Best of Day 1 Cadets in Akron
Best of Day 1 Cadets in Akron
After a day of loaded brackets at the Cadet World Team Trials we compile the biggest news.
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They've reached the semifinal round in Akron where the Cadets are in pursuit of making the World Freestyle team. As expected, you could throw predictions out the window. Upsets and matches between highly regarded wrestlers occurred early and often.
Below we'll recap the biggest of Day 1 news on the Cadet side as we prepare for tomorrow's semi's and best-of-three finals.
Watch the Cadet and U23 World Team Trials LIVE on FloWrestling
June 1 | 9:30 AM ET
Visit the RESULTS page for quarterfinal results and tomorrow's semifinal matchups, or FLOARENA for full brackets and links to match videos.
Biggest WOW Moment
Caleb Rathjen techs former #1-Shane Van Ness
Last year's Fargo Runner-Up to Jesse Ybarra, Rathjen teched Blair's Van Ness in the first period with scores in all kinds of ways. Only in Akron would such a match up happen in the first round.
Biggest Upset
Hamiti Pins FloNats Champ Zargo
Zargo was up 6-0 and appeared to be on cruise control.
Big Upset #2
Noah Pettigrew Comes Back vs. Silas Allred
Pettigrew was a double Fargo finalist last year, but was an underdog to the elder Allred, who was a double finalist at FloNats last month. Pettigrew is a freshman in Georgia that is headed to Blair next year.
Most Brutal Roads
Jesse Mendez & Dominick Serrano
Mendez beat two reigning Fargo Runners-Up in Caleb Rathjen and Mick Burnett. In the same 60kg bracket, Serrano, a Fargo and FloNats Champ, beat Fargo 4th Jake Niffenegger and two-time Fargo Runner-Up Ryan Franco. It just so happens these two meet tomorrow morning in the semi's.
At 65kg, Vinny Zerban beat Fargo Runner-Up Luke Geog and Fargo 3rd placer Teague Travis.
Keeping It Rollin'
Greco Champ Kyle Haas In FS Semi's
Kyle Haas made the Greco World Team on Thursday but his momentum carried into Freestyle as he beat a top ten Sam Fisher and last year's Fargo Champ Rocky Elam.
Best R16 Match
Alber Ferrari Edges Caleb Henson
Best Quarterfinal
Edmond-Henson Barnburner
Henson takes the lead over Fargo Champ Edmond with thirty seconds left. But it that's just when the fun started.
Gentlemen's Quarterly Update
Robbie Howard Has Cornrows
He's in the tomorrow's semifinals and seeking to become the first wrestling in the United States to make three straight Cadet World Teams.