Sheridan, Mason, Hall, Aiello win True-Third Wrestle-offs to make 2022-23 National Team
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Mark Hall hits a duck under against Trent Hidlay in New York. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Four talented wrestlers won their won True Third National Team Wrestle-offs on Wednesday at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, securing a spot on the 2022-2023 National Team.
These wrestle-offs were held on a later date after the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament (held in Coralville, Iowa) under a specific circumstance. These matches are held in weight classes where a World medalist has previously qualified for Final X, and when the runner-up at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament did not wrestle against the third-place finisher.
Basically, this True Third National Team Wrestle-off match will determined the No. 3 athlete for the 2022-23 National Team at these weight classes, which makes the winner eligible for National Team support, including financial support, training opportunities and competition opportunities.
Luke Sheridan of U.S. Army WCAP hit a pair of four-point headlocks and secured an 13-4 technical fall over Haydn Maley of the Beaver Dam RTC in a 97 kg Greco-Roman True Third Match. In the first period, Sheridan nailed headlocks, with Maley rolling through for two point reversals with exposure, for an 8-4 lead. Sheridan got another point on a passivity, then scored a gut wrench and another exposure to end the match at 13-4.
Maley had placed second in the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, while Sheridan was third.
In a wild back-and-forth match at 55 kg in women’s freestyle, Lauren Mason of the Brunson UVRTC edged Alisha Howk of the Sunkist Kids, 9-8. Howk hit a four-point takedown, with Mason getting a two-point takedown, for Howk’s 4-2 lead at the break. Howk got two on a headlock, with a two-point Mason reversal to make it 6-3. Mason scored a clutch takedown and exposure to lead 7-6 midway through period. Both wrestlers added late takedowns for Mason’s one point win.
Mason had placed second at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, while Howk was third.
Two-time Junior World champion Mark Hall of the Pennsylvania RTC/TMWC scored a key takedown and turn and went on to a 6-4 victory over NC State student-athlete Trent Hidlay of theWolfpack RTC/TMWC, 6-4 at 86 kg in men’s freestyle. Hall led 1-0 at the break after Hidlay was hit with a shot clock and did not score. In the second period, Hall forced a step-out for a 2-0 lead. Hall followed with a duck under and a gut wrench for a six-point lead. Hidlay added two late takedowns, including one with one second left, but Hall secured the win.
Hall had placed second at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, with Hidlay in third.
In a battle of ACC stars, 2021 U23 World bronze medalist Jay Aiello of the Cavalier WC/TMWC secured an 8-6 win over Isaac Trumble of the Wolfpack RTC/TMWC at 92 kg in men’s freestyle. Aiello led 4-2 at the break, after scoring a four point takedown, and giving up a two-point reversal. In the second period, after an interesting scramble from an Aiello shot, Aiello finished the takedown for a 6-2 lead. Late in the match, Trumble launched Aiello for four on a counter to tie it at 6-6, but Aiello secured a two-point reversal with time running out for the two-point win.
Trumble had placed second at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, while Aiello was third.
There were five True Third Matches scheduled for New York which were not held, because one of the athletes withdrew and did not weigh in. Each of the five wrestlers who did weigh in and did not have a match also earned the No. 3 spot on the National Team.
These new National Team members are Daniel DeShazer of Gopher WC RTC (Men’s Freestyle 61 kg), Amanda Martinez of Cardinal WC/TMWC (Women’s Freestyle 57 kg), Carter Starocci of Nittany Lion WC/TMWC (Men’s Freestyle 79 kg), Alexandria Liles of Army WCAP (Women’s Freestyle 62 kg) and Emma Bruntil of USOPTC/TMWC (Women’s Freestyle 65 kg).
These bouts were held prior to Final X New, which will determine the U.S. Senior World Team member in 14 weight classes. Session times are 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. All of these bouts will be broadcast live by FloWrestling.
TRUE THIRD NATIONAL TEAM WRESTLE-OFFS
At New York, N.Y., Wednesday, June 9
Greco-Roman 97 kg – Luke Sheridan (Army WCAP) tech fall Hadyn Maley (Beaver Dam RTC), 13-4
Women’s Freestyle 55 kg – Lauren Mason (Brunson UVRTC/NYAC) dec Alisha Howk (Sunkist Kids), 9-8
Men’s Freestyle 86 kg – Mark Hall (Pennsylvania RTC/TMWC) vs. Trent Hidlay (Wolfpack RTC/TMWC), 6-4
Men’s Freestyle 92 kg –Jonathan Aiello (Cavalier WC/TMWC) dec. Isaac Trumble (Wolfpack RTC/TMWC), 8-6
TRUE THIRD NATIONAL TEAM MATCHES – NO CONTEST
Men’s Freestyle 61 kg –Daniel DeShazer (Gopher WC RTC) over Nico Megaludis (Pittsburgh WC/TMWC)
Women’s Freestyle 57 kg – Amanda Martinez (Cardinal WC/TMWC) over Cameron Guerin (Bearcat RTC/TMWC)
Men’s Freestyle 79 kg – Carter Starocci (Nittany Lion WC/TMWC) over Vincenzo Joseph (California RTC/TMWC)
Women’s Freestyle 62 kg – Alexandria Liles (Army WCAP) over Macey Kilty (Sunkist Kids)
Women’s Freestyle 65 kg – Emma Bruntil (USOPTC/TMWC) over Maya Letona (NYC RTC)
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Four talented wrestlers won their won True Third National Team Wrestle-offs on Wednesday at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, securing a spot on the 2022-2023 National Team.
These wrestle-offs were held on a later date after the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament (held in Coralville, Iowa) under a specific circumstance. These matches are held in weight classes where a World medalist has previously qualified for Final X, and when the runner-up at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament did not wrestle against the third-place finisher.
Basically, this True Third National Team Wrestle-off match will determined the No. 3 athlete for the 2022-23 National Team at these weight classes, which makes the winner eligible for National Team support, including financial support, training opportunities and competition opportunities.
Luke Sheridan of U.S. Army WCAP hit a pair of four-point headlocks and secured an 13-4 technical fall over Haydn Maley of the Beaver Dam RTC in a 97 kg Greco-Roman True Third Match. In the first period, Sheridan nailed headlocks, with Maley rolling through for two point reversals with exposure, for an 8-4 lead. Sheridan got another point on a passivity, then scored a gut wrench and another exposure to end the match at 13-4.
Maley had placed second in the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, while Sheridan was third.
In a wild back-and-forth match at 55 kg in women’s freestyle, Lauren Mason of the Brunson UVRTC edged Alisha Howk of the Sunkist Kids, 9-8. Howk hit a four-point takedown, with Mason getting a two-point takedown, for Howk’s 4-2 lead at the break. Howk got two on a headlock, with a two-point Mason reversal to make it 6-3. Mason scored a clutch takedown and exposure to lead 7-6 midway through period. Both wrestlers added late takedowns for Mason’s one point win.
Mason had placed second at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, while Howk was third.
Two-time Junior World champion Mark Hall of the Pennsylvania RTC/TMWC scored a key takedown and turn and went on to a 6-4 victory over NC State student-athlete Trent Hidlay of theWolfpack RTC/TMWC, 6-4 at 86 kg in men’s freestyle. Hall led 1-0 at the break after Hidlay was hit with a shot clock and did not score. In the second period, Hall forced a step-out for a 2-0 lead. Hall followed with a duck under and a gut wrench for a six-point lead. Hidlay added two late takedowns, including one with one second left, but Hall secured the win.
Hall had placed second at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, with Hidlay in third.
In a battle of ACC stars, 2021 U23 World bronze medalist Jay Aiello of the Cavalier WC/TMWC secured an 8-6 win over Isaac Trumble of the Wolfpack RTC/TMWC at 92 kg in men’s freestyle. Aiello led 4-2 at the break, after scoring a four point takedown, and giving up a two-point reversal. In the second period, after an interesting scramble from an Aiello shot, Aiello finished the takedown for a 6-2 lead. Late in the match, Trumble launched Aiello for four on a counter to tie it at 6-6, but Aiello secured a two-point reversal with time running out for the two-point win.
Trumble had placed second at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, while Aiello was third.
There were five True Third Matches scheduled for New York which were not held, because one of the athletes withdrew and did not weigh in. Each of the five wrestlers who did weigh in and did not have a match also earned the No. 3 spot on the National Team.
These new National Team members are Daniel DeShazer of Gopher WC RTC (Men’s Freestyle 61 kg), Amanda Martinez of Cardinal WC/TMWC (Women’s Freestyle 57 kg), Carter Starocci of Nittany Lion WC/TMWC (Men’s Freestyle 79 kg), Alexandria Liles of Army WCAP (Women’s Freestyle 62 kg) and Emma Bruntil of USOPTC/TMWC (Women’s Freestyle 65 kg).
These bouts were held prior to Final X New, which will determine the U.S. Senior World Team member in 14 weight classes. Session times are 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. All of these bouts will be broadcast live by FloWrestling.
TRUE THIRD NATIONAL TEAM WRESTLE-OFFS
At New York, N.Y., Wednesday, June 9
Greco-Roman 97 kg – Luke Sheridan (Army WCAP) tech fall Hadyn Maley (Beaver Dam RTC), 13-4
Women’s Freestyle 55 kg – Lauren Mason (Brunson UVRTC/NYAC) dec Alisha Howk (Sunkist Kids), 9-8
Men’s Freestyle 86 kg – Mark Hall (Pennsylvania RTC/TMWC) vs. Trent Hidlay (Wolfpack RTC/TMWC), 6-4
Men’s Freestyle 92 kg –Jonathan Aiello (Cavalier WC/TMWC) dec. Isaac Trumble (Wolfpack RTC/TMWC), 8-6
TRUE THIRD NATIONAL TEAM MATCHES – NO CONTEST
Men’s Freestyle 61 kg –Daniel DeShazer (Gopher WC RTC) over Nico Megaludis (Pittsburgh WC/TMWC)
Women’s Freestyle 57 kg – Amanda Martinez (Cardinal WC/TMWC) over Cameron Guerin (Bearcat RTC/TMWC)
Men’s Freestyle 79 kg – Carter Starocci (Nittany Lion WC/TMWC) over Vincenzo Joseph (California RTC/TMWC)
Women’s Freestyle 62 kg – Alexandria Liles (Army WCAP) over Macey Kilty (Sunkist Kids)
Women’s Freestyle 65 kg – Emma Bruntil (USOPTC/TMWC) over Maya Letona (NYC RTC)
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