COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Cliff Keen Wrestling Club’s Jimmy Kennedy earned a spot on the U.S. University World Championships team with a dominant performance in the 60kg/132-pound freestyle division at the University World Team Trials on Saturday (Aug. 18) at Palmer High School.
The University World Championships is scheduled for October 2-7 in Kourtaine, Finland. It will be Kennedy’s third international competition since joining the CKWC and kicking off his post-collegiate freestyle career last summer.
“I expected to win the tournament,” said Kennedy. “My only concern was about getting the job done. I just took each match one at a time, trying to focus on scoring, attacking, getting the lead and holding onto it. That’s what I was able to do. It’s big for my freestyle career and training. Last year, I kind of felt like I just jumped into freestyle and didn’t really deserve to go to any of the camps or overseas training. Now I feel like I’ve actually earned it. In the future, when I’m traveling and working out with these guys, I’ll know that’s where I’m supposed to be.”
Kennedy, who sacrificed just two points en route to a perfect 5-0 record on the day, swept the 60kg championship series against Minnesota’s Chris Dardanes, winning 3-0, 1-1 in the first match and 3-0, 3-0 in the second. In the former, he countered a double-leg attempt for a first-period takedown and a subsequent two-point gut wrench before rallying from an early deficit in the second period, taking advantage of a flurry on the edge to score on a pushout midway through the frame.
He used a pair of three-point takedowns to claim the second match, scoring on a double leg to Dardanes’ back in the first period and collecting an exposure off a single late in the second frame.
Kennedy cruised through the morning challenge tournament with three straight two-period victories. He defeated Andrew Hochstrasser, a two-time All-American at Boise State, 1-0, 1-0, in the mini-tournament final, scoring on a pushout early in the first period and another in the second. He also earned wins against Brian Owen, 5-0, 5-0, and Virginia Tech’s Jarrod Garnett, 2-1, 6-0. In the latter match, he scored on two first-period takedowns before ending it early with a quick takedown, two gut wrenches and a hold midway through the second frame.
Michigan redshirt sophomore Jake Salazar took second place at 74kg/163 pounds and Kellen Russell went 2-2 against a stacked field at 66kg/145.5 pounds to round out the CKWC contingent. Salazar, who earned a free pass to the championships series after winning the University Nationals in June, dropped two matches against Colt Sponseller, 1-0, 2-0 and 3-3, 4-1. He led early in both periods of the latter match, scoring on a three-point double leg early in the first and a one-point double in the second, but Sponseller twice responded in kind to seal the victory.
Russell rebounded from a first-round loss to Kevin LeValley with back-to-back wins in the 66kg consolation bracket but fell again to Kyle Borshoff, 3-1, 0-1, 3-1, to finish a match away from placing.
CKWC RESULTS
60kg – Jimmy Kennedy
Challenge Tournament
First Round – dec. Brian Owen (Bronco WC), 5-0, 5-0
Semifinal – dec. Jarrod Garnett (NRV), 2-1, 6-0
Final – dec. Andrew Hochstrasser (Bronco WC), 1-0, 1-0
Championships Series
Match 1 – dec. Chris Dardanes (Minnesota Storm), 3-0, 1-1
Match 2 – dec. Chris Dardanes (Minnesota Storm), 3-0, 3-0
Finished as the 60kg champion with a 5-0 record
66kg – Kellen Russell
Challenge Tournament
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals – dec. by Kevin LeValley (Minnesota Storm), 3-0, 1-0
Consolations – dec. Tyler Scotton (Boston WC), 6-0, 2-0
Consolations dec. Nick Dardanes (Minnesota Storm), 1-0, 5-1
Consolations – dec. dec. by Kyle Borshoff (DCAC), 3-1, 0-1, 3-1
Eliminated with a 2-2 record
74kg – Jake Salazar
Championship Series
Match 1 – dec. by Colt Sponseller (Brooklyn WC), 1-0, 2-0
Match 2 – dec. by Colt Sponseller (Brooklyn WC), 3-3, 4-1
Finished in second place with 0-2 record