Pantaleo Captures Junior Freestyle National Title
5/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
May 2, 2016
LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Sophomore Alec Pantaleo captured the 66kg/145.5-pound freestyle title at the United World Wrestling (UWW) Junior Nationals to highlight the University of Michigan wrestling team's performance at the annual event last weekend (Fri-Sat., April 29-30) at the South Point Hotel and Arena.
The Wolverines boasted three finalists and five total placewinners. All placewinners earned automatic qualifying bids to the UWW Junior World Team Trials, scheduled for May 20-22, in Irving, Texas.
Pantaleo posted a perfect 6-0 record, earning four technical falls and pin before claiming a 5-1 decision against Princeton's Matthew Kolodzik in the championship final. He registered takedowns early and late in the final bout, scoring on a drag midway through the first period and adding a slick single leg -- while on the shot clock -- in the final minute of the second. It is Pantaleo's first career freestyle title. In all, he outscored his tournament competition, 54-3.
Pantaleo was joined in the championship round by freshmen Logan Massa and Myles Amine, who settled for runner-up honors at 74kg/163 pounds and 79kg/174 pounds, respectively.
Massa went 5-1, dominating his preliminary competition with five straight technical falls and a combined 56-4 margin of victory. Among his notable wins, Massa defeated Minnesota's Larry Early, 14-3, in the quarterfinal round and Arizona State's Anthony Valencia -- a past world team member -- 11-0 in the semifinals; he scored five takedowns in the latter match. He held an early advantage against Mark Hall in the championship bout, finishing a single leg out of an extended scramble in the opening 45 seconds, but was caught in a cement mixer and pinned at the 1:39 mark.
Amine, who bumped up to 174 pounds midway through the collegiate season, went 3-1 with a pair of tech falls in the preliminary rounds. He earned a 15-6 decision over North Dakota State's Carter Nielsen in the semifinal round, scoring on a quick single leg and two leglaces before adding two more takedowns and a two-point exposure. He fell to Beau Breske, 9-4, in the championship round, giving up three takedowns, including a challenged four-pointer while scoring on a pair of second-period takedowns himself.
Freshmen Austin Assad and Sal Profaci also earned top-five finishes, claiming fifth at 55kg/121.5 pounds and fourth at 63kg/138.75 pounds, respectively. Assad posted a 4-2 record, while Profaci went 5-2; both boasted three technical fall wins.
Battered but smiling. UWW Junior Freestyle National champ. @AlecPantaleo #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/nxt5JQxHS7
-- Michigan Wrestling (@umichwrestling) April 30, 2016
Michigan Results
Austin Assad -- 55 Kg/121.25 lbs
First Round - Bye
Second Round - tech. fall Bryce West (Eastern Iowa WC), 18-8
Quarterfinal - dec. by Nick Piccininni (Cowboy Wrestling), 11-8
Consolations - tech. fall Wesley Dawkins (MWC Wrestling Academy), 12-2
Consolations - tech. fall Kyle Akins (Buffalo RTC), 11-1
Consolations - pinned by Austin Gomez (Gomez Erestling Academy), 2:50
Fifth Place - won by forfeit over Kris Williams (NWTC)
Finished in fifth place with a 4-2 record
Ben Lamantia -- 60 Kg/132.25 lbs
First Round - Bye
Second Round - dec. by Jose Rodriguez (Ohio RTC), 9-7
Consolations tech. fall Arthur Payne (BWC), 10-0
Consolations - dec. Drake Foster (Wyoming Wrestling RTC), 5-2
Consolations - tech. fall by Yianni Diakomihalis (Finger Lakes Wrestling Club), 11-0
Eliminated with a 2-2 record
Mike Volyanyuk -- 60 kg/132.25 lbs
First Round - Bye
Second Round - tech. fall by Michael Cullen (Badger Wrestling Club), 11-0
Consolations - tech. fall by Brian Peska (NWTC), 12-2
Eliminated with a 0-2 record
Sal Profaci -- Men 63 kg/138.75 lbs
First Round - tech. fall Brett Kasprzyk (Colorado Mesa), 10-0
Second Round - tech. fall Nico Colunga (BWC), 10-0
Quarterfinal - tech. fall by Cole Martin (Badger Wrestling Club), 10-0
Consolations - tech. fall JP Ascolese (Unattached), 12-2
Consolations - dec. Mousa Jodeh (IRTC), 13-4
Consolations - dec. Paul Glynn (Iowa), 12-8
Third Place - dec. by Ben Hornickle (Wyoming Wrestling RTC), 14-6
Finished in fourth place with a 5-2 record
Alec Pantaleo -- 66 kg/145.5 lbs
First Round - tech. fall Kyle Todrank (Boilermaker RTC), 10-0
Second Round - tech. fall Samuel Ward (NYCRTC), 10-0
Third Round - pinned Nicholas Villarreal (Arizona State), 1:33
Quarterfinal - tech. fall Connor Prince (Navy), 12-2
Semifinal - tech. fall Tristen Moran (Cowboy Wrestling), 10-0
Final - dec. Matthew Kolodzik (Princeton AWS), 5-1
Finished as 66kg champion with a 6-0 record
Logan Massa -- 74 kg/163 lbs
First Round - tech. fall Matthew Mejia (Colorado Mesa), 11-1
Second Round - tech. fall Deirrien Perkins (Beat The Streets Detroit), 10-0
Third Round - tech. fall Collin Boylan (Buffalo Valley RTC), 10-0
Quarterfinal - tech. fall Larry Early (Minnesota Storm), 14-3
Semifinal - tech. fall Anthony Valencia (Arizona State), 11-0
Final - pinned by Mark Hall (OTC), 1:39
Finished in second place with a 5-1 record
Myles Amine -- 79 kg/174 lbs
First Round - Bye
Second Round - tech. fall Tanner Harvey (LOWELL OLYMPIAN), 10-0
Quarterfinal - tech. fall Brandon Supernaw (Mountaineer Wrestling Club), 15-4
Semifinal - dec. Carter Nielsen (BWC), 15-6
Final - dec. by Beau Breske (Ringers), 9-4
Finished in second place with a 3-1 record
Jackson Striggow -- 96 kg/211.5 lbs
First Round - tech. fall Mark Chaid (Cardinal Wrestling Club), 10-0
Second Round - dec. by Lance Benick (Arizona State), 8-5
Consolations - tech. fall David Whisler (Terrapin Wrestling Club), 14-4
Consolations - dec. Joshua Murphy (Drexel), 6-6
Consolations - tech. fall by Chase Singletary (Blair Wrestling Club), 10-0
Eliminated with a 3-2 record
Communications Contact: Leah Howard
Players Mentioned
