What We Learned From Senior Nationals
What We Learned From Senior Nationals
Some of the biggest takeaways from the 2021 UWW Senior Nationals.
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Senior Nationals had some of America's top senior level wrestlers in action. Let's take a look at what we learned from James Green, Isaiah Martinez, Nate Jackson and Tony Cassioppi.
James Green - Still The Man At 70kg
James Green has had a hold on 70kg since winning the spot in 2015 and taking medal at the world championships that year. After attempting to make the Olympic team at 65kg, Green was back home. This weekend, Green proved he’s still the top dog at 70kg with wins over up-and-coming contenders Brayton Lee and Alec Pantaleo. Green was behind in both matches but scored 4 unanswered points against Lee to win 4-2 and 7 unanswered against Pantaleo to win 7-2. If any 70kg American wrestler wants to make the World Team in 2021, they’re still going to have to go through James Green.
Green's Finals win over Pantaleo:
Isaiah Martinez Not 100%...But He's Back
What would Isaiah Martinez look like this weekend? That was one of the biggest questions entering Senior Nationals. Imar looked to be as dominant as ever in his first two bouts-winning both by tech. In the quarters, Imar began to show signs of fatigue against a tough challenger in Travis Wittlake. Then in the semis, Devin Skatzka got out to a 9-0 lead and looked to be on his way to a decisive win over Imar. In dramatic fashion, Martinez showed his grit by hitting an inside-trip and pinning Skatzka to advance to the finals.
Martinez's come from behind win over Skatzka:
After those four wins, Imar would forfeit to Taylor Lujan in the finals-showing us he's still working his way back to peak form. While it’s great to see Martinez back in competition, it should be expected he would still have to shake-off some rust. It had been over 18 months since his last competition and wrestling 5 matches in a day is no easy task. This was only the beginning for Imar at 79kg in 2021 and we should expect him to challenge the best in the country and world at the non-Olympic weight this year.
Nate Jackson - 92kg World Team?!
The 2021 World Team won’t be decided for another four months but Nate Jackson has put himself toward the top of the list of those who will be challenging for the 92kg spot. Jackson won his first two matches by tech-fall and then won a controlled 6-1 match over Kyven Gadson in the finals. It’s incredible Jackson was competing at 79kg a little over two years ago and is now one of the best in the country at a weight class almost 30 pounds heavier. There will be other contenders who establish themselves this year at 92kg but Jackson made a statement as the Senior Nationals Champion.
Cassioppi Not On Gwiz's Level...Yet
Tony Cassioppi had an impressive weekend on his way to the finals. He took out established vets in Derek White, Dom Bradley and Ty Walz. However, Nick Gwiazdowski showed us Cassioppi still has another level to jump until he is ready to challenge the best in the country or the world at 125kg. Gwiazdowski made quick work of the young Hawkeye and defeated him by tech fall in just 1 minute and 48 seconds. Only 21 years old, Cassioppi has ample time to improve and should be a top 5 contender at 125kg in America for the foreseeable future.
Gwiazdowski finals match over Cassioppi:
Check out all the finals results from Senior Nationals below. For full bracket, match results, and videos for every match at Senior Nationals visit FloArena
61 Shelton Mack (TMWC/ New York City RTC) VPO1 Josh Kramer (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 3-2
70James Green (TMWC/ SERTC) VPO1 Alec Pantaleo (TMWC/ CKWC), 7-2
74 Hayden Hidlay (TMWC/ Wolfpack Wrestling Club) VPO1 Joey Lavallee (TMWC/ LVWC), 2-1
79 Taylor Lujan (Panther Wrestling Club RTC) VFO Isaiah Martinez (TMWC/ BEAVER DAM RTC), 0-0
86 Mark Hall PA (TMWC/ PENN RTC) VPO1 Trent Hidlay NC (TMWC/ Wolfpack Wrestling Club), 5-4
92 Nathan Jackson NJ (New York Athletic Club) VPO1 Kyven Gadson IA (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 6-1
97 Austin Schafer (New York Athletic Club) VSU Nathan Rotert (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club), 10-0 1:39