USA Wrestling is sending a team to Havana, Cuba to compete at UWW’s Junior Pan-Am Championships, starting today through Friday. Southeast Polk’s 220 pound state champion Ethan Andersen was selected to participate at the event at the 96 kg weight class.
The men’s team will be competing in both freestyle and Greco-Roman styles, with the latter getting underway later this morning at starting at 10:00 a.m. This bode’s well for Andersen, who won Greco Cadet Nationals last May in Ohio by defeating Jordan Wood 4-2 in the finals, which earned him a spot on the U.S. National team that competed in the Czech Republic.
Women’s freestyle will then take place on Thursday, with Men’s freestyle wrapping things up on Friday.
The American team is sending a solid lineup to Cuba, which will lead off with a one-two punch of top freshman Gavin Tesdale and Cade Olivas, both of whom were on the 2014 Cadet team, and Olivas was a Cadet bronze medalist in 2013. Two-time Cadet World team member Taylor LaMont, 2012 Cadet World team member Danny Boychuck, and 2014 Cadet World team member Nicholas Reenan.
Andersen, Reenan, and Weiler are three of the nations top juniors, and all have already made their college commitments this past season. Reenan is headed to Northwestern and is the #3 ranked underclassmen at 170 pounds, according to InterMat. Weiler is headed to Lehigh and is the #2 ranked 160 pound wrestler, ranked only behind Alex Marinelli. Andersen, who made his college commitment to Missouri public on IA Wrestle, is the nation’s second ranked underclassmen at 220 pounds, but has stated he may move to heavyweight in the coming season.
Schedule of Junior Pan-Am Championships:
Wednesday, May 6
10:00 a.m. – Greco-Roman: Qualification Rounds & Repechage
5:00 p.m. – Greco-Roman: Finals & Award Ceremonies
Thursday, May 7
10:00 a.m. – Women’s Freestyle: Qualification Rounds & Repechage
5:00 p.m. – Women’s Freestyle: Finals & Award Ceremonies
Friday, May 8
10:00 a.m. – Men’s Freestyle: Qualification Rounds & Repechage
5:00 p.m. – Men’s Freestyle: Finals & Award Ceremonies
2015 Junior Pan-Am team
50 kg: Gavin Teasdale, Rices Landing, Pa.
55 kg: Cade Olivas, Rosesna Ranch, Calif.
60 kg: Taylor LaMont, Mapelton, Utah
66 kg: Danny Boychuck, Haddonfield, N.J.
74 kg: Nicholas Reenan, Dallas, Texas
84 kg: Chris Weiler, Biglerville, Pa.
96 kg: Ethan Andersen, Des Moines, Iowa
120 kg: Michael Rogers, Spring Mills, Pa.
Coach: Sam Barber, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach: Brian Antonelli, Blairstown, N.J.