Meet The US Olympic Wrestling Team – Men’s GR 55kg & 74kg

Wrestling Begins on 8/5 With Mango and Provisor!

Spenser Mango
55kg Men’s Greco-Roman
Born:  7/6/86  St. Louis, MO
High School:  Christian Brothers College
College:  Northern Michigan University via the US Olympic Education Program

Accolades:                 
     – 2X state champion in high school, 3X state qualifier, also lettered in football
     – 2008 US Olypic Trials Champion (placed 8th in Beijing)
     – 2009 World Team Trials Champion (placed 9th at Worlds)
     – 2010  World Team Trials Champion, US Open Champion
     – 2011  World Team Trails Champion, US Open Champion
     – 2012  Olympian, US Open Champion

Mango’s Results: 1-2 (did not medal)
Won: 6-1, 1-0 over Mohamed Abouhalima (Egypt)
Lost: 4-0, 4-0 to  Rovshan Bayramov (Azerbaijan)
Bayramov makes it to finals so Mango re-enters through repechage
Lost: 2-0, 1-0 to Mingiyan Semenov (Russia)

Ben Provisor
74kg Men’s Greco-Roman
Born:  6/26/90  Stevens Point, Wisconsin
High School:  Stevens Point
College:  Northern Michigan University via the US Olympic Education Program

Accolades:                    
     – 4X Wisconsin state place winner in high school, also lettered in football
     – 2010 US Junior World Team Trials Champion
     – 2011 US Open Champion
     – 2012 US Olympic Trials Champion

Provisor’s Results:  1-1 (did not medal)
Won: 0-3, 1-0, 1-0 over Alexi Bell (Cuba)
Lost: 1-0, 6-0 to  Zurabi Datunashvili (Georgia)
Datunashvili lost in quarters thus eliminating Provisor

 

J Robinson Camp at SUNY Sullivan has a few openings left!

10-Day Intensive Camp Begins August 9th …
Registration Now Open To Residents From Any State!!!

For 34 years, J Robinson Intensive Camps have been developing tough, championship-caliber wrestlers by focusing on 4 key elements:  Strength, Endurance, Technique, and Mental Attitude.

Are you ready to take your wrestling career to the next level?  If your answer is “Yes” then you should click on the below link for the camp flyer.  Challenge yourself…do you have what it takes to earn a coveted J Robinson “I Did It 2012” t-shirt?

                                    JROB New York Intensive Camp

2012 London Summer Olympics – Wrestling Schedule

Summer Olympics Will Provide Huge Test For USA Wrestling

Opening Ceremonies have taken place marking the official beginning for the games of the 2012 London Summer Olympics.  For the next 17 days, we will watch thousands of athletes from across the globe compete for the most coveted prize in their respective sport – the Olympic Gold Medal.  Wrestling action from all three divisions (Men’s Freestyle, Women’s Freestyle, and Men’s Greco-Roman) will take place from August 5 through August 12.  Prior to each day of competition, sectionixwrestling.com will post profiles of the US Olympic wrestlers who are set to compete on the following day.  The profiles will be presented in the order which the division and weight class is scheduled to compete.  Below is an overview of the wrestling schedule.  Click on the below link for a comprehensive schedule from NBCOlympics.com. The link will also provide updated results as each weight class is wrestled. The Unites States qualified a wrestler in every weight class and division with the exception of 96kg in Men’s Greco-Roman.

       2012 Summer Olympics Wrestling Schedule from NBCOlympics.com

8/5                                8/6                                8/7                                  8/8             
55kg M-GR                           60kg M-GR                            66kg M-GR                              48kg W-FS
(Spenser Mango)                (Ellis Coleman)                     (Justin Lester)                        (Clarissa Chun)             
74kg M-GR                           84kg M-GR                            96kg M-GR                              63kg W-FS
(Ben Provisor)                     (Chas Betts)                           (no entry)                                (Elena Pirozhkova)             
                                                120kg M-GR 
                                                (Dremiel Byers)                                                                                                                                                    

8/9                                                      8/10                                                                8/11                                              8/12
55kg W-FS                              55kg M-FS                                     60kg M-FS                         66kg M-FS
(Kelsey Campbell)                (Sam Hazewinkle)                        (Coleman Scott)               (Jared Frayer)                  
72kg W-FS                              74kg M-FS                                     84kg M-FS                         96kg M-FS
(Ali Bernard)                         (Jordan Burroughs)                     (Jake Herbert)                  (Jake Varner)
                                                                                                           120kg M-FS
                                                                                                          (Tervel Dlagnev)

3 Slots Still Open for 2012 Mountain Duals

The 2012 Mountain Duals hosted by Rome Free Academy in Section 3 is trying to fill the last three slots for their 7th annual tournament.  Click below for tournament flyer.

                                        2012 Mountain Duals Flyer

What:  2012 Mountain Duals
When:  December 28th and 29th, 2012 (Friday/Saturday)
Format:  Dual Meet Round Robin – each team will wrestle 10 matches
Teams Committed To Date: 
     Section 2:  Averill Park, Amsterdam, Burnt Hills, LaSalle Institute
     Section 3:  Adirondack, General Brown, Baldwinsville, Rome Free
                           Academy, Dolgeville, Camden, Fayetteville-Manlius, New
                           Hartford, Indian River 
     Section 5:  Penfield, Wayne
     Section 10:  Gouverneur
     PSAL:  Petrides

If interested contact:  Joe Galligan (Port Jervis graduate)
                                            Head Wrestling Coach Adirondack HS
                                            lgall10539@aol.com
                                            (315) 334-3292

Attend a J Robinson Camp….For Free!!!

Friends of Section 9 Has Several Free Camp Vouchers

Update 7/24:  All vouchers are gone!!!  S9 is sending a great group of student athletes. Congratulations to those who received a voucher. Way to go Friends of Section 9!

Update 7/23: Only a few vouchers remain…act now!!!!

Any Section 9 wrestler who is interested in attending the J Robinson 10-Day Intensive Camp at SUNY Sullivan from August 9-18 should contact Dan Wernikoff at daniel@champion-athletes.com.  Please include a few sentences discussing why you would like to attend.  Further information about the camp can be found at http://www.beat-the-streets.org/index.php/camps.  There are only a handful of vouchers available and they will go quickly!!!

 

2012 Cadet and Junior National Championships

A Handful of Locals Make the Trip to Fargo, ND

Freestyle Competition Now Underway!!!

The Asics/Vaughn Cadet and Junior National Championships are taking place in Fargo, ND from July 14 through July 21.  For the wrestling junkie….it doesn’t get any better than Fargo!  24 mats….Freestyle, Greco-Roman, Women’s Freestyle…Cadet and Junior Divisions….did I mention 24 mats!!!!!!

TheMat.com’s Cadet & Junior Nationals Special Section

From the information I have so far, four Section 9 wrestlers have made the journey to Fargo.  As I learn of any others, I will add them to the below table which will provide their complete results. 

Chris Cuccolo (Pine Bush) Cadet Freestyle 94 lbs
     – won by decision over Rian Burris (SC) 7-2, 5-0
     – lost by decision to Jordan Aquino (CA) 2-4, 0-3
     – lost by decision to Skyler  Hieronimus (MN) 1-2, 0-6 

Chris Cuccolo (Pine Bush) Cadet Greco-Roman 94 lbs
     – winner by fall over Tanner Tidswell (TN) 2-0, 1:15
     – lost by decision to Paul Fitterer (MN) 0-3, 0-3…Fitterer went undefeated in pool
     – won by decision over Bridger Carpenter (ID) 1-0, 4-0
     – winner by fall over Jacob Gardiner (CA) 3-0, 1:12
     – won by decision over Jon Gabriel 1-1, 6-4 ….Cuccolo will wrestle in the medal round!!!
     – won by decision over Tanner Cox (UT) 1-0, 4-0
Great performance by Pine Bush junior Chris Cuccolo.  He finished 5th in the country and his only loss came to the wrestler who finished 3rd…he defeated the kid who finished 2nd!!

Jacob Wood (Kingston) Cadet Freestyle 170 lbs
     – lost by decision to Jared Langley (KS) 0-3, 0-6
     – lost by fall to Chance Cooper (MO) 0-7, 1:34

Jacob Wood (Kingston) Cadet Greco-Roman 170 lbs
     – winner by fall over Daniel Burnley (IL) :22
     – lost by decision to Isaac Florel (MN) 1-3, 0-6
     – lost by fall to Casey Beaver (IA) 3-0, :24

Austin Weigel (Onteora) Junior Freestyle 170 lbs     
     – lost by fall to Brett Harner (PA) 7-0, 1:57
     – won by decision over Johnny Perez (KS) 3-0, 1-0
     – lost by decision to Adam Drain (IA) 0-2, 0-3

Terrence Cheeks (NFA) Junior Greco-Roman 285 lbs 
     – lost by fall to Jacob Semple (MO) 7-0, :51
     – lost by fall to Sam Stoll (MN) :28

Terrence Cheeks (NFA) Junior Freestyle 285 lbs
     – lost by decision to Jacob Semple (MO) 1-1, 0-6
     – lost by decision to Austin Sinyard (NV) 3-1, 0-3, 1-3

Great Event, Great Cause

 

Vinny and Oklahoma State Coach John Smith. Vinny was invited to attend the camp courtesy of Journeyman Wrestling’s Frank Popolizio.

Victory For Vinnny Takedown Tournament a Huge Success

In an incredible day filled with great wrestling and fun for the entire family, over 1000 wrestlers and fans attended Saturday’s Victory For Vinny Takedown Tournament held at Monroe Woodbury High School.  When results become available, they will be posted on this site.  For now, I have decided to put together a brief list of some of Saturday’s highlights (no particular order).

 

Lisa and Michael Vespa’s intermission speeches – If you didn’t have a tear in your eye, you don’t have a pulse!  
Exhibition match between Jamie Franco and Johnny Stramiello – Franco, a MW graduate, is curently a 133-pound wrestler for Division 1 Hofstra.  Stramiello just finished his sophomore year at Pine Bush.  He is already a 3X Section 9 champion.  Jamie is one of only a few 5X Section 9 champs, will Johnny be our next?  Franco vs. Stramiello video courtesy of Betsy Veysman from www.newyorkwrestlingnews.com.
Michael Vespa hits the “flying squirrel” against AJ Voelker – Vinny’s older brother nails the now famous move during an exhibition match with one of Vinny’s current teammates.  FLYING SQUIRREL VIDEO courtesy of Betsy Veysman from www.newyorkwrestlingnews.com.
The “masters” match between Al Wolff and Frank Granton – Both of these gentlemen are in their 50’s but that didn’t stop them from lacing up their shoes and giving the crowd a show.  Granton is a cancer survivor.
Hall of Famer in the dunking booth – Cornwall head coach and NYS Wrestling Hall of Famer Don Blaine takes his turn in the dunking booth.  I still think we would have made more money if we put referee Wayne Carroll (also a Hall of Famer) in the booth!!!!
The Showdown – Johnny Stramiello, 6th in NYS at 106,  and Jay Rodriguez from Wantagh, a state finalist last year at 99, locked up in a gem!  We may get to see this match again….at the end of February in Albany!!!!
Vinny being Vinny – The highlight of the day for many in attendance was a simple and subtle act.  Just being able to watch Vinny have a great time, goof around,  spend some time with family and friends…these are the things that truly matter. 

There are literally dozens of people who contributed their time and money to make this event a huge success.  However, it would be remiss of me if I did not give special recognition to Bob Voelker and John Stramiello.  Quite simply, without the work of Bob and John, this event would have never happened.  Great job guys!

The Wait Is Over!!!!

400 Registered For Victory For Vinny Takedown Tournament!

This event promises to be a fun-filled day for the entire family….wrestling, BBQ, dunking booth, bouncy castle, face fainting and more… do not miss out…the fun begins at 8:00 am!!!

Click on the below link to read an outstanding article about the tournament written by Betsy Veysman from newyorkwrestlingnews.com.

Victory for Vinny Takedown Tournament