Folkstyle Nationals
Waterloo, Iowa
Apologies to everyone - a little slow on the updates this weekend (I’ve been moving houses and I no longer have a wrestling team to help - so it has been a process).
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina each had wrestlers make the podium at Folkstyle Nationals this past weekend including a National Champ in Brian Burburija of Countryside (Florida) in the U16’s at 170. There were also several hammers to make the podium in the 14U group - including Kiowa Vines who finished 2nd - but I don’t know those names as well so I didn’t include them or any of the younger wrestlers below.
Juniors
Cory Land - Alabama (3rd at 126)
Land lost early - in his 2nd match to Nicolar Rivera of Wisconsin. He bounced back to make a run through the backside to win 6 in a row and finish 3rd (including a 5-1 win over Carlos Negrete of California).
Jaden New - Alabama (8th at 145)
New also lost early in the 145 lb. bracket - winning his first and then dropping a 4-2 decision to Cash Stewart. Jaden won 3 tough matches to make it back to the podium - losing to Ohio’s Alek Martin and Illinois’s Tommy Curran.
Brendon Abdon - Florida (4th at 152)
Abdon looked outstanding - winning 4 matches on his way to the semis where he lost a tough 4-2 decision to eventual Champ Luke Gayer of California. Abdon went 1-1 on the backside to finish 4th. Alabama’s Gray Ortis missed out on a spot on the podium - losing to eventual 3rd place finisher Cade Lucio in sudden victory in the bloodround.
Tristan Middlebrook - Florida (7th at 220)
Middlebrook lost a tough 1-0 decision in his opening round match on the championship side and had to fight his way back to the podium. Middlebrook had 3 wins before falling to Kalob Runyan on Iowa. Tristan won his final match to take 7th.
U16
Clark Box - Alabama (4th at 88)
Hewitt-Trussville’s little 106 made a name for himself with a 4th place finish at 88 in Iowa this past weekend. Box lost in the semis, but finished the weekend 2-2 with wins over Jude Heaston of Indiana and Gavin Willardson of Minnesota.
Cale Tucker - Alabama (6th at 94)
Tucker won his first 2 matches - including an 8-6 decision in sudden victory over Carter West of Iowa. He was injured in the 2nd period of his semi match to Idaho’s Jaxton Packer and medically forfeited to 6th.
Jacob Bond - Georgia (6th at 100)
Georgia’s Bond won his first two matches before losing to Edwin Sierra of Arizona in the semis at 100. Bond dropped two tough decisions on the backside to finish 6th.
Yannis Charles - South Carolina (6th at 138)
Charles had 3 wins including a 9-7 decision over Idaho’s Riley Brunson to make the semis at 138. A 7-3 loss to Aiden Torres of Indiana put him on the backside … where he lost decisions to Tyler Eise of Colorado and Brodie Dominque of Ohio to finish 6th.
Brian Burburija - Florida (1st at 170)
Burburija dominated his way to the 170 lb finals with two falls and an 18-3 tech fall. He had to grind out a tough 4-3 decision over Dominic Thebeau of Illinois in the finals - in fact - Burburija scored a takedown with 2 seconds remaining to claim the title.
Kyle Oliveira - Alabama (7th at 170)
Oliveira fell to Burburija in the opening round, but fought his way back through with 2 wins - including a 15-7 major decision over Trevino of California - to finish 7th
Ian Osbourn - Alabama (6th at 182)
Osbourn had 2 wins on the championship side to make the 182 semis - where he fell to Vander Mathiowetz of Minnesota. Osbourn dropped his final 2 matches to finish 6th.