Fortune claims third straight title at Western Junior Greco-Roman Regional

Tyrell Fortune of Oregon took home his third straight Greco-Roman title at the 2008 Western Junior Regional Greco-Roman Championships April 23 in Las Vegas and was named Outstanding Wrestler for the tournament.

Fortune, who was a double champion at the 2007 Western Junior Regional, scored a technical fall over Dustin Meloche of Florida in the finals at 215, 8-0, 5-0.

Eric Starks of Washington and Ryland Geiger of Oregon were the only other repeat champions from 2007. Starks earned at technical fall at 171 over Cole Shafer of Utah, 7-0, 7-0. Geiger beat Clete Hanson of Washington, 1-1, 2-1, 7-0.

In the 112 pound finals, Ryan Mango of Missouri defeated Efrain Aguilar III of Washington 5-0, 7-0 to earn his second medal of the day. Mango lost to 2007 Junior World Team member Tyler Cox of Wyoming in the FILA Junior Nationals at 50 kg/110 lbs. Mango was a 2008 FILA Cadet National champion.

Washington had the most winners for any state, with three wrestlers claiming titles. In addition to Starks, Patrick Mucha beat Paul Garze of Arizona at 119 and Brian Owen pinned Ian Paddock of New York 49 seconds into the second period at 130.

Three states had two gold medalists, Missouri, Oregon, and Wisconsin. Missouri took back to back weight classes with Mango at 112 and Justin Forrest defeating Kyle Komata at 125. For Wisconsin, Cole Schmitt earned at technical fall over John Thompson of Washington at 140 and Kalvin York beat Derek St. John at 152. Geiger combined with Fortune for Oregon's two titles.

At 98 pounds Carson Kuhn of Utah earned at technical fall against Chris Bostic of Arizona, 6-0, 6-0. One weight up, Ryak Finch of Arizona placed first with a technical fall over Steven Romero of Washington at 105, 7-0, 8-0.

Matt McDoonough pinned fellow Iowan Marshall Koethe at 135, in the only final that featured two wrestlers from one state.

Joseph Cozart of Florida topped Eric Jones of Washington at 145, Tyler Koehn of Kansas beat Clarence Neely of Missouri at 160, and Toby Erickson of Montana earned a technical fall over Harrison Ford of Illinois to round out the champions.

Of the other returning champion, three placed. Eric Jones of Washington was second at 145, Reid Chivers of Washington came in third at 189, and Kade Moss of Utah placed sixth at 125.

WESTERN JUNIOR GRECO-ROMAN REGIONALS
At Las Vegas, Nev., April 23

98 lbs.
1st - Carson Kuhn (Utah) tech. fall Chris Bostic (Arizona) 6-0, 6-0
3rd - Nicholas Clobes (Minnesota) dec. Jacoby Bergeron (Minnesota) 7-0, 0-3, 1-1
5th - Max Mejia (Arizona) dec. Anthony Castano (New York) 7-1, 6-1

105 lbs.
1st - Ryak Finch (Arizona) tech. fall Steven Romero (Washington) 7-0, 8-0
3rd - Drew Van Anrooy (Oregon) dec. Courtland Hacker (Colorado) Dec 3-0, 3-1
5th - Jacob Falk (Utah) dec. Bo Bettinson (Nevada) Dec 2-1, 6-0

112 lbs.
1st - Ryan Mango (Missouri) dec. Efrain Aguilar Iii (Washington) 5-0, 7-0
3rd - Tyler Cox (Wyoming) dec. Steven Keith (New York) 0-6, 7-3, 10-2
5th - Tony Pena (Colorado) dec. Zach Holland (Washington) 6-0, 3-3

119 lbs.
1st - Patrick Mucha (Washington) dec. Paul Garza (Arizona) 9-0, 3-3, 5-1
3rd - Cody Lensing (Minnesota) dec. Scott Filbert (Arizona) 9-2, 3-1
5th - Kenny Sanders (Washington) inj. dft. Isaac Romero (Washington)

125 lbs.
1st - Justin Forrest (Missouri) dec. Kyle Komata (Washington) 5-2, 7-5
3rd - Justin Lavalle (Minnesota) tech. fall Thomas Kelliher (Minnesota) 6-0, 7-0
5th - Luke Goettl (Arizona) tech. fall Kade Moss (Utah) 7-0, 6-0

130 lbs.
1st - Brian Owen (Washington) pin Ian Paddock (New York) 4-1, 0:49
3rd - Jacob Kaufman (Oregon) dec. Devon Bonds (Minnesota) 4-2, 8-0
5th - Nicholas Harris (Nevada) dec. Tanner Beaman (Montana) 2-1, 2-1

135 lbs.
1st - Matt McDoonough (Iowa) pin Marshall Koethe (Iowa) Pin 6-0, 1:01
3rd - Josh Kindig (Pennsylvania) dec. Kyle Bradley (Missouri) 4-3, 6-3
5th - Luke Vaith (Minnesota) inj. dft. Eric Luna (Oregon)

140 lbs.
1st - Cole Schmitt (Wisconsin) tech. fall John Thompson (Washington) 6-0, 8-0
3rd - Shane Strumwasser (New York) dec. Patrick Smith (Minnesota) 5-0, 5-0
5th - Sam Mecham (Oregon) dec. Robert Pickrell (Colorado) 3-0, 3-0

145 lbs.
1st - Joseph Cozart (Florida) dec. Eric Jones (Washington) 4-1, 9-2
3rd - Derek Garcia (Washington) dec. Jared Hatley (Wyoming) 0-7, 5-2, 7-3
5th - Terrance Williams (Oregon) inj. dft. Tyler Sheridan (California)

152 lbs.
1st - Kalvin York (Wisconsin) dec. Derek St John (Iowa) 4-2, 3-1
3rd - Brad Sweet (Washington) pin Abner Cook (Idaho) 1:01
5th - Joey Chandler (Oregon) inj. dft. Matt Cartusciello (New York)

160 lbs.
1st - Tyler Koehn (Kansas) dec. Clarence Neely (Missouri) 3-0, 4-0
3rd - Justin Martin (Oregon) dec. Randy Larson (Oregon) 0-7, 6-5, 5-2
5th - Steve Harvey (Washington) pin Chris Sweet (Washington) 3-2, 0:56

171 lbs.
1st - Eric Starks (Washington) tech. fall Cole Shafer (Utah) 7-0, 7-0
3rd - Ethen Lofthouse (Utah) dec. Jake Swartz (Washington) 1-1, 1-1, 6-0
5th - Ben Bennett (Michigan) dec. Raymond Pina (Arizona) 3-0, 3-0

189 lbs.
1st - Ryland Geiger (Oregon) dec. Clete Hanson (Washington) 1-1, 2-1, 7-0
3rd - Reid Chivers (Washington) tech. fall Morgan Mcintosh (California) 6-0, 7-4
5th - Robert Prigmore (Texas) dec. Zach Folden (Washington) 4-0, 1-1

215 lbs.
1st - Tyrell Fortune (Oregon) tech. fall Dustin Meloche (Florida) 8-0, 5-0
3rd - Jake Kahnke (Minnesota) dec. William Knowles (California) 2-2, 3-0
5th - Adam Fager (Utah) dec. Trevor Rupp (Idaho) 4-1, 1-1, 2-1

285 lbs.
1st - Toby Erickson (Montana) tech. fall Harrison Ford (Illinois) 7-0, 6-0
3rd - Jacob Mitchell (Oregon) pin Jacob Kettler (Minnesota) 1-3, 0:39
5th - Parker Betts (Minnesota) Dec. Trevor Harvey (California) 1-5, 1-1, 1-1