April 22, 2008: The Wrestling Mall, High School News

Utah Wrestler Wins FILA Cadet National Championship

AKRON, Oh. — Spencer Brown, a sophomore at Cottonwood High School in Salt Lake City, defeated Josh Kreimeir of Colorado to claim the FILA Cadet 58 Kilo (127.75 pound) Greco-Roman Wrestling National Championship in Akron, Oh.

Brown won seven matches to claim the gold medal, five of which were by way of fall.

In the championship finals, Brown jumped out to a 6-0 win of the first period on the strength of a three-point throw, a one-point reversal at the first clinch, and a two-point gut wrench in the second clinch.

Although the second period ended in a tie score of 5-5, Kreimeir won the period by scoring last, which evened the match.

Brown won the third and final round by the score of 4-2. He scored a one-point takedown, a two-point gut wrench, and defended Kreimeir's final lift attempt in the clinch for an additional one point.

This was Brown's first of two years of eligibility for the FILA Cadet Nationals. Brown's best previous performance was a pair of wins at Rocky Mountain Regionals, and a 5th place finish at Nationals as a Schoolboy.

Brown said, "Greco is my best wrestling style. I have been working really hard in the weight room, and at practice trying to recover from knee surgery last November. This is by far my all-time best win. I am lucky to be from Salt Lake where we have great Greco coaches, and I have great Greco partners to train with. I was out to make a statement, to show that Utah kids can compete with anyone in the Country."

Brown plans to return to Akron next year to defend his title.

Other individual champions included Tyler Fraley of New Jersey at 92.5 pounds, Kevin Norstrem of Florida at 101.25 pounds, Tony Pena of Colorado at 110 pounds, Joshua Castellano of Illinois at 138.5 pounds, Tyler Beckwith of New York at 167.5 pounds, Max Huntley of Virginia at 187.25 pounds and Nikola Bogojevic of Wisconsin at 275 pounds.

Kade Moss, a sophomore at Bingham High, was the only other Cadet from Utah at the meet. Moss finished third, also at 58 kg by beating Seth Thomas of Oregon in a decision: 3-8, 5-0, 5-2.

Brown's win earns him a place on the FILA Cadet National Team, which will represent the USA at the Pan-American Championships in El Salvador July 11-13.