by Peter Dewey

The fortunes of Team Texas took a dramatic turn for the worst on the first day of Junior Freestyle. Day 1 of Junior Greco found Team Texas as high as a kite with a stunning upset victory over California. But oh how different does it feel after the first day of Freestyle as Team Texas hopes for AA status are effectively gone.

Hopes for a first ever All American status in Freestyle had to be soaring when Team Texas considered it would be adding the considerable talents of Ben and Luke Ashmore, Luke Silver, Johnny Koepp, Jeremy Sandoval, AJ Forsythe, Jason Logan, and Fred Rowsey to the AA Greco Team that finished 4th. There were some Greco boys that would not compete in Freestyle -most notably Brent Rogers (MVP Greco performance) and Whitten White and Ace Adamson due to injuries. But perhaps most devastingly, Taylor Salinas and Danny Luttrell who had wrestled every significant Greco match at 98 and 103 respectively, were now at 103 and 112. It was not so much that they “missed” weight but were “allowed” to move up in the hopes of a better Greco performance. What may have marginally helped the Greco squad proved to be the achilles heel for the Junior Freestyle team. There will be many questions about that decision.

In looking at the Junior Freestyle pools it was obvious that the path to AA would almost certainly require a victory over Florida. Florida was the #8 seed; Texas the #9 seed. A very powerful Illinois Team was also in Pool A and the overall #1 seed. Team Texas started with #16 North Dakota and it was not really a contest as Team Texas coasted 49-15.

It was good to have a warm up as the AA match with Florida was next. Make no mistake Team Texas knew what was at stake even this early in the the tournament. Coach Will Rowe walked up and down the bench exhorting the wrestlers that only a win against Florida would earn them AA status.

Texas v Florida

The match started ominously as Dante Reynolds lost by tech fall at 98, Salinas was overmatched at 103 and Danny Luttrell was unable to avoid the fall at the hands of Florida stud Grazales. Score: Florida 12 Texas 1.

Jeremy Sandoval demolished his opponent at 119 by 7-1 and 7-0. Ben Ashmore up next and seconds into the match was (almost) flat on his back. Down 4-0, Ben recovered to win the first period 11-4 and then erase the Florida point with a fall in the second period. Josh Sandoval followed Ben with what also appeared to be a confirmed fall but after discussion was overrulled. Josh would tech his outclassed opponent but like Jeremy before the shut out eluded him. It was hard to comprehend at this stage just how critical every point would prove. Score: Florida 14 Texas 14.

At 135 and 140, Luke Silver and Luke Ashmore dominate their opponents but can earn neither a TF nor a shut out. At 145, Johnny Koepp then has a hard fought 5-3, 3-6, 2-0 decision. So for these 3 weights Texas outscores Florida 9-3. While Texas appears to be dominating on the mat (having just won 6 matches in a row) Florida keeps picking up points in defeat to stay within reach. Score Texas 23 Florida 17.

At 152, AJ Forsythe is on the short end of a 1-3 score in the first period when there is blood time. It turns into injury time as the Florida wrestler is obviously dazed. The trainer says no mas (clearly the right decision) and after about 5 minutes of protesting by the Florida coaches the decision stands and 5 points to Texas for Injury Default. At 160, Taylor Torisk is in a wild match but he is clearly outscoring his opponent. The score appears to be 8-4 Taylor when there is a long referees conference and the score inexplicably changes to 9-8 with Taylor on the short end. When action resumes Torisk gets called with a phantom pin. It seemed almost like a make up call for the prior injury default. At 171, Rowsey overpowers his opponent but the Florida kid manages to both score and avoid a tech, 7-0, 7-3 (anyone see a pattern here?) Score: Texas 31 Florida 23

3 matches left. Florida rolls out 2 studs (Green and Lester) and another quality wrestler. Prigmore, Gambordella and Witt hung very tough but incredibly could not manage a point against any of the Florida boys. As it turned out a single point would have given Texas the match on criteria (8 wins to 7) … but it was not to be on this day…

Final Score: Florida 32 Texas 31

There can be an awful lot of “what ifs” and second-guessing in a match of this magnitude which ends in such a heart-wrenching defeat. Obviously credit goes to the Florida boys. I believe Texas was the better team but Florida wrestled better today. They earned team points in every single match (with the exception of Ben’s pin and the Inj Def and even those 2 kids scored) even when up against a superior opponent. If Team Texas could say that they would have won. Still there was not a Texas wrestler who didn’t give his all on the mat.

But the biggest “what if” is how this dual ends if Salinas wrestled 98 and Luttrell 105 as they were scheduled to do. Can there really be much doubt Texas beats Florida and gets to the AA round? I don’t think so. Again, I don’t think this is a case of wrestlers missing weight but being told to forget making weight for FS for the sake of the Greco team. I don’t know, it seems like a real disservice to the boys on the Freestyle team.

While Team Texas licked their wounds in a 53-13 pounding of North Carolina in Round 3, it looked like the boys from New York may be doing one huge favor for Team Texas by upsetting Florida. After the 152 match, the score was New York 27 Florida 13. Florida then proceeded to reel off 5 straight victories including a tech fall by Green who bumped up to 215 and a second straight clinching victory by Lester at 275. Another incredible come from way behind victory by Florida 31-29.

Team Texas ended a tough day getting pounded by Illinois. Texas was never emotionally into this match and it showed. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes I would not have believed Texas could throw both Ashmores, both Sandovals, Silver, Koepp, Logan, Rowsey and more at an opponent and not win a single match. It happened. Texas lost 53-11 and 5 of the points were earned by forfeit. I seriously doubt anybody will beat this Illinois team.

Tomorrow is another day. Team Texas needs to regroup and run the table. There is not another team they face that they cannot beat if they bring their A game.