NEW YORK, NEW YORK — The talk coming into the 2018 Bill Farrell Memorial was that it promised a lot of action and a high level of participation due to the dearth of events held in the US thus far this season. Following a morning that included several big-time match-ups along with a few surprises, the only question remaining is if the finals will live up to what has already taken place.
Hayden Tuma (63 kg, Army/WCAP) picked up from where he left off a year ago on his run to the gold medal round. He opened with a fall over tough Marine prospect Taylor Zippe and continued that momentum into his next bout as he ran through Senior newcomer Angel Nava (WBC). That set up a semifinal showdown with Northern talent Sammy Jones. The pair originally met at this very tournament 18 months ago in what was a close Tuma victory. That was not the case earlier this morning, as Tuma got rolling right away before sealing up a startling 8-0 tech. In the finals, the WCAP wrestler will be digging in opposite Hasan Mostafa (EGY), who US fans will remember from his appearances in the Dave Schultz Memorial.
2017 Junior World Champion Kamal Bey (77 kg, Sunkist) got started with a tech over U23 Trials runner-up Colin Schubert (NYAC/OTS), which served as one of the surprises mentioned at the top. His semifinal bout was just as riveting. Facing off with perennial contender Kendrick Sanders (NYAC/OTS), Bey was actually trailing deep into the second period until he uncorked a four-pointer to take the lead for good en-route to an exciting 9-8 decision.
Who is Bey facing off with in the finals? You guessed it — ’17 U23 World Team member Jesse Porter (NYAC/OTS), who like Bey has also been on top of his game today. Seeded third, Porter bounced NMU teammate Corey Fitzgerald, Peyton Walsh (Marines), and Canada’s John Yeats all via tech in effort to offer this latest saga in the Bey/Porter series.
Geordan Speiller (Florida Jets), another star Greco athlete making his first appearance in a while, finds himself going for a gold once again. Speiller defeated 2017 Fargo Junior National champ Andrew Berreyesa (NYAC/FLWC), who competed for the first time since the U23 Trials back in October. A blitzing tech of Spencer Woods (NMU/OTS) ushered Speiller to the semis, where he got by NCAA All-American Jon Jay Chavez (NYAC) 6-1.
At this stage in his long and storied career, it seems as if Cheney Haight (87 kg, NYAC) can just get up off the couch and still perform well. The two-time World Team member easily dispatched of Philip Barreiro (CAN) in the quarterfinals before locking up with multi-time National Teamer Courtney Myers (Army/WCAP) in the semis. There were some moments for Myers in this one and the exchanges between the two suggested a prolonged struggle to the end. But early in the second period, Haight caught Myers off a throw attempt and planted him for the fall. Yes, another surprise, primarily because of the ending.
Elsewhere, NMU’s super duo of Dalton Roberts (NYAC/OTS) and Randon Miranda (NYAC/OTS) will be meeting up to decide the winner of the 60 kilogram weight class. Miranda originally intended to compete at 55, but since that weight only offered two other athletes, he decided to bump up. The pair of two-time Junior World Teamers have banged heads numerous times previously, most recently in the finals of both the U23 Trials and the Lavrikov Memorial in St. Petersburg, Russia.
2018 Bill Farrell Memorial — Finals Pairings
55 kg: Elijah Varona (OTC) vs. Sean Sesnan (WBC)
60 kg: Randon Miranda (NYAC/OTS) def. Dalton Roberts (NYAC/OTS) 6-5
63 kg: Hayden Tuma (Army/WCAP) vs. Hasan Mostafa (EGY)
67 kg: Jessy Williams (NYAC) vs. Ray Bunker (Marines)
72 kg: Chris Gonzalez (NYAC) vs. Alex Sancho (NYAC)
77 kg: Kamal Bey (Sunkist) vs. Jesse Porter (NYAC/OTS)
82 kg: Geordan Speiller (Florida Jets) vs. Alexander Kikiniou (BLR)
87 kg: Cheney Haight (NYAC) vs. Mohamed Mostafa (EGY)
97 kg: Lucas Sheridan (Army/WCAP) vs. Park Jae-woo (KOR)
130 kg: Donny Longendyke (Minnesota Storm) vs. Ham Mostafa (EGY)
This article was updated to reflect Randon Miranda’s defeat of Dalton Roberts.
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