Two-time defending NCAA Champion Cole Konrad (Freedom, Wis.) made it clear that he will be one of the top contenders to make the U.S. World Team after turning in a second-place showing at 120 kg/264.5 lbs in the Senior Freestyle bracket. Konrad, who entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed, knocked off top-ranked Tolly Thompson in the semifinals before being defeated by No. 3 Tommy Rowlands in the finals. Konrad will compete at the 2007 U.S. World Team Trials in Las Vegas, June 8-10.
Brandon Sitch (Kelso, Wash.) led a contingent of six Gopher freshmen to place in the FILA Junior National brackets. Sitch captured the 79 kg/174 lbs title in Greco-Roman and also took third in freestyle. Ben Berhow (Albert Lea, Minn.) was the only other Minnesota wrestler to place in both disciplines, taking eighth-place in freestyle and seventh in Greco-Roman at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Three other Gopher redshirt freshmen medaled in Greco-Roman, with Jake Mellmer (Dickinson, N.D.) taking fourth place at 60 kg/132.25 lbs, Jordan Kolbow (Forest Lake, Minn.) coming in seventh at 79 kg/163 lbs, and Joe Nord claiming sixth at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Mike Thorn (St. Michael, Minn.), who competed in 16 dual meets as a true freshman this season, took seventh place in freestyle at 60 kg/132.25 lbs.
The three former Gophers who competed in the Senior Freestyle tournament were Jared Lawrence, who brought home fifth-place at 66 kg/145.5 lbs, Damion Hahn, who took seventh at 96 kg/211.5 lbs, and Matt Nagel, who competed at 74 kg/163 lbs after advancing through the qualifying bracket.
For complete results from the 2007 U.S. Nationals, visit www.usawrestling.org
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