2014 WINTER NATIONALS RECAP

Written by: Ryan Lance  

The 2014 AAU Winter Nationals took place this past weekend at the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska.

Over 900 wrestlers competed throughout the day for the rights to take home a Championship Belt.

Here is a look at the top place winners in each weight class:

70-75-pounds

Cobe Siebrecht of Fort Dodge Wrestling Club won his second title of the season as he took home the 70-75-pound Winter Nationals title. He recorded both of his victories by fall including one in the championship over Jarett Rueb of Legends of Gold in 2:11. Reub held onto second place when he pinned Consolation bracket winner Kamron Bergenske of Morningside Raiders in :18.

80-pounds

USA Wrestling Preseason National Champion, Kyle Biscoglia of Waukee Warriors, won the 80-pound title with a 3-2 decision over Evan Winder of Eierman Elite. Winder held onto second place when he defeated Consolation bracket winner Camden Russell of MWC Wrestling Academy by major 10-1.

85-pounds

Defending Iowa AAU Kids State Champion, Drew Bennett of Fort Dodge Wrestling Club, won the 85-pound championship with a 5-0 decision over Erich Faught of Sebolt Wrestling Academy. Bennett reached the finals with a victory by fall over Barrett Stickelman of Midwest Destroyers in the semifinals in 2:33. Faught was able to hold onto the silver medal when he defeated Legend Lamer of Legends of Gold in the True second place match 6-2.

90-pounds

Colorado State Champion, Josiah Nava of Steel City Elite, posted a perfect 4-0 record en route to the 90-pound championship. Nava reached the finals where he defeated Nicolas Oldham of Young Bucks by a score of 5-0. Winning the Consolation Championship was Riley Wright of TMX who defeated Max Hughes of Meneely 8-2.

95-pounds

Missouri State Champion, Michael McAteer of GAC Elite, won the 95-pound championship when he defeated Jack Huffman of MWC Wrestling Academy by major 12-1 in the gold medal match. Taking home the bronze medal was Tyler Cunningham of St. Paul Youth who defeated Austyn Binkly of Colorado Elite 2-0.

100-pounds

Winning the 100-pound championship was Iowa State Champion, Nathan Lendt of SE Polk Rams Wrestling. Lendt posted a perfect 4-0 record which included a thrilling 1-0 decision over Damond Lockner of Fort Dodge Wrestling in the title match. Lockner was able to hold onto second place as he defeated Ryan Roth of Steel City Elite in the True second place match by fall in 3:25.

105-pounds

Connor Laux of Hastings Force won the 105-pound championship with a 1-0 decision over Zach Price of Ubasa Wrestling Academy. Taking home the bronze medal was Zane Mulder of High Altitude Wrestling Club who defeated Mario Ybarra in overtime 4-2.

110-pounds

The 110-pound title was won by Rhyker Sims of SBL Warriors. Smits won all four of his bouts including an 11-3 major decision over Kyler Rieck of Legends of Gold in the championship bout. Alex Thompson won the Consolation bracket and battled back for second after he defeated Rieck by major 9-1 in the True second place match.

115-pounds

Bret Heil of Mo West Youth pinned his way to the 115-pound championship as he defeated Cameron Riggs of Midwest Destroyers by fall in 2:53. Winning the bronze medal was Cody Yaun of Pierce Youth Wrestling when he defeated Bo Geise of Millard South 3-0.

120-pounds

Zachary Oldham of Young Bucks posted a perfect 4-0 record on his way to the 120-pound championship. Oldham won the title when he defeated Jalin Harper of MOKWC by decision 4-2. Harper was able to hold onto second place when he defeated Consolation champion Devin Steidler of MATPAC Wrestling Club by fall in 1:01.

125-pounds

Griffin Mann of Mo West Youth took home the 125-pound championship when he defeated Jacob Wempen of Eastern Iowa Wrestling Club by decision 5-3. Wempen held onto the silver medal when he defeated Colton Vest of Trojan Warrior Elite 6-4 in the True second place match.

130-pounds

Iowa State Champion, Billy Higgins of Berley Brothers, won the 130-pound gold medal with his 9-6 victory over Ben Sarasin of Ubasa Wrestling. Taking home the bronze medal was Austin Gutknecht of Meneely who defeated Melvin Hernandez of David City 7-4 in the Consolation Championship.

140-pounds

Braden Danner, a Missouri State Champion, added another title to his resume when he won the 140-pound championship this past weekend. Danner won the championship bout with a 10-2 major over Zachery Borer of North Bend Matcats. Winning the Consolation bracket was Michael Waggoner of MOKWC who defeated Quinten Moles of Bloomfield Wrestling Club by fall in 3:25.

150-pounds

Nebraska AAU State Champion, Braiden Ruffin of the Midwest Destroyers, added another title to his resume as he took home the 150-pound gold medal. Ruffin took on Nathan Haynes of Missouri Valley Youth Wrestling in the championship bout and defeated by a score of 7-1. Zach Elam of Team Central Wrestling Club battled back for the silver medal as he won the Consolation bracket and defeated Haynes in overtime in the True second place match.

160-pounds

Anthony Sherry of Meneely Wrestling Club used an escape to win the 160-pound title over Dante Garcia of Steel City Elite 1-0. Garcia held onto second place when he defeated Wade Hahn of Sainte Genevieve Youth Wrestling in the True second place match 4-3.

180-pounds

The 180-pound title was won by Max Darrah of GAC Elite who defeatd Jacob Johnson of Fairbury Matmen 9-5. Consolation bracket winner, Ethan Poppe of Crofton Youth Wrestling, wrestled back for the silver medal when he defeated Johnson by a score of 3-2 in the True second place match.

Heavyweight

Tyler Curd of Mo West Youth won the heavyweight championship with a victory by fall over Brian Sadler of Jesup Iron Hawk Wrestling. Winning the bronze medal was Kaleb Gaede of SCORE Wrestling who scored an 11-8 decision over Dakoda Powell in the Consolation finals.

To view the complete brackets of the event, CLICK HERE.