MESA, Ariz. — In their Cliff Keen Wrestling Club debut, Jimmy Kennedy and Tyrel Todd registered similar 4-2 record at the Sunkist Kids International Open on Sunday (Oct. 30) at Skyline High School.
Competing in his first freestyle event in two years, Kennedy took fourth place at 60kg/132 pounds with a 4-2 record. He advanced to the semifinals after winning each of his opening three contests, including an impressive 2-0, 7-5 decision over Troy Nickerson in the quarterfinal round. In that match, Kennedy won the first period on takedowns early and late and rallied to claim a wild second period, scoring on a pushout, takedown and two-point exposure in the final 15 seconds.
After falling to Derek Moore in the semifinals, Kennedy split a pair of consolation matches. He cruised past Andrew Hochstrasser, 3-0, 7-0, in the consolation semifinals, scoring on a three-point takedown in the first and two more in the second period. He dropped a three-period decision to Tyler Graff, 3-2, 0-1, 3-0, in the third-place contest, winning the second period from the clinch before losing the third in similar fashion.
Todd posted a 4-2 record at 84kg/185 pounds, rebounding from a disappointing first-round loss with four consecutive wins in the consolation bracket before bowing out with a close loss in the consolation semifinals. Among his wins, Todd defeated the Hawkeye Wrestling Club’s Phil Keddy, 3-1, 1-0, and Kurt Backes, 1-0, 2-0, using a last-second takedown in the first and pair of takedown in the second to secure the latter match.
He avenged his first-round loss to Doug Umbehauer with a 1-0, 1-0 decision in the wrestlebacks, scoring on a first-period pushout and a second-period takedown, but dropped his next match to Max Askren, 4-3, 1-0, in the consolation semifinals. Todd had led early against Askren after an immediate takedown and two-point exposure in the first period, but Askren responded with a takedown and exposure of his own and scored the winning takedown in the waning seconds. He also claimed the second period on a late takedown.
Kennedy and Todd will next compete at the New York Athletic Club Holiday International Open on Nov. 12 in New York, N.Y. Fellow CKWC athletes Josh Churella and Andrew Howe will appear at the Hargobind International on Saturday (Nov. 5) in Surrey, British Columbia.
CKWC RESULTS
Jimmy Kennedy, 60kg/132 pounds
First Round — dec. Yasuhiro Morita (Japan), 4-0, 4-1
Second Round — dec. Raj Virdi (Burnaby Mountain WC), 2-1, 2-3, 2-1
Quarterfinals — dec. Troy Nickerson (NYAC), 2-0, 7-5
Semifinals — dec. by Derek Moore (Army), 1-0, 1-1
Consolation Semis — dec. Andrew Hochstrasser (Mountain West RTC), 3-0, 7-0
Third Place — dec. by Tyler Graff (NYAC), 3-2, 0-1, 3-0
Finished in fourth place with a 4-2 record
Tyrel Todd, 84kg/185 pounds
First Round — dec. by Doug Umbehauer (Nittany Lion WC), 1-1, 2-2
Consolations — dec. Phil Keddy (Hawkeye WC), 3-1, 1-0
Consolations — dec. Terry Madden (NYAC), 1-0, 0-1, 1-1
Consolations — dec. Kurt Backes (NYAC), 1-0, 2-0
Consolations — dec. Doug Umbehauer (Nittany Lion WC), 1-0, 1-0
Consolation Semis — dec. by Max Askren (NYAC), 4-3, 1-0
Eliminated with a 4-2 record
For all USA Wrestling video from the Sunkist Kids International Open, visit TheMat.TV
