LAS VEGAS - Members of the Arizona State wrestling team kicked off postseason competition this weekend at the 2018 U.S. Open Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Eight athletes competed in the UWW Junior Freestyle division, looking to claim berths to the 2018 Junior World Team Trials. Two Sun Devils competed in the Men's Senior-level Freestyle division, as well as ASU alumni Kelsey Campbell and Kevin Radford, who competed in the Women's Freestyle Division and Senior Greco-Roman divisions, respectively.
Jacen Petersen and Tanner Hall both competed in the Senior Men's Freestyle division representing the Sun Devils. Petersen went 2-2 on the weekend, while Hall made his way to the semifinals before falling to 2012 Olympic gold medalist Jake Varner and wrapping up the weekend with a sixth place-finish. With his placement at the U.S. Open, Hall qualifies to wrestle at the 2018 World Team Trials Challenge tournament for a chance to advance further on the quest to make the senior world team.
In the UWW Junior Freestyle division, Brandon Courtney captured the crown in the 57-kilogram weight class. Fresh out of the Division I postseason, freshmen Kordell Norfleet and Cade Belshay placed 4th and 8th, respectively, garnering spots at the Junior World Team Trials. The trio will compete at the Trials in Rochester, Minnesota at the end of May.
Former ASU wrestlers Kevin Radford and Kelsey Campbell both made appearances for Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club. Radford finished the weekend in fourth place, and Campbell was crowned the women's freestyle national champion at 59 kilograms. She will be representing Team USA at the Pan American games in Lima, Peru.
2018 NCAA Champion Zahid Valencia will make his next appearance at the 2018 World Team Trials Challenge tournament with the hopes of securing his spot at the Final X tournament for a shot at becoming a member of the senior world team.
UWW Junior Freestyle
Brandon Courtney, 57kg: FIRST PLACE (6-0)
Round of 64: Brandon Courtney (ASU) defeated C. Duncan (WCWC) by technical superiority, 10-0 (1:39)
Round of 32: Brandon Courtney (ASU) defeated T. Carney (TWC) by technical superiority, 10-0 (1:04)
Round of 16: Brandon Courtney (ASU) defeated C. Cannon (Blairstown WC) by an 8-6 victory
Quarterfinals: Brandon Courtney (ASU) defeated S. Flores (AFRTC) by a 12-7 victory
Semifinals: Brandon Courtney (ASU) defeated G. Teasdale (Unatt.) by a 6-5 victory
Finals: Brandon Courtney (ASU) defeated M. Heinselman (Olympian Elite) by a 10-3 victory
*Brandon Courtney qualifies for spot in the finals of the UWW Junior World Team Trials
Navonte Demison, 65kg: (2-2)
Round of 32: Navonte Demison (ASU) defeated R. Farina (CCRTC) by technical superiority, 10-0 (0:43)
Round of 16: Navonte Demison (ASU) defeated T. Lara (PWCRTC) by an 8-3 victory
Quarterfinals: D. Demas (OKRTC) defeated Navonte Demison (ASU) by technical superiority, 18-8 (5:55)
Consolation Round of 8 (2): Y. Thomas (NU) defeated Navonte Demison (ASU) by a 4-2 victory
William Pickren, 65kg: (0-2)
Round of 64: J. Vasquez (Unatt) defeated William Pickren (ASU) by technical superiority, 11-0 (0:50)
Consolation Round of 32: J. Hoffman (LVWC) defeated William Pickren (ASU) by technical superiority, 10-0 (2:55)
Austin Hosegood, 70kg: (0-2)
Round of 64: B. Mauller (Eirman Elite) defeated Austin Hosegood (ASU) by technical superiority, 10-0 (0:30)
Consolation Round of 32: B. Wills (NGEWC) defeated Austin Hosegood (ASU) fall (1:14)
Austin Clayton, 86kg: (0-2)
Round of 64: N. Krone (CMWC) defeated Austin Clayton (ASU) by a 12-10 victory
Consolation Round of 32: D. Ammerman (LVWC) defeated Austin Clayton (ASU) by technical superiority, 10-0 (2:01)
Kordell Norfleet, 86kg: FOURTH PLACE (4-2)
Round of 32: Kordell Norfleet (ASU) defeated C. Blair (Unatt) by technical superiority, 15-4 (4:28)
Round of 16: Kordell Norfleet (ASU) defeated M. Waddell (OKRTC) by technical superiority, 14-6 (3:43)
Quarterfinals: Kordell Norfleet (ASU) defeated G. Hoffman (Montoursville) by technical superiority, 10-0 (1:04)
Semifinals: L. Deprez (BWC) defeated Kordell Norfleet (ASU) by a 13-13 criteria victory
Consolation Semfinals: Kordell Norfleet defeated C. Caffey (Michigan RTC) by by technical superiority, 13-1 (2:12)
Consolation Finals: J. Embree (MRTC) defeated Kordell Norfleet (ASU) by an injury default
*Kordell Norfleet qualifies for the UWW Junior World Team Trials
Cade Belshay, 92kg: EIGHTH PLACE (2-3)
Round of 16: Cade Belshay (ASU) defeated S. Schuyler (Bulls WC) by an 11-11 criteria victory
Quarterfinals: J. Warner (Iowa) defeated Cade Belshay (ASU) by technical superiority, 11-0 (0:43)
Consolation Round of 8: Cade Belshay (ASU) defeated C. Jumps (AFRTC) by technical superiority, 10-0 (4:01)
Consolation Round of 4: A. Hopkins (Army WC) defeated Cade Belshay (ASU) by fall (4:44)
Seventh Place: L. Davison (CWC) defeated Cade Belshay (ASU) by fall (2:46)
Brady Daniel, 125kg: (2-2)
Round of 32: Brady Daniel (ASU) defeated N. Iversen (CCRTC) by technical superiority, 13-2 (1:55)
Round of 16: Brady Daniel (ASU) defeated S. De Seriere (WCWC) by a 14-9 victory
Quarterfinals: G. Gremmel (C-RTC) defeated Brady Daniel (ASU) by technical superiority, 12-2 (3:24)
Consolation Round of 8 (2): K. Hutchison (AFRTC) defeated Brady Daniel (ASU) by technical superiority, 14-4 (2:03)
Men's Senior Freestyle
Jacen Petersen, 74kg: (2-2)
Round of 32: Jacen Petersen (ASU) defeated P. Tawater (CMWC) by technical superiority, 10-0 (1:38)
Round of 16: Jacen Petersen (ASU) defeated B. Borges (All Navy Wrestling) by technical superiority, 10-0 (1:18)
Quarterfinals: I. Martinez (TMWC) defeated Jacen Petersen (ASU) by technical superiority, 10-0 (1:18)
Consolation Round of 8 (2): T. Rahmani (PWC) defeated Jacen Petersen (ASU) by fall
Tanner Hall, 125kg: SIXTH PLACE (3-3)
Round of 32: Tanner Hall (ASU) defeated R. Streifel (MNST) by a 10-1 victory
Round of 16: Tanner Hall (ASU) defeated E. James (Valley RTC) by an 8-0 victory
Quarterfinals: Tanner Hall (ASU) defeated Z. Rey (NYAC/LVWC) by a 3-2 victory
Semifinals: J. Varner (NLWC) defeated Tanner Hall (ASU) by a 2-0 victory
Consolation Semifinals: G. Steveson (MNST) defeated Tanner Hall (ASU) by technical superiority, 11-0 (2:24)
Fifth Place: A. Nelson (MNST) defeated Tanner Hall (ASU) by a 6-4 victory
*Tanner Hall qualifies for the Senior Men's Freestyle World Team Trials Challenge tournament
Senior Greco-Roman
*Kevin Radford, 87kg: FOURTH PLACE (3-2)
Round of 16: Kevin Radford (Sunkist) defeated N. Perdue (Indiana RTC) by a 9-0 victory
Quarterfinals: Kevin Radford (Sunkist) defeated K. Johnson (NYAC) by a 4-3 victory
Semifinals: B. Provisor (NYAC/NLWC) defeated Kevin Radford (Sunkist) by an 8-1 victory
Consolation Semifinals: Kevin Radford (Sunkist) defeated E. Hargrave (Olympia WC) by a 14-6 victory
Consolation Finals: C. Haight (NYAC) defeated Kevin Radford (Sunkist) by a 9-0 victory
Women's Senior Freestyle
*Kelsey Campbell, 59kg: FIRST PLACE (3-0)
Quarterfinals: Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist) defeated Charline Hagemaster (Lions WC) by technical superiority, 10-0
Semifinals: Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist) defeated Brenda Reyna (McKendree Bearcat WC) by an 8-1 victory
Finals: Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist) defeated Lauren Louvie (NYAC/HWC) by a 4-2 victory
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