Kyle Crutchmer (OK), Taylor McGiffen (IL), and Jack DeChow (IL). 

NHSCA Senior Nationals – Final Results                                            Top 5 States
106:  Phazon Roddy (NC) dec Alvaro Gallego (AZ) 10-3                             1:  California
113:  Vito Pasone (PA) dec Braun Marquez (TX) 9-3                                   2:  New York
120:  Josh Rodriguez (CA) dec Sean McCabe (NY) 7-4                               3:  New Jersey
126:  Nathan Kraisser (MD) major Hunter Weber (WI) 9-0                     4:  Michigan
132:  Mark Grey (NJ) dec Cole Mendenhall (MT) 7-2                                 5:  Kansas
138:  Natrelle Demison major Cole Moseley (TN) 11-1
145:  Alex Richardson (NJ) dec Dylan Cottrell (WV) 3-2 ot ride-out
152:  Dylan Palacio (NY) dec Austin Trott (GA) 6-2
160:  Clark Glass (FL) dec Taylor Lewandowski (MN) 9-4
170:  Matt Reed (KS) dec Jordan Thomas (MI) 3-1
182:  Tony Lock (NY) dec Nolan Boyd (OK) 5-4 ot utb
195:  Timothy Dudley (SC) pinned JT Goodwin (CA) 3:30
220:  Richard Black (CA) major David Luke Wislon (AL) 10-2
285:  Doug Vallaro (FL) dec Austin Goergen (MN) 10-6