USAW Junior Olympic Program Kicks Off in Wyoming

A new type of elite program for high school and youth wrestlers has recently been established and is being offered by USA Wrestling. This past summer, USA Wrestling layed the ground work for the very first Junior Olympic Program in wrestling. It is a national development program being offered to all states to enhance learning for the more serious, committed wrestler who is looking to advance on to the next level. The program has been designed to bring elite coaches down to the high school and youth levels, increasing skills as well as motivation, work ethic and love of the sport.

Such a program has been set in motion to encourage wrestlers to compete nationally, wrestle in college and pursue long term goals on the mat. The JOP concept also hopes to give state associations a stronger presence in national competition.

The Wyoming Amateur Wrestling Association has been the first to implement the Junior Olympic Program for their state. Jason Nickal, WAWA State Coach commented, "This is a giant step for wrestling in the state of Wyoming, the JOP will help our wrestlers become more competitive at the National level."

Team Excel Coach Steve Knight, who helped facilitate the program for Wyoming, is excited to see it take off. "It took a lot of work to get things in motion and we're anxious for the wrestlers of Wyoming to benefit from the JOP. I enjoyed working with the Wyoming Cadet and Junior National teams this summer and I'm glad to see the program come together. It was a pleasure to work with the Wyoming USA Wrestling state board, definitely great people doing good things for their wrestlers."

The Wyoming Junior Olympic Program is hosted by Cheyenne East High School and Head Coach Dan Ley. The program begins October 3rd. For more information, please contact WAWA State Coach Jason Nickal at Torrington High School, 307-532-7101 or email at jnickal@goshen.k12.wy.us

2004 Wyoming State High School Wrestling Championships
4A Wrestling

Place Team Score

1. Campbell County 220.00 Tom Seamons
2. Natrona County 178.50 Scott Russell
3. Green River 161.00 Daren Heslep
4. Sheridan 151.50 Chuck Flickinger
5. Riverton 148.50 Keith Beauder
6. Evanston 141.5 Larry Wagstaff
7. Rock Springs 136 Joe Hamel
8. Cheyenne East 119.5 Dan Ley
9. Laramie 111.5 Ron Whitman
10. Cody 106.5 Ken Piazza

State Champion / High School

103 Dallen Madsen Campbell County
112 Jeff Wood Campbell County
119 Stuart Brinkman Laramie
125 Nick Mamalis Green River
130 Rafael Chavez Rock Springs 4A Outstanding Wrestler
135 Josh Henderson Green River
140 Steve Boger Campbell County
145 Ryan Fabrizuis Riverton
152 Garrett Rogers Campbell County
160 Brandon Tillery Sheridan
171 Shawn Vincent Evanston
189 Drew Gwynn Cody
215 AJ Hill Riverton
275 Greg Oldmon Riverton

3 A Wrestling

Place Team Score

1. Star Valley 268.00 Eddie Clark
2. Torrington 221.50 Jason Nickal
3. Douglas 191.00 Bob Bath
4. Buffalo 133.00 Jay Camino
5. Worland 126.00 Dean Barent
6. Mountain View 125 Matt Eardley
7. Newcastle 102 Phil Garhart
8. Lander Valley 87 Jade Morton
9. Rawlins 60 Kurt Torstenbo
10. Powell 49 Jim Striger

*Star Valley set a new all class tournament scoring record*
*Star Valley now holds the most state championships @ 17 in all classes*

State Champion / High School

103 Gabe Clark Star Valley
112 Randall Hemenway Newcastle
119 Cody Grant Torrington 3A Outstanding Wrestler 4 Time State Champ
125 Clay Sondgeroth Star Valley
130 Will Gentry Douglas
135 Walter Ponce Torrington
140 Nick Velazquez Douglas
145 Casey Schell Glenrock
152 Justin Seim Douglas
160 Julius Rios Torrington
171 Tyrell Warren Star Valley
189 Zeb Whipp Lander
215 Casey Lass Worland
275 James Causey Buffalo

2/1 A Wrestling

Place Team Score

1. Wright 166.50 Charles Auzqui
2. Lovell 161.00 Troy Pittman
3. Niobrara County (Lusk) 156.50 Ron Nelson
4. Greybull/Riverside 156.00 Mark Sanford
5. Cokeville 142.00 Marty Linford
6. Rocky Mountain 131 Tim Jones
7. Lingle Ft. Laramie 124 Don Bremer
8. Moorcroft 114.5 John Ferguson
9. Upton 79 Lee McCoy
10. Saratoga 73 Jared Mason

State Champion / High School

103 Jacob Bassett Lovell
112 Drew Hartl Sundance
119 Kanin Asay Lovell
125 Antony Pontarolo Lingle Ft. Laramie
130 Austin Richardson WindRiver/Wyoming Indian
135 Zack Dalin Greybull
140 Tyson Teichart Cokeville 2A Outstanding Wrestler
145 Matt Pridgeon Wright
152 Eric Coxbill Wright
160 Roger Redding Rocky Mountain
171 Matthew Asay Lovell
189 Evertt Doss Greybull
215 Lance Roetman Niobrara County
275 Ben Cunningham Kaycee Midwest

Chadron Invitational Wrestling Tournament-Day 1
Chadron, Nebraska
January 19, 2001

By Don Tolin,
WUSA WY State Editor

TEAM SCORES at end of first day of wrestling (through quarterfinals in championship brackets and two rounds of wrestle-backs). 1. Alliance, NE, 88; 2. Belle Fourche, SD, 73.5; 3. Rushville, NE, 70; 4. Gering, NE, 69; 5. Ogallala, NE, 68.5; 6. Casper Natrona, 68; 7. Casper Kelly Walsh, 66; 8. Weld Central, CO, 61; 9. Spearfish, SD, 59; 10. Scotsbluff, NE 56; 11. Gordon, NE, 47; 12. Cheyenne East, 41; 13. Chadron, NE, 37; 14. Bridgeport, NE, 22.5; 15. Hemingford, NE, 18; 16. Mitchell, NE, 14.