G’Angelo Hancock displayed the kind of eye-opening ability that earned him a spot on the Senior National Team and Patrick Ramirez took another step in building towards the summer. Both Hancock and Ramirez were among the winners at this weekend’s Concord Junior World-Duals held at the Community Youth Center in Concord, California. The event, which coincided with the launch of the US Greco Olympic team’s training for the Rio Games, featured a collection of US Junior wrestlers as well as international competition. Sweden and Hungary were two of the countries represented at the meet. In addition, a team of Swedish and Hungarian wrestlers also helped comprise two Scandinavian squads, as Norway only sent a small collection of competitors.
Although the meet was more about development through competition and co-opted training, scores were kept and the wrestlers went after it. The dual format pitted teams against each other in a series of rounds with the team holding the best record at the end declared the winner. The Scandinavian contingent captured the championship at the Concord Junior World-Duals, defeating USA/CYC, Idaho/Utah, California/CYC, and Hungary, with the squad’s only loss coming to Kansas in the seventh and final round on Sunday. Both the USA/CYC and Hungarian teams went 4-2 with Kansas going 3-3.
As for individual USA Greco Roman performances, several up-and-coming athletes showed why the country’s program is continuously on the rise. The NMU crew, in particular, posted strong showings with Randon Miranda (56 kg) and the entertaining Jamal DeArmond (70 kg) both winning their respective weight classes. Hometown hero Peyton Omania didn’t waste the chance to impose his will, either. Competing at 66 kg, Omania went the distance to take first, with fellow Californian Jordan Jimenez earning third place honors at 74 kg.
G’Angelo Hancock did what he does best throughout the meet, which is use his ever-growing arsenal to attack positions, wherever they may be. And as has become custom in his travels, Hancock managed to land a picturesque throw or two to punctuate his work. Ramirez, for his part, fought through considerable opposition at 59 kg in a more calculated fashion while still showcasing his trademark aggression on par terre offense. Simply put, when Ramirez wants to score, he is hard to stop. Note: Miranda, DeArmond, and Hancock will also be representing the United States at the UWW Junior World Championships later this summer in Macon, France.
Event photos courtesy of US National Team Head Coach Matt Lindland
Featured image: John Sachs/Tech-Fall.com
Complete Concord Junior World-Duals Results
Round 1
Scandinavia- 33 USA/CYC- 17
Hungary- 34 Kansas- 20
Idaho/Utah- 30 Vikings- 26
Round 2
Vikings- 29 Kansas- 25
USA/CYC- 37 California- 8
Hungary- 38 Idaho/Utah- 18
Round 3
Hungary- 41 Vikings:- 12
Kansas- 43 California/CYC- 12
Scandinavia- 36 Idaho/Utah- 13
Round 4
Scandinavia- 46 California/CYC- 5
USA/CYC- 37 Vikings- 19
Kansas- 43 Idaho/Utah- 11
Round 5
Scandinavia- 43 Vikings- 5
Hungary- 37 California/CYC- 17
USA/CYC- 36 Idaho/Utah- 19
Round 6
Scandinavia- 32 Hungary- 21
USA/CYC- 30 Kansas- 24
Vikings- 41 California/CYC- 16
Round 7
Hungary- 37 USA/CYC- 11
Idaho/Utah- 30 California/CYC- 21
Kansas- 28 Scandinavia- 26
Individual Champions and Placewinners
49 Kg
Third: Darrick Stacey – Idaho/Utah
Second: Nagy Krisztian – Hungary
First: Niklas Ohlen – Scandinavia
52.5 kg
Third: Logan Treaster – Kansas
Second: Mason Hartshorn – USA/CYC
First: Kecskemeti Krisztian – Hungary
56 kg
Third: Chase Zollman – California
Second: Kovacs Bence – Hungary
First: Randon Miranda – USA
59 kg
Third: Corbin Nicschl – Kansas
Second: Kecskemeti Ferenc – Hungary
First: Patrick Ramirez – USA/CYC
63 kg
Third: Tristan Porsch – Kansas
Second: Dylan Gregerson – Idaho/Utah
First: Rasmus Astrom – Vikings
66 kg
Third: Erik Soini – Scandinavia
Second: Geiszt Adam – Hungary
First: Peyton Omania – USA/CYC
70 kg
Third: Max Karlsson – Vikings
Second: Albin Olofsson – Scandinavia
First: Jamal DeArmond – USA
74.5 kg
Third: Jordan Jimenez – USA/CYC
Second: Sammy Cokeley – Kansas
First: Kismoni Moric – Hungary
79 kg
Third: Clay Lautt – Kansas
Second: Jakob Lafgard – Vikings
First: Anton Olsson – Scandinavia
86.5 kg
Third: Dylan Servis – Kansas
Second: Kismoni Botond – Hungary
First: Seit Ruslanovich Kipkeev – Scandinavia
98.5 kg
Third: Cohlton Schultz – California
Second: Johan Gustavsson – Scandinavia
First: G’Angelo Hancock – USA
125 kg
Third: Kasey Feyh – Kansas
Second: Darryl Aiello – USA/CYC
First: Mattias Viita – Scandinavia