Junior Nationals Greco-Roman Fantasy Bracket semifinals set: Henson v Metcalf; Lowney v. Hall
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
The fan vote is in, and the semifinals have been set for the USA Wrestling’s interactive 32-athlete bracket featuring the best Junior Greco-Roman competitors of the last 50 years of the Junior Nationals.
This voting is based upon their Junior National freestyle careers only, and should not reflect their successes in Greco-Roman, nor how well they did in college and the international levels.
Quarterfinal results
Sam Henson (MO) over Adam Coon (MI), 51%-49%
Brent Metcalf (MI) over Justin Ruiz (UT), 60%-40%
Garrett Lowney (WI) over Andre Metzger (MI), 53%-47%
Dennis Hall (WI) over Brandon Paulson (MN), 59%-41%
This sets up a competitive semifinals with voting starting today (July 5) and running for the four days.
Semifinal pairings, with number of Junior National freestyle titles
Sam Henson (MO, 2x) vs. Brent Metcalf (MI, 3x)
Garrett Lowney (WI, 2x) vs. Dennis Hall (WI, 3x)
50th Junior Greco-Roman Nationals - Fantasy Bracket
Notes after the quarterfinals.
* There were a pair of three-time Junior Nationals Greco-Roman champions from Michigan beaten in the quarterfinals: Adam Coon of Michigan and Andre Metzger of Michigan. Coon lost to a two-timer in Sam Henson of Missouri. Metzger lost to a two-timer in Garrett Lowney of Wisconsin.
* Wisconsin is the only state with a pair of semifinalists: Garrett Lowney and Dennis Hall. They compete against each other in the bottom semifinals of the Fantasy bracket. Both won Olympic medals: Lowney a bronze in 2000 and Hall a silver in 1996. They were also teammates on the 2004 Olympic team. Hall also won a World title in 1995 and a World bronze medal in 1994.
* The top Fantasy bracket semifinal features two athletes who went on to star for the USA at the Senior level (but in freestyle). Sam Henson was a 1998 World champion, 2000 Olympic silver medalist and 2006 World bronze medalist in freestyle. Metcalf made four U.S. Senior World Freestyle teams. Henson was a U.S. Open Greco-Roman champion before switching completely to freestyle.
* Both Henson and Metcalf were two-time NCAA champions, Henson for Clemson and Metcalf for Iowa. Lowney was an NCAA All-American for Minnesota. Hall attended Wisconsin as a freshman, then decided to focus 100% on Greco-Roman and did not pursue a college folkstyle career.
* Hall and Henson won Junior Nationals in Greco-Roman in different weight classes in both 1987 and 1988.
Here are the semifinal wrestlers in alphabetical order, with their state affiliation and the years they won Junior men’s freestyle national titles.
Dennis Hall, Wisconsin (1987, 1988, 1989)
Sam Henson, Missouri (1987, 1988)
Garrett Lowney, Wisconsin (1997, 1998)
Brent Metcalf, Michigan (2003, 2004, 2005)
The rest of the voting schedule follows:
• Voting on the Semifinals will begin on Tuesday, July 5
• Voting on the Finals will begin on Saturday, July 9
The first USA Wrestling Junior Nationals was held in the Fieldhouse at the University of Iowa in 1971, and contested only in men’s freestyle. Greco-Roman was added in 1972. With the 2020 event cancelled due to the pandemic, this year’s version will be the 50th time our nation’s best high school Greco-Roman wrestlers have come together to battle for national titles and All-American honors. Numerous World and Olympic champions and medalists have competed in this prestigious event.
The 2022 USA Wrestling USMC Junior and 16U National Championships will be held at the FargoDome in Fargo, N.D., July 16-22, with competition in men’s freestyle, Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle.
HOW TO VOTE
50th Junior Greco-Roman Nationals - Fantasy Bracket
When you click, you will see the bracket. To vote, click the “Cast Vote Now” button on the top of the bracket. You will be taken to a screen where you see each pairing and you can click a box to vote on the winner. You must enter your email to vote.
This voting is based upon their Junior National freestyle careers only, and should not reflect their successes in Greco-Roman, nor how well they did in college and the international levels.
Quarterfinal results
Sam Henson (MO) over Adam Coon (MI), 51%-49%
Brent Metcalf (MI) over Justin Ruiz (UT), 60%-40%
Garrett Lowney (WI) over Andre Metzger (MI), 53%-47%
Dennis Hall (WI) over Brandon Paulson (MN), 59%-41%
This sets up a competitive semifinals with voting starting today (July 5) and running for the four days.
Semifinal pairings, with number of Junior National freestyle titles
Sam Henson (MO, 2x) vs. Brent Metcalf (MI, 3x)
Garrett Lowney (WI, 2x) vs. Dennis Hall (WI, 3x)
50th Junior Greco-Roman Nationals - Fantasy Bracket
Notes after the quarterfinals.
* There were a pair of three-time Junior Nationals Greco-Roman champions from Michigan beaten in the quarterfinals: Adam Coon of Michigan and Andre Metzger of Michigan. Coon lost to a two-timer in Sam Henson of Missouri. Metzger lost to a two-timer in Garrett Lowney of Wisconsin.
* Wisconsin is the only state with a pair of semifinalists: Garrett Lowney and Dennis Hall. They compete against each other in the bottom semifinals of the Fantasy bracket. Both won Olympic medals: Lowney a bronze in 2000 and Hall a silver in 1996. They were also teammates on the 2004 Olympic team. Hall also won a World title in 1995 and a World bronze medal in 1994.
* The top Fantasy bracket semifinal features two athletes who went on to star for the USA at the Senior level (but in freestyle). Sam Henson was a 1998 World champion, 2000 Olympic silver medalist and 2006 World bronze medalist in freestyle. Metcalf made four U.S. Senior World Freestyle teams. Henson was a U.S. Open Greco-Roman champion before switching completely to freestyle.
* Both Henson and Metcalf were two-time NCAA champions, Henson for Clemson and Metcalf for Iowa. Lowney was an NCAA All-American for Minnesota. Hall attended Wisconsin as a freshman, then decided to focus 100% on Greco-Roman and did not pursue a college folkstyle career.
* Hall and Henson won Junior Nationals in Greco-Roman in different weight classes in both 1987 and 1988.
Here are the semifinal wrestlers in alphabetical order, with their state affiliation and the years they won Junior men’s freestyle national titles.
Dennis Hall, Wisconsin (1987, 1988, 1989)
Sam Henson, Missouri (1987, 1988)
Garrett Lowney, Wisconsin (1997, 1998)
Brent Metcalf, Michigan (2003, 2004, 2005)
The rest of the voting schedule follows:
• Voting on the Semifinals will begin on Tuesday, July 5
• Voting on the Finals will begin on Saturday, July 9
The first USA Wrestling Junior Nationals was held in the Fieldhouse at the University of Iowa in 1971, and contested only in men’s freestyle. Greco-Roman was added in 1972. With the 2020 event cancelled due to the pandemic, this year’s version will be the 50th time our nation’s best high school Greco-Roman wrestlers have come together to battle for national titles and All-American honors. Numerous World and Olympic champions and medalists have competed in this prestigious event.
The 2022 USA Wrestling USMC Junior and 16U National Championships will be held at the FargoDome in Fargo, N.D., July 16-22, with competition in men’s freestyle, Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle.
HOW TO VOTE
50th Junior Greco-Roman Nationals - Fantasy Bracket
When you click, you will see the bracket. To vote, click the “Cast Vote Now” button on the top of the bracket. You will be taken to a screen where you see each pairing and you can click a box to vote on the winner. You must enter your email to vote.