2016 Journeymen/Cliff Keen Freestyle ClassicApr 14, 2016 by Kyle Bratke
Journeymen Freestyle Classic Preview
Journeymen Freestyle Classic Preview
Imagine Fargo plus the world! Thats the kind of feel this weekend's inaugural Journeymen/Cliff Keen Freestyle Classic will have. Tournament director Frank P
Imagine Fargo plus the world! Thats the kind of feel this weekend's inaugural Journeymen/Cliff Keen Freestyle Classic will have. Tournament director Frank Popolizio has brought in some of the best high school age talent from around the world. Wrestlers from Russia, Korea, Lithuania, Italy, and Tajikistan will all invade New York to take on the United States' best. You can watch all of the action Sunday live here.
American Hammers
8th graders
Greg Diakomihalis (NY)- he may be the little brother of Yianni D, but he is already making a name for himself. As only an 8th grader he won a New York high school state championship.
Robert Howard (NJ)- Howard is coming off a weekend that saw him win another World of Wrestling Trinity Award at the Flo Reno Worlds. Howard has dominated his age level for years, and will now look to make some noise against established high school studs.
Josh Saunders (MO)- like Howard, Saunders has been a guy who has dominated his age groups for years, and will be a household name on the high school level in no time. He's a Super 32 middle school champ, Trinity Award winner, and just gave fellow 8th grade stud Beau Bartlett all he wanted at FolkStyle Nationals.
Freshman
#1 at 106: Adam Busiello (NY)- He was third at Fargo last season, a Super 32 champ, and is already a 2x New York state champ. If you haven't got a chance to watch Busiello yet, do yourself a favor and check this stud out.
#5 at 106: Dylan D’Emilio (OH)- It was quite a summer for D'Emilio last year. He was a Cadet World team member last summer and finished fifth falling in the bronze medal match, and won a Fargo title as well. D'Emilio began his high school career with a bang as well, taking 2nd at Ironman, and winning an Ohio State title this season. We could also see D'Emilio get another crack at Cadet World Champ Aleksei Kopylov of Russia, who teched D'Emilio in the Cadet World Semis. Check out that match below.
Kurt McHenry (VA)- McHenry made the jump last season from Middle School hammer, to legit high school stud. He was a Fargo All-American last summer, and continued to his ascension with a runner-up finish at Beast of The East.
#23 Freshman Big Board: Andrew Alirez (CO)- Alirez really began to take the step to the next level at Fargo last summer where he took fifth, and continued that progression into the high school season where he dominated his way to a Colorado state championship.
#8 at 113: Julian Chlebove (PA)- Chlebove began putting the wrestling world on notice last season when he placed in the high school division of FloNationals as an 8th grader. Chlebove followed that up by knocking off #9 Matty Parker multiple times throughout the season, including once in the state finals to win a PA state title as a Freshman.
#4 at 120: Nick Raimo (NJ)- As an 8th grader transitioning to high school last summer, Nick Raimo showed the world he was the real deal by doubling up on Fargo titles. Raimo followed that up with a Beast Of The East 3rd place finish, and runner-up finish in single class New Jersey. Check out Nick Raimo's crazy freestyle final from Fargo last year!
Sophomores
#17 at 160: Trent Hidlay (PA)- Everyone knows Hayden Hidlay, but you need to know his younger brother Trent as well. Hidlay continues to just keep getting better and better. He placed at Super 32, was a Powerade runner-up, and PA state runner-up this season.
#6 at 145: Frankie Gissendanner (NY)- Gissendanner is now a two-time New York state champ, but someone who is pretty raw at freestyle. He was 8th at Cadet Trials a season ago, but can be extremely dangerous because he is so good on his feet.
#16 at 195: Gavin Hoffman (PA)- Hoffman is a name that will soon be a household name amongst high school wrestling fans. The sophomore won a PA state title in March, and followed it up with an NHSCA sophomore national title.
Other hammers to watch:
Ramadan Attasauov (OH)-Fargo Cadet Freestyle All-American
#6 at 113: Tommy Hoskins (OH)- Ohio state champ, Ironman 3rd
Juniors
#2 at 138: Yianni Diakomihalis (NY)- Does anything really need to be said about Yianni D? The Cadet world champ is an absolute hammer at folkstyle, but might be even better at freestyle. This summer he plans on trying to make both the Cadet and Junior world teams, but watch him get started on his freestyle season this Sunday. Watch Yianni win a Cadet world title:
#12 at 126: Brian Courtney (PA)- heading into NHSCA Nationals, Courtney might have been the hottest wrestler in the country. He knocked off three former PA state champs to win a Pennsylvania state title, and then went to FloNationals and dominated #2 Justin Mejia in the finals. Courtney did take a loss at NHSCA Nationals, but battled back for a third place finish. It will be interesting to see him try his freestyle chops.
#2 at 132: Vito Arujau (NY)- Like Yianni D, Vito Arujau may be even better at freestyle than he is at folkstyle. The New York hammer lost to his teammate, Yianni D, in the Cadet World Team Trials last season, and then dominated his way to a Fargo title last season.
#5 at 145: Jarod Verkleeren (PA)- After a controversial ending to his folkstyle season, Verkleeren returned to the mat at FloNationals and rolled to a title. Now, we get to see him in a style he loves, and where we saw him win a Cadet World title at a season ago. Don't let him get his leg lace!
Jacob Raschka (WI)- Raschka went on a tear last summer to win a Fargo title, and followed that up this year with a Wisconsin state title. He did struggle a little bit at FloNationals this year, taking 5th place and losing to Gavin Hoffman.
#5 at 170: Mikey Labriola (PA)- the Nebraska commit rolled to a state title this season beating nationally ranked Austin Bell in the semis, and Nino Bonaccorsi in the finals.
Other hammers to watch:
#18 at 132: Tim Kane (CT)- Cadet Freestyle All-American, Connecticut state champion
Corey Shie (OH)- Fargo Junior Greco All-American, Ohio state champ
Jake Woodley (PA)- Fargo Cadet Freestyle All-American, Pennsylvania state champ
James Handwerk (OH)- Double Cadet Fargo All-American, Ohio state champ
#14 at 132: Ben Freeman (MI)- Michigan state champ, UWW Cadet Trials 4th
#13 at 170: Louie Deprez (NY)- 2x New York state champion, FloNationals placer
Seniors
#2 at 152: Hayden Hidlay (PA)- Just like his brother, Trent, Hayden just continues to get better and better. He was a Junior Greco champ at Fargo last summer, and third in freestyle. The NC State commit finally got his state title this summer, has beaten Mason Manville in every style, and recently beat Griffin Parriott. The sky is the limit for Hidlay, and you won't want to miss him this Sunday.
#7 at 145: Kanen Storr (MI)- The three-time Michigan state champ is also a very accomplished freestyler. He fell to Jarod Verkleeren in the Cadet World Team Trial finals, and is a multiple time Fargo All-American. Get one of your last looks at Storr before he heads to Iowa State this Sunday.
#3 at 195: Ben Darmstadt (OH)- The Cornell recruit stock has continued to climb and climb over the past couple years. Darmstadt was won multiple Ohio State titles, won the Beast of The East, took third at Ironman and placed in top four at Fargo multiple times.
Other hammers to watch:
#13 at 138: Ian Parker (MI)- Michigan State champ, UWW Cadet fifth, UWW Junior fourth.
#19 at 182: Kevin Parker (NY)- New York state champ, Fargo Junior Freestyle All-American
Theo Powers (NY)- New York state champ
Egorov Sergei- 1st place Championship of Russia 2015
Iurii (Ivrii) Arakelian- 2nd place European Championship cadet 58kg, 2015 Euro Championships 5th
Magomed Badrudinov- 1st place Championship of Russia 2015, Cadet 50kg 2014 euro 2nd
Adam-Khadzhi Beterbiev- 2nd place Championship of Russia 2014
Feliks Dulaev- 1st place Championship of Russia 2014
Arslan Garazhiev- 1st place Championship of Russia 2014
Aleksei Kopylov- World Champion 2015 Cadet 46kg
Petr Kopylov- 1st place Championship of Russia 2015
Alik Shebzukhov- 1st place Championship of Russia 2015, 1st place 2015 cadet Euro Championships 76kg
Inalbek Sheriev- World Champion
Lithuania:
Vadim Babuški (LITH) - 1st place International tournament "Our hopes"
Svajūnas Šakys (LITH)- 1st place Baltic Youth Games
Mantas Adomaitis (LITH)- 3rd place European Championship , Cadet 85kg Cadet Worlds rep
Gytis Jovaiša (LITH)- 2nd place Baltic Youth Games
Lukas Lipnickas (LITH)- 3rd place International tournament "Gusev"
Dominykas Viliušis (LITH)- 2nd place Baltic Youth Games
Korea:
Joong il Lee (KOR)- 2015 National High School Champ.
Byung Gun Choi (KOR)-2015 National High School Champ.
Sung Bok Kim (KOR)- 2015 World Jr. National Team member of Korea, 3rd place Cadet Asian championship 69kg, 9th place 2015 Asian Championship
Sung woo Yang (KOR)-2015 National High School Champ.
Italy:
Davide Amato (ITA)- Italian National Champion Cadet, 13th place 2015 cadet 46kg Euros, World 25th
Guarino Virgilio (ITA)- Italian National Champion JR /Bronze at SR
Felice Matrullo (ITA)- Italian National Champion Cadet
Tajikistan:
JAMSHED ABUBAKRI (TAJIK)- 2nd in Asian Games(championships) cadet 63kg 2nd
FIRUZ YAKUBOV (TAJIK)- 3rd in Asian Games 2014 cadet asian championship 100kg 1st, 2015 junior Asian championship 96kg 3rd
ISLOMDZHON ISMOILOV (TAJIK)
American Hammers
8th gradersGreg Diakomihalis (NY)- he may be the little brother of Yianni D, but he is already making a name for himself. As only an 8th grader he won a New York high school state championship.
Robert Howard (NJ)- Howard is coming off a weekend that saw him win another World of Wrestling Trinity Award at the Flo Reno Worlds. Howard has dominated his age level for years, and will now look to make some noise against established high school studs.
Josh Saunders (MO)- like Howard, Saunders has been a guy who has dominated his age groups for years, and will be a household name on the high school level in no time. He's a Super 32 middle school champ, Trinity Award winner, and just gave fellow 8th grade stud Beau Bartlett all he wanted at FolkStyle Nationals.
Freshman
#1 at 106: Adam Busiello (NY)- He was third at Fargo last season, a Super 32 champ, and is already a 2x New York state champ. If you haven't got a chance to watch Busiello yet, do yourself a favor and check this stud out.
#5 at 106: Dylan D’Emilio (OH)- It was quite a summer for D'Emilio last year. He was a Cadet World team member last summer and finished fifth falling in the bronze medal match, and won a Fargo title as well. D'Emilio began his high school career with a bang as well, taking 2nd at Ironman, and winning an Ohio State title this season. We could also see D'Emilio get another crack at Cadet World Champ Aleksei Kopylov of Russia, who teched D'Emilio in the Cadet World Semis. Check out that match below.
Kurt McHenry (VA)- McHenry made the jump last season from Middle School hammer, to legit high school stud. He was a Fargo All-American last summer, and continued to his ascension with a runner-up finish at Beast of The East.
#23 Freshman Big Board: Andrew Alirez (CO)- Alirez really began to take the step to the next level at Fargo last summer where he took fifth, and continued that progression into the high school season where he dominated his way to a Colorado state championship.
#8 at 113: Julian Chlebove (PA)- Chlebove began putting the wrestling world on notice last season when he placed in the high school division of FloNationals as an 8th grader. Chlebove followed that up by knocking off #9 Matty Parker multiple times throughout the season, including once in the state finals to win a PA state title as a Freshman.
#4 at 120: Nick Raimo (NJ)- As an 8th grader transitioning to high school last summer, Nick Raimo showed the world he was the real deal by doubling up on Fargo titles. Raimo followed that up with a Beast Of The East 3rd place finish, and runner-up finish in single class New Jersey. Check out Nick Raimo's crazy freestyle final from Fargo last year!
Sophomores
#17 at 160: Trent Hidlay (PA)- Everyone knows Hayden Hidlay, but you need to know his younger brother Trent as well. Hidlay continues to just keep getting better and better. He placed at Super 32, was a Powerade runner-up, and PA state runner-up this season.
#6 at 145: Frankie Gissendanner (NY)- Gissendanner is now a two-time New York state champ, but someone who is pretty raw at freestyle. He was 8th at Cadet Trials a season ago, but can be extremely dangerous because he is so good on his feet.
#16 at 195: Gavin Hoffman (PA)- Hoffman is a name that will soon be a household name amongst high school wrestling fans. The sophomore won a PA state title in March, and followed it up with an NHSCA sophomore national title.
Other hammers to watch:
Ramadan Attasauov (OH)-Fargo Cadet Freestyle All-American
#6 at 113: Tommy Hoskins (OH)- Ohio state champ, Ironman 3rd
Juniors
#2 at 138: Yianni Diakomihalis (NY)- Does anything really need to be said about Yianni D? The Cadet world champ is an absolute hammer at folkstyle, but might be even better at freestyle. This summer he plans on trying to make both the Cadet and Junior world teams, but watch him get started on his freestyle season this Sunday. Watch Yianni win a Cadet world title:
#12 at 126: Brian Courtney (PA)- heading into NHSCA Nationals, Courtney might have been the hottest wrestler in the country. He knocked off three former PA state champs to win a Pennsylvania state title, and then went to FloNationals and dominated #2 Justin Mejia in the finals. Courtney did take a loss at NHSCA Nationals, but battled back for a third place finish. It will be interesting to see him try his freestyle chops.
#2 at 132: Vito Arujau (NY)- Like Yianni D, Vito Arujau may be even better at freestyle than he is at folkstyle. The New York hammer lost to his teammate, Yianni D, in the Cadet World Team Trials last season, and then dominated his way to a Fargo title last season.
#5 at 145: Jarod Verkleeren (PA)- After a controversial ending to his folkstyle season, Verkleeren returned to the mat at FloNationals and rolled to a title. Now, we get to see him in a style he loves, and where we saw him win a Cadet World title at a season ago. Don't let him get his leg lace!
Jacob Raschka (WI)- Raschka went on a tear last summer to win a Fargo title, and followed that up this year with a Wisconsin state title. He did struggle a little bit at FloNationals this year, taking 5th place and losing to Gavin Hoffman.
#5 at 170: Mikey Labriola (PA)- the Nebraska commit rolled to a state title this season beating nationally ranked Austin Bell in the semis, and Nino Bonaccorsi in the finals.
Other hammers to watch:
#18 at 132: Tim Kane (CT)- Cadet Freestyle All-American, Connecticut state champion
Corey Shie (OH)- Fargo Junior Greco All-American, Ohio state champ
Jake Woodley (PA)- Fargo Cadet Freestyle All-American, Pennsylvania state champ
James Handwerk (OH)- Double Cadet Fargo All-American, Ohio state champ
#14 at 132: Ben Freeman (MI)- Michigan state champ, UWW Cadet Trials 4th
#13 at 170: Louie Deprez (NY)- 2x New York state champion, FloNationals placer
Seniors
#2 at 152: Hayden Hidlay (PA)- Just like his brother, Trent, Hayden just continues to get better and better. He was a Junior Greco champ at Fargo last summer, and third in freestyle. The NC State commit finally got his state title this summer, has beaten Mason Manville in every style, and recently beat Griffin Parriott. The sky is the limit for Hidlay, and you won't want to miss him this Sunday.
#7 at 145: Kanen Storr (MI)- The three-time Michigan state champ is also a very accomplished freestyler. He fell to Jarod Verkleeren in the Cadet World Team Trial finals, and is a multiple time Fargo All-American. Get one of your last looks at Storr before he heads to Iowa State this Sunday.
#3 at 195: Ben Darmstadt (OH)- The Cornell recruit stock has continued to climb and climb over the past couple years. Darmstadt was won multiple Ohio State titles, won the Beast of The East, took third at Ironman and placed in top four at Fargo multiple times.
Other hammers to watch:
#13 at 138: Ian Parker (MI)- Michigan State champ, UWW Cadet fifth, UWW Junior fourth.
#19 at 182: Kevin Parker (NY)- New York state champ, Fargo Junior Freestyle All-American
Theo Powers (NY)- New York state champ
International Hammers
Russia:Egorov Sergei- 1st place Championship of Russia 2015
Iurii (Ivrii) Arakelian- 2nd place European Championship cadet 58kg, 2015 Euro Championships 5th
Magomed Badrudinov- 1st place Championship of Russia 2015, Cadet 50kg 2014 euro 2nd
Adam-Khadzhi Beterbiev- 2nd place Championship of Russia 2014
Feliks Dulaev- 1st place Championship of Russia 2014
Arslan Garazhiev- 1st place Championship of Russia 2014
Aleksei Kopylov- World Champion 2015 Cadet 46kg
Petr Kopylov- 1st place Championship of Russia 2015
Alik Shebzukhov- 1st place Championship of Russia 2015, 1st place 2015 cadet Euro Championships 76kg
Inalbek Sheriev- World Champion
Lithuania:
Vadim Babuški (LITH) - 1st place International tournament "Our hopes"
Svajūnas Šakys (LITH)- 1st place Baltic Youth Games
Mantas Adomaitis (LITH)- 3rd place European Championship , Cadet 85kg Cadet Worlds rep
Gytis Jovaiša (LITH)- 2nd place Baltic Youth Games
Lukas Lipnickas (LITH)- 3rd place International tournament "Gusev"
Dominykas Viliušis (LITH)- 2nd place Baltic Youth Games
Korea:
Joong il Lee (KOR)- 2015 National High School Champ.
Byung Gun Choi (KOR)-2015 National High School Champ.
Sung Bok Kim (KOR)- 2015 World Jr. National Team member of Korea, 3rd place Cadet Asian championship 69kg, 9th place 2015 Asian Championship
Sung woo Yang (KOR)-2015 National High School Champ.
Italy:
Davide Amato (ITA)- Italian National Champion Cadet, 13th place 2015 cadet 46kg Euros, World 25th
Guarino Virgilio (ITA)- Italian National Champion JR /Bronze at SR
Felice Matrullo (ITA)- Italian National Champion Cadet
Tajikistan:
JAMSHED ABUBAKRI (TAJIK)- 2nd in Asian Games(championships) cadet 63kg 2nd
FIRUZ YAKUBOV (TAJIK)- 3rd in Asian Games 2014 cadet asian championship 100kg 1st, 2015 junior Asian championship 96kg 3rd
ISLOMDZHON ISMOILOV (TAJIK)