2012 Cliff Keen Las Vegas InvitationalDec 1, 2012 by Willie Saylor
Three Killers and a Rematch: CKLV Finals LIVE!
Three Killers and a Rematch: CKLV Finals LIVE!
Three Killers Headline Cliff Keen Las Vegas Finals
Willie Saylor, Editor
There wasn’t any shortage of upsets through the first three sessions of the CKLV Invite. But the three returning National Champions weren’t among them.
Logan Stieber (133, Ohio St.), Kyle Dake (165, Cornell), and Dustin Kilgore (197, Kent St.) were all utterly dominant through the semifinals. They are the marquee names for the Parade of Champions, but the seventeen other finalists are all high caliber. Every one of the finalists are ranked in the country.
One of the most compelling match-ups is a rematch from last year's finals at 141 between two All Americans: Ohio State's Hunter Stieber, and defending CKLV Champ, Mike Mangrum of Oregon State.
One of the most compelling match-ups is a rematch from last year's finals at 141 between two All Americans: Ohio State's Hunter Stieber, and defending CKLV Champ, Mike Mangrum of Oregon State.
Tech Wave members can view the finals on our live webcasts which begins at 3PM Pacific Time/6 ET.
Below are the ten finals with Florankings which make up our exciting finale. Missouri placed four wrestlers in the finals and lead the team race by 11pts. Oregon State has three finalists, while Nebraska, Ohio State, and Cornell each have a pair.
125lbs
#4-Alan Waters (MIZZ) vs. #9-Nashon Garrett (COR)
Notes: Waters got by with a narrow decision over Nikko Triggas (tOSU) in the semi’s. Garrett continues to impress in his Freshman campaign.
133lbs
#1-Logan Stieber (tOSU) vs. #7-Nathan McCormick (MIZZ)
Notes: Stieber hasn’t left an opponent get out of the first period, collecting four falls in route to his second consecutive CKLV final.
141lbs
#2-Hunter Stieber (tOSU) vs. #5-Mike Mangrum (Oregon St.)
Notes: This is a rematch of last year’s final won by Mangrum, 6-3. Both went on to become NCAA All Americans.
149lbs
#7-Cole Von Ohlen (AF) vs. #5-Jason Chamberlain (BSU)
Notes: Von Ohlen won a crazy 11-9 bout with Nebraska’s Jake Sueflohn in the semi’s. He makes the finals for the second straight year.
157lbs
#12-RJ Pena (Oregon St.) vs. #14-Jedd Moore (UVA)
Notes: 157 was the craziest bracket of the weekend. And Moore was perhaps the biggest surprise to make the finals. He knocked off top seeded James Green (NEB) last night in the quarters.
165lbs
#1-Kyle Dake (COR) vs. #8-Stephen Monk (NDSU)
Notes: Dake makes the finals once again. Monk had a narrow (and somewhat controversial) 1-0 win over UVA’s Nick Sulzer in the semi’s.
174lbs
#8-Robert Kokesh (NEB) vs. #13-Dan Yates (MICH)
Notes: Kokesh continues his tear. Both he and hates put stops to Cinderella stories by Matt Miller (Navy) and Blake Stauffer (ASU), respectively.
184lbs
#6-Josh Ihnen (NEB) vs. #9-Mike Larson (MIZZ)
Notes: Larson, the 3 seed, took out NIU’s 2nd seeded Ryan Loder in semi’s. There are a lot of reasons to want to watch the finals. Larson’s hair is one of them.
197lbs
#1-Dustin Kilgore (Kent St.) vs. #4-Alfonso Hernandez (WYO)
Notes: Ohio State's Andrew Campolattano closed the gap, but for the third time this season, he fell at the hands of 2011 NCAA Champ, Kilgore. Hernandez is one of the most underrated wrestlers in the country and a 2012 All American. This sets up what is my favorite final of the night.
HWT
#2-Dom Bradley (MIZZ) vs. #7-Chad Hanke (Oregon St.)
Notes: My upset pick of Medbery came up short as Bradley did a great job on top and won on a riding time point, 2-1.